I used to be an any-excuse-for-a-party kinda gal; but lately, I’m any-excuse-not-to-party and I’ve no shortage of excuses—“I’m too busy,” “I’m too tired,” “I’m too broke,” “I’m too obsessed with presidential politics.” I recently heard myself opt out of plans with the excuse that my hibernation instincts are kicking in with the cooler weather, so I can’t leave the house.
I want to be social, I need to be social—belly laughs are few and far between these days—but I’m kind of stuck in an anti-social rut. An informal poll of friends and family finds that I’m not alone. We’re all stretched a little too thin, and while we know that research shows friends keep us sane and reduce stress, it’s just so insanely stressful to make time and plans to see those friends.
I’ve decided to channel my hibernation instincts to create an easy, frugal, but mostly fun way to see the people I care about; I’m bringing back the house party!
Fun-due!
I’m so over being overdressed and underfed in overpriced and underachieving new restaurants. I want to break bread with friends—stale bread preferably—and then dip it in a communal river of melted cheese. The tradition of dunking meat and stale bread into a pot of melted cheese originated with peasants in Switzerland as a way of using up leftovers. It was popular here in the sixties and seventies, but then was forsaken and ridiculed along with velvet wallpaper and polyester. Thankfully, all things retro are cool again (except polyester), so fondue is back and it’s tastier than ever with so many new varieties—like chili, bacon, and asparagus—to choose from. Keep it cheap and fun by inviting friends to bring different fondue ingredients and dippers, or even cheaper and more fun by skipping straight to dessert. Serve fruit, marshmallows, and nuts for friends to dunk in bubbling bowls of melted chocolate. Cut up vintage vinyl tablecloths to make fun bibs as party favors, and if you’re feeling generous, make a mixed CD of traditional Swiss music. P.S.—Be sure to establish dipping etiquette (no double-dipping!) to keep relations friendly.
