A Simple Approach to Entertaining

by: ARA

(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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Courtesy of ARA Content

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Submitted by Dr.Shoukath.ND

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Cowboy Themed Parties Ring in Fall with a Yee-haw

by: ARA

(ARA) - Barbecues are not just for summer anymore, but the rich flavors can be enjoyed year-round and even in-doors. As kids head back to school this fall, a great way to celebrate is with a Cowboy themed BBQ.

“Kids of all ages have an inner-cowboy screaming to come out” says Dotty Griffith, author of “The Contemporary Cowboy Cookbook” and an expert on entertaining and cooking cowboy-style “Whether you are rounding up the gang for a back-to-school bash or just celebrating a birthday, a cowboy themed party is an easy way to engage children, have fun, and create an experience that is sure to be unforgettable.”

Here are a few suggestions to help you “rustle up” a good time:

Lasso the Gang: Create eye-catching, mood-setting invitations with your kids by writing out the party details on construction paper, rolling them up in a colorful bandana and tying with twine. Also, consider finding horseshoes and attaching the invitation to them, or if the invitations can be hand-delivered attach them to a cowboy hat. At the craft store, try to pick up themed stickers or hand stamps to decorate the invitations.

Show-Stopper Props: For the truly adventurous wrangler host who wants a sure fire way to impress the kids, try any of the following rentable props to make them feel right at home on the ranch -- OK Corral entrances, split-rail fences, bales of hay, long-horn steer or buffalo skulls, a covered wagon, three-dimensional farm animals like pigs, cows and lambs and a ranch scene mural for fun photos.

Character Building: Everyone loves to play dress-up, so encourage the children to come to the party donning a western-themed costume, i.e. a cowboy, cowgirl, or sheriff. At craft stores, look for straw cowboy hats and bandanas, just in case someone wants to touch up their outfit during the party.

What’s Cooking: As we all know, children can be very picky eaters. That’s why the simple cuisine of the Wild West – a true American BBQ -- is so perfect, as it can be interactive and fun. To help capture the flavors of the west while putting together a down-home American ranch BBQ for the little cowboys, look for recipes and products that do double duty and will make the your job as head rancher look effortless.

Griffith suggests delighting kids with finger food appetizers like chicken strips and sliced vegetables and recommends using a bold, creamy Ranch dressing like new Wish-Bone Ranch-Up! as a dipping sauce. The dressing does its double duty with its easy squeeze bottle that is great for allowing kids to make designs on their plates and dip away. Pick an easy to serve main dish like hamburgers and allow kids to get creative when topping them with other kinds of easy to squeeze condiments, like colored ketchup or mustard. Griffith also suggests side dishes that are sweet and tangy like a coleslaw or potato salad using Western Dressing, which is known for its sweet and smooth taste. And save the best for last by serving an assortment of ice cream in spatter ware coffee mugs. (For more Wild West recipe ideas, go to www.wish-bone.com)

Serving It Up: Purchase cowboy-themed plates and cups at any craft store; set the table with white paper table cloths and allow kids to draw their favorite western scenes around their eating area. Use colored bandanas as napkins, turn Cowboy hats upside down to use as chips bowls and try to find plastic cowboy figurines at craft stores to decorate the table.

Musical Cowboy Hats: For a sure to please game, play musical cowboy hats and have kids walk around hats until the music stops. The one who manages to get a hat after each round wins.

Ready, Set, Draw: Create a craft area for the children and supply them with all the usual suspects, glue, crayons, glitter, etc, but add a little Wild West flare, by giving them twigs, grass and wildflowers to see what they come up with.

Kiddie Tunes: Divide the children into small groups and have one adult teach each group the words to a favorite campfire song like, “Old McDonald” or “Home on the Range.” After the kids have mastered the tune and the words, have each team put on a show for the other cowboys and cowgirls on the ranch.

Go on now -- round ‘em all up for a celebration that will have them saying, “Ye-haw” for months! For more ranch-inspired recipe and entertaining ideas from Dotty Griffith, visit www.wish-bone.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content






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Courtesy of ARA Content

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Submitted by Dr.Shoukath.ND

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Champagne raspberry punch

by: NC

600 g 1.3 lb package of M&M Frozen Raspberries

625 mL (2-1/2 cups) orange juice

30 mL (2 tbsp) lemon or lime juice

50 mL (1/4 cup) sugar

750 mL (3 cups) champagne or sparkling wine

Or

1 L (4 cups) unsweetened pineapple juice

Thaw raspberries at room temperature; do not drain. Place raspberries with orange juice and lemon or lime juice in blender. Add sugar. Cover and process until smooth. To remove raspberry seeds, pour mixture through a fine sieve; transfer to 8 L / 2-quart pitcher. Stir in champagne, sparkling white wine or pineapple juice. Serve over ice. Makes 12 (150 mL/5 oz servings)

Recipe courtesy of M&M Meat Shops

- News Canada

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News Canada
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