Create My Event - Event & Party Ideas Blog

Fly - Don't Bake - The Flag!

As hip hostesses and exceptional entertainers, what we serve at the end of our Independence Day meals ought to make a bang. Patriotic is one of the easier celebration motifs to pull off...the direction of the theme and decor are already defined. The menu provides an opportunity to create something unexpected. For dessert, Flag Cakes are still bakery best sellers and popular choices for home bakers for July 4th. Those of us seeking a trendier finale to our holiday meal need to consider other options.

For wow factor, presenting a Pavlova with seasonal berries will make a bold statement while maintaining a nod to tradition. Vibrant red and blue on a puff of white is quite dramatic. Palvola is a dessert guest do not come across frequently, it will impress without a great deal of effort. Macerated red and blue summertime fruits provide a sumptuous syrup that cascades over a barely there meringue cloud and whipped cream. Try Ina Garten's Mixed Berry Palvola for terrific results. Time savvy party throwers may order the Pavlovas from their favorite bakery and add berries and whipped cream before serving.

Ina's recipe calls for one large round but it could easily be converted to make individual disks for more elegant gatherings. To reduce the sugar, simply top the Pavlova with fresh berries. Any imperfections are hidden under the whipped cream and berry sauce. The Palvola may also be broken into pieces and serve parfait style.

What to bring your hostess? Great wines under $15

As a Southern girl, I believe that good manners will open any door one needs. Good manners are crucial for success in every arena one enters. Emily Post is a household name and long standing authority on etiquette. Her wisdom has served me well throughout my entire life.
As an event planner, I have been a part of many different social occasions, and I have noticed many people struggle with what to bring their hostess. Hostess gifts can be tricky. What do I bring if I am invited to a casual dinner party? A backyard summer BBQ? A party at my boss' home? Each of these situations warrant different types of gifts.

For instance, my husband's boss throws lots of parties throughout the year. Christmas parties, summer parties, his children's birthday parties, etc... Each party is different, each hostess is different, so each hostess gift must be different.

Always a great thing to bring at any time is a nice bottle of wine. However, many people do not realize that one can buy a very nice bottle of wine that doesn't cost a mortgage payment. Here are a few suggestions for great wines under $15!

Since red wine is not usually chilled, Winter is the best time to bring reds as hostess gifts. My absolute favorite red wine is either Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sangiovese, Malbec, or Zinfandel. I love red wine!

So, Cabernets are pretty trendy, and many people who just started to try reds often get turned on to cabs first.

Try these Cabernets:

Bonterra
Bonterra is a California red, and it is one of the few wines that is organic.
This Cabernet offers aromas of Bing cherry, currants and raspberry, with spicy notes of cedar and dried cranberry, with slight vanilla notes (French Vanilla, insists Christian). In the glass you’ll find juicy red berry flavors, and a very approachable, rich and full mouthfeel with a lingering, thoughtful finish. Good structure, polished yet soft tannins promise an ever more pleasing wine to come, with lively acidity and subtle spice.

Wente
I absolutely love this cabernet. It's aged for an entire year in French and American oak barrels and has black tea, black cherry fruit aromas. It's subtle and has well integrated vanilla oak aromas. Black olive aromas. Powerful, yet silky tannins with a fruit filled mouthfeel. Balanced acidity, smooth yet lingering finish.

Bogle
Bogle makes a fabulous Merlot. Concentrated aromas of earthy spice and summer cherries surround the senses, while the first pleasant sip is a delightful wave of fresh red fruit and soft garden herbs. Mere hints of pipe tobacco and spicy oak lend depth to the finish, reinforced by firm, assertive tannins.

White wines, since they are served chilled are perfect for summer and spring.

My two favorite white wines are Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.

Bonterra makes my absolute favorite chard. It's so creamy and oak-y and buttery. I just love it.

Most of the grapes for Bonterra’s Chardonnay are harvested along a 12-mile corridor near the banks of the Russian River, and year after year offer characteristic green apple, baked apple, pear and citrus notes in the wine. There’s a touch of vanilla from the dollop of new French Oak. An initial impression of rich, buttery cream quickly turns to aromas of honey and lightly toasted almonds, followed quickly by tropical aromas of pineapple, citrusy lemon and Crème Brûlée.
Barboursville makes my favorite Sauvignon Blanc.
Effusively fragrant, crisp, juicy and bright with distinctive pear and passion fruit flavors. Hints of citrus appear on a gently herbal frame.

A sustaining complement in food pairings, this vintage is equally elegant and refreshing as an aperitif in lieu of sparkling wine.

I truly hope you can find these wines with ease. They are typically available at your local market.
I love bringing wine to smaller gatherings. There is nothing better than being able to share your favorite wine with good food, fascinating conversation, and great friends.

Check back for my next post where I get into other creative hostess gift ideas. And don't forget to check the recipe section for suggestions on what wines to pair with different foods.

Thanks Y'all!
Allison@ occasions&style

Hey y'all! I'm Allison Templeton CEO and founder of occasions&style.

I am an event designer in Norfolk, VA specializing in weddings, corporate galas, social events, and just really cool parties. I am so excited to be a guest blogger here at Create My Event. Create My Event has long been one of my absolute favorite blogs, and I have gotten so many fabulous ideas for my work here.
I truly hope you can use my ideas to help create your perfect event!
I love to write my own recipes, so don't forget to look in the recipe section for some of my creations.

5 senses of entertaining

It's summertime.  A time for outdoor barbecues, pool parties and soaking up the sun with friends and family.  I can picture it now...women sipping wine, little kids running and playing, men chatting by the grill.  These get togethers are fun, a great time to see friends, and even make the heat manageable.    

If you are hosting one of these events during this season of the sun, think about what will make your event shine and stand out from other parties.  The following gives you a structure to put in place every time you entertain and will certainly make your upcoming summer party a great event. 

I believe to make an event memorable, it needs to appeal to all Five Senses. When plan your event based on these senses, your party will definitely be one that will be different from the rest…

Sight

As soon as your guests walk through your front door or garden gate, set their sights on beautiful things. Fresh flowers, lit candles, or a beautifully set table create a welcome that captures more than a glance.

Sound

Whether guests hear ambient music, birds singing, or water falling, sound is an essential component of a successful party. It helps to set the mood, the pace, and the overall feeling of the celebration. No matter if you're hosting a backyard barbecue or a cocktail party, think about the atmosphere you desire and work to achieve that feeling through sound.

Smell

Smell has the power to remind us of our childhood, a moment in time, or a particular person. It has such a strong connection with our emotions, but is often ignored when planning an event.

Some easy and fairly inexpensive ways to create a wonderful smell that fits the occasion are through candles. Buy a candle that has been infused with the aroma that will delight your guests' noses. Fresh flowers are also a great way to fill the space with clean scents. Timing when you bake your dessert or hot appetizer also helps to create great smells when guests arrive.

Touch

Entice your guests to not only study your table and party decorations, but also make the party accessories either interesting or playful enough for guests to want to pick the items up. For instance, display photos of the guest of honor or strategically place memorabilia or items that enhance your theme all around your event space.

An unexpected way to appeal to your guests' touch is to send them home with a favor, a momento to thank them for coming.  Ideas include homemade lemonade in unique jars,  chocolate-dipped strawberries wrapped in cello bags, or a favorite recipe written on a pretty card.  Whatever compliments the event is a nice and gracious way to appeal to touch.   

Taste

Some may argue that food is the most important factor to a successful party. I would say that I agree. That is why I rely heavily on some key cookbooks to help me delight my guests' appetites. The Joy of Cooking and the Best New Recipe are some of my all-time favorite cookbooks. Generally, the recipes are easy and turn out wonderful, giving the perception that I know what I am doing in the kitchen.

By following the five senses rule every time you entertain, you will have all the bases covered.  Happy summertime and good luck with your next event! 

Meghann Kopecky

Meghann Kopecky is a new guest blogger for createmyevent.com.  She is also the President/Design Director of Urbanity, a company specializing in invitations, announcements and personal stationery. Urbanity inspires the connection of friends, family and new acquaintances through fun invitations, unique thank you notes, special announcements, or fresh entertaining ideas . Let the celebration begin.

Yummy Fondue Recipes!

In keeping with my earlier post of a 70s theme 4th of July party, here are my 2 favorite fondue recipes. This is one of the best Swiss fondue recipes I have ever tried. The kirsch is one of the most important ingredients. You can find kirsch liqueur at your local liquor store. But, this is one ingredient you will not be able to substitute or eliminate! While you're at the liquor store, pick up the Amaretto for the chocolate fondue and a nice bottle of white wine.
The best bread to use for the dipping is day old bread. It's a bit crustier, so it won't fall apart in the cheese. Make sure you leave some of the crust on each bread cube.
I also like Granny Smith apples for dipping in the cheese as well.

Classic Swiss Three-Cheese Fondue

1 garlic clove, peeled
1 cup dry white wine
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
8 ounces Gruyere cheese, rind trimmed and discarded, and shredded (about 2 1/2 cups)
8 ounces Emmentaler cheese, rind trimmed and discarded, and shredded (about 2 1/2 cups)
3 ounces Appenzeller cheese, cut into cubes (about 1/2 cup)
4 teaspoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon kirsch
A few gratings of fresh nutmeg
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
What to dip: crusty mixed grain bread, French or Italian bread, cut into bite-sized cubes (leave a piece of crust on each cube); Cooked chicken breast, skin and bone removed, cut into bite-sized cubes; cooked garlic sausage or knockwurst, cut into bite-sized wedges; boiled new potatoes; asparagus spears, broccoli florets or cauliflower florets prepared for dipping.
Rub the inside of a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan with the garlic; discard the garlic. Add the wine and lemon juice and bring to a bare simmer over medium heat.

In a medium bowl, toss the Gruyere, Emmentaler, and Appenzeller cheeses with the cornstarch. A handful at a time, stir the cheese mixture into the wine, stirring the first batch until it is almost completely melted before adding another. The fondue can bubble gently, but do not boil. Stir in the kirsch and season with the nutmeg and pepper.

Transfer to a cheese fondue pot and keep warm over a fondue burner. Serve immediately with dipping ingredients

This chocolate fondue recipe is one of my all time favorites. I love anything that combines chocolate and almond flavors. The Amaretto compliments the chocolate perfectly. It's just the right amount of sweetness. It's not an overpowering almond flavor. If you don't have any Amaretto and don't want to trek over to the liquor store, you can add almond extract. Don't add a full 1/4 cup! Just add a little dribble at a time until you like how it tastes.
Some additional dipper ideas are marshmallows, apples (you can use the leftover Granny Smith apples from the cheese), and Pepperidge Farm Bordeaux cookies (my personal favorite dipper!).

Amaretto Chocolate Fondue

3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 pound semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup amaretto liqueur
Dippers: biscotti, strawberries, pineapple chunks, bananas

In a heavy saucepan, bring whipping cream to a boil. Remove from heat, add chocolate, stirring until smooth. Stir in liqueur. Spoon into a fondue pot; keep warm over low heat. Serve with desired dippers.

Thank you to the Food Network for these delicious recipes!

Designer Dinnerware: Fine China at Bed Bath & Beyond

I've noticed that the selection of dinnerware at standby megastore Bed, Bath & Beyond has gotten a lot more chic and stylish recently. In particular there are some really nice designs from venerable British china companies Royal Doulton and Wedgwood.

Celebrity chef and adjective-challenged star of TV's Hell's Kitchen, Gordon Ramsey, has an unexpectedly classic dinner service. Gordon Ramsey White for Royal Doulton. Platinum band on white. $79.99 for a five piece setting.

British designer Jasper Conran's pure white china is spare and spare and elegant. The food will definitely be the star on these plates.  Jasper Conran Fine Bone China for Wedgwood. $29.99 for a 10.5" dinner plate.


My absolute favorite: French fashion designer Monique Lhullier combines a lizardskin border in a taupy gray with a chic white center. It's also the best named dinner service. Monique Lhullier Femme Fatale for Royal Doulton. $139.99 for a five piece setting.

Navigating the Bed, Bath & Beyond site isn't the easiest thing in the world but with designs like these, it's worth it.

America the Beautiful- Bicentennial Redux! An indoor/outdoor July 4th Bash.

We all love the 4th of July. It happens to be my favorite holiday. What is better than a hot summer day filled with water balloon fights, strawberries and watermelon, hot dogs on the grill, and intricate fireworks displays?
Last year, I had the traditional party all planned out. We had plenty of ice, charcoal, and patriotism. An entire day devoted to outdoor fun! Well, it rained. And not just a little rain; we had a 3 hour down pour! I am planning my 4th of July party for this year and as I remember the storms that ruined my BBQ- I had a thought.
This year, I am planning to honor my country in a different way. I am re-doing the Bicentennial!
Since I love theme parties, and the 70s are among my favorite of all themes, I am recreating a 1976 style Bicentennial 4th of July Party.
In 1976, from coast to coast, America celebrated its 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It was a rockin' good time! And I can't wait to recreate it!
Fondue was a party trend in the 70s, so why not incorporate fondue into your party?

Super fun lime green fondue set. Rachel Ray for Target
Check out the recipe section for my favorite fondue recipes!

For cocktails, instead of setting out the traditional bar with vodka, gin, rum, and various mixers, focus on a signature cocktail and ask your guests to bring some beer or wine.
For this party, I am serving one of my favorite refreshing summer drinks, the Caipirihna.

You can find the mix at Target, but if you don't like to do a mix, here is the recipe:

Limes and key lime juice
Sugar
Cachaca (this is a Brazilian rum that can be hard to find. You can use light rum or good vodka instead)

Rim an old fashioned glass with sugar.
Cut the limes and squeeze the juice into the bottom of a glass. Throw the limes in there as well.
Add about 2 teaspoons of sugar per glass (adjust for pitcher sizes as your taste prefers).
Using a pestle, muddle the limes and sugar.
Fill glass with ice and add rum.
Use a swizzle stick to stir it all up and enjoy!

To decorate for your Bicentennial Redux, all you need is red white, and blue, and a little 70s style bright colors and bold prints. Head over to my favorite party supply place, Social Couture for some awesome patriotic decor.

For a modern take on 70s retro dinner and drinkware, Cynthia Rowley's Whim collection for Target has some great, affordable ideas.

Since the 70s were cheesy and fun, why not use that in traditional 4th of July games? Instead of bobbing for apples, bob for these cute little patriotic rubber duckies!

You can find these adorable duckies and other patriotic novelties at Oriental Trading

When the sun goes down, you can light your yard with tiki torches and paper lanterns. Pass out the sparklers and settle in for the fireworks show!

Freshen Up Your Garden for a Party

With Outdoor Garden Stakes from 2Modern Modern Furniture. It's easy to brighten your garden year after year - no watering necessary.

 

Tapas - Andalusia Style

A surprising find of a Spanish Tinto wine at my gourmet market has inspired a happy hour featuring the tapas of Andalusia.

Spain's Andalusia region is most known for flamenco, the music and dance form performed by the Gypsies. There, the summers are hot and the chorizo is spicy. In Seville's cafes and bars, you can order the popular Tinto de Verano, which translates to "red wine of summer". Tinto is an authentic alternative to Sangria. It is a simple mixture of red wine and lemon flavored soda or lemonade made with seltzer, served over ice. From Tinto, it is very easy to develop an Andalusian celebration with Spanish food and atmosphere.

Manchego cheese, Chorizo sausage and Serrano ham are easily found at gourmet or specialty markets. A Tempranillo red can be substituted for the Carro Tinto 2006 I discovered. Other regional specialties are available online at La Tienda. Here you can order the flavorful Bonita del Norte, an olive oil packed, line caught and hand packed tuna. Piquillo peppers can be stuffed with the tuna or crabmeat from your grocer. You might also serve them with just a drizzle of quality Spanish Olive Oil, for they are the sweetest roasted red peppers you will ever eat. Either way, garnish the peppers with stemmed Caperberries, Olives and Capers. Try the Vichy Catalan sparkling and mineral waters, which are ubiquitous in Andalusia's cafes. La Tienda has 71 appetizer and tapas recipes. My favorites for a happy hour include Avocado and Prawn Cocktail, Sizzled Shrimp, and Rioja Potatoes. They are easy to prepare but never fail to wow my guests. The tinto recipe below can be made for a self service bar by pouring the bottle of wine into a pitcher, adding a cup or so of sparkling lemonade or a can of Limonata and lemon slices.

TINTO de VERANO

Bottle of Tinto or Tempranillo wine
San Pellegrino Limonata, Sparkling lemonade or Lemon flavored soda
Lemon slices

1. Fill a tall, skinny glass with ice.
2. Add the red wine up to 2/3 full.
3. Top the wine with the Limonata
4. Garnish with a lemon slice.

At an Andalusian Tapas happy hour, Flamenco music is a must. If you are unfamiliar with this genre, Narada's Tabu and Obsession  compilations are a good place to start. Jesse Cook is one of the best contemporary flamenco guitarists and has just released Frontiers. If you are fortunate to live in a community that has a Flamenco presence, hire a local guitarist.

Think of the Flamencas costumes when determining your decor. Incorporate the ruffles and lace of the gypsy dancer. Polka dots in vibrant contrasting colors, such as those designed by Sally Russell, are a fresh Sevillanos touch versus typical fiesta stripes. Forgo cut stemmed flowers for potted blooming plants, similar to those displayed in Cordovan courtyards in May. Fans are great to have on hand so guests can cool themselves on the patio or to take with them as party favors.

With a little online shopping, a trip to your nearby gourmet market and a few hours of preparation, you can elevate the growing trend of tapas to a savory Andalusian experience for you and your guests.

Resources:

Carro Tinto 2006  www.madwine.com
Brody Cooler   www.cb2.com
Polka Dot Linens  www.sallyrussellstudio.com
White Paper Fans www.whiteaisle.com
Tapas: The Little Dishes Of Spain by Penelope Casas www.amazon.com
Tabu, Mondo Flamenco by Various Artists, Obsession - New Flamenco Romance by Various Artists and The Ultimate Jesse Cook by Jesse Cook www.narada.com

Aprons from Marcia Copeland

San Francisco Designer Marcia Copeland brings us fabulous retro modern aprons for year round fashionable entertaining.

S'mores the really easy way

If you are planning a beach barbecue or campfire at your 4th July celebrations you could make dessert easy with these SmorStix Marshmallow Roasting Sticks from Moose-R-Us.

The 30" long White Birch sticks save having to scour the undergrowth or sand dunes for suitable spears to toast those marshmallows and are even more convenient if you purchase the complete S'mores SmorPak that includes Stix, Marshmallows, Graham Crackers and Chocolate. $21 from Moose-R-Us, campfire not included.

In case there is anyone out there who doesn't know how to make their campfire Smores, you will need per person

1 large marshmallow
2 graham crackers
2 squares chocolate

Place the marshmallow on the stick and toast over campfire until golden brown.
Place the chocolate squares on top of a graham cracker. Place the marshmallow on top of the chocolate. Complete the sandwich with the remaining graham cracker. The heat of the marshmallow will melt the chocolate and result in a crunchy, gooey, irresistible summer treat. Enjoy.