Menu diary makes future parties easy

my striped journal

Keeping a record of the menus and recipes you have used when entertaining makes future party planning a breeze. I am always looking for ways to use the lovely journals I find in book and stationery stores, and this is a great reason to buy and use a nice journal.

Here’s what I keep in my Menu Diary:

• Date, place, time
• Menu
• Recipes
• Descriptions of the theme, the decorations and favors
• A copy of the written invitation
• A guest list (who I invited and who actually came)
• Lessons learned (what went well, and what NOT to do next time)
• Costs and budget

Once you have recorded several events, you will be able to plan a menu very easily and quickly. You already know how to prepare the food, you know if your guests enjoyed it or not, you have the recipe at hand in case one of your guests asks for it, and you have an idea how much it will cost you. Using this information, you just might find yourself entertaining more often and enjoying it more.