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Welcome To Entertaining
(ARA) – Are you getting tired of the same old parties, and the typical menus of wine and cheese or beer and chips? Why not entertain your friends in a new way? Treat your guests to a retro-style cocktail party.
“A retro cocktail party brings back a simpler time,” says Charlie Lapson, Hollywood designer and style guru for ShopNBC, an upscale TV and Internet retailer. “Cocktail parties were about gathering around and having a cocktail and conversation -- no VCRs no TVs, just a record on the hi-fi. It was a way to bring people together without being distracted by modern conveniences.”
To set the scene for the party, “first turn back the hands of time and take a look at retro chic,” advises Lapson, who suggests using a few decorations that will create a nostalgic mood -- think bright ‘50s colors. ShopNBC has a set of tinsel trees in lime green, pink and silver that will add some retro style to your living room or entryway. About one and one-half feet tall, the trees come with a set of sparkly ornaments that can be mixed and matched.
To add some additional ‘50s atmosphere, string up a set of Chinese lanterns. Keep the lights low, and scatter some candles around the room. Don’t forget the music. Must-haves are selections from Frank Sinatra, Louis Prima, Sammy Davis, Jr., Bobby Darin and Nat King Cole.
Invite your guests to show off some retro style: “For women, think Lucille Ball meets classy Jackie Kennedy,” says Lapson. “Every fashionable lady would have been wearing a cocktail-length dress.” Accent your outfit with a little retro bag like a beautiful silk satin clutch designed by Lapson (and available online from ShopNBC). For men, a blazer or jacket and skinny tie with a white shirt is the right look.
You can’t have a cocktail party without a bar. To set up your bar area, drape a dining or kitchen table with a white cloth and accent it with a small lamp. Check ShopNBC for some affordable decorative table lamps such as a Peyton Tiffany or a Cathedral table lamp to help set the right mood. Set out an ice bucket with tongs, plenty of cocktail napkins, and maybe a bowl or two of warm salted nuts.
You’ll probably want to have glasses in a few different sizes: distinctive but affordable Mikasa etched-pattern glasses in cordial, goblet and shot glass sizes are available online at ShopNBC. Make sure to have some martini glasses and all-purpose wine glasses on hand too.
Cocktail preparation requires the right equipment. You’ll need a cocktail shaker, a jigger for measuring and a pitcher for mixing larger portions. Don’t forget the pimento-stuffed olives, maraschino cherries and any twists that may be needed. For drama, have some frill-festooned toothpicks and swizzle sticks on hand.
It’s not realistic to offer an unlimited selection of cocktails. Just choose one theme drink, such as a martini or a sidecar, and then offer a few other choices, including one or two that are nonalcoholic.
Now for the food. No retro party would be complete without some tasty cocktail wieners or meatballs, eaten with the frilly toothpicks. You can supplement this with some cheese straws, an olive loaf and an assortment of spreads served with slices of cocktail rye. If you want to add a low-fat option, how about shrimp cocktail?
To be really authentic, plan some party games like clue or password. “The biggest part of the cocktail party was playing charades,” adds Lapson.
Here’s one classic cocktail recipe to try at your next party:
Sidecar
1 ounce Cointreau
1 ounce lemon juice (about 1/2 of a lemon)
2 ounces cognac
Chill a cocktail glass by filling it with ice cubes for a few seconds. Dump out the ice and rub the rim of the glass with a piece of lemon. Dip the rim in sugar and shake off the excess, set aside.
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and the three ingredients listed above. Shake thoroughly into the prepared cocktail glass. Garnish with a twist.
Check ShopNBC for more cocktail party accessories and a whole range of housewares, clothing and jewelry: www.shopnbc.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
(ARA) - If you went to China to ring in the new year, you’d be overwhelmed by a frenzy of family, festivities, food and fireworks! On Jan. 22, as the Chinese say goodbye to the Year of the Ram, you can bring a little bit of China into your home by celebrating the beginning of the Year of the Monkey. A vivacious, inquisitive creature, the monkey indicates that the new year will be full of passion, liveliness and prosperity!
Chinese New Year festivities are just as dynamic and spirited as the monkey and are a traditional part of ancient Chinese culture. Bring Chinese New Year joy into the lives of your friends and family with time-honored cooking, colorful decorations and activities for everyone.
Get colorful!
Red and gold are traditional symbols of luck and prosperity. Red also frightens away evil spirits and keeps them from creeping into the new year. Nian is the new year monster known in China for terrorizing children around the new moon and is easily frightened by loud music and bright colors. The Chinese use dancing, firecrackers and red costuming to ring in the new year, and keep out Nian.
Decorate with traditional colors and themes by stacking red plates and cups at one end of a buffet table and allowing guests to serve themselves from the variety of entrées laid out before them. For added flare, dust gold confetti over a black tablecloth. Wrap chopsticks (which can be found at your local Panda Express) in a red napkin and tie them together with shimmering gold ribbon. Grab your wok from the kitchen, fill it with the napkin sets and place it at the other end of your buffet. If your guests -- or any children in the group -- don’t know how to use chopsticks, see below for tips on teaching them how! Family-style dining is a convenient way to make sure your guests enjoy this feasting experience together.
Replace ordinary party gift bags with traditional red couplets. Your guests will love these small red envelopes which are usually inscribed in black with one of four Chinese characters signifying wealth prosperity abundance and long life. It is customary in China to give gifts in monetary form to denote paying off credit or debt. Enclose a small dollar amount in each red couplet, or fill them with gift certificates. Panda Express can provide you with gift certificates for any amount. You can also hang the couplets around your house as decoration and to ward off evil spirits.
Peonies symbolize love, affection and beauty and are known in China as “Flowers of Riches and Honor.” Float them in glass bowls or sprinkle them across your buffet table. According to the Chinese, if a peach blossom blooms during the new year celebration it is a sure sign of future good fortune. Try stringing a flower garland to ornament your mantels or doorways.
Adorn your ceilings with red and black balloons tied with long gold ribbons. Line your walkway with traditional Chinese lanterns to draw light and luck -- along with your friends and family -- straight into your home.
Get hungry!
An expert in blending Chinese tradition with American culture, Panda Express serves up the perfect amount of spice for the new year. If you want to impress your guests by preparing your own Chinese dish, just follow the recipe below for tasty and traditional Kung Pao Chicken. It’s easy to make and will fill your home with savory smells. If you’re looking for a truly hassle-free celebration, let your local Panda Express come to the rescue! The restaurant makes party preparations easy by offering Firecracker Shrimp on its catering menu. Succulent shrimp, colorful peppers and black beans are sautéed with onion, ginger, garlic and wok-charred red chili peppers to create this festive dish.
The monkey is an impetuous creature and, much like the year ahead, it constantly sniffs out variety and rejuvenation. Make your buffet sparkle with an assortment of entrées. Group unique dishes, like the Firecracker Shrimp, with old favorites, like Orange Flavored Chicken and Broccoli with Beef. Quantities can be prepared for gatherings of any size -- wokked fresh and ready when you are. Serve each dish large serving bowls on your lavish buffet table.
Get festive!
When your guests arrive, encourage them to take off their shoes and walk softly into your home. Walking tenderly invites a smooth transition into the new year. While it’s tradition to start any new year on a clean slate, brooms and dustpans must be stored out of sight before New Year’s Day to prevent good fortune from being swept away. Fill your home with loved ones, laughter and light. Enjoy the sweet smell of peach blossoms, the company of close friends and the traditional dishes of Panda Express. Kung Hay Fat Choy is Chinese for Happy New Year! Panda Express is Chinese for Yummy.
For more information visit www.pandaexpress.com.
Teach Your Friends to Use Chopsticks
First: The sticks are attached, but sectioned up the middle. Simply pull each end away from the other. Don’t twist them apart or try a fancy way of snapping them; you wouldn’t want a few splinters to hinder your dining experience! Once separated, you can rub the sticks together to smooth any rough edges. Step 1) The Base Stick: Place one stick so that it is cradled between the base of your thumb and forefinger. Hold it in place with the tip of your middle finger, as though you were holding a pencil.
Step 2) The Pivot Stick: Position the next chopstick so that it is pinned against the side of your index finger by the end of your thumb. Make sure the ends of the two sticks line up.
Step 3) The Pick-Up: Holding the base chopstick firmly in place, place a small amount of pressure on the Pivot Stick using the tip of your thumb as its base and your index finger to entice movement. The chopsticks should move like a pair of tweezers with the end of the Pivot Stick moving toward the end of the Base Stick. Slowly try to pick up a big piece of Orange Flavored Chicken, and then go for a small bite of your Kung Pao Chicken. Once you’re a pro, try for a single grain of rice!
Courtesy of ARA Content
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(ARA) - The best, most memorable weddings reflect the personalities of the couple getting married. To make sure your wedding isn’t a cookie-cutter copy of all the rest, don’t be afraid to infuse the event with your interests, shared memories and personal style. There is no better way to personalize and customize your wedding than with the creative touches that a sewing and embroidery machine afford.
Reva Lear, a wedding consultant for the past 25 years, says that the bride and groom have a lot of opportunities to create a unique experience: the invitations, the location, the kind of ceremony and reception all say a lot about the personalities of the couple.
Lear remembers one bride-to-be who enlisted the help of her friends to produce a meaningful symbol for the ceremony. Each friend embroidered good wishes for the couple on a fabric square. The bride then collected all the squares, sewed them together and made a canopy for the ceremony that was not only beautiful, but had special significance for the couple.
Here are some other ways to make sure your personality shines through on the big day:
The Gown
Every bride wants her dress to be unique and one way to get exactly what you want is to make it yourself or have someone make it for you. Often brides-to-be will find a bodice they like, or a neckline they prefer, but other aspects of the dress aren’t ideal. When you have it made you can choose the combination of features that are most flattering.
“Today’s computerized sewing and embroidery systems make even a project like a wedding dress much easier than it used to be,” says Gayle Hillert, vice president of education at Bernina of America, a premiere sewing machine company. “There are books, Web sites (www.berninausa.com) and Bernina dealers available that can provide guidance on such subjects as how to work with specialty fabrics, laces and embroidery. Bernina accessory feet make sewing fine fabrics like satins or velvets easy and there are a variety available like hemming, pintucking and edgestitching feet that enable one to add couture elements quickly and successfully.”
Jane Michals of Aurora, Ill., wanted to make a dress for her daughter Lorraine that she would treasure for years and pass along to her own daughter. The end result, made with a Vera Wang designer pattern from Vogue, was an elegant silk gown with spaghetti straps that was perfect for the warm September evening. She personalized the garment by embroidering a border on the lining featuring lovebirds, the names of the bride and groom, the date of the wedding and the words “united in love.”
“I incorporated a design from a Bernina design collection and made a mirror image so that it would extend all around the dress,” says Michals. “I was able to do a much more detailed design with the machine than if I had done it by hand.” She also made a matching drawstring purse for the bride with leftover material from the dress, and a ring bearer’s pillow embroidered with a similar design.
Michals had some help from her Bernina artista 200E sewing and embroidery system. Microsoft Windows powered, it allows the user to create their own designs, and easily edit the designs on screen using the artista 200E’s built-in capabilities.
“A simple touch like using the letters on the Bernina to stitch the wedding date and names adds value to the dress and gives it heirloom status,” says Hillert. Even if you buy your dress and veil, there are still ways you can personalize it. With the right equipment on your sewing machine, you can add a unique embroidered design to any garment.
“Not only can you embroider a border for the lining, you can add embellishments to the bodice, skirt or even the train,” says Hillert. “You don’t even have to have a sewing and embroidery system; our activa line of machines is powerful, portable and easy to use. The activa 145 has all kinds of built-in decorative stitches, convenient features and accessories, which allow for easy embellishing.”
Your veil can be customized in lots of ways too. Add ornamentation such as tiny ribbons, beads and silk flowers or attach lace edging to a plain veil. The more adventurous bride may want to decorate with sequins, rhinestones, fur trim or even feathers.
Favors and Gifts
The favors are an easy way to inject a bit more of your personality into the day, and when you make them yourself you can tie them into your own theme. Choose the bride’s favorite color and make drawstring bags to hold wedding favors such as candied almonds, a heart-shaped wine bottle stopper or a small scented votive candle.
Sachets made with ribbons and lace in your colors are a wonderful way to remember your guests. Fill them with potpourri or dried flowers that match your centerpieces. For each member of the bridal party, create a personalized gift by embroidering their initials on linen towels or napkins.
You may want to use some leftover scraps of material or lace from your dress to cover a journal that will serve as your guestbook. Continue the theme with your ring bearer’s pillow using leftover fabric embellished with lace, beading, sequins or embroidery.
“These days it is not uncommon for people to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for a wedding,” says Lear. Her best advice: keep it simple, and plan an event that says something about who you are as a couple.
For more information and project ideas along with tips on specialized sewing topics like beading and embroidery, visit www.berninausa.com. Another source of information is the Web site of the Home Sewing Association at www.sewing.org. To have your dress professionally made, visit www.paccprofessionals.com to find a member of the Professional Association of Custom Clothiers in your area.
Courtesy of ARA Content
(ARA) - A wedding shower should be fun for everyone involved: the bride, the guests, and even the hostess. A little advance planning ensures that happens.
First, a bit of etiquette: the shower is usually hosted by the maid or matron of honor, or a close family friend. The guest list should include only people who have been invited to the wedding, unless the shower is hosted by co-workers. Showers are traditionally held a month or two before the wedding; this can be a very stressful and busy time for the bride, so make sure the date fits into her schedule before making all the arrangements.
Showers are supposed to help the bride and groom equip their new home, so they’re often planned around a specific theme: recipe showers, camping showers, linen showers, etc. In choosing a theme, consider things that are important to the bride. Does she love to cook? Consider a recipe party. Does she like to entertain? How about a “stock the bar” shower? Is the couple moving into a new home after the wedding? A tool shower can help them collect the essentials they’ll need. Once you decide on a theme, you can use it to tie in decorations, gifts, even the food and games.
* Invitations
The theme starts here. For a cooking shower, send invitations written on recipe cards, or cut out leaf shapes for a garden shower. Make it clear if guests are expected to bring a certain type of gift.
* Decorations
Your local party supply store is a good place to start, and the Internet is also a great resource. Look for paper goods that carry out your theme -- a floral design for a garden shower, for example. Another good option is to decorate for the shower in the colors the bride has chosen for her wedding.
* Food
Showers usually involve a light lunch or appetizers. Tastefully Simple sells gourmet food products that make it easy to put together an impressive menu. Most of the company’s products require only one or two ingredients to prepare, or can be enjoyed right out of the package. For example, the Creamy Wild Rice Soup mix can be used to make a delicious wild rice casserole that can be the main course of your menu. Or spread softened cream cheese on flour tortillas, top with Tastefully Simple’s Sweet Pepper Jalapeno Jam, roll tortillas, chill and slice into spirals for beautiful hors d’oeuvres.
The company’s Web site has a complete selection of products and more serving and menu ideas. You can even choose Tastefully Simple as your shower theme. A consultant will organize a home taste-testing party, offering samples, easy meal ideas, recipes and serving suggestions. Guests can order for themselves and for the bride.
* Games
People tend to be split into two camps where shower games are concerned -- either they think no shower would be complete without them, or they’d rather visit the dentist than play them. Take your lead from the bride on this one; after all, it’s her party. Check your local bookstore, library, or the Internet for party game ideas. Chances are you’ll be able to find a game that ties in with your theme. For example, if you’re having a recipe shower, you could play the apron game: attach a variety of kitchen utensils to an apron and have the bride put it on and model it for a couple of minutes, then leave the room. Have guests write down as many items as they can remember; the person with the longest list wins.
* Party favors
While party favors are not essential, they are a nice touch. Choose wisely, and your party favors can double as part of your decorative theme. For example, for a garden party, use small potted plants with guests’ names painted on the pots as a place card on the table. When the party is over, guests can take the plant home as a memento. You can also use personalized photo frames, champagne flutes or candles in the same way. If you’re throwing a kitchen shower, send guests home with a tasty treat such as Tastefully Simple’s Spinach and Herb Mix, or their Garlic Garlic and Bacon Bacon dip mixes.
Use these tips to plan the perfect shower. You’ll be a relaxed, gracious hostess and the bride will have a very special day to remember.
Tastefully Simple products are sold through home taste-testing parties. To find a consultant in your area, or for more information on products, visit www.tastefullysimple.com or call (866) 328-6673.
Courtesy of ARA Content
(ARA) - Do you think twice before bringing out the good silver, trying to decide if you have time to clean it before your party, in light of all your other errands and commitments? Polishing silver is actually a simple process, and with the proper care and the right cleaning supplies, there’s no reason to keep your good silver under wraps. In fact, by following these simple tips, you may find that you’re more inclined to use your silver -- even if there is no special occasion.
Silver Basics
Silver is a relatively soft metal and can be dented or damaged by rough handling. In addition, it is subject to corrosion, known as tarnish, when it is exposed to sulphur-containing compounds in the air. Corrosion causes silver to turn dark and lose its lustrous surface sheen. Heat and humidity also promote tarnish, so take this into consideration when deciding where to store your silver. While it is important to keep silver clean and free from dust and surface grime, it’s better to polish only when necessary, just before using it.
Cleaning Your Silver Safely
There are many types of silver polishing products on the market. The key to making the job of caring for your silver easier is to choose a product best suited to the job. Here are some tips from the experts at Northern Labs, maker of Goddard’s silver care products.
For cleaning items such as serving trays, pitchers and bowls that do not have engraving or fine details, silver polish liquid is fast and easy. Choose one that cleans, polishes and protects in one step, like Goddard’s Silver Polish, to save time and effort. Apply the polish with a clean, soft cloth, rubbing gently until all of the tarnish is gone, turning the cloth frequently. Allow the polish to dry, then wipe it with another clean, soft cloth to buff it to a brilliant shine.
Silver polish foam is perfect for larger objects and those with engraving and fine details or filigree. “These items would normally take longer and require using a toothbrush or other brushes to get the tarnish out,” says Mark Sterwald of Northern Labs. “Goddard’s Silver Foam does all of the work for you -- simply moisten a soft sponge with warm water, dip it in the paste and softly rub the sponge over the surface, creating a rich, cleansing lather. That’s the secret to getting all of the tarnish out of the nooks, crannies and engraving.” Rinse the item under warm running water and then dry immediately with a clean, soft cloth.
For silverware and serving utensils, silver dip is the way to go. Simply open the jar and carefully dip the item into the jar until the tarnish disappears. If the item doesn’t fit into the jar, use a cotton ball soaked in silver dip and rub until all the tarnish is removed. Wash the cleaned items in warm, soapy water, rinse well and dry with a soft cloth.
If you prefer a multi-use product, choose an all-metal polish like Mr. Metal that works on silver, brass, copper and more. Use it on copper cookware, brass candle sticks, silver, and other decorative items in your home.
After the Party
To ensure your silver will look good the next time you use it, start by hand-washing the pieces, as harsh detergents will cause pitting. Store silver in special flannel bags infused with particles of silver that will help retard tarnish. You can find these bags in jewelry and department stores sold as “Pacific Silvercloth.”
Goddard’s silver polishes and Mr. Metal, as well as fine furniture polishes, are available in grocery stores, drug stores and kitchen stores nationwide and all of these products are certified kosher. The company has been protecting valuable objects since 1893 and is preferred by silversmiths, jewelers and housekeeping staffs worldwide.
For more information, visit www.goddards.com or call (877) 661-1853.
Courtesy of ARA Content
(ARA) – Carmen Parmeter wanted to do something different this year for her birthday -- so she called her granddaughter. The 83 year old wanted to throw a party for her friends, but needed some inspiration.
“She has a group of gals who meet to celebrate their birthdays every month,” says her granddaughter Macaille Mahoney. Most of the women all live in the same apartment complex and have been socializing for years.
Mahoney suggested something she thought her grandmother’s friends would enjoy: a party featuring menu items from Tastefully Simple, a gourmet food company that sells products through home taste-testing parties.
In a fun, social setting, guests have the opportunity to taste-test appetizers, soups, breads, main courses and desserts. A representative from the company is available to offer recipe and entertaining tips. It’s an easy and enjoyable way to entertain a group -- especially those who appreciate good food.
Parmeter liked the idea, and enlisted her granddaughter’s help in setting up for the party. She had some doubts about whether she could prepare the food on her own.
“She wanted help making some of the products because she thought it would be difficult, but she ended up making everything -- she did it all,” says Mahoney. “I brought over some paper plates, because she doesn’t drive, but that’s all I did.”
Parmeter was able to easily whip up a menu of dips, bread, soup and desserts with minimal effort. The items are designed to be ready-to-serve, or can be prepared by adding just two or three ingredients.
“Everybody who came thought the food was very good,” says Parmeter, who added that one of her neighbors is having the same kind of party next month.
One of the most popular items at the party was the Bountiful Beer Bread, which can be prepared in hundreds of different ways, simply by adding different ingredients. Here are a few ideas for your next gathering:
Corn Bread
Tastefully Simple Bountiful Beer Bread Mix
15 ounce-can creamed corn
1/3 cup vegetable oil
Combine all ingredients. Bake at 375 F for 50 to 55 minutes. Makes 14 servings.
Bountiful Banana Bread
Tastefully Simple Bountiful Beer Bread Mix
12 ounces Sprite
1 cup mashed bananas
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
2 tablespoons melted butter
Combine first 4 ingredients. Pour into greased loaf pan, drizzle melted butter on top. Bake as directed on package.
Watermelon Bread
Tastefully Simple Bountiful Beer Bread Mix
12 ounces Mountain Dew Code Red
1/2 cup chocolate chips
Combine all ingredients, pour into greased loaf pan. Bake as directed on Bountiful Beer Bread Mix package.
To find out how to order Tastefully Simple products and gift packs, or to host your own party, visit www.tastefullysimple.com or call toll free (866) 328-6673.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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