How to Entertain Like Paula Deen

It is hard to imagine that Food Network star Paula Deen once suffered from agoraphobia (she was afraid to leave her house). Today Paula Deen is known worldwide for her good old southern hospitality. At your next get-together, take a cue from Paula's easy entertaining style and pair great food with a friendly, relaxed atmosphere that isn't fussy or formal.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Select foods that everyone will enjoy. Think homemade macaroni and cheese, cornbread and peach pie.

2. Keep it small. Invite close family and friends. In other words, only the people whose company you truly enjoy.

3. Play some good music in the background. Paula loves Elvis, so put on some of the King's greatest hits.

4. Decorate with fresh flowers. Flowers always grace Paula's table on her show "Paula's Home Cookin'." Simple bouquets of sunflowers or daisies will suffice.

5. Offer guests some simple beverages. Lemonade, root beer or plain beer are all good choices. After all, when was the last time you saw Paula drinking a fussy cosmopolitan?

6. Cover tables with cherry red or blue gingham tablecloths for a classic Paula look. Set out your best dishes if you want to dress the tablescape up a bit. Otherwise, your everyday dishes will be just fine.

Tips & Warnings

• Make an ordinary day a little extra special. Paula is queen of making a party out of almost any occasion, from Elvis' birthday (January 8, 1935) to the weekly Sunday football game.

Resources

• Find more recipes and ideas for entertaining at PaulaDeen.com.
• Watch Paula Deen in action on her shows on the Food Network