November 2000

Sometimes planning the menu, decorations and entertainment is half the battle when hosting a party. These sites can help you do the legwork, from the food to the fun. www.bettycrocker.com Betty Crocker — Traditional menu ideas you know and love. www.foodtv.com Food Network — Tasty trends from renowned chefs. www.iparty.com iparty.com — Decorations, party favors, online invitations and entertainment. www.greatentertaining.com Great Entertaining.com — Fun theme ideas for menus and decorations. www.epicurious.com Epicurious.com — Basic recipes with a gourmet spin. www.meals.com Meals.com — Personalized meal plans, cookbooks and shopping lists. www.cooking.com Cooking.com — Everything from menu planners to cookware to recipes.

Hire a bartender and arrange for him/her to bring the alcohol. Avoid holding the party immediately after work — leave yourself enough time to prepare. Arrange for a babysitter to occupy the kids upstairs during the party. Hire a caterer to do all the cooking and serving. Ask partygoers to bring a dish based on their own family traditions. This not only helps guests get to know each other, but also relieves you of the pressure of cooking. Serve a simple main course that's easy to time, such as a stew or a casserole.

Depending on where you live, you can even choose your groceries on these sites and have them delivered right to your door.
	www.netgrocer.com Netgrocer — Your local grocery and drug stores rolled into one.
	www.peapod.com Peapod.com — Concentrates on delivering fresh food to your door.

If you'd like to impress your guests by shipping in special delectables such as live lobsters, imported cheeses or caviar for your get-together, try one of the following sites:
	www.deanandeluca.com Dean and Deluca — Fine foods, wines and desserts.
	www.tavolo.com Tavolo — The professional chef's favorite for specialty foods.
	www.mainelobsterco.com Maine Lobster Company — Live lobsters delivered to your home.