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Archive for the ‘Party Theme’ Category

Turkey Day Test Run Party

Posted in Entertaining at Home, Entertaining Ideas, Party Theme, tagged , , , , on November 8, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Here is a wild and crazy party idea…. have a Turkey Day Test Run Party!

You know there are several dishes you’d like to try before Thanksgiving. Like that new stuffing recipe or the new pie your friend has been raving about.

Plan a casual buffet party, making all the dishes you want to try out, invite over a few friends and have a taste test to see which ones get a thumbs up and which ones get a thumbs down.

By serving the food buffet style, you can keep things simple with an overlying theme of just getting together and having fun.

You can have ballot slips for each guest to fill out, rating each dish. You could even give a few prizes for “most creative descriptions” or “most valuable tester.” Keep the prizes simple like a fall-scented votive candle or a boxed single truffle.

The main idea is to get together with friends while trying out some new recipes. I think you’ll have a good time if you give it a try!

She Who Needs to Plan a Test Run Party

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Pumpkin Recipes

Posted in Entertaining at Home, Entertaining Ideas, Holidays, Party Theme, tagged , , on October 28, 2011| 2 Comments »

Since many people will have an abundance of pumpkin after Monday night’s festivities and since I just like pretty much all things pumpkin, here are a few recipes that you might enjoy!

 

Pumpkin Cake

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars

Pumpkin Bread

Pumpkin Roll

And if that isn’t enough pumpkinfesting for you, try these ideas:

• Make a simple pumpkin soup by adding about four cups of chicken broth to a 28-0unce can of pumpkin. Stir in about 3 ounces of Feta cheese, season with salt and a pinch of nutmeg and enjoy.

• Use canned pumpkin as a thickener. Add it to any type of chili or stew that needs a little thickening.

• Substitute canned pumpkin for half the fat in quick breads. This works well with cinnamon, citrus and chocolate. Or make your tastebuds extra happy and make a loaf of pumpkin bread.

• Add canned pumpkin to half your cheesecake filling. Swirl it into the filling, but don’t mix, before baking to get an awesome design and incredible flavor.

• Mix canned pumpkin into softened ice cream then refreeze for a quick pumpkin dessert. Serve with gingersnaps and a drizzle of caramel sauce.

• Mix a heaping spoonful into grits, top with grated Parmesan cheese and a tiny dollop of butter.

• Mix canned pumpkin with one part apple cider and two parts ginger ale for a fun beverage.

You could also make pumpkin polenta, pumpkin cupcakes, pumpkin muffins, roasted pumpkin wedges, pumpkin roll or pumpkin seeds.

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Slippers and Sippers Party Theme

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

With chilly weather, days that are getting shorter and the holiday craziness approaching, think about hosting a party just for your girl friends.

Use a Slippers and Sippers Party Theme for a fun, relaxed evening they will long remember. Invite everyone to wear their favorite pair of slippers. They can be cute, wild, crazy, ratty – whatever floats their boat. Have a contest and give away some fun prizes for the prettiest, ugliest and most unique slippers.  Prizes could be something as simple as a bottle of lotion or some foot soak tablets.

Provide a few tasty beverages for guests to sip. A pot of mulled cider is not only delicious, but it fills your home with the most wonderful, welcoming scent. You could set up a hot chocolate station or a coffee station as well.

You could host a home party where your friends can sit and relax while doing a little shopping (think about companies like Scentsy, Pampered Chef, Willow House, etc.) or you could each bring a handful of catalogs to browse through and get ideas for Christmas gifts.

The main objective is just to get together with your friends and have a fun evening.

Keep the mood light and enjoy a few hours of connecting before the hectic hurry of the holidays sets in.

She Who Needs to Find a Cool Pair of Slippers

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Fall Leaf Party Theme

Posted in Entertaining Ideas, Party Theme, tagged , , on October 11, 2011| Leave a Comment »

It is really starting to look like fall in our neck of the woods. The leaves are beginning to change color, the weather is cool and rainy, and the apple pickers are across the road from my house busily gathering in the harvest.

I don’t know about you all, but I hate raking leaves. Absolutely dread it. Captain Cavedweller isn’t much better. We always hope for a wild windstorm to blow our leaves away before we get too ambitious and  get them raked and bagged.

What if you could combine a party with getting the leaves raked up out of your yard and that of your neighborhood?

Think about roping, er… I mean inviting, your neighbors to participate in a block leaf raking party. You could be the “host house” that provides the bags and refreshments and then all participating neighbors would go from lawn to lawn raking and bagging leaves. When it was finished, everyone could converge at your home for a fun fall-themed meal.

Sounds like a win-win situation, doesn’t it? You get your leaves raked, you get to spend time with neighbors and you all get to celebrate fall and a nice clean neighborhood.

Keep your refreshments simple – you could make a fall stew with hot bread, green salad and apple crisp for dessert. Sliders are another fun option. If the weather cooperates and you have somewhere to build a bonfire or a firepit, think about roasting wieners and marshmallows.

Send each neighbor home with a “bagged” sugar cookie cut out like a leaf and decorated in fall colors.

The main thing here (besides getting your leaves raked) is to connect with the friends who live around you and enjoy the fall season.

So give it a whirl and let me know how it goes!

She Who Must Rake Her Leaves This Fall

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