5 surefire ways to turn your dinner party game up a notch

Brought to you by Lidl.

There's nothing like a dinner party to bring everyone together.

The trick to hosting one (without the added stress) is to employ some low-maintenance tricks to keep everyone entertained from welcome drinks to after-dinner games. Choose a great Spotify playlist (we recommend some low smooth jazz) to set the tone for the evening, then drop by your local Lidl for all the (pre-prepped) ingredients for a dazzling meal. Here are five tips that are guaranteed to make your winter soirée a memorable one: 1. Choose some fancy nibbles Put away the bowls of peanuts and offer your guests some delectable pâté instead. Lidl's DELUXE® Mini Pâté Selection (a bargain at €2.99) is delicious spread on warm, crusty bread or crackers - the perfect accompaniment to a welcome glass of wine or bubbles. Available from the 18th of December. 2. Serve a sparkling cocktail Bring an air of Gatsby-esque extravagance to your bash by serving a bubble-based cocktail. One of the simplest options is the impossible chic French 75: Mix 45ml Dry Gin, 12ml freshly squeezed lemon juice and 10ml sugar syrup in a Champagne flute or coupe and top up with Champagne, decorating with a twist of lemon rind. Tip: Sparkling wine and Prosecco work just as well as Champagne and Lidl stocks a fantastic selection of both. 3. Wow them with a showstopping dessert Ladies and gentlemen... the Croquembrouche . This French dessert consists of perfect choux pastry balls piled into tower and dressed with chocolate and sprinkles. Oh... and you can pick one up at Lidl and save yourself hours of grueling baking! This is available in stores from December 11th. 4. Build a stunning cheese board Everybody loves a sliver of cheese after an excellent meal, but a little creativity in the construction can ensure your guests will remember it long after your party is over. The best cheese boards feature at least five varieties (a little of everything is best; from hard and soft cheeses to aged, firm and blue). Arrange on a cheese board (a wooden bread board will do the trick) and decorate with fresh grapes, slices of apple and pear, candied nuts and Lid's DELUXE Assorted Conserves for Cheese for €1.49. 5. Plan some games (with a prize for the winner) Engage your guests' competitive streak by busting out a group board game to play after dinner. Wrap up a prize to put in the centre of the table for the winner to keep things interesting. Now is a great time to bring out those tantalising truffles too... Share more this Christmas at Lidl. For the latest offers on sensational party food at your local store, visit the Lidl website.