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.

Memorial Day Cocktails

A couple of cocktails for the start of summer, both tangy and delicious. There's one for the adults and one for the kids or those that don't like alcohol. The adult version uses Lillet, an aperitif blend of wine, orange liquors and quinine, and Noilly Prat, a vermouth. You can use any vermouth but drier is better.

Mayday Martini (via modernemama)
3 measures gin
2 measures Lillet
1 measure Noilly Prat
Tonic water
Lemon
Cherries

Over ice cubes in a cocktail shaker pour the gin, Lillet and Noilly Prat. Shake. Strain into an ice cold Martini glass. Top up with tonic water. Garnish with a slice of lemon and a cherry.
You can also serve this in a highball glass over ice and top it up with more tonic water for an even more refreshing drink.

Sparkling Cherry Lemonade
1 lemon
1 cup cold water
2 teaspoons sugar, or to taste
Ice cubes
6 pitted sweet cherries
Indian Tonic Water

Zest the lemon and squeeze the lemon juice into a small bowl. Add water and sugar. Stir and strain.
Place cherries in bottom of two tall glasses and muddle them with a spoon. Add ice cubes then pour in lemonade. Stir. Top up with Indian tonic water and garnish with a slice of lemon.

Lovers' Getaways

  This year I have been so entirely focused on my own wedding planning that I have nearly forgotten that Valentine's Day is quickly approaching.  I thought it would be lovely to just take a break with my honey, a long weekend or even a night away from home, away from work, away from family...just to truly relax together.  There are many options that include Bed & Breakfasts, hotels, spa days etc... but I thought it would be really special to rent an Executive Suite or Penthouse in one of the downtown boutique hotels and hire a chef to prepare a private, romantic dinner for two!  You could add a couples massage or spa treatment, plus breakfast in bed to make the experience ultra luxurious. 

Of course, this does not fit into every budget, but the idea can be transfered to your own home.  Ask a family member to cook a meal for you or order in from your favorite restaurant. Make a playlist on your ipod of fun, relaxing and sexy music for the evening. Open a really good bottle of wine and take turns giving each other massages...  The rest is up to your own imagination...

Have a very happy Valentine's Day!

A Cozy Valentine's Day Dinner

My mother gave me a cute little cookbook when I was in College entitled Dinner Dates: A Cookbook for Couples Cooking Together by Martha Cotton.  I never really read through it because 1) I didn't really cook in College and 2) the boyfriends I kept around at that time were not the cooking types either.  Now that I am part of a great "couple" and my fiancé is slowly learning his way around the kitchen, I think it is a good time to bring it out and dust it off.

The book is very user friendly with a variety of menus you can choose from depending on the occasion or your mood. There are shopping lists and tips for creating atmosphere, plus a list of cocktail and wine recommendations for "marinating the Chefs".  I also like the way the recipe instructions are written out, with Chef Numero Uno and Chef Numero Due working together instead of stepping on each others toes.

There are some fun menus like Indoor Picnic and Catch of the Day, but what I am interested in for February is the Ultimate Valentine's Day Dinner.  This includes French Onion Soup, Filet Mignon with Herbed Butter, Sauteed Mushrooms, Steamed Spinach, Garlic Mashed Potatoes plus Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries with Biscotti to finish.  Mmmmmmmm... sounds good.

Now all I have to do is convince the fiancé that its a good idea to stay home, avoid the cold and the busy restaurants and make a wonderfully cozy Valentine's Day dinner for our selves!

Resolutions, resolutions...

So, it's NYE already!

People are getting ready to have guests over, dressing for a glamorous night out, or they could be relaxing at home with friends and family (like me!).  Whatever your plans are for the big night, we all will still wake up tomorrow with a fresh New Year ahead of us....so what are your projects and goals going to be for 2008?

Not everyone makes (or keeps) resolutions, and I am not a person who attempts to keep these type of promises every year.  But this year, I am going to try something a little different.  This year I am going to increase my awareness and commitment to the environment and I am going to live a greener lifestyle than the one I have had in the past.  I am going to take small steps towards being more Eco-friendly at work and at home and I have started down this road by signing up for daily tips at Idealbite.com.  I am already enjoying the daily e-mail tips about things I can do to help make my life more green, and I think that if I become more aware of the issues and try to incorporate a tip or two into my daily routine, I'm already fulfilling my goal for 2008!  If anyone else has good resources or sites they want to share, please do!

Have a safe and very Happy New Year, everyone :)

Steal the Magnolias

              

Loving the shiny, lush magnolia leaves of the season's most elegant greens.  A refreshing change from the everywhere pine boughs and bay leaves - magnolia wreaths and garland are gorgeous on the stairwell or mantle, and even prettier as a wreath hanging on the front door.  Live magnolia will last a little over a week and then the leaves begin to curl and darken into a gorgeous auburn color.  Order from your local nursery or floral supply and accent with a little twinkly candlelight for Christmas dinner.

By Kate Sinclair of Life in Style.

Christmas Granola

I try to be budget and Eco-friendly with party favors and hostess gifts during the holidays and I, historically, tend to make sweet treats and cookies for my friends and family.  This year I am leaning towards the healthy side of things and I have made my own granola and packaged it in festive small portions.  I started making my own granola a few months ago as I am never quite satisfied with the any of the different types I buy from the store - too sweet, too bland, too much added fat, too expensive - and I am very particular about my dried fruits and nuts.  If you make your own, you can combine all of your favorite items in different ways, add different spices or use seasonal, organic ingredients depending on what you are looking for.  I thought that adding cranberries would be very festive and I came across a great recipe at Epicurious that I changed ever so slightly after a few batches of dry runs.

Cranberry-Almond Granola, adapted from Epicurious

non-stick vegetable oil spray
2 cups old-fashioned oats
1/3 cup wheat bran
1/3 cup slivered almonds
1/3 cup pecan halves
1/3 cup sweetened flaked coconut (optional)
1/2 cup frozen cranberry or pomegranate juice cocktail, thawed
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 cup dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 325 F.  Spray large rimmed baking sheet with non-stick spray.  Mix oats, bran, pecans, almond slivers and coconut together in a large bowl.  Combine juice, sugar, cinnamon and allspice in a small saucepan and bring to a boil.  Whisk until sugar dissolves.  Pour the hot syrup mixture over the oat mixture and stir to coat.  Spread mixture evenly onto the baking sheet and bake until golden brown, about 20-25 minutes. Once done, stir in dried cranberries and let cool.

Package this healthy snack in little bags, boxes or jars with gorgeous ribbons and  attach a copy of the recipe.  For those with more of a sweet tooth, add mini chocolate chips or M&Ms to the mix! Mmmmmmm.

the raddest, reddest party yet.

I love this montage of red/white cocktail party finds from Hostess with the Mostess. Click here to purchase just in time for the holiday!

Thanks, HWTM!

Ever Green

O Christmas tree, how eco-friendly are you?  There has been a lot of discussion lately on whether to buy an artificial or live Christmas tree this holiday season.  When you weigh the naughty and nice lists, the answer comes back that the greenest option is to buy a live, farmed tree.  Why?  Artificial trees are make of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which produces a large amount of pollution and is hard to recycle.  Also, there are reports of lead in PVC, especially in older artificial trees.

The best option is to choose a tree from your local tree farm.  Growing trees absorb carbon dioxide, and can be recycled into mulch.  Plus, that good wintry pine scent only comes once a year...

Check out Earth 911 to see where to take your tree after the holidays.

For more information, go to Yahoo's terrific article.  By Kate Sinclair of Life In Style.

Holiday Teacher Gifts

Gifts during the holidays are tricky, especially if you are on a budget.  Yet, we inevitably try to please everyone and everyone includes your children's teachers (co-workers, the mailman, etc.).  You, as the giver, want to say an extra special thanks for all that the teacher does during the school year with your child.  Or, if it happens to be the school bus driver, the baby-sitter, your secretary or co-workers, it's always nice to give a "Thanks for doing a great job" or simply, "Have a safe and Happy Holiday!" gift that displays this gesture but is not over the top or inappropriate.

I thought of this post after talking with my sister, a middle-school teacher herself, about the types of gifts she gets from her students at Christmastime.  Do not misunderstand - teachers love getting gifts and the gesture is welcomed and appreciated!  Sometimes, though, there are items that provoke a few laughs or a quizzical look/thought. 

Some guidelines:

Chocolate - This is a universal theme enjoyed by everyone.  During the holidays there are always many boxes of chocolates and treats floating around and although a few are a sweet indulgence, too many are a stomach ache.  My sister once received 15 boxes of chocolates from the kids in her class and so the rest of our family got, you guessed it, boxes of chocolate on Christmas morning!  If you would like to give chocolate, pick 3 or four handmade truffles and package them in an ornamental box or create an assortment of single serving gourmet hot chocolates.  Small gestures with big taste!

Candles - Candles are pretty and very seasonal with all of the cozy nights people spend relaxing with family.  If you have found a wonderful, eco-friendly and naturally scented column candle that is in a neutral color and could go with almost any decor (or something along those lines), please give.  But be careful when you are tempted to buy candles in bulk or candles with very strong scents or colors or in odd shapes and figures. If you would not use it as a center piece at a family dinner or as part of your seasonal decor, then chances are the teacher would not either ;)

Christmas themed decorations/goodies - In general this seems like a good idea, because it's the Holiday Season!  But, as a caution, if you wouldn't use the Rudolph the Reindeer themed napkins or the Disney Christmas tree ornament, it's likely your child's teacher might just pack it away, or give it to their Great Aunt Mabel.

Wine and Spirits - My sister thinks getting a bottle of wine or a little assortment of liquors is wonderful.  She says that after long days with the kids, and sometimes long nights with parents at Parent-Teacher interviews, she NEEDS a glass or two.  You do not have to choose an expensive bottle of wine to make a generous gesture and many stores do carry half bottles that are also good gifts for those on a budget.  Also, attaching a recipe for Mulled Wine or Hot Buttered Rum to the bottle you are giving adds a personal and seasonal touch.

Other ideas - Homemade cookies (made by the children themselves so Mom gets a little break), muffins, granola, goodie bags of old fashioned Holiday candies, or even gift certificates for a spa service, a favorite music or movie store or a gourmet food shop.

If these ideas don't work for you, remember, there's nothing wrong with giving an elegant card with a heartfelt Holiday greeting and your child's signature.

Happy Holiday Gift Giving!

Recipes courtesy of the LCBO, pictures courtesy of Martha Stewart and The Wine Enthusiast