| For centuries people have entertained in their homes | | | | family. This cooking can be simple burgers that take a |
| for various reasons. Many of these gatherings are | | | | few minutes to complex meals that take a few |
| formal events, social gatherings, holiday festivities, | | | | hours. Regardless of how long it takes to prepare |
| and family get-togethers. Whatever the reason it's | | | | food most of us are just happy to have guests and |
| always been part of every culture regardless of | | | | provide for them. |
| geography. However in recent years it's seen a | | | | Holidays in particular are events where you'll find a lot |
| revival as people are realizing how disconnected we | | | | of good cooking when it comes entertaining. Family |
| have become as a society. | | | | members all have their own unique recipes and |
| Technology is everywhere and for the past 20 years | | | | someone's aunt always brings that special pecan pie |
| we've been embracing every new gadget, TV | | | | to the table with them. Of course before the main |
| upgrade, media craze, and social networking site with | | | | meal is served most people offer snacks like |
| glee. However as we went down this road we began | | | | crackers, cheeseballs, fruits, and veggies. This is just |
| to lose touch with family members and friends. Sure | | | | one example of holiday entertaining and everybody's |
| we could still talk to one another but the actual | | | | family has their own variations. |
| human interaction was decreasing. Recently with the | | | | Aside from the social and mental benefits of |
| decline of the economy people are realizing that | | | | entertaining it can also serve another purpose. Having |
| people matter most and are starting to entertain in | | | | your friends and family over often gives you a |
| their homes again. | | | | chance to strengthen your bonds with them. These |
| This belief isn't something that can be categorized | | | | bonds are what get you through those tough times |
| into political or religious ideologies, but is something | | | | in life and most of us don't put as much effort into |
| that is deeply rooted in human nature. Humans are | | | | them as we should. All you have to do is spend |
| social creatures and although we can deal with being | | | | some time with them and talk. |
| alone for extended periods of time we need | | | | Despite the importance society puts on technology |
| interaction with other humans to help us stay healthy. | | | | at the end of the day all you have is your family and |
| This interaction can be anything from simply playing a | | | | friends. Entertaining allows you to get together with |
| game of cards every Friday night to watching a | | | | them to relax, have fun, celebrate the holidays, and |
| movie with the entire extended family every so | | | | just hang out. It's important to do this often because |
| often. | | | | when times get rough they will need to rely on you, |
| One of the joys of entertaining is being able to cook | | | | and you will need to rely on them. Remember you |
| for a multitude of friends and loved ones as well. | | | | don't need a special occasion to have people over, |
| While this may sound a bit silly many people both | | | | simply tell them their coming over and fix dinner for |
| women and men enjoy cooking for their friends and | | | | them. |