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Archive for the ‘Quick and Easy’ Category

Mint Iced Tea

Posted in Easy Recipes, Quick and Easy, tagged , , on July 9, 2009| 3 Comments »

napa-trayThere is nothing quite like a nice, cold glass of iced tea on a hot summer day to really quench your thirst. You can do all sorts of variations on the basic black tea with lemon.

You can add sliced fruit or berries, mix in frozen juice concentrate or even use herbal tea for some fun flavors.

One of my all-time favorite iced teas is mint. A very dear friend is positively convinced I make it just for her. I’ll let her keep thinking that as long as she lets me have a glass or two!

Here is a quick and easy recipe. Enjoy!

Mint Iced Tea

3 mint tea bags (I’ve tried a variety and Bigelow Plantation Mint works the best)

4 cups boiling water

8 cups cool water

2/3 cup sugar

Mint sprigs

Stir sugar into the boiling water until it is dissolved. Add the tea bags and let steep for about 10 minutes. Discard tea bags and pour tea into a 12 cup pitcher. Add cool water and stir. Toss in a few fresh mint sprigs and serve over ice in chilled glasses.

Do you have any fun variations you add to your iced tea? Share your comments here!

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Entertain with a Summer Picnic

Posted in Entertaining Ideas, Quick and Easy, tagged , , on July 8, 2009| 1 Comment »

picnicSummer is the perfect time to grab a blanket, pack some food and eat in the great outdoors. If you haven’t gone on a picnic in a while, think about inviting a few friends or family members to join you for a casual meal. The key ingredient should be fun.

The Perfect Spot
Pick your picnic spot strategically. Look for an area in the shade, away from foot traffic. If you have children along, make sure there are no hazards nearby: busy roads, deep water, or cliffs. Be realistic about what you can carry to the picnic spot.

The Perfect Seat
Lounging on a blanket is all fine and dandy unless the ground is wet. Bring along a plastic tarp to put underneath the blanket. My favorite picnic blanket is a comforter that is thick and soft and just meant for lazy afternoons out in the sun.

The Perfect Food
Keep the food simple and opt for no-fuss picnic fare like crusty bread, cheese and fruit. Add something sweet for a treat like cookies, brownies or slices of pie. Think about foods that are easy to transport and keep cold. Wraps and sandwiches are yummy, simple to make and easy to pack. Before you fill the cooler, make sure everything is thoroughly chilled. Take plenty of ice and remember food should not set out more than an hour in heat that is 85 degrees or higher. Also take plenty of beverages to stay hydrated.

The Essentials
Picnic basket or cooler
Bottled water (freeze overnight and use as an ice pack)
Outdoor dinnerware
Flatware or plastic silverware
Napkins
Glassware
Cutting Board
Sharp Knife
Bottle opener
Tablecloth, blanket
Decorative centerpiece (hurricane candles, a cup of freshly plucked wildflowers, a beautiful dessert)
Sunscreen
Bug spray or citronella candles
Wet-wipes
Paper towels
Hand sanitizer
Trash bags
Games (Frisbees and balls for the kids, badminton for adults)

If you have any fun picnic ideas to share, please post them here.
Enjoy your summer entertaining and may all your picnics be ant-free!

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Set an Entertaining Timeline

Posted in Desserts, Entertaining at Home, Quick and Easy, tagged , , on June 23, 2009| 2 Comments »

You’ve taken the plunge, set a date for a party, invited guests and are getting ready for the event. Take a few minutes to create a timeline. It will save you a lot of time and frustration and help you from looking frazzled in front of your guests.
Start by writing down your menu. In detail. What foods can be purchased and made ahead of time? What needs to be purchased and made the day before? The day of the party? What decorations will be needed? Will you be making any decorations or will you be shopping for them? When will you do this? Where will the centerpieces come from? What cleaning tasks need to be accomplished?
Get it all down on paper and then divide the menu, cleaning and decorating tasks into specific steps for at least the seven days leading up to your party. When you break it into set tasks, entertaining can be very simple.
You absolutely do not need to do everything yourself. Children are great helpers. They can certainly roll silverware in napkins, create welcome signs, tie ribbons, make place cards. They can serve as door greeters, coat takers and a very enthusiastic welcome committee to guests.
Find the barbecue king and ask him to man the grill. Aunt Bev would be thrilled to bring her favorite salad – so let her. Look for ways to involve others while lightening your load. If friends volunteer to help, let them! And should anyone volunteer to stay and help clean up, accept their generous offer and send them home with a doggie bag as thanks for their efforts.
I’d love to hear any ideas you have for getting family members involved in the party prep process. Share your comments here!

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Quick Cleaning Your Bathroom

Posted in Entertaining at Home, Quick and Easy, tagged , , on May 29, 2009| Leave a Comment »

If you are running behind and have guests arriving at your door any minute, make sure you do a quick cleaning in your bathroom. This is one area that people will notice if things aren’t quite up to par. Take just a few minutes and follow these simple tips to have your bathroom looking spiffy in a jiffy!

If you have a love affair with white or light colored linens – let it go! Royal blue, navy, plum, cabernet, emerald green even black linens will keep your bathroom looking fresh and be much easier on you!

Empty the garbage can. There is nothing worse than an overflowing garbage can to make guests feel uncomfortable.

Drop one of those blue cleaner tablets into the toilet tank and no one will know that your bowl is in less than pristine condition. Wipe down the sink, the tub edge and toilet seat. Give the mirrors a quick swipe with glass cleaner.

Give the shower curtain a  shake, straighten the rugs and give the floor a fast wipe with the glass cleaner towel from the mirror.

Light a fragrant candle, set out a fresh hand towel and you are good to go!

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