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Archive for the ‘Entertaining Ideas’ Category

Wish it Was Spring Party Theme

Posted in Entertaining at Home, Entertaining Ideas, Party Theme, tagged , , on January 25, 2011| Leave a Comment »

 

If you and your friends are like me and my friends, we are so ready for spring!

Gather them together for a fun “Wish it Was Spring” themed party.

This party theme is super simple, but will bring you and those gathered around your table much joy and it just might be the thing needed to get you through until spring arrives!

Create a colorful invitation and send to your friends. You could do this via email, in person or snail mail. If you email the invite, there are hundreds of colorful choices at evites.com (and it is FREE!).

Cover the table with a bright colored table cloth – something pink, fuschia, yellow and green would fit the bill. If you don’t have a bright table covering, go for a neutral and use bright colored dishes. I’ve got some apple-green pieces that just scream “springtime.” You could also use a piece cloth from the fabric store or pick up an inexpensive sheet at a store like Walmart.

Create some springtime fun around the table by tying flatware and napkins in a bundle with raffia twine and tucking in a packet of seeds. Yes, they are out in the stores already! You can also create a fun centerpiece with a terra cotta planter, garden gloves, some garden tools and seeds. Have a garden-themed guessing game and let the winner take home the centerpiece.

 

Another centerpiece option would be a simple vase of tulips. They are available in stores now as well. You could also float individual tulip stems in little bowls or dishes at each place setting.

Keep your menu really simple. A huge green salad filled with fresh veggies and grilled chicken is a wonderful meal when accompanied by a loaf of crusty warm bread. Finish the meal with a citrus or berry dessert, like lemon or raspberry bars.

To keep the conversation spring-focused, have your guests share a favorite spring memory or what is the first sign of spring for them or what one thing they enjoy most about spring. Share gardening tips or planting ideas.

Sit back, enjoy the companionship and give a bit of spring-like refreshment to your spirit!

Happy Entertaining!

From She who longs for Spring

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Chocolate Coconut Kisses

Posted in Cookies, Desserts, Entertaining at Home, Recipes, tagged , , on January 21, 2011| Leave a Comment »

I promise this is the last post that will refer to my Grandma’s 1961 edition of Betty Crocker Cookbook.

When I was looking for a recipe from the cookbook to share today, I kept coming back to a simple recipe entitled Kisses. It seems way back when, before sweet drops of chocolatey goodness were wrapped in foil and mass-marketed by Hershey’s, when you talked about kisses in reference to baking you were talking about a cookie with a meringue base.

Not only are these cookies super easy to make, they are drop-your-teeth delicious!

Seriously!

I could have eaten them warm from the oven all day and not looked back. Imagine the wickedly good topping that goes on top of german chocolate cake coming in cookie form (minus the nuts). Yep, the cookies are that good!

 

Ingredients for Kisses

 

You will whip the egg whites until they start to form peaks and take on a lovely glossy sheen.

 

Although the original recipe called for brown wrapping paper, I'm using parchment paper to line the pan.

Mix in chocolate and coconut.

 

Drop by spoonful onto parchment lined pan.

 

Then enjoy!

 

Chocolate Coconut Kisses

½ cup egg whites (4 medium eggs)

1 ¼ cups sugar

¼ tsp. salt

½ tsp. vanilla

2 ½ cups moist shredded coconut

2 oz. unsweetened chocolate, melted and slightly cooled

Heat oven to 325 degrees. Separate eggs and beat whites until frothy. Gradually add in sugar. Continue beating with mixer until very stiff and glossy. Stir in salt, vanilla, coconut and chocolate until mixed. Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls two inches apart on a baking sheet lined with parchment (the original recipe called for ungreased brown wrapping paper). Bake about 20 minutes or until set and delicately browned. Lift off paper, lay wet towel on hot baking sheet. Place paper on towel. Steam will loosen kisses. Slip off with a spatula. Eat one, and savor the bliss.  Force yourself to share.

Happy Baking!

Shanna

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Kitchen Know-How, Betty Style

Posted in Entertaining Ideas, Musings, tagged , , on January 20, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Since I am missing the first four pages of my Grandma’s 1961 Betty Crocker Cookbook and shall never know:

1). The reasons why those four pages are missing

2). What they contained

This is the first page I see when I open the cookbook. A fun page with some tips for Kitchen Know-How.  It covers much more than kitchen know how. Like tips on how to be a well-rounded (NOTE: not Rounder) person. Maybe the thing that I love most about this page is that the advice shared then is still pretty useful today. Maybe things haven’t changed all that much since 1961.

So here is what it says:

“Plan Ahead

Write menus for a week’s meals at a time. Shop for staples once a week, fresh fruits and vegetables twice weekly.

When cooking, assemble all ingredients and utensils before beginning to prepare the dish.

If you have a freezer, make several cakes, pies, cookies, main dishes or sandwiches at a time and freeze some for future use.

Combine Jobs

Bake cake or cookies while washing dishes or cooking dinner. Pare vegetables while meat is browning.

Plan leftovers. Cook some foods to be served more than once such as beef roast; use again for beef sandwiches, beef hash or beef pie.

Plan and organize daily work while working with hands (peeling potatoes, sweeping floor, etc.).

Refresh your spirits

Every morning before breakfast, comb hair, apply makeup and a dash of cologne. Does wonders for your morale and your family’s, too!

Think pleasant thoughts while working and a chore will become a “labor of love.”

Have a hobby. Garden, paint pictures, look through magazines for home planning ideas, read a good book or attend club meetings. Be interested – and you’ll always be interesting.

If you have a spare moment, sit down, close your eyes and just relax.

Organize Work

Have a weekly plan for schedule such tasks as washing, ironing, baking, shopping, cleaning the refrigerator or washing floors. One task done each day provides a sense of accomplishment and keeps work from piling up.

Alternate sitting-down tasks and standing-up tasks. Don’t be on your feet too long.

Let the family help you. Very young children can set the table; older ones help cook and wash the dishes. Include them in party plans.

Be Comfortable

Wear comfortable shoes and easy-fitting clothing while working.

Stand erect. Good posture prevents fatigue.

Have sink, work table, counter tops at height that is comfortable to eliminate strain. If dishpan is too low, set it on a box.

Use a dust mop and long-handled dust pan. Use self-wringing mop to prevent stooping.”

I know if I would follow all this grand advice, I’d have a better posture, a happier outlook, a more organized kitchen, and be more prepared at meal-time. Goodness only knows what it would do to make Captain Cavedweller’s world a better place.

I think maybe I’ll start with “Refresh Your Spirits” and go from there.

Happy Entertaining!

Shanna

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Setting a buffet, Betty style

Posted in Entertaining at Home, Entertaining Ideas, Referrals, tagged , , , on January 19, 2011| Leave a Comment »

In my skip down memory lane, today’s post in my week long sharing from my Grandma’s 1961 Betty Crocker cookbook is this fun page on table settings. It gives you some great tips and ideas. In the photo, you see a double-sided buffet.

Here is a two-page spread of a beautiful buffet set out for casual entertaining. Makes you kind of hungry, doesn’t it?

I’ve written in the past about how to set up a buffet. You can find the simple tips here. I’ve also taken photos on how to set one up quickly using a holiday theme. You can find it here.

You can find all sorts of fun tips and ideas on the Betty Crocker website as well. Go to the entertaining section here and see what wonders wait for your exploration!

Happy Entertaining!

Shanna

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