Cooking for Friends

Every few weeks, Tom invites a few friends over for dinner. He is not a professional cook, but he enjoys the whole process, from planning the menu to washing the last plate at the end of the night. He usually decides what to make a couple of days in advance. This gives him time to buy fresh ingredients and to prepare anything that can be made ahead. On the day itself, he tries to finish the difficult tasks early, so that he is not stuck in the kitchen while his guests arrive. Tom has learned that a relaxed host makes for a relaxed evening. In the past, he used to attempt complicated recipes and end up stressed and exhausted. Now he keeps things simple: a hearty main course, a fresh salad, and something sweet that he can buy from the bakery instead of baking himself. The food matters, of course, but Tom believes the company matters more. Some of his best evenings have involved nothing more than a big pot of pasta and a long conversation that lasts well past midnight. A shared meal, he says, is one of life's simplest pleasures.