Are you just a little relieved that the holidays are almost over? Tired of cooking, cleaning, presents, and even witty conversation? Some of us party hostesses need to step back once in awhile and recognize that people can enjoy our home and our company without having it be a big deal every time. Here's the solution to getting your wish for relaxation without being completely anti-social.
Not-a-Party Party How-To:
Text a few friends and have them come over on a night that's convenient. Order a couple pizzas, serve the food on paper plates. NO DISHES. NO COOKING. Serve whatever wine you have leftover from the holidays. Have a couple movies picked out and have the guests vote on which one to watch.
Resist your perfectionist urges to buy coordinating napkins. Centerpiece? Just say NO. Step away from the silverware polish!!!! No, people will not rebel if you do not make a dessert this time. They are already getting free pizza - that's awesome enough.
Eat. Drink. Watch. Kick everyone out at a reasonable hour.
Hopefully it's just a refreshing and fun night for everyone, even you!
Monday, December 27, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
Name This Cocktail
From several years of bartending, I know that alot of people want to order a cocktail, but really don't know what to order. It's difficult to remember the names of all the drinks and you might not know what tastes good mixed together. Many people will chicken out and get a beer or glass of wine at this point. But believe me, any bartender worth their jigger would love to create a cocktail for you, or suggest one you might like. Don't be intimidated! It's your money, be adventurous.
Holding an interesting drink is a great conversation starter. You might even start a trend throughout the party!
The best time to make a request for a custom cocktail is NOT in a mega-crowded, four-deep at the bar, blaring music kind of place. Wait until the line at the bar thins out so you can make sure you have the bartender's full attention. He/she might even let you sample a couple different things, especially if they are really bored! Look for the most competent and/or friendly bartender.
If a bartender makes something fabulous for you, give a good tip!
Here's a new one I've created, based on my love of a classic cranberry-vodka, and my preference for a bit of carbonation. Also, I enjoy having a tall glass because it lasts longer! This cocktail does not have a name yet. If you have any suggestions, leave them in the comments. My mom thought of "Cosmo Kiss," which I like, but no man would ever feel comfortable ordering that in a bar! And it's really not a particularly "girly" drink. I searched the internet and the closest I could find was a drink called a "COD", but that drink calls for a splash of Sprite, instead of filling half the glass with Sprite. If nothing else, a bartender will be able to figure it out if you order "A Cranberry Vodka with orange vodka, and about half full with Sprite."
NAME THIS COCKTAIL
1.5 oz orange vodka
cranberry juice
Sprite
lime garnish
Fill a tall glass with ice. Pour orange vodka over the ice. Fill half the glass with cranberry juice (or cranberry juice cocktail). Fill the glass to the top with Sprite. Garnish with a lime wedge.
Do not shake in a cocktail shaker or you will flatten the carbonation. Plus, it will make the drink pink instead of the cool effect of clear Sprite sitting on top of red juice.
TIP - If you make this at home with Diet Sprite and Diet Cranberry Juice Cocktail, it will save you a bunch of calories. Most bars don't have anything diet on hand except Diet Coke.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Buried Cherry Cookies
Cookie Exchange! What to bring? Your Cookie Exchange goals: cookies that are easy to make, the recipe makes alot, and the cookies are delicious. Additionally, it's my opinion that all the cookies should be uniform. I don't really like cut-out cookies for exchanges because some always look way better than others. Plus, they are so much work, that if I go through the trouble to make them, MY family is going to get to eat them!!
Here is my go-to recipe for the annual Cookie Exchange. It's nice to have a chocolate cookie, because it seems that many bakers bring vanilla or spice cookies to exchanges. But I usually have to make two batches because my husband would complain if he didn't have 40 of these for his personal consumption!
Buried Cherry Cookies
Modified from a recipe in my trusty old Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook
Modified from a recipe in my trusty old Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook
Ingredients:
1 10-ounce jar maraschino cherries (42 to 48)
1 10-ounce jar maraschino cherries (42 to 48)
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1.5 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1.5 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate pieces
1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk or low-fat sweetened condensed milk
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Drain cherries, reserving juice. Halve any large cherries. In a medium mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Beat in cocoa powder and the flour with the mixer.
2. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place balls about 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Press your thumb into the center of each ball. Place a cherry in each center.
3. For fudge topping, in a small saucepan combine chocolate pieces and sweetened condensed milk. Cook and stir over low heat until chocolate melts. Stir in 2-4 teaspoons reserved cherry juice. (If necessary, fudge topping may be thinned with additional cherry juice.) Spoon 1 teaspoon fudge toppping over each cherry, spreading to cover.
4. Bake about 10 minutes or until edges are firm. Cool on cookie sheet 1 minute. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool. Makes 42 to 48 cookies
MY TIPS -
1. Refrigerate the balls of dough for a few minutes before baking. Stops them from becoming too flat in the oven.
2. Don't make the dough balls bigger than 1-inch. I made mine smaller and smaller each batch because I liked the way the little ones looked!
3. Don't put a dripping wet cherry on a cookie. After cutting your cherries, let them sit on a paper towel so some of that excess juice soaks up. Otherwise your dough will get wet, and your cookie will flatten.
4. Also, you read it correctly, the fudge topping does get baked. I usually add extra cherry juice to the fudge topping to get it to cover the cherry evenly and easily. But don't add too much or your fudge will get watery. It should be like frosting consistency.
5. Alternatively, you could probably drizzle the fudge topping over the cookies in a zig-zag pattern, and that way the bright red cherry would be visible. Not so much "buried" then, but visually appealing! I haven't tried this option, so if you do, let me know how it turns out. You would probably bake the cookies with cherries, let them cool, and THEN add the topping if you want this effect.
6. Use parchment paper on the trays for easy clean up.
7. Bribe your significant other into cleaning the mixing bowl and fudge topping bowl in exchange for cookies, sex, whatever it takes - what a mess!
1. Refrigerate the balls of dough for a few minutes before baking. Stops them from becoming too flat in the oven.
2. Don't make the dough balls bigger than 1-inch. I made mine smaller and smaller each batch because I liked the way the little ones looked!
3. Don't put a dripping wet cherry on a cookie. After cutting your cherries, let them sit on a paper towel so some of that excess juice soaks up. Otherwise your dough will get wet, and your cookie will flatten.
4. Also, you read it correctly, the fudge topping does get baked. I usually add extra cherry juice to the fudge topping to get it to cover the cherry evenly and easily. But don't add too much or your fudge will get watery. It should be like frosting consistency.
5. Alternatively, you could probably drizzle the fudge topping over the cookies in a zig-zag pattern, and that way the bright red cherry would be visible. Not so much "buried" then, but visually appealing! I haven't tried this option, so if you do, let me know how it turns out. You would probably bake the cookies with cherries, let them cool, and THEN add the topping if you want this effect.
6. Use parchment paper on the trays for easy clean up.
7. Bribe your significant other into cleaning the mixing bowl and fudge topping bowl in exchange for cookies, sex, whatever it takes - what a mess!
These freeze really well. And taste great right out of the freezer if you want a snack and just can't wait for one to thaw! Not that I've ever tried that. ;-)
Turned out a little flatter than I wanted. I think my butter was too soft. You want it so you can mix it, but if the butter is too soft (such as mine after I microwaved it a couple seconds too long) your cookies can flatten. Oh well, I tried one and they are still fantastic!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Marshmallows for Toasting
"There'll be parties for hosting, marshmallows for toasting, and caroling out in the snow!" It really is the most wonderful time of the year! If you want your holiday party to be so amazing that people compose songs about it, you'd better make it pretty special.
Taking a cue from the song quoted above, let's talk marshmallows.
What a fun addition to your party to be able to offer S'mores in the middle of winter! If you live in a warm climate, head on outside and make a bonfire on which to roast your 'mallows. Even if it's a little chilly, nothing beats a bonfire. Giving people an excuse to go out for fresh air will be appreciated. However, if you live in frickin' Ohio like I do, it is waaaaaay too cold to spend time outside longer than it takes to plug in the Christmas lights. So, I offer some alternative suggestions.
1. Fireplace - oooh fancy you! I'll bet having a fireplace was a selling point of your house, wasn't it? Well, now you can get some use out of it, in addition to it just looking pretty. You might want to avoid those Duraflame logs, or your S'mores might start tasting like dangerous chemicals. Note: remove stockings from over the fireplace if you don't want them to catch on fire. Another note: remove drunk people from around your fireplace if you don't want them to catch on fire. If you are uncomfortable with the thought of people holding a stick with a flaming marshmallow in your highly flammable living room, you might consider grilling the S'mores. Just fully assemble the S'mores (graham cracker, chocolate bar, big marshmallow, graham) and place them on a grilling rack or cast iron pan in the fire. When you remove them, the marshmallow and chocolate will be all melty. Yummers!!
2. Stove - Whether gas or electric, just turn on a burner and let your guests toast their marshmallows over the stove. Provide all the ingredients for S'mores nearby. Sing carols. Eat S'mores. Repeat.
3. Microwave - It doesn't seem nearly as festive to me, but if you feel this is the only option, it is possible! Just nuke the marshmallow on a plate for 15-20 seconds on LOW power. The marshmallow might double in size and be careful, because the center could get very hot.
4. S'mores making kit. This one is available online from Cosi. So cute and would make a great gift.
For the S'mores connoisseur in your life at http://www.getcosi.com/
If you are a peanut butter junkie like I am, try using a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup in place of the chocolate bar on your S'mores. Any other ideas for variations on the basic S'mores recipe? Leave it in the comments!
Taking a cue from the song quoted above, let's talk marshmallows.
What a fun addition to your party to be able to offer S'mores in the middle of winter! If you live in a warm climate, head on outside and make a bonfire on which to roast your 'mallows. Even if it's a little chilly, nothing beats a bonfire. Giving people an excuse to go out for fresh air will be appreciated. However, if you live in frickin' Ohio like I do, it is waaaaaay too cold to spend time outside longer than it takes to plug in the Christmas lights. So, I offer some alternative suggestions.
1. Fireplace - oooh fancy you! I'll bet having a fireplace was a selling point of your house, wasn't it? Well, now you can get some use out of it, in addition to it just looking pretty. You might want to avoid those Duraflame logs, or your S'mores might start tasting like dangerous chemicals. Note: remove stockings from over the fireplace if you don't want them to catch on fire. Another note: remove drunk people from around your fireplace if you don't want them to catch on fire. If you are uncomfortable with the thought of people holding a stick with a flaming marshmallow in your highly flammable living room, you might consider grilling the S'mores. Just fully assemble the S'mores (graham cracker, chocolate bar, big marshmallow, graham) and place them on a grilling rack or cast iron pan in the fire. When you remove them, the marshmallow and chocolate will be all melty. Yummers!!
2. Stove - Whether gas or electric, just turn on a burner and let your guests toast their marshmallows over the stove. Provide all the ingredients for S'mores nearby. Sing carols. Eat S'mores. Repeat.
3. Microwave - It doesn't seem nearly as festive to me, but if you feel this is the only option, it is possible! Just nuke the marshmallow on a plate for 15-20 seconds on LOW power. The marshmallow might double in size and be careful, because the center could get very hot.
4. S'mores making kit. This one is available online from Cosi. So cute and would make a great gift.
For the S'mores connoisseur in your life at http://www.getcosi.com/
If you are a peanut butter junkie like I am, try using a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup in place of the chocolate bar on your S'mores. Any other ideas for variations on the basic S'mores recipe? Leave it in the comments!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Bring out the Bubbly!
Today I just want to make a recommendation for a beverage to serve during the holidays. It's a festive time of year, so you can't go wrong with something a little bubbly. Personally, I enjoy myself ten times more when Champagne or sparkling wine is served at a holiday gathering! (And if I'm happy, everyone's happy.)
It's probably best to keep a couple bottles on hand this time of year, just in case guests stop by. And if they don't get used (shame on you!) you can always bring the extras to the New Year's Party. If you are unfamiliar or uncomfortable choosing a wine, don't be afriad to ask the wine store clerk to point you towards some good choices. They are experts and love making suggestions! These bottles aren't all crazy expensive either. (Well, Champagne is, but ooohlala, worth it!) Really, you only need to start the meal or party with something bubbly, and after everyone gets a glass, you can move on to regular wines or cocktails.
My long-time favorite is Asti Spumante, at about $14 a bottle, it's a delicious and affordable option. And you can find it in any grocery store. I have a fond memory of getting tipsy on the stuff at my grandmother's birthday party when I was 17 years old. Grandma and her friends got a little giddy, too! If you want to branch out a bit, try a Spanish Cava or Prosecco ("Champagne's Sexy Italian Cousin," according to this article) that are charming to serve but won't break the budget.
Cheers!
An Asti Christmas Tree. Santa got my letter!!!
It's probably best to keep a couple bottles on hand this time of year, just in case guests stop by. And if they don't get used (shame on you!) you can always bring the extras to the New Year's Party. If you are unfamiliar or uncomfortable choosing a wine, don't be afriad to ask the wine store clerk to point you towards some good choices. They are experts and love making suggestions! These bottles aren't all crazy expensive either. (Well, Champagne is, but ooohlala, worth it!) Really, you only need to start the meal or party with something bubbly, and after everyone gets a glass, you can move on to regular wines or cocktails.
My long-time favorite is Asti Spumante, at about $14 a bottle, it's a delicious and affordable option. And you can find it in any grocery store. I have a fond memory of getting tipsy on the stuff at my grandmother's birthday party when I was 17 years old. Grandma and her friends got a little giddy, too! If you want to branch out a bit, try a Spanish Cava or Prosecco ("Champagne's Sexy Italian Cousin," according to this article) that are charming to serve but won't break the budget.
Cheers!
An Asti Christmas Tree. Santa got my letter!!!
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Holiday Traditions
Well, it's now a couple days past Thanksgiving. Did you all enjoy your holiday? We had wonderful time with family, and now we are looking forward to enjoying leftovers for the next three months. Unfortunately we ran out of leftover gravy already.
But a party hostess has no time to dwell on the parties of yesterday when there is such a festive season to come! Yay for Christmas (or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa or Festivus)! I've heard of many fun themed events happening in the next few weeks from Cookie Exchange Parties, to a Tree Lighting Party, to an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party.
But there's one I'm looking forward to most of all. My parents have thrown the same formula Christmas Party for the past TWENTY YEARS. There are some new faces every year and some people who used to come but have moved far away, but there is a group of about twenty people or more who keep getting invited and keep coming back year after year. This is a tribute to the quality of friendships that my folks maintained throughout the past two decades. (Or maybe it's just a tribute to the popularity of the super-strong hot buttered rum that is always served.)
So, I've been thinking of party traditions. The holidays are the perfect time to consider starting your own tradition. Friends and family move away and we lose touch during the year, but having an annual event in your hometown can bring everyone together. Maybe get a group of the old gang to come over for (spiked) hot chocolate and board games on Christmas night after their family obligations are finished. Or pitch the idea that all the cousins go bowling on Christmas Eve. Begin a tradition of a service project that everyone can work on together - serving a hot meal at a soup kitchen, distributing toys to local families in need, putting a care package together for our troops overseas.
Brainstorm with select friends or family to decide what fits your group best. Renew those old acquaintances this year!
But a party hostess has no time to dwell on the parties of yesterday when there is such a festive season to come! Yay for Christmas (or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa or Festivus)! I've heard of many fun themed events happening in the next few weeks from Cookie Exchange Parties, to a Tree Lighting Party, to an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party.
But there's one I'm looking forward to most of all. My parents have thrown the same formula Christmas Party for the past TWENTY YEARS. There are some new faces every year and some people who used to come but have moved far away, but there is a group of about twenty people or more who keep getting invited and keep coming back year after year. This is a tribute to the quality of friendships that my folks maintained throughout the past two decades. (Or maybe it's just a tribute to the popularity of the super-strong hot buttered rum that is always served.)
So, I've been thinking of party traditions. The holidays are the perfect time to consider starting your own tradition. Friends and family move away and we lose touch during the year, but having an annual event in your hometown can bring everyone together. Maybe get a group of the old gang to come over for (spiked) hot chocolate and board games on Christmas night after their family obligations are finished. Or pitch the idea that all the cousins go bowling on Christmas Eve. Begin a tradition of a service project that everyone can work on together - serving a hot meal at a soup kitchen, distributing toys to local families in need, putting a care package together for our troops overseas.
Brainstorm with select friends or family to decide what fits your group best. Renew those old acquaintances this year!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Pyramid Napkin Fold
Dress up your Thanksgiving table and amaze your friends with this simple napkin-folding technique! This has been called the Pyramid Fold, although I'm sure it has other names. Start with any cloth napkin. It helps if you use a little starch, just to help it stand up better.
Take a basic napkin and fold it in half diagonally.
Then take one of the sides, and fold it down to the center point.
Then fold down the other side so the napkin has a seam down the middle.
Flip over the napkin with the "open" end away from you.
Fold the bottom point of the diamond (the one closest to you) up to the top point, creating a triangle.
Fold the triangle in half at the seam, creating a smaller triangle.
Place the folded triangle, with the right angle closest to the ceiling, on your plate. The triangle will open a little, so it can stand up.
Ta Da!! One down, twelve to go. Enjoy how pretty it looks now. Before long, you'll be cringing as your uncle wipes his mouth and gets gravy all over your pretty napkin. *Sigh*
Take a basic napkin and fold it in half diagonally.
Then take one of the sides, and fold it down to the center point.
Then fold down the other side so the napkin has a seam down the middle.
Flip over the napkin with the "open" end away from you.
Fold the bottom point of the diamond (the one closest to you) up to the top point, creating a triangle.
Fold the triangle in half at the seam, creating a smaller triangle.
Place the folded triangle, with the right angle closest to the ceiling, on your plate. The triangle will open a little, so it can stand up.
Ta Da!! One down, twelve to go. Enjoy how pretty it looks now. Before long, you'll be cringing as your uncle wipes his mouth and gets gravy all over your pretty napkin. *Sigh*
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Girls Night In Movie Party
Sometimes it's nice to just kick the guys out of the house and have a Girls' Night In. One of the best excuses I've found for this is a DVD Release Party. In addition to providing cheap entertainment, movies instantly create a theme for the night. I'm thinking Sex and the City, the latest Harry Potter, the Sound of Music re-release, or my personal pick, Eclipse (the third Twilight movie). Go ahead and make all the cougar jokes you want, I love the romance and adventure of Bella, Edward, and Jacob! I've hosted parties for the previous two DVD releases, so when Eclipse comes out on Dec. 4, you'd better believe my friends and I will be ready for it!
Step 1 - Choose the movie for your party. Eclipse is actually the perfect choice for Girls' Night. The men in your lives will be more than happy to stay home and even watch your kiddos, as long as they don't have to watch this movie.
Step 2 - Invite friends who love the movie, or at least can appreciate it ironically, or at the very least, won't make fun of your love for it!
Step 3 - Food - Helps to choose a few appetizers that go with the theme. Maybe a dish they serve in the movie. In any case, remember that many women are watching their weight, so always provide a healthy option. On the other hand, this is a party for the ladies, so chocolate or some kind of dessert should definitely be served. For Twilight:Eclipse, I'm making little sugar cookies that have phrases like "Bite Me", "Imprint on Me", and "I *heart* E.C." written on them in icing. It's okay to be nerdy, you're among friends.
Step 4 - Decorations - Alright, so Girls' Night doesn't really demand decor, but your friends will appreciate a couple little touches. Put out a nice tablecloth and make sure all the paper plates and napkins are a fun color that goes with the theme. (Red for Eclipse, with a big bowl of red apples as the centerpiece to evoke the Twilight book cover art. Or maybe a red ribbon circling around the dishes on the table. Or a life-sized cardboard cut-out of Edward. Or not.)
Step 5 - Drinks - Girls' Night demands a great cocktail. Sex in the City - serve cosmopolitans, of course. Harry Potter - maybe a butterscotch schnapps cocktail, reminiscent of Butterbeer? Sound of Music - hmmm... champagne? (The only reason I say that is Liesl's line, "I'd like to stay and taste my first champagne!" Plus, champagne is awesome.) Eclipse - blood red wine.
Step 6 - The (Drinking) Game - Of course you can always substitute M&Ms or something instead of shots if your friends aren't big drinkers, but a Movie-themed drinking game can keep everyone's attention focused on the movie, and can be a laugh riot. Other movies, like Rocky Horror Picture Show and the Sound of Music have developed non-drinking audience participation that you could do instead.
Here are some links to drinking games for popular movies and TV shows out on DVD: (I did the Google search for you!!)
Eclipse
Sex and the City Movie or Sex and the City TV show
Harry Potter
X-Files
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Non-drinking audience participation movies -
Rocky Horror
Sound of Music and additional prop ideas
Step 1 - Choose the movie for your party. Eclipse is actually the perfect choice for Girls' Night. The men in your lives will be more than happy to stay home and even watch your kiddos, as long as they don't have to watch this movie.
Step 2 - Invite friends who love the movie, or at least can appreciate it ironically, or at the very least, won't make fun of your love for it!
Step 3 - Food - Helps to choose a few appetizers that go with the theme. Maybe a dish they serve in the movie. In any case, remember that many women are watching their weight, so always provide a healthy option. On the other hand, this is a party for the ladies, so chocolate or some kind of dessert should definitely be served. For Twilight:Eclipse, I'm making little sugar cookies that have phrases like "Bite Me", "Imprint on Me", and "I *heart* E.C." written on them in icing. It's okay to be nerdy, you're among friends.
Step 4 - Decorations - Alright, so Girls' Night doesn't really demand decor, but your friends will appreciate a couple little touches. Put out a nice tablecloth and make sure all the paper plates and napkins are a fun color that goes with the theme. (Red for Eclipse, with a big bowl of red apples as the centerpiece to evoke the Twilight book cover art. Or maybe a red ribbon circling around the dishes on the table. Or a life-sized cardboard cut-out of Edward. Or not.)
Step 5 - Drinks - Girls' Night demands a great cocktail. Sex in the City - serve cosmopolitans, of course. Harry Potter - maybe a butterscotch schnapps cocktail, reminiscent of Butterbeer? Sound of Music - hmmm... champagne? (The only reason I say that is Liesl's line, "I'd like to stay and taste my first champagne!" Plus, champagne is awesome.) Eclipse - blood red wine.
Step 6 - The (Drinking) Game - Of course you can always substitute M&Ms or something instead of shots if your friends aren't big drinkers, but a Movie-themed drinking game can keep everyone's attention focused on the movie, and can be a laugh riot. Other movies, like Rocky Horror Picture Show and the Sound of Music have developed non-drinking audience participation that you could do instead.
Here are some links to drinking games for popular movies and TV shows out on DVD: (I did the Google search for you!!)
Eclipse
Sex and the City Movie or Sex and the City TV show
Harry Potter
X-Files
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Non-drinking audience participation movies -
Rocky Horror
Sound of Music and additional prop ideas
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Entertaining Christmas Parties
There's so much going on during the holidays, but the best part is getting together with your friends and family. If you plan on hosting a Christmas soiree this year, how do you keep it festive and fun? This topic comes a little early, but if you are a compulsive planner like I am, you are already thinking about your seasonal party. Here are some ideas to get you started....
- Bake off - Every guest needs to bring a plate of cookies to share. You provide the milk! Then guests vote on the best cookie. If everyone emails you their recipe ahead of time, you can compile the recipes and print them out, so everyone gets a pack of Christmas cookie recipes as a party favor.
- Cookie decorating - If it's a cozy and casual vibe you are after, why not fill your home with the smell of freshly baked cut-out cookies? Make all the cut-outs before the guests arrive and cover the table with a protective plastic sheet and all the toppings and icings you can find! Let the guests go wild decorating their cookies. This is great for little kids and adults.
- How about an ornament decorating station? Have lots of glitter, puff balls, pipe cleaners, etc. Best ornament, as voted on by the group, gets an awesome prize! Hang all ornaments on a tree as they are finished, so everyone can admire them. Beware - as the amount of alcohol served at the party increases, the ornaments will get more silly and/or raunchy. Good way to break the ice and let grown-ups play with Elmer's glue again. They'll do things with pipe cleaners that would embarrass their children. Fun!
- We have always done a "white elephant" gift exchange at my family's Christmas party. Guests should bring something from their home that they don't want anymore (or they can purchase something, but that takes some of the challenge out of it in my opinion) and wrap it nicely. The funnier item the better. We've had macrame plant holders, a dashboard hula girl, a clown wig, a beer hat, a bottle of moonshine, a giant Hillshire Farms sausage... And you draw numbers to see who goes first. After the first round, people can chose to open a new present, or steal a gift that has already been opened. I suggest putting limits on how many times an item can be stolen each turn, or it gets out of hand. This game gets really competitive and fun! You would be amazed at the crazy items people are desperate to get!! Oh, and it's nice to let the person who drew number 1 go again at the very end of the game, so they at least get one chance to steal.
- Live music. Whether you hire a five piece jazz combo, or you lead a carol sing-along, nothing gets people into the holiday spirit like a little Christmas music.
- Dress up. There's something thrilling about having a chance to go out on the town looking like a million bucks. Insisting on "Holiday Dress Up Attire" will ensure that guests come to your home with a sparkling attitude. Make the most of the fancy vibe by serving cocktails or champagne and using non-disposable dishware.
- If all else fails, there's always beer pong.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Thanksgiving Planning
So excited for Thanksgiving this year! One, because it's the first time I get to host the holiday at my own home. And two, because for the first time since high school (12 years ago), that I don't have to travel to be with family on Turkey Day - because they are coming to me. No stress about crowded highways and sleeping in a strange bed. No wondering whether there will be a quiet place for my toddler to take a nap if she gets tired before mashed potatoes are served.
Now - on to the best part! Making the menu! I grabbed my back issues of November Bon Appetit magazine, my trusty Better Homes cookbook, and a paper and pen, and set to work.
I think it's helpful to write out every course of the main Thanksgiving meal, as well as every other meal your out of town guests will eat while at your house. This helps gets the "MASTER GROCERY LIST" together. The last thing you want to do is battle the totally packed grocery store on Thanksgiving eve because you ran out of milk for cereal. You also end up spending much more if you make multiple trips to the store, so better to get it all at once.
I have heard from several people and sources that it is pointless to deviate from the standard Thanksgiving menu. People come to Thanksgiving expecting certain things will be served. If you decide that you want rice pilaf instead of potatoes this year as a side dish, there will be mutiny! Guests will throw their salad forks at you! If you serve both rice and mashed potatoes, all of the potates will be devoured before you can say "Howdy Pilgrim" and the rice will sit untouched until the third day of eating leftovers. This doesn't mean you can't exercise a little creativity. A glance at the last four Novemeber Bon Appetit's shows about twelve different ways to make and season a turkey. But you have to have a turkey. Sorry. If you serve Bouillabaisse in place of a turkey because you want to go vegetarian this year, some people will cry. CRY! And your job as a hostess is to help your guests have a good time. No Bouillabaisse.
The only real choice you have in the menu is for appetizers and dessert. And sometimes not even dessert. You might have to have a pumpkin pie. It's tradition. But, you can (and should!)make a second dessert for non-pie fans. Anything goes! Cheesecake, creme brulee, assorted cookies - it's all fabulous. No one will be sad if you make too much dessert.
As for appetizers, here's where you as a host can really stretch your culinary wings. The main guidance I will give is that the dish should NOT be something that requires an oven on Thanksgiving day. The oven will be more than occupied with turkey and other food. Something you can make a day ahead of time will save you some day-of hassle. Imagine having the appetizer already arranged on it's serving platter the night before, ready to place on the table as soon as the first guest arrives. When you are making mashed potatoes, basting the turkey, greeting guests, and pouring waters all at the same time on Thanksgiving Day, you will be thankful to me for that little suggestion.
Another suggestion is to delegate the appetizers. As the host, you will likely be responsible for the majority of the food, and your vision for the menu probably includes foods that pair well together. Appetizers are a great thing to delegate because you don't care what the guest brings! In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter if the appetizer pairs well with the meal. Actually, it will be nice to have some variation. Middle Eastern dips with pita chips? Yes, please! Mini hotdogs? Don't mind if I do!
If you have a guest coming that you just can't trust to cook anything worth eating, well, that's when you say, "It would be great if you could bring a bottle of wine!"
Now - on to the best part! Making the menu! I grabbed my back issues of November Bon Appetit magazine, my trusty Better Homes cookbook, and a paper and pen, and set to work.
I think it's helpful to write out every course of the main Thanksgiving meal, as well as every other meal your out of town guests will eat while at your house. This helps gets the "MASTER GROCERY LIST" together. The last thing you want to do is battle the totally packed grocery store on Thanksgiving eve because you ran out of milk for cereal. You also end up spending much more if you make multiple trips to the store, so better to get it all at once.
I have heard from several people and sources that it is pointless to deviate from the standard Thanksgiving menu. People come to Thanksgiving expecting certain things will be served. If you decide that you want rice pilaf instead of potatoes this year as a side dish, there will be mutiny! Guests will throw their salad forks at you! If you serve both rice and mashed potatoes, all of the potates will be devoured before you can say "Howdy Pilgrim" and the rice will sit untouched until the third day of eating leftovers. This doesn't mean you can't exercise a little creativity. A glance at the last four Novemeber Bon Appetit's shows about twelve different ways to make and season a turkey. But you have to have a turkey. Sorry. If you serve Bouillabaisse in place of a turkey because you want to go vegetarian this year, some people will cry. CRY! And your job as a hostess is to help your guests have a good time. No Bouillabaisse.
The only real choice you have in the menu is for appetizers and dessert. And sometimes not even dessert. You might have to have a pumpkin pie. It's tradition. But, you can (and should!)make a second dessert for non-pie fans. Anything goes! Cheesecake, creme brulee, assorted cookies - it's all fabulous. No one will be sad if you make too much dessert.
As for appetizers, here's where you as a host can really stretch your culinary wings. The main guidance I will give is that the dish should NOT be something that requires an oven on Thanksgiving day. The oven will be more than occupied with turkey and other food. Something you can make a day ahead of time will save you some day-of hassle. Imagine having the appetizer already arranged on it's serving platter the night before, ready to place on the table as soon as the first guest arrives. When you are making mashed potatoes, basting the turkey, greeting guests, and pouring waters all at the same time on Thanksgiving Day, you will be thankful to me for that little suggestion.
Another suggestion is to delegate the appetizers. As the host, you will likely be responsible for the majority of the food, and your vision for the menu probably includes foods that pair well together. Appetizers are a great thing to delegate because you don't care what the guest brings! In the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter if the appetizer pairs well with the meal. Actually, it will be nice to have some variation. Middle Eastern dips with pita chips? Yes, please! Mini hotdogs? Don't mind if I do!
If you have a guest coming that you just can't trust to cook anything worth eating, well, that's when you say, "It would be great if you could bring a bottle of wine!"
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Creating Halloween Party Atmosphere
Have you ever been to a party where everyone is a little too polite and not really having fun? Odds are that the atmosphere for the party wasn't quite right. I mean, who wants to dance when the lighting is so bright and florescent that you don't know if you are at a party or visiting the dentist?
More than most any other type of party, Halloween especially needs a great mood to be set. People are dressed in ridiculous costumes, ready to let their inhibitions go, and as a host or hostess, you need to encourage the wild side of your guests.
Setting the Halloween mood requires three things - lighting, decorations, and sound.
LIGHTING:
This is the most important element of your Halloween scene-setting. No one wants bright lighting at a Halloween Party. Let me repeat: NO ONE WANTS BRIGHT LIGHTING AT A HALLOWEEN PARTY. So, how do you create a spooky mood while still ensuring that your guests can see their way to the food table?
DECORATIONS - You can make fun decorations for free or at least buy them pretty inexpensively. I'll do a post later this week on homemade deocrations. Decorations are a must at Halloween! Seriously, why even throw a Halloween party if you don't want to make your house spooky?
I like to do each room as a different theme. For example - arachnid living room, batroom or bloody Psycho scene in the bathroom, Zombie-attack food room, skeletons in the closet, kitchen = witch's potion room. Some people who throw Halloween parties have a whole house theme that is different every year. You can get great ideas at the Halloween Forum website. Your guests will be expecting alot from the decorations if they are invited to a Halloween party at your place - so don't disappoint!
There are a couple things to keep in mind when decorating your place for Halloween:
Have any more ideas about creating Halloween atmosphere? Post them in the comments!
More than most any other type of party, Halloween especially needs a great mood to be set. People are dressed in ridiculous costumes, ready to let their inhibitions go, and as a host or hostess, you need to encourage the wild side of your guests.
Setting the Halloween mood requires three things - lighting, decorations, and sound.
LIGHTING:
This is the most important element of your Halloween scene-setting. No one wants bright lighting at a Halloween Party. Let me repeat: NO ONE WANTS BRIGHT LIGHTING AT A HALLOWEEN PARTY. So, how do you create a spooky mood while still ensuring that your guests can see their way to the food table?
- Gels - Theatrical gels can be found on Ebay from various vendors. They are pieces of thin, colored plastic that don't melt even when touching hot electric lights. I would recommend getting a few green ones and a few red ones and putting them over any light bulbs in your home. They will still let enough light through, but will cast a dramatic colored light in the party rooms. Maybe do green if you are recreating a bat cave, or use red for a freaky glow in the kitchen. Red light is actually really disturbing and makes people think about danger (or in Amsterdam, prostitutes), so it's perfect for Halloween.
- Candles - Be careful, because drunk guests + fire is not always the best equation. But candles placed in a low-traffic area create an unparalled ambience. If those candles are placed inside a creepy jack o' lantern, even better!
- Colored lightbulbs - These are great because they are easy to find in any home improvement store. Colored bulbs come in CFL now, which are much better because they don't get so deadly hot to the touch, use less energy, and especially the black lights create a brighter effect.
- Turn off the overhead lights - Even if you don't want crazy colored lighting at your party, turning on some lamps instead of the super bright overhead lights will create a cozier atmosphere.
DECORATIONS - You can make fun decorations for free or at least buy them pretty inexpensively. I'll do a post later this week on homemade deocrations. Decorations are a must at Halloween! Seriously, why even throw a Halloween party if you don't want to make your house spooky?
I like to do each room as a different theme. For example - arachnid living room, batroom or bloody Psycho scene in the bathroom, Zombie-attack food room, skeletons in the closet, kitchen = witch's potion room. Some people who throw Halloween parties have a whole house theme that is different every year. You can get great ideas at the Halloween Forum website. Your guests will be expecting alot from the decorations if they are invited to a Halloween party at your place - so don't disappoint!
There are a couple things to keep in mind when decorating your place for Halloween:
- What age guests are you expecting? There are many levels of Halloween decor from "Autumn Festive" to "Terror Town". If this is a party for five year olds, let's stay on the tame end of the spectrum. No skeletons in electric chairs for the young 'uns, okay? However, if you have all ages, you might choose to make the basement or backyard really terrifying for the older guests, and keep other areas just a little spooky.
- How overboard do you want to go with this? You can choose a couple rooms to decorate, and leave the rest normal. Saves time and money, and keeps guests out of the boring rooms (fewer rooms to clean later - bonus!) And, if your party this year rocks, people will want you to throw a party next year, so don't blow all your great ideas at once.
- BORROW decorations from other people. Why buy or make a million things that you will just have to store in your garage? So many people have had a big party in the past, and would be happy to let you borrow their stuff. Ask around! (Don't ask people that you don't plan to invite - that's rude! "Dude, can I borrow your homemade coffin for my awesome party? But you can't come. I think it's creepy that you have a coffin and I don't want my friends to know that I know you.")
Have any more ideas about creating Halloween atmosphere? Post them in the comments!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Halloween Invitations
I'm not knocking Evite - it's convenient! cute graphics! I have a head count! - but there is something about Evite that feels a little forced. Sometimes when a friend sends me an Evite, I'll sit for ten minutes trying to think of an unoffensive excuse to put next to my name in the "Not attending" column (when the real reason is that I can see that your stupid co-worker Travis just RSVPed and spending a night listening to him tell off-color jokes is my personal version of hell.)
Generally, if I'm taking the time and spending the money to have a legendary shin-dig, I want the invitation to reflect that. If it's something less legendary, like a backyard BYOB party, I'll buy some hot dogs and send an Evite. If you are planning a fancy, high-budget affair such as a wedding, there are whole books of etiquette about the invitations you'll need, and I'm not getting into all that now.
The next party I'm hosting is the best of all theme parties - HALLOWEEN!! We are expecting 45 people from multiple circles of friends. This is our second annual Halloween party and the pressure is on to make it even better than last year's event (which was SUPER FUN, especially considering that we were first-timers who didn't have many decorations yet!)
Invites needed to go out to 60 people or so. Personally, I would rather spend my party budget on better booze instead of stamps. So we did the ecological, economical thing and created a PDF invitation to email to our friends.
PROS to the E-MAILED PDF/JPEG:
- You can also print the PDF and hang it up at work, eliminating the awkward "co-worker party" email, or pass out a flyer to your neighbors.
- It's cooler and more memorable than just typing a few lines of text in an email or text message.
- The invitation will continued to be formatted that way you want, even if friends forward it to other people.
- Design will give the guests a clue about what to expect at the party.
Below are my invitations from this year's and last year's parties. They were both designed in Adobe Illustrator (with some Photoshop for good measure). You can also use a program like Microsoft Publisher to create similar effects. We found some inspiration by doing an Image search on Google.
Our party will be a Thriller!
We were in the middle of watching Season 1 of Dexter when we designed this one.
Pudding Shots
Thank you to my dear friend Julie who introduced me to pudding shots! I'm going to make a bold claim here - Pudding shots are the new Jello shot. If these have not made an appearance at any of your friends' parties yet, then prepare to become an instant hero among your group. These are imperative for any Girls' Weekend or Bachelorette Party. They are also going to be amazing at my upcoming Halloween Party.
Pudding shots are creamy little alcohol-infused spoonfuls of HEAVEN. They are great for you, the hostess, because you can make them a week ahead of time and freeze them. There are a million flavor variations to suit your party and your tastes.
Here is the basic recipe:
1 small box of INSTANT chocolate pudding
3/4 C Milk (skim works fine)
1/4 C Vodka
1/2 C Bailey's Irish cream
8 oz Extra Creamy Cool Whip
Mix the pudding mix with the milk with an electric mixer. Then add the booze and mix. Then add the cool whip and mix. Put into small cups and freeze. Serve with little spoons. Makes 24 2oz. servings.
Variations:
- White Chocolate instant pudding mix with Kahlua instead of Bailey's. (Use slightly less than 1/2 Cup or it will taste too boozy.)
- Turtle instant pudding mix (they only carry this flavor around X-mas, so stock up when you see it!) with Caramel Bailey's.
- Chocolate instant pudding mix with Mint Bailey's or peppermint schnapps.
- French Vanilla instant pudding mix with 1/3 C Amaretto instead of the Bailey's.
- I haven't tried this one yet, but imagine that Banana instant pudding mix and Brandy or Rum would be divine. If someone tries this combo, let me know how it turns out!
HOSTESS TIPS:
- You can get 2 oz plastic cups with lids at GFS or other restaurant supply stores. I know GFS has mini spoons, too. The lids are key because then you can stack the shots in your freezer.
- If you have a hard time getting the pudding shot mix into the little cups, you might try putting the pudding shot mix into a large plastic bag and cutting off the corner of the bag, thus creating a way to "pipe" the mix into the little cups. Personally, I did okay just scooping the pudding shot mix with a measuring cup and dripping it into the little cups.
- Top the shot with a little dollop of whipped cream for extra flair.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)