The first thing you need to do is choose your guest list and sent out invitations. Competent 50s hostesses always made sure they planned ahead, so they could relax and enjoy the party too. Contrary to popular belief, they had as much interest in slaving away in the kitchen while everyone else was having fun as we have.
The secret to success for a 50s host and hostess was planning. Decide who you are going to invite, check that they will be available, and issue invitations at least two weeks ahead. Give your invitations some retro sparkle. Look on the Internet for cool retro clip art, or find some retro scrapbooking embellishments to give your invitations the right look.
Now you can plan the menu and the entertainment. Knowing what you are going to serve means you can prepare some dishes a day or two ahead, which frees you from running around the kitchen. A smart party giver will also plan to cut down on the washing up, by using cook ware that doubles as serving ware and stocking up on disposable serving plates.
Today there is a much greater choice of design in disposable table ware, including knives and forks, so there is no need to trade elegance for convenience.
If you are serving a traditional Christmas dinner, plan it as a buffet rather than a sit down meal. Serve turkey or a rib roast, with roast potatoes, green beans and mashed sweet potato in their own serving dishes. Add a big salad such as Waldorf or Caesar, or try your hand at creating that 50s favorite, an aspic salad ring.
Fill a ring mold with chopped tomatoes, avocado and grated apple. Dissolve an envelope of gelatin in hot water and add to two cups of tomato juice. Pour it over the salad in the ring mold (add another packet of gelatin and two more cups of juice if it is a large mold). Cool in the fridge until the gelatin is set. This can be prepared ahead.
Surround the feast with cranberry sauce and brown gravy, stuffing, bread rolls and butter and mayonnaise.
A 50s Christmas was all about the cookies, so make sure your dessert menu is groaning with them. If you like to bake, prepare some old fashioned favorites like springerle, jumbles, Kris Kringles and ginger cookies a day or two ahead, or shop for old fashioned varieties to serve on pretty Christmas plates. A big iced fruitcake is a must, and dessert should include at least one homely and traditional sweet pie, such as eggnog or spiced apple.
Now for the entertainment: If you have a collection of 50s records and something to play them on, you're set, otherwise, buy or borrow a turntable and some records. If you want to start collecting records and an old turntable to play them on, ebay is a great place to start looking.
Another great way to add music is to hire a jukebox stocked with classic hits, or, if you are planning a really big bash, you can hire a live cover band that plays all the golden oldies right in your yard.
But don't stop at music. Many classic TV hits from the 50s and 60s are now available on DVD, like The Dick Van Dyke Show and Bonanza. Have them playing on your TV, with bowls of popcorn and retro candies that you can buy online.
You don't have to redecorate your whole house for the party, but have a look around charity shops and dollar stores for cheap items that you can use to give your party space a retro feel. Album covers, retro serving dishes and table ware, and big cushions for guests to perch on all add to the ambience.
Try to dress in the mood too - dirndl skirts, big 50s dresses and classic court shoes can all be found at inexpensive charity shops. Games were popular at 50s parties, so toss a game of charades or Trivial Pursuit into the mix if things look like slowing down.
The most important thing to remember is that 50s parties were all about people having fun - so get out your dancing shoes and jive away!
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By: Sandra Canfield
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