• DO NOT start cooking until all your prep is completed. Cooking can be a lot of fun alone or with friends, but not when you're left scrambling around the kitchen doing some last-minute chopping while your food is burning!

• DO NOT attempt a menu you have never executed before. Experimentation is for the nights you are alone or with a forgiving significant other. Your objective otherwise is to be set for success when entertaining: word travels fast and you don't want your first event to be the last you ever get to host.

• DO NOT underestimate the amount of food to prepare. You want to be in a position to offer seconds--the worst that can happen is you get stuck with leftovers (but if you've done a good cooking job, that may not be such a bad thing).

• DO NOT over-cook or over-season your food. If you are not sure whether the ingredient is cooked to your liking, pull it from the stove and check it. Remember: you can always add salt or let something cook longer, but once you've gone over, you're sunk--so be sure.

• DO NOT send a plate to the table until you have tried it. Also, remember you are hosting, and just because you may like your food spicy, one of your guests may not. Therefore, be neutral in your seasoning and have herbs and spices readily available for your guests to spice up their own plates.

NOTE: If you are a novice at food entertaining, invite only your closest friends, as they tend to be more sympathetic!