I love Manhattan in the fall and I especially love this cocktail that pays tribute to Manhattan in the Fall. Flavors of ripe pear and amber spirits reminds the drinker of fall and New York in all it's glory this time of year.
Ingredients:
1 part Stirrings Pear Martini Mixer
1 1/2 parts Bulleit Bourbon 1/2 part sweet vermouth
Directions:
Shake vigorously in a cocktail shaker and strain into a cocktail glass.
I know we normally talk about entertaining ideas but as we enter into the busy holiday season I thought we could talk about what comes after the party or during the preparation of the party - STRESS! Yikes! What a buzz kill that can be. So, if you're like me and you've been burning the candle on both ends for way too long then this blog's for you!!
It's time to stop, drop and breathe. This will help you to go from feeling like your head's about to explode to feeling like you are in control again. Start by sitting in a quiet place in front of a lit candle. Lisa Druxman, founder of Stroller Strides, recommends watching the flame flicker, and imagine that you can steady it by making your breath smooth and even, breathing softly in through the nose and out through the mouth (trust me I've been doing a lot of this). Act as if the more peaceful your body, the more peaceful the flame. If a draft moves it, simply focus on bringing the flame back to stillness again.
Yum, yum, yum!!! Ohmigod...Do these Devil's food marshmallow filled cupcakes look heavenly or what?!?! Diet, shmiet - thank goodness it's fall and I don't need to be in a bathing suit anytime soon. These delicious cupcakes are perfect for your Halloween party. Hope you enjoy them as much as I have.
Makes 16 cupcakes
Ingredients
3/4 cup (3/8 lb.) butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup Dutch-process unsweetened cocoa
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1 jar (7 oz.) marshmallow cream
Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting (holy yum)
Preparation
1. In a bowl, with a mixer on medium speed, beat butter and sugar until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down sides of bowl as needed.
2. In another bowl, mix flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Stir in half the flour mixture into butter mixture. Stir in milk just until blended. Add remaining flour mixture and stir just until incorporated. Spoon batter equally into 16 muffin cups (1/3-cup capacity; cups should be almost full) lined with paper baking cups.
3. Bake in a 350º regular or convection oven until tops spring back when lightly pressed in the center or a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Let cool in pans on racks for 5 minutes; remove cupcakes from pans and set on racks to cool completely, at least 30 minutes.
4. With a small, sharp knife, cut a cylinder about 3/4 inch wide and 1 inch deep from the center of the top of each cupcake. Trim off and discard about 1/2 inch from bottom of each cylinder. With a knife, hollow out a small cavity inside each cupcake.
5. Spoon marshmallow cream into pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch plain tip. Twist end of bag tightly to secure. Place tip in cavity of one cupcake; without moving tip, squeeze filling into cavity, to 1/4 inch from top. Repeat to fill remaining cupcakes. Insert cake cylinders into holes.
6. Spoon chocolate cream cheese frosting into another pastry bag, fitted with a 3/4-inch star tip, and pipe onto tops of cupcakes, or spread on cupcakes with knife.
We dedicate the following playbook to the rookies and the seasoned pros alike, and we know this will help you score big with your guests.
SO - Give me an F, give me a U, give me an N….What’s that spell? FUN!! FUN-FUN-FUN –FUN-FUNNNNNN!
Here’s the game plan:
Pre-Game Warm-Up
The first and most important part of planning any game and any party is the preparation. So consider starting with a list of all the items that you’ll need. Write your guest list, and plan the food, snacks, serving wares, and drinks. Every detail is worth jotting down, and will make the execution as easy as checking items off your list. Also, make sure you choose an invitation that will set the tone of the party. The invitation will excite both you and your guests.We love these great football ticket invitations.
Team Roster
If you are tailgating don’t be afraid to enlist the help of friends that will be joining you. After you’ve determined what items you are going to need– including the all important food, snacks, and drinks, you can start delegating. Choose people you can rely on and who you know can complete a pass. Remember, there’s no “I” in TEAM.
The Playing Field
If you’re hosting a party at home, a kitchen buffet set-up lets you enjoy the game along with your guests, and make sure if you and your guests are going to be spending a good amount of time in the kitchen that you place dishes on a counter, an island or a table, and have a small television tuned into the game so nobody misses a crucial play. Wrap silverware in napkins paired with these adorable football napkin rings.
Team Spirit
Transform grass patches into playing fields with miniature plastic football players and goalposts. Place cheerful colored flowers bunched in simple glass vases. Set out a tray of football themed cupcakes as dessert and favors. And spread snacks around, easy and accessible by everyone.
Also, ladies – don’t be afraid of noise! Turn your TV up so that everyone can hear the pre-game interviews and keep track of the other big games that are going on that day. Let’s be honest, the guys will demand this anyway so make them happy and get the energy up right into the kick off.
And sure, you always hope the game is going to be action packed, but some games just turn out to be snoozers. A great way to get your guests excited is to start a pool for the game or pass out mini footballs to toss around during commercials- these also make for great favors.
Not everyone quite understands how to throw a pool, but trust me on this one the guys will love this and the girls will tune in just as eagerly to the game as the most ardent fans when money is on the line. This is how you do it:
On a piece of blank paper mark 10 columns across and 10 rows down for a table of 100 squares – DO NOT NUMBER THEM YET; however, above the columns write the name of the home team and to the left of the rows write the name of the visiting team. Have everyone write their names in each box and you can even charge people $1 dollar per square (or more!!!). When every square has been filled in, take 10 pieces of square scrap paper and write a number from 0 to 9 on each piece and throw them into a hat, shake it up and then randomly pull 1 piece/number out at a time and write that number on top and across the columns. Replace all 10 pieces of paper back into the hat, shake it up and do the same to randomly number the rows downward. Presto! There is your pool. Assuming you sold the squares for let’s say $1 a piece, the entire pool will be worth $100 to the winner and the winner is the person that owns the square that has the far right digit of the home team score as well as the far right digit of the score that corresponds to the visiting team. You can even split the money into 1st quarter, halftime, 3rd quarter and final score. This really will liven up any party, trust me!
Food
Consider the time of the game, as this can help you decide what type of food and drinks to serve. If it is a 10 am kickoff, then Bloody Marys would be the obvious drink of choice and Champagne/Mimosa Brunch might make for a lively and interesting twist to a football party.
When tailgating: Drinks actually might be the first thing you think of. With so many different options – beyond boring old beer, you’ll surely be able to find a drink that perfectly complements your menu. Be adventurous and use the flavors of the season– mint for those warm Indian summer afternoons, or cinnamon as the season moves into the cooler days of the playoffs.
Be sure to also offer nonalcoholic options, like iced tea and soda during the beginning of the season when it is still warm and hot chocolate and coffee during the colder months.
Remember, the key to any great party is all in the preparation. With a little forethought and an ounce of creativity, you’ll go a long way to ensure that your party is an S-U-C-C-E-S-S!!
I have seen a lot of pumpkin decorations but I have to say I have never seen anything hotter than this pumpkin bonfire. This was featured in the October issue of Better Homes & Garden and I was so impressed that I decided to share this idea with you. Pumpkins blaze in a brilliant bonfire - with no cinders, no ash, no alarming burn hole in your lawn (or clothes). The squash are carved with flames instead of faces. Create a log surround, stack the largest pumpkins on the bottom, and then work your way up. Votive candles add the fire. You can download a free flame pattern at BHG.com/bonfirepumpkin. So Chic!
The Harvest is upon us!! Winemakers have already begun harvesting their grapes but no matter what the harvest forecast I think it's time to get in the spirit ourselves and throw a Wine Tasting Party in honor of this year's harvest. Here are some quick pointers on how to throw a kick-ass wine tasting party.
Since there are so many wines to choose from start by choosing a theme and by theme I mean type of wine. Choose a particular country or region like “California Pinot Noirs” or if you want to keep it simple you can just have a “White Wine” or “Red Wine” party. Have each of your guests bring one bottle of wine priced between $10 and $50. Put each bottle in a simple bag and number each bag. Figure on about one bottle per 10 people—this assuming you’re going to only pour about an ounce or so per wine. When I say “tasting party”, I’m thinking that everyone will have a small taste of each wine, contemplate it, and discuss it with each other. Next pass out the score cards to each guest. Have each guests score the wines and after you have tasted all the wines, collect the score cards and add up all the points and whichever wine has the most points is the winning wine of the evening. Give out a prize to the person who brought the winning wine.
A few extra thoughts. Serve UNSALTED crackers (I like Carr’s Water Crackers, as opposed to Saltines), an array of cheeses, and maybe a simple veggie plate. You don’t need to go crazy with the food. Keep the finger foods simple, not too spicy or salty, so that the main focus is on comparing the wines. At the same time, you’ll want to pick certain foods and try them with several different wines, to see what goes with what. After all, that’s the whole point of a wine tasting!
Get everyone to talk about what they’re smelling, tasting, and feeling. Be sure to ask questions like, "does this wine smell spicy or fruity”. Continue with questions like, “what food would you pair this with?” Before you know it (and definitely after a few wines), everyone will be discussing all kinds of things they smell and taste in the wine. Or, everyone will get hammered and start complaining about their spouses/significant other. Either way, it should be a fun time.
Keep water on hand for drinking and rinsing—both the glasses and the palate. Encourage people to drink water - keeping hydrated is important and also helps in preventing hangovers. Your guests will thank you in the morning.
Don't forget to keep the phone numbers of your local taxis on hand just in case some of your guests can't drive home. You definitely want to make sure everyone gets home safely.
Bring Fall flavor to your dinner table!!
There’s no better time in the Napa Valley than the autumn harvest! This year, bring California gourmet food into your home with these quick and easy autumn harvest recipes – and celebrate the season with Made In Napa Valley!
When the leaves begin to turn orange and gold and the outside air turns crisp, it’s the perfect time to share a cozy treat with friends and family. Head out to the orchard for a day of apple picking and a look at the fall colors – or just stop off at a local farmer’s market or grocery store – and wind down with a fantastic fall dessert. Best of all, autumn harvest recipes don’t have to be complicated to be great. Check out some of Made In Napa Valley's favorite autumn appetizer recipes and fall dessert recipes below.
Autumn Appetizer Recipes:
Mulled Wine
There’s no autumn harvest recipe better suited to the Napa Valley than a steaming cup of mulled wine! Here’s a simple way to give it some oomph.
½ gallon red wine, or 2 bottles (zinfandel or syrah are nice choices)
2 cinnamon sticks
2 whole cloves
2 allspice berries or whole nutmeg
½ orange peel and ½ lemon peel, cut into strips
Pour the wine into a large stainless steel pot (crock pots or slow cookers are best). Place spices and peels into a cheesecloth. Drop the cheesecloth into the apple juice. In a regular pot: Heat to just short of a boil. In a crock pot: Heat for 2 hours. Remove cheesecloth and serve. Garnish with a cinnamon stick for fun.
Variation: replace the wine with apple cider
Rubbed and Roasted Party Nuts
At Made In Napa Valley, we love this snack any time of year – but we add pumpkin seeds to make it one of our favorite autumn harvest recipes.
1 large egg white
2 tablespoons of any of our Rubs and Seasonings
1 teaspoon salt (preferably Kosher)
3 cups roasted almonds, pumpkin seeds or mixed nuts
Olive oil spray
Whisk the egg white until frothy. Add the rub and the salt. Add the nuts and stir to coat well. Spray a large baking sheet with olive oil and spread nuts in a single layer. Bake 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees. Serve warm.
Fall Dessert Recipes:
Caramel Apple Fondue
After your day in the orchard (or at the market), enjoy your picks with this delicious treat, one of our favorite fall dessert recipes.
2-3 large tart apples
1 cup Made In Napa Valley Vanilla Caramel Sauce with Chardonnay
¼ cup chopped salted peanuts (optional)
Cut apples into slices. Heat sauce in the microwave for 15-20 seconds or until pourable. Serve sauce in individual small bowls, then sprinkle with the peanuts. Surround with the apples slices and serve. Yum!
Pumpkin Cake
This cake is anything but spooky. It’s a great way to get into the spirit of Halloween.
2 lbs. canned pumpkin
12 oz. evaporated milk
1 cup sugar
1-½ tsp. cinnamon
½ tsp. ginger
3 eggs, beaten
1 (18 oz.) box of spice cake mix
¾ cup butter, melted
Grease the bottom of a 9-by-13 pan. Mix together the first six ingredients and pour into the pan. Sprinkle, then pack, cake mix over the top evenly. Drizzle butter over the entire cake. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes. Serve with whipped cream or caramel sauce.
For even more great autumn harvest recipes and other dishes, visit the Made In Napa Valley recipe section – you’ll find something for every meal, every season.
Summer is officially over, the kids are back in school and fall is in full swing which means football season is here...Yippee!!! Pick-up the phone and have some friends over this weekend to watch your favorite college football team or your favorite pro team. Give your team the home field advantage with these fun football-themed cupcakes.
Step 1: Frost a cooled cupcake (baked from your favorite recipe) with green frosting, then mark the yard lines with white decorators' gel.
Step 2: For a pennant, wrap a fruit leather triangle around a pretzel stick and plant it in the field as shown.
Step 3: Set a chocolate-covered almond or brown almond M&M football topped with white decorators' gel laces on the field, and you're sure to score points with your favorite sports fans.
OK, I went to a party last weekend that a friend of a friend's hosted and I have to say I was shocked...If I had to guess I would have thought it was one of my husband's fraternity brothers who was hosting this event. So I decided to write today's blog in honor of all the lazy hosts I have ever met - so pay attention if your idea of hosting a party is opening a bag of chips and throwing them in a bowl. Oh and of course we can't forget my favorite red Solo cups which definitely says, "Gee, we went all out for you." So let's be honest unless you are one of my husband's fraternity brothers, this kind of hosting is unacceptable - nor does it make your guests feel special.
The key to hosting a fun party is to make your guests feel like they were your first thought when planning the party. When they arrive they should feel welcome and honored to be a guest in your house (not an afterthought).
I have put together a list of some quick tips to make your minimal efforts look like your are the Hostess with the Mostess. With touches this cute, you might even be able to talk your friends into cleaning up afterward.
1. Forget the Flowers
Flowers are the standard go to centerpiece but they can get pretty costly very quickly. I like to use fresh fruit or vegetables; such as artichokes, pomegranates, apples or lemons. Buy what's in season. Simply stack them in a bowl or vase. If you are having a dinner party you can use a sharpie to write each guests name on an apple for example.
2. And now starring..."Ice"
Make ice cubes for the party, but add mint sprigs, berries, marachino cherries or edible flowers to the cavities before freezing. Then you'll have pretty and fun ice cubes to impress your guests.
3. Dress up a drink
Add a theme or ID to glassware with simple embellishments. Drink umbrellas, metal stirrers or stickers can be used to dress up your drink. They can also serve another purpose by marking whose glass is whose. Garnishes like colored sugar or salt, shaved chocolate or edible glitter on the rim are also a great way to dress up your drink. Invest in a citrus zester so you can make long lemon or orange curls from the rind.
4. Serve it up, baby
Even if you buy an already made appetizer tray at the market be sure to take it out of the plastic tray that it came in and put it on your own serving tray. Serve your drinks and food on trays this makes people feel like they are really being catered to. You can pick-up inexpensive serving trays from just about anywhere - Ikea has some great inexpensive entertaining items and there's always your local consignment shop for fun finds. I have a friend who has the most interesting collection of china - it's absolutely gorgeous and not a single piece matches.
5. Turn down the lights
When the lights go down you know the real fun is about to begin. Candlelight is an inexpensive and easy way to set the mood. You can also buy different colored light bulbs to help set the mood of the evening. I had a Sex & the City party and we replaced all the white bulbs for pink ones. You can usually pick these colored light bulbs up at your local hardware store.
Bonus Tip: Have your guests participate!! For all of you lazy hosts - this means less work for you. You can actually assign guests to help you with something. For that shy friend, have them help you refresh guests drinks - this gets them mingling and not sitting on your sofa all night. For that control freak, have them let you know when it's time to take something out of the oven, tell people where to put their coats or let you know when the cd needs to be changed. I know this seems crazy but the more people are involved in the party the more fun they tend to have.
Don't be shy...Share some of your low-maintenance party ideas!
Move over paper lanterns, glowsticks are here!!! There's a new trend in event lighting; Designers are using neon lights/glow sticks to impart an arty feel to parties. So, I guess it's official the 80's are back - day glow, leggings, MC hammer pants, tapered jeans and now glowsticks although you have to admit this is a super cool way to use your glowsticks. String them on a line across the room in lieu of paper lanterns. Hang them on various sized rings to make an ultra-chic chandelier. However you choose to use them you definitely need to pick a few for your next evening event.
