This may sound pathetic. And if you are the sort of person who throws their home open to all and sundry, entertains calmly at the drop of a hat, has an always- tidy home or can whip up miraculous food on the smell of an oily rag, DO NOT read on. But:
Is there anybody out there who faces entertaining at home with trepidation rather than delight? After all these years I still haven't been able to break the habit of finding cooking and entertaining for strangers or casual acquaintances nerve-racking, and avoid it if I can. Of course, if it's family or old good friends it's different -- I can relax. I enjoy being asked out to other people's places, and in earlier years have loved treating people to dinner at a restaurant. But when it's my turn I get hot and bothered.

Oh yes Kari.....can absolutely and utterly relate to you on this one. And why is it that when you're entertaining something always goes wrong with the food! I'm not exactly an imaginative cook at the best of times, but entertaining (other than family of course) leaves me feeling way out of my comfort zone.

I always used to get uptight when visitors came over for dinner.

I tended to try to do find `something different' to serve them; something to `impress' them...but whatever I cooked it never looked like the picture in the cook book!

Then one day a friend called around and it was almost on dinner time so I asked them if they wanted to stay, apologising that it was only roast chicken. My friend praised my lovely dinner and said they hadn't had a roast for a long time because `it wasn't worth cooking like that for one'.

The next guests to sit around my table were, again, unexpected. It was a Sunday and I was doing roast beef and I invited them to stay. Again I was complimented on a lovely meal.

Suddenly it dawned on me. Forget the fancy stuff - cook what you know and are confident with!

Yes Kari....understand that dilema!!! Even with family now I am anxious entertaining. Used to do it all the time as that was part of my late husband & my lifestyle (still wasnt confident tho).
Now days I 'freek-out' just at the thought of entertaining.....and if someone turns up unexpected then forget it!!!
I have lost my beloved old recipe book with all my old handwritten favourites in too which is really sad - a collection of over 46 years of tried & true recipes from my Mum, family, friends etc.

Phew! Thanks all, for your honesty. Now I don't feel so bad.
I think you've hit the nail on the head, Going Grey -- maybe it's just all that anticipation that makes it so hard -- like stage fright, sort of.
When you've got to rustle something up, without warning, it takes away that anxious run-up. The same thing has happened to me now and then.

Well, what do you know.....had unexpected visitors today and it was lunch-time!!!!! I thought about what has been written on this thread and told myself not to stress...it will be okay!!! Well, we ended up having toasted sandwiches and a really lovely time chatting.....so....thanks everyone! It really helps to know that others struggle with things too.

Well done, Beannie13.

I think sometimes too, food as simple and tasty as toasted sandwiches is something we don't tend to make often so it's twice as enjoyable when one has them.

We tend to forget that food shouldn't be `complicated' (and it's the good company and conversation that one usually remembers).

Hear hear!!