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Archive for the ‘Entertaining Ideas’ Category

Jessica’s Biscuits

Posted in Easy Recipes, entertain on August 7, 2009| Leave a Comment »

biscuitsMy 11-year-old niece Jessica is visiting this weekend and among the shopping and playing, we are also doing some baking.

Jessica recently earned Grand Champion at her county fair with her home-made biscuits. These delicious biscuits are wonderful alone or smothered with fresh strawberry jam. Enjoy!

Jessica’s Biscuits

2 cups flour

1 tbsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. cream of tartar

1/4 tsp. salt

2 1/2 tsp. sugar

1/2 cup margerine

2/3 cup milk

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Mix dry ingredients well in a bowl. Cut in margerine until mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Add milk. Knead 10-12 strokes. Roll out and cut into circles. Bake for 10-12 minutes.

If you have a grand champion recipe to share, please feel free to post it here.

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Have a BAD party this summer

Posted in entertain, Entertaining at Home, Entertaining Ideas, tagged , , on August 4, 2009| 2 Comments »

mousse-cupsWith the temps high, patience short and everyone in the lazy mode of summer, keep your entertaining efforts simple.

Think about hosting a BAD (Beverages, Appetizers and Desserts) party. This type of party is easy on the host, very casual in atmosphere and is a fun way to get everyone together, especially when no one is into eating heavy food.

Follow these few pointers and you will once again be the host with the most!

  • Make it very clear in your invitation that you are serving only beverages, appetizers and desserts.  If your guests come expecting a full sit down meal, they may be disappointed.
  • Choose items that are easy to eat when seated casually or standing. Something that requires a steak knife or additional bowls will not be appreciated. Think about finger foods or bite-sized pieces that are super easy to eat while moving about.
  • Stick to a casual buffet when you are setting out the food.
  • BAD parties work well with both small and large numbers attending. It works particularly well with an open house format.
  • You can also set up stations for the buffet in different areas. One station might hold the beverages, one might have the appetizers, one could have cheese, crackers, dips, veggies, fruit and another area may be the dessert station.

Remember to have fun with it, keep it casual and focus on your guests.

If you would like more tips for party theme ideas, please leave a post here or send me a message!

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The Best Chocolate Ice Cream

Posted in Easy Recipes, entertain, tagged , on July 31, 2009| 3 Comments »

Since July is National Ice Cream Month and today is the last day of the month, it seemed appropriate to share an ice cream recipe today.

My Aunt Karen makes the best chocolate ice cream. At a recent family reunion, there were several of us cousins (the known chocoholics) who would have willingly passed up the meal to have a bowl of her ice cream first. Unfortunately, there were too many little ones watching for us to abandon all reason and dive directly into the ice cream. You know, setting a good example, and all that.

So with limited restraint, we anxiously awaited the appropriate time to forsake our hamburgers and get in line for a bowl of this smooth, creamy confection. It isn’t too sweet or too rich. It is frozen perfection with a light chocolate flavor. She has graciously shared her recipe with me, so here it is:

Aunt Karen’s Chocolate Ice Cream

3 cups sugar
Rounded 1/2 cup measure of cocoa powder
3 eggs, beaten
2 cups half-and-half
2 tablespoons vanilla
1 quart heavy whipping cream
Approximately 2 quarts of whole milk

Blend sugar and cocoa powder together then add 1 quart of milk in large kettle (saucepan). Bring to a simmer, add a small amount of the hot mixture to the eggs to temper. Beat well and add back to the kettle.  Bring this to a boil and then remove from heat. After it cools a few minutes add vanilla, half-and-half and the heavy cream.  Refrigerate until cold, stir occasionally.  Overnight is good. Add cold mixture to your ice cream freezer can and fill up to the one gallon mark with whole milk. Freeze as your ice cream freezer directs. Makes one gallon.

If you have a great ice cream recipe you’d like to share or want info on a great ice cream scoop, leave a post here.

Enjoy!

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Relationships Make the Memories

Posted in Entertaining at Home, Entertaining Ideas, tagged , , on July 29, 2009| 8 Comments »

linda-mccormickI just returned from the Entertaining at Home National Sales Conference in Milwaukee. It was a trip with several firsts for me – first major league baseball game, first taste of deep fried cheese curds (did not expect to become completely addicted to them!), first GermanFest, first spy-themed costume party, and my first sales-achievement award.

All those firsts were fun and exciting but not what I’ll remember most when I look back on the trip. What gave me the best memories were not the things, but the people.

I know I’ve said it before, but it truly is all about the relationships. Here were hundreds of independent consultants who have nothing to gain in their personal sales from helping each other out, but they were sharing all their best tips and ideas with others. They open their arms and make newcomers feel welcome while reaching out in warmth to old friends.

The warmth and generosity went well beyond the consultants right up to the corporate staff and encompassed the company founders, who are most definitely “the real deal.” (Thanks again, Bill and Robin, for sharing the taxi!).

When you entertain – even if it is just your immediate family, keep the relationships at the forefront. There are dozens of things you can do to enhance the entertaining experience but at the heart of it all is the relationships.

That warmth of heart and kindness of spirit are what people will remember. Focus on that and you will undoubtedly be the host others love to be around!

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