Country Crock 'Dishes Out' Today's Trends in Get Togethers and Reveals Americans Are Still Connecting the Old Fashioned Way ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., May 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Stay home, make room in the den, turn on the tube and invite everyone over! Today's trend of connecting with friends and family is in the home, often around a meal or television show. A recent survey conducted by Country Crock(R) Deluxe Side Dishes found that one dilemma people face is the issue of space when entertaining in the home, and more people would be inclined to have get togethers in their homes if they had more room to entertain. It also showed that gathering for the hottest reality and drama shows is on the rise, unifying the masses through a common form of entertainment. Entertaining expert Jeanne Benedict offers some great mealtime solutions to alleviate the problem of space in a home, as well as fun, unique ways to entertain around the television that will keep the gatherings going all year round! "Getting together with friends and family takes little effort, and creating a fun casual atmosphere that allows guests to feel at home, and the host to feel more relaxed about entertaining, is the key to success in entertaining in the home." said Jeanne Benedict, author and host/designer of the TV theme party show, "Weekend Entertaining." "You can make any day of the week special, by spending time with those you care about, simply watching TV or playing board games, and enjoying an easy to prepare meal." So, how do you pull it off, how do you entertain and what will be served? Jeanne Benedict has some great tips and suggestions on how to host a great get together that will keep your guests talking about it for days! Entertaining in Small Spaces Nearly half of those surveyed (44%) believe they would entertain more if their homes could accommodate it. However, the fact is, a small space can be just as inviting as a large home -- you just need to know how to seek out and capitalize on the entertaining possibilities presented in every room. Jeanne suggests starting the process by determining seating and locating surface potentials for food, then getting inventive with supportive accents. * The Kitchen Countertop Buffet -- Who would have thought your countertops could transform into an elegant and sophisticated serving station. Simply lay out fabric on all surfaces and use risers for food -- replenishing straight from the refrigerator or microwave as needed. * Take-off on Plates -- When dining space is limited, serve food in easy- to-hold decorative containers that function as plates. Chinese food take-out containers are perfect for an Asian-themed noodle and dim-sum party, or fill coffee-mugs or crocks with comforting Country Crock Deluxe Mac and Cheese for a Southwestern fiesta. These allow guest to mingle while munching. * Niche Nooks -- Who says closets are solely for clothes? Converting tucked away spaces into serving areas is a breeze. Simply remove clothes or clutter and temporarily stash them under a bed or even in your car, drape fabric from the closet rod for a nice backdrop, and create a chic bar by placing a table or raised surface in the closet to serve Country Crock Deluxe Mashed Potato Martini bar in stemmed glassware. Your TV is Your Entertaining Best Friend Television has truly become today's entertaining medium, discussed over coffee, commuting to work, or on the phone at night. Why not use it as your central form of entertainment for your gathering? Jeanne suggests creating a theme for your menu based on the program friends and family are gathering for. * Grey's Anatomy -- Is there a Doctor in the house? Have some fun with this fan-favorite by offering character themed food such as Izzie's delicious muffins, McDreamy's Ice Cream and Lady Fingers, and O'Malley's Country Crock Deluxe Scalloped Potatoes. Dress your buffet table with surgical blue cloth, place silverware in stainless steel tray and use clear/glass plates to demonstrate a crisp, sanitary scene. For entertainment, write-up one-liners from the show's casts and have your guests take a crack at who said what. * Deal or No Deal -- Open the case! Set up a suitcase buffet using silver metal lunchboxes with numbers on them. Inside each box, highlight on a card a meal the lucky recipient will be eating that evening. Friends can then draw numbers from a hat to see what lucky case they'll be enjoying. About Country Crock Deluxe Side Dishes Country Crock's Deluxe Side Dish varieties include Loaded Mashed Potatoes, Scalloped Potatoes, Cheddar Broccoli Rice and the classic Macaroni & Cheese. These hassle free, fully-prepared sides are refrigerated, never frozen, and ready to heat and serve in just five minutes. Country Crock Side Dishes come packaged in 21-24 ounce reusable tubs with lids (approximately four servings per container) and are found in the refrigerated meat or deli sections of supermarkets nationwide. About Unilever Unilever [NYSE: UL, UN], one of the world's largest consumer products companies, aims to add vitality to life by meeting everyday needs for nutrition, hygiene and personal care. Each day, around the world, consumers make 150 million decisions to purchase Unilever products. The company has a portfolio of brands that make people feel good, look good and get more out of life. In the United States these brands include recognized names such as: Axe, "all," Ben & Jerry's, Bertolli, Breyers, Caress, Country Crock, Degree, Dove personal care products, Hellmann's, Lipton, Knorr, Popsicle, Promise, Q-Tips, Skippy, Slim-Fast, Snuggle, Suave and Vaseline. All of the preceding brand names are registered trademarks of the Unilever Group of Companies. Dedicated to serving consumers and the communities where we live, work and play, Unilever in the United States employs approximately 15,000 people in 66 office and manufacturing sites in 24 states and Puerto Rico- generating more than $9 billion in sales in 2005. For more information, visit http://www.unileverusa.com/. Contact: Kristen Ryan M Booth & Associates 212-539-3225 DATASOURCE: Country Crock Deluxe Side Dishes CONTACT: Kristen Ryan of M Booth & Associates, +1-212-539-3225, or Web site: http://www.unileverusa.com/

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