Ok, firstly don't try too hard.If you make dishes that take lots of work or you have never prepared before there is a high chance it could all go wrong.
Stick to dishes you know and try to find a way to present them that gives a wow factor. Also complicated dishes could mean you spend the whole night in the kitchen, neglecting your guests. So find dishes you can prepare in advance, a chilled dessert or a salad to start.
Try to mix it up a bit, start with fish then have meat or vice versa. Don't have too many spices in one course or it could ruin the taste buds for the next.
Set your heating lower than normal as the guests will generate their own heat.
For a sweet smell and to disguise odours from fish or cabbage put some orange peel in the oven on a low heat or some cloves and vinegar in boiling water can also help.
Burnt a pan? Leave cold tea in it over night and you should find the black crust is easier to remove.
Mash potato all runny? Add a beaten egg white and put in the oven for about 15 minutes on a medium heat.
To make dishes that go a little further try a stew or cover dishes in sauce. One piece of chicken on someone's plate looks a little sparse but cover it in sauce with some mushrooms and onions in it or other veg and it looks like so much more. The same can be said for fish and vegetable dishes.
Sprinkle any plain dish with a little parsley or cress over the top just before serving and it can look much fancier.
Table cloth seen better days? put rose petals on the table or cut out shapes from tissue paper and sprinkle them on the table cloth.
If you run out of eggs when making a cake then just add a teaspoon of vinegar for each missing egg. Don't try this for more than half of the needed eggs (4 eggs needed then use 2 eggs and 2 spoons of vinegar but no more)
Dishwasher powder all run out? Mix a drop of washing up liquid (only a drop) with baking soda and use this instead.
Line weighing scales with cling film before you weigh sticky ingredients as it makes it easier to clean out.
To thicken runny gravy add a little instant mashed potato powder.
Keep all left over vegetables and meat in a container in the fridge and the next day when you are tired from the night before, add a stock cube and a little water or cream and then blend the left overs to make a tasty soup.
Cooking cauliflower, then add a little milk to the water to keep it whiter than white, if you find it a little bland then add a chicken stock cube to the water.
Serving wine? Then also serve water as it makes the wine last longer and quenches everyone's thirst. Also serve your best wines first and then bring out cheaper wines once everyone is enjoying themselves too much to notice.
Meat a little tough? Squirt a little lemon juice on it before serving.
Lastly to avoid a hangover have a slice of toast with honey, a large glass of water and a headache tablet (check the label) just before bed, this will help to keep you hangover free the next morning. ENJOY!
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