Entertaining > Easy Entertaining :ninemsn Homes

Entertaining can be easy if you plan it just right. Use our entertaining ideas, party tips and home bar guides and you'll be on your way to a perfect get together in no time.

Most recent story

Buyer's guide: camerasThe latest developments in digital cameras, from point-and-shoot to professional models, make capturing memories easy.

Most popular stories

Mood food Five secrets for looking after wine Get to know chocolate Be Italian for the day Kids party themes and party games

Galleries

Gourmet Aussie barbecue recipes

Special report: party planning tips

Chocolate heaven

Dining areas

More stories...

Entertaining made easyEntertaining is meant to be fun, so whatever style of gathering you are planning, try to keep it simple. Here's how.

Party planning tipsTo create and partake in an enjoyable celebration - do some serious list-making, and you will have a ball.

How to cut up a chicken into 8 piecesStep-by-step guide on how to cut up a chicken into 8 pieces ready for your next meal.

Five secrets for looking after wineGlen Davis from Omerta, Sydney shares his tips about caring for that perfect drop.

Ooh for tea...Simply making a pot of tea is a soothing ritual, and the drinking never fails to warm body and soul. Kim Berry celebrates its all-round benefits.

First, I'll take ManhattanTop-flight ingredients and a new reverence for the classics have stirred up a cocktail revival.

Valentine's Day ideasValentine's Day is just around the corner. If this is your thing, you've probably already booked the restaurant or planned your romantic tea-for-two. But here are a couple of ideas to stretch the...

Eat, drink and be waryKick up your heels while keeping an eye on how much you drink, and you will have double the fun, and none of the regrets, this party season.

Party season cocktails to tryAvoid the crowds and see in the new year with your own cocktail party. Here are a few musts to serve up to your friends.

Tasty, tasty olivesThey may be a bit of an acquired taste, but olives are crammed with goodness (vitamin E, iron, copper and dietary fibre) and flavour which make them great to serve up as a snack at any get-together.

Top of the popsNothing marks a celebration like French champagne or a good Australian sparkling wine.

Match of the dayAs our choice in meals becomes more adventurous, so too does our taste in drinks.

Call the shotsMastering your home espresso machine is easier than you think. We ask a coffee expert to spill the beans.

How to be a good host/guest this holiday seasonWe tell you the basic rules on how to be a good host/guest this holiday season.

Shortbread: a gift you can eat!There is nothing quite like receiving a handmade gift - you know the time, love and effort that has gone into making it and it makes you feel special you were worth that time, love and effort,

Stock up the bar for the silly seasonIf you’re going to be doing a fair bit of celebrating these holidays, now is the time to start stocking up the bar.

Hooked and cookedCooking fish? Get it right the first time with our essential guide.

Mood foodCan chocolate make you happy? Do oysters really boost libido? We sort fact from fiction.

Pizza topping tipsUse quality ingredients, and use them sparingly. If using toppings with a high water content such as tomatoes, sprinkle a bit of salt on them and let them drain.

page 1 of 3