We don't often think of the winter as a great time to entertain, but there are some excellent reasons to gather friends in your home. Here are some of my favorites:

• February 5th is Super Bowl Sunday
• February 14th is Valentine's Day
• February 21st is Mardi Gras
• February 26th is Oscar Night

Any of those days are a great time to put out some food (homemade or picked up from a favorite restaurant) and celebrate.

For Super Bowl or Oscar parties, you'll want at least one TV. Since it's the Patriots versus the Giants, think lobster rolls or steamed clams versus New York pizza or hot dogs and knishes.

For Valentine's Day, all you really need is chocolate. Lots of chocolate. You better get more chocolate, just in case.

For Mardi Gras, it's always fun to do a Cajun theme with big pots of gumbo, jambalaya, and red beans and rice. Decorate with green, gold, and purple (the traditional colors of Mardi Gras) and make hurricanes.