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Posts Tagged ‘entertain’

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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4th of July Food Safety Tips

Posted in Entertaining Ideas, tagged , , on June 30, 2009| 1 Comment »

red wagonAs families and friends gather this weekend for backyard barbecues and outdoor parties to celebrate the 4th of July, keep some basic food safety tips in mind. By using a little precaution, you can avoid anyone going home with food poisoning.
• Have two sets of cutting boards, cooking utensils and platters – one for uncooked foods and the other for cooked foods.
• Pack a meat thermometer to make sure you are cooking meat and poultry to proper temperatures.
• Prevent the spread of bacteria by washing fruits and vegetables before putting them in a basket or cooler.
• Pack clean foil, plastic wrap and resealable bags to store leftovers. Don’t reuse what you used on uncooked food.
• If you won’t have access to soap and water at the picnic, bring along moist towelettes, antibacterial hand cleanser, bleach wipes or a spray bottle with soapy water.
• Use nestled bowls to serve cold items, filling the larger with ice and using the smaller as the actual serving bowl.
• Fill unusual containers with ice and place cold dishes inside. A red wagon is the perfect way to serve up a trio of salads, especially on the 4th of July!
• Hot foods should be eaten within two hours of being made.
• Food should not stand out longer than two hours and on a day when the temperature is above 85 degrees, one hour is the maximum. Store leftovers in an ice-filled cooler.
• When packing the cooler, wrap raw meat, poultry and fish in air-tight resealable plastic bags or containers and keep seperated from cooked foods, fruits and veggies.
• Think about taking a separate cooler for beverages, as it gets opened frequently and makes it difficult to maintain a cool temperature.
• Thoroughly chill cold fods and beverages before putting into a cooler.
• Pre-chill your cooler by adding a bit of ice about an hour before you are ready to pack it.
• Transport hot food in a separate insulated cooler. Wrap in newspaper or dishtowels and pack tightly in a cooler surrounded by more newspaper or dish towels. You can also heat bricks and place in the cooler to keep hot foods hot. Remove the bricks and put under dishes to keep warm while serving.
• A full cooler will stay colder longer than a partially filled one. If your food doesn’t fill the cooler, add more ice.
• If you are traveling a distance, insulate coolers even more by wrapping in blankets or sleeping bags. If possible, avoid putting in the trunk.
• If possible, replenish ice as it melts. If you don’t have access to more, keep the water in the cooler. It works almost as well as ice.
If you have any tips or hints to add, please leave a comment or send me a message! I’d love to hear from you.

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Simple Coconut Dessert

Posted in Easy Recipes, Fast Recipes, tagged , , on June 26, 2009| Leave a Comment »

One of my favorite desserts in the summer is so simple and oh, so good.
The best thing about the dessert, beyond the cool creamy flavor, is that you can make it the day before you need it and it tastes even better!
This recipe was one I pulled from my Mom’s collection years ago. It has had several names from Ice Box Dessert to “that coconut thing you make” but the easiest to remember is Simple Coconut Dessert.

Simple Coconut Dessert
1 3-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups milk
1 large package instant coconut pudding mix
1 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup coconut, shredded and sweetened
Graham Crackers

Line the bottom of a 9×13 inch pan with Graham Crackers and set aside. Whip cream, add a dash of confectioner’s sugar to lightly sweeten.
In another bowl, mix cream cheese and milk until smooth. Add pudding mix and beat one minute. Fold in half of the whipped cream. Pour over Graham Crackers and chill for one hour.
Once chilled, spread rest of whipped cream on top and sprinkle with coconut.

So yummy and easy for summer entertaining. For more easy summer recipes, send me a message with your request or sign up for my newsletter. If you have a great summer recipe to share, please feel free to post it here!

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