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!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)