All Things For All Parties

T.G.I.F. Pomegranate-Ginger Champagne Cocktails

Photo by 52 Mantels

I don't know when summer will end here in LA but I am ready for something cool...105 degrees on September 14th!!!  What's the deal?! 

On another note, I think I am finally ready to get back to work and today is my first post in weeks so I thought I would kick the weekend off with something chic and chill and since pomegranates are now in season let's get the party started with this delicious concoction.

 

Ingredients:

1 cup pomegranate juice
 1 tablespoon sugar
 1 1/4-inch-thick slice fresh ginger

 4 tablespoons fresh orange juice
 1 teaspoon Cointreau or other orange liqueur
 1 750-ml bottle brut Champagne, well chilled

Preparation:
 
Boil first 3 ingredients in heavy small saucepan until syrup is reduced to 1/3 cup, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Cool.

Pour 4 teaspoons pomegranate syrup, 1 tablespoon orange juice, and 1/4 teaspoon Cointreau into each of four 6-ounce Champagne flutes. Fill each with 2/3 cup Champagne.

Recipe by Epicurious.com

 

 

T.G.I.F. BLACKBERRY-PROSECCO POPSICLES

Laa Dee Da!  These delicious frozen treats are perfect for any occasion especially if you are looking for a fun summer signature drink...easy to serve and fun for all!  Think Kir Royale and trade out the champagne for Prosecco, throw in some blackberries with a splash of lime, some zest and you have a super yummy popsicle treat.

Ingredients:

20 oz Prosecco
 1/3 cup of blackberries
 4 oz crème de cassis
 Splash of fresh lime juice
 2 pinches of lime zest

Instructions:

1. Place blackberries in a bowl and pour crème de cassis on top and toss to coat. Using a muddler or a rounded blunt end of a kitchen tool, crush berries into the crème de cassis. Add lime juice and zest, toss to combine.

2. Measure out approximately 1 teaspoon of berry mixture into bottom of your chosen popsicle form and pour Prosecco on top.

3. Freeze for about 2 hours or until mixture starts to solidify enough to hold a popsicle stick upright. Insert popsicle sticks and finish freezing popsicles overnight.

A few notes:

1. Do not remove from freezer until ready to serve, or plate over crushed ice as the carbonation in the Prosecco creates tiny air pockets that will make the popsicles melt faster.

2. Cordial glasses were used for the popsicles in the picture, but any form will work.

Find more cocktail recipes in Endless Cocktails

Host an Olympics Watching Party

 
Just 9 more days until the kick-off of the Olympics!!  Throw a backyard event either on the day of the Opening Ceremony (July 27th) or any time during the Olympics!  I personally love the Opening Ceremonies because it is usually such an amazing show and it involves every athlete competing in the Games.  It's also when the final bearer of the Olympic Torch lights the cauldron that stays lit for the duration of th games.

Decorate your party space with lots of American Flags.  For your table settings, be sure and use accents of red, white and blue in honor of TEAM USA!!  Wrap your silverware in our red and white grosgrain napkin rings. 

Since the games are in London, serve up festive foods from the U.K., like fish & chips or mini cucumber & mayo sandwiches.  For your drinks, serve up traditional ales lik Newcastle or Boddingtons and for cocktails serve up Earl Grey Martinis. 

Let the games begin!  A trivia contest is always fun for this occasion or create your own Olympic games like balancing an egg on a spoon or see who can Limbo the lowest...Have fun with this one!  The more ridiculous the game the more fun everyone will have!!! 

T.G.I.F. SPARKLING LIMONCELLO-RASPBERRY COCKTAIL

Photo by Bon Appetit

Kick-off this hot weekend with something refreshing to cool you off!  This Sparkling Limoncello-Raspberry cocktails is the perfect blend of bubbly wine, lemon liquer and fresh raspberries.  We are using this recipe for our signature drink at my friends 40th Birthday party!!! 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 tsp. sugar
• 1/4 tsp. grated lemon zest
• a few drops of fresh lemon juice
• 3 raspberries
• 2 Tbs. limoncello
• crushed ice
• 1/2 cup sparkling wine
• lemon zest strip for garnish

Directions:  Combine sugar and lemon zest on a seperate small plate.  Dip a clean finger in lemon juice and moisten rim of champagne glass.  Dip rim into the sugar mixture.

In another bowl, muddle the raspberries with limoncello.  Transfer puree into the sugar rimmed champagne glass.  Place a spoonful of ice in the glass; pour in wine.  Garnish with lemon zest strip.

 

Throw a Backyard Luau!

 

Break out the tiki torches and hula skirts because if there's one thing that brings out the Summer Fun in people...it's an island style Backyard Luau! 

Aloha!  Welcome your guests as they arrive with a lei...it's the signature way to say "hello" and "welcome to our home" in Hawaii plus it gets guests in the mood. 

Decorations are easy!!  Just add a grass skirt around your table and be sure to use colorful placemats and a rattan runner with island inspired tropical plates.  For a little something extra serve drinks from coconut cups and light a few coconut candles to create the perfect tropical tablescape.

Serve up casual platters of food either buffet or family style.  Start with some refreshing fruit salsa made with mango, pineapple and peaches and serve with some sweet potato chips.  For your main entree, bbq is definitely the way to go!  My husband loves grilled shrimp and I love pork and ham for this party.  You can also do burgers and add terriyaki sauce to the mix to give it that Hawaiian flavor.  If you want to make your own sauce, mix together soy sauce and pineapple juice for that perfect tropical blend.  For your side dish, you definitely have to do a Grilled Pineapple Rice. Yum!

Mai Tais and Pina Coladas are always a Luau favorite but why not try something new to wow your guests like this delicious Lava Flow. 

Ingredients:
•1 oz. light rum
•1 oz. Malibu® coconut rum
•2 oz. fresh or frozen strawberries
•1 small banana
•2 oz. unsweetened pineapple juice
•2 oz. coconut cream

Preparation:

Blend the 2 rums and the strawberries in a blender to form a smooth paste. Pour this mixture into a tall (Collins or Hurricane) glass. Rinse the blender. Blend the banana, the coconut cream, and the pineapple juice in blender with crushed ice until smooth. Pour this mixture into the glass with the rums very slowly and watch as the strawberry mixture oozes its way to the top along the sides of the glass creating the flowing lava effect. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and paper umbrella.

One more thing...Don't forget the music!!!  My Mother loves music by Elvis or Don Ho for a luau and I love the Beach Boys. 

Oh and if you want to add a little extra fun for your guests, hire a Hula dancer and have her teach your guests a hula step or two.  Maholo!

 

A Simple Memorial Day Menu

First of all, I can't believe that I haven't posted since Cinco de Mayo....Wow!  Where did the time go?!?!  We are back now with some fun food suggestions for this weekend's festivities!!

So, fire up the grill and break out the cocktails because Summer is almost here and it's time to Party!!

To Start:  I am all about bite-size appetizers so why not start things off with some Cheesy Mini Quiches...Yum!  I found this great recipe in All You Magazine - so click here to get the recipe for these tasty little treats.

Don't forget to put a little crudite plate together with a nice veggie dip for those guests watching their waistline (since Summer means Swimsuits!).

For your Main Course:  I think kebabs (turkey kielbasa or sirloin-vegetable) are such a great choice and an easy way to serve your guests. 

For the sides:  make a cold potato salad.  Boil the potatoes (whole with skin) than peel the skin and slice them like potato chips than just add olive oil, onions and season them to taste!!  Serve cold.  They are easy and super yummy (recipe by my mother-in-law). 

My husband's favorite Memorial Day side is ColeSlaw so of course that will be on our menu. 

To Drink:  I love drinks that allow your guests to be able to serve themselves so make-up a batch of Strawberry Lemonade Punch.  Just add 1 (12 oz.) pkg. frozen strawberries (with juice and sugar)
1 (12 oz.) can frozen pink lemonade.  Mix lemonade according to can directions. Add frozen strawberries, slightly thawed, and mix.

For Dessert:  Just keep it simple and go with good ole fashioned ice cream sandwiches.  Just make-up a batch of chocolate chip cookies; place one scoop of vanilla ice cream between two cookies and voila...You are everyone's Hero!!!

Happy Memorial Day!

 

 

 

 

T.G.I.F. CUCUMBER JALAPENO MARGARITAS

Aye Caramba!  Tomorrow is Cinco de Mayo and I am definitely planning on finding a nice patio to sit on to enjoy a frosty margarita.  The Cucumber Jalapeno Margie is my absolutely favorite and I think you will become as addicted as I am once you make-up a batch of these little diablos!  Ole!

Serving Size 1

Ingredients:

2 slices fresh jalapeno chili
3 slices peeled cucumber
1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
1.75 ounces Corzo Tequila Blanco
Garnish: unpeeled slice of cucumber

Directions:
1. Add jalapeno, cucumber in cocktail shaker. Muddle to break up chili and cucumber.
2. Add lime juice, tequila and ice. Cover and shake vigorously. Pour into a 12-ounce bucket glass.

Baby Shower on a Budget

 

Do you have a friend who's expecting?  Here are some great tips for planning the perfect Baby Shower for her without spending a fortune.

1.  For the invitation send a sweet email invitation.  Paper invititations are gorgeous but very pricey.  These days electronic invites look more like fine stationery than emails!  PaperlessPost.com has some great invitations for as little as $5; you can send plenty of beautiful online invitations complete with gorgeous addressed envelopes that open virtually in the recipient's mailbox. Evite also has some great baby shower invitations. 

2.  For the decor, choose a chic color scheme.  If you pick one or two solid colors and stick to the scheme for everything you buy, the harmonious color palette will look gorgeous and expensive. You can purchase a lot of great items from the dollar store or borrow from what your kids have or what you have at home.  I think some of the cutest decorations can be found right in your own home. The decor items pictured above (cupie dolls) come straight from Social Couture and are very inexpensive but definitely make a "OMG that's so cute!" statement.

3.  Another great way to keep costs down is to purchase one type of flower that will make a big impact and do the arranging yourself (cuts labor costs); for example, we just did a huge birthday party for my mother (100 guests) and we purchased all white hydrangeas from the local grocer - we ordered in advance from the grocer's wholesale vendors and we were given additional discounts for ordering in bulk.  For 12 tables of bouquets are costs were less than $150 which is usually what 1 arrangement would cost.  If you don't have enough vases borrow from friends or use these adorable pales pictured above. 

4.  For the food, cut-up veggies for a crudites plate...DIY always cuts costs by about a third.  Add simple hors d'oeuvres, then focus on a dessert that will get you tons of oohs and aahs.  

5.  Focus on an incredible dessert table!!  So easy to do and definitely makes a huge impression.

Ok so just a few extra things to remember...

Set the date at least 4 weeks before the baby's due date so your Mommy to be isn't stressed.

Don't be afraid to ask a friend to host with you.

Keep the guest list to a manageable number and if you can seperate it out from work friends to friends and family...it's not a bad idea to suggest that she have a seperate "office" shower just for her co-workers.

 

 

Easy Easter Decorating Idea

Are you looking for a fun, simple idea to dress-up your Easter table?  If so, this is the perfect way to add a little something without a lot of fuss.  Even plain water bottles or glasses can be decorated for Easter!  How cute is this band with a friendly bunny face!

How to do it:
Draw and cut out the pattern, print the bunny stencils on pretty wrapping paper, then cut out. With a black marker draw eyes, nose, and a happy smiling mouth. Connect and secure the ends together with a transparent adhesive.
The ends can be of any length to fit for a vase, for example.

Easter Cake Pop Inspiration

!

Here comes Peter Cottontail hopping down the bunny trail...Easter's on it's Way!!!  How adorable are these Easter Cake Pops by Bakerella?!?!  I just love Easter and I can't wait to make up a batch of these for my son's Easter Basket - he is going to go crazy for these adorable little treats.  Check out Bakerella for more Easter Cake Pop ideas and recipes.