Party Ideas

Cupcake Tips for Parties

sandra — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:40:00 +0000

Cupcakes can be a great addition for the party. It can be a great addition in gift baskets, used for dessert or even replace the cake. As long as they are properly arranged and presented, cupcakes will become part of a lively party. They’re small but they can be perfect for kids and adults.

The only challenge in making cupcakes is on the required effort. Unlike cakes where you only need to make one or two for the party, you could end up making more than 100 cupcakes which is very exhausting. Each of these cupcakes has to be carefully designed or else they will just look terrible while displayed.

To avoid these problems for your party, here are some tips:

Never think twice about quality ingredients – cupcakes are bite sized which means you only have one chance in impressing the guests with the tastes of your cupcakes. Make sure that each ingredient added should have quality. Cheap flour will be instantly noticed even though you cover the entire cupcake with frosting.
Lookout for Clumps – this is especially true when you’re preparing flour. Sift the flour first to prevent clumps as this will only cause your cupcakes to be fluffy. A fluffy cupcake simply means something was not baked right and the bland taste of flour still exists.
Timing is everything – baking is an exact science, only you eat what you prepare. This means you have to measure everything and time every process. Traditionally, a cupcake will require 350°F which should last for 21 minutes (half for mini cupcakes).
Early preparation – you can bake your cupcakes the day before the party. Simply store them in a cold, dry area. Storing in a fridge would even be an advantage especially when you’re preparing the cupcake with frosty toppings.
Decorations and toppings – let your imaginations fly with the toppings and decorations. Think of different colors and look for additional designs to increase interest on the cupcakes you’re making.

Be creative in making your cupcakes. It requires exact measurement to fully bake the ingredients but you always have a free hand on decorating the cupcake to make it look attractive in the party.

Planning for a Fund Raising Party

sandra — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 02:41:47 +0000

A fund raising party is sometimes very tricky for the organizers especially when they have to actively advertise to gain attention. They have to do a lot of PR work and connect to more people so that their fund raising party would be a success. This often leaves out the party itself which could be very disappointing. If you want to continue raising funds through a party, better get it right the first time.

Creating a Theme

A theme is very essential in every party and more so when you are fund raising since you have to get the message out correctly to those who are part of the party. Food and entertainment is not enough since those who are at the party are also interested on the cause. This means you have to put up some information at the venue which will educate the guests. Of course, you have to do it in a presentable manner or else you’re just putting up posters for people to read.

Give Out Information

Along with the right theme, guests are also expecting information about the cause. While many people at the party already knew what you’re doing, it’s better that you give out flyers or pamphlets for the guests to read. As much as possible, add something new or the latest updates on your fund raiser. If there’s any concrete plan on what you’ll do with the funds (which you should), this should be included in the pamphlet.

Think of a Twist

When you’re planning a simple fund raising dinner, add something different to the activity. Instead of simply letting the guests know what your group is trying to achieve, add some activities where guests could actually be part of. For example, a group of fire fighters wants to have a fund raiser and the party ended with the group giving those willing a ride in the fire truck. It’s just a simple activity but very enjoyable.

Don’t let your fund raiser drag. You owe it to the guests who will be providing extra cash for your cause. You don’t have to spend extra money to create a twist – simply think of what you already have and plan for an activity that would educate and entertain the guests.

Smart Tips When Serving Fondue in a Party

sandra — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 03:56:09 +0000

Fondue is a definitely a party pleaser when it comes to food. It’s very versatile as it can be used as an appetizer, main dish or dessert. This allows the host to be very creative on what they want to do when they want to incorporate fondue as part of their menu. Food prepared on fondue requires very little preparation as long as you know how to work with the different recipes for fondue. But even though they are very easy, there are some “rules” that should be followed which will improve your guests’ experience of the fondue.

Bite Sized Rule

When preparing vegetables, raw meat or fish, always cut them to smaller sizes to the point that your guests will no longer have to cut them. This is the reason why marshmallows are very popular fondue recipe since the host will no longer have to cut them before serving. You could also look for meat, fish and vegetables cut into fondue sizes in your local supermarket.

Be Aware of the Temperature

A fondue pot doesn’t have to be too hot so that it can cook your ingredients. If you’re using the fondue pot as dip for cheese or chocolate, keep the temperature within 120°F. For raw ingredients, the temperature could be higher but not too much that it will reach the boiling point. Your guests will never go near the fondue pot because it’s too hot. Place a low flame under the pot to maintain the temperature.

Pre-Cook then Serve

Because you are using low temperature for your ingredients, you have to cook them before serving them for the pot. Without precooking, the ingredients will require a very long time before they can be consumed. If you want to make it easier for your guests, cook the ingredients and serve them in a fondue pot. Know When and Where to Serve While fondue pots are sturdy and reliable, they still have to be placed in higher areas so that they will not be reached by kids. As much as possible, serve only fondue on a sit down dinner so that everyone can enjoy the pot without any danger.

Simple and Fun Party Cheese Recipes

sandra — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 18:52:05 +0000

Cheese can instantly improve the flavor of the food when they are used in the right moment. Any boring recipe can be immediately improved by adding a few grams of cheese. For this reason, a party menu can greatly benefit the addition of meal based on this tasty ingredient. As long as most of your guests are not lactose intolerant, cheese recipes will certainly entertain the taste buds of kids and adults alike.

Butter and Popcorn

Transform regular popcorn to a food that can’t be easily forgotten by adding cheese. Combine Parmesan cheese (grated) with melted butter, cumin and paprika with your freshly popped popcorn. The heat of the popcorn and the melted butter will help the cheese blend with the rest of the ingredients. Just add a pinch of cumin and paprika to achieve that unique smell that will tease the senses.

Cheese with Bacon on a Taco

Taco shells can easily complement cheese because it can be used to hold the melted cheese perfectly. Take advantage of this by preparing taco shells and add grated cheese on top. Don’t stop there – add bits of bacon and ham in the mix. Another option is to mix cheese, bacon, ham, whipped cream and lemon juice before placing them on top of the taco shell. Place them in the oven for two minutes and you get a very tasty and cheesy taco. You can also serve the topping separated from the taco so that your guests can control how much cheese or bacon they want on top of their taco.

Crispy Parmesan Cheese

Parmesan cheese is not just an additive to a recipe as it can be the main ingredient. In fact, this menu doesn’t require anything else except parmesan cheese. Grate parmesan cheese on top of parchment paper which is also on top of a baking sheet. Because it will melt fast and could easily spread, place it as a heap instead of spreading them around. Place them on the oven for at least 5 minutes and watch the cheese melt and become crispy. The tricky part is actually on determining if it’s already done. That is why it is important to monitor the oven in this recipe.

Seafood Recipe Tips for Parties

sandra — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 02:29:22 +0000

A menu with lots of seafood could lead to a great party. Seafood meals are tasty and very healthy for everyone with the right preparation. However, preparing this type of food could be very tricky. They have to be cooked right or else they will not taste good or simply too bad to be eaten. That is why it is important to properly prepare this type of food and each type of seafood has unique preparation requirement. The following are ideal recipes for each type of seafood.

Crabs: Steamed and Ready

The easiest and tastiest method of preparing a crab is simply to steam it. Simply add a little bit of dill on top of the crab, wrap in a damp paper towel and place it in a microwave for a couple of minutes. This is very ideal of large crab claws. Look for Alaskan king crabs so that you can have extra large crab claws for the party. Just make sure they are thawed and cut into pieces to fit in the microwave.

Shrimp: Roasted Shrimp

Roasting shrimps is very easy as they require very little to no preparation in your end. You simply have to buy prepared shrimps and combine them with strong spices of your choice. Popular spices for shrimps are garlic, lime juice, soy, black pepper and sugar. Simply combine these spices and pour them in the shrimp to marinate for a few hours.

Squid: Variety of Options for Calamari

Calamari is very easy to prepare and cook. Compared to crabs which are bigger and shrimp which sometimes requires shelling, calamari can be immediately cooked right after thawing. You just have to know the right combination to make it taste better. There are lots of choices on how to prepare a squid and calamari. Stuffed squid is always a popular menu especially in grilling and calamari could be combined with another major ingredient or simply deep fried with coating.

Fish: The Options are Practically Unlimited

The best way to prepare fish for a party is dry. Look for recipes that will allow you to grill fish and spice it up with the right marinade or dressing. This is very ideal if you have a party where you have 20-30 guests attending. Of course, there are other ways of preparing fish but if you want it fast and simple, grilling is the ideal cooking method.

Punch Making Tips for a Great Party

sandra — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:50:11 +0000

A punch is an ideal beverage for the party because they can be very inexpensive. Aside from monetary considerations, party punch can also bring out your personal idea on hosting a party. You can create a flavor and be very creative on how you serve your drink to your guests.

But you don’t just bring out the punch bowl and combine fruits and beverages for everyone to enjoy. There are some small precautions and tips you need to remember so that your prepared drink could be the life of the party and not the other way around.

Smart Choices on Beverages

Here are simple rules that will help you make the right choices for the beverage for the party punch:

For a party punch with alcohol, select the ones that have the more non-alcohol content because they are made for this type of preparation. Add the fruits that have the same taste with the beverage you have and you get a great alcoholic beverage for the party.
For non-alcohol drinks, focus on different type of flavors that will work with orange juice. You may have a different flavor but you have to remember that a punch should appeal to most guests. Add some apples, lemonade, pineapple or any fruit that would complement the orange flavor.

Always Take Ice into Consideration

Ice cubes in the punch bowl is a must to keep the beverage cold and enjoyable to drink. But they might damage the taste of your mix if you don’t take them into consideration. Estimate the amount of ice cubes you have to add to the punch bowl and adjust your mix so that your punch will not taste of water after the ice melts. You should also remember that the bowl might need some ice refill to keep it cold so you should also know how much ingredient you should add every time you pour more ice to the bowl.

Don’t Sweat it for Larger Parties

If you expect a lot of guests for the party, make your punch in advance. Make as much as you can and fill up the punch bowl to the brim. The rest should be placed in the fridge so that it would stay cool. You don’t have to be in the kitchen preparing a new batch every time the punch bowl is empty.

Interesting Dip Recipes for Your Party

sandra — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:11:28 +0000

Dips with finger foods are great appetizers in a party. They are also the ideal food for parties that focuses on certain events such as movie viewing party and art shows. With the right recipe, dips could easily entertain guests as the right food with the right type of dip is served.

Seafood Based Dips

Here’s a simple formula if you want to create a dip based on seafood:

Fish, crustaceans or any food from the sea should be properly cooked
Add enough mayonnaise for a sweet yet salty flavor
If you want a strong flavor add salt, pepper and onions
For a less tangy flavor, add olives
Use the food processor or blender then refrigerate for an hour or two

Seafood dip is perfect vegetable sticks and crackers.

Avocado Dip

If you’re thinking of using a fruit as a dip, go for avocado. This is my personal choice because it’s sweet and has a unique texture as a dip. The meat of ripe avocado is already a great dip by itself and would taste better with additional cream. Try to add sour cream and hot sauce. For every 4 avocados, add half a cup of sour cream and a teaspoon of hot sauce. Add salt and onions for additional flavor. There are those that add lemon juice to preserve avocados color for a very long time.

This type of dip is highly recommended for tacos and chips.

Creating a Variety of Dips

While the dips previously mentioned could be the talk of the party, they are just two dips. More often than not, your guests will try to look for additional dips. This is the reason why you need to prepare at least five dips.

Here’s what you need to create some variety without spending too much on dips: mayonnaise, Dijon mustard (or just mustard), ketchup, wasabi, salt, pepper, onions, sour cream and chili sauce.

You can mix and match these ingredients. You should be able to create no less than 4 variations of dips. Wasabi is highly recommended for something strong while mustard and mayonnaise would work for something salty with a pinch of something sweet.

Three Easy and Tasty Hotdog Preparations

sandra — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 14:05:26 +0000

Hotdogs are very popular in children’s parties, backyard gathering and even in outdoor adventures. They are very simple to prepare and could be cooked without additional ingredients. All you need is a stick and a hot plate to have a tasty hotdog.

But sometimes, too much of a good thing could be bad even in hotdogs. That is why you need to make some simple changes to make hotdogs interesting and would stand out in the menu.

Hotdog and Bacon Roll

The trick in this recipe is in selecting the right bacon. Look for thin bacon strips – the thinner, the better. Once you have chosen the right bacon, you need to securely place it in the hotdog. I suggest you use two toothpicks to place both ends of the bacon that wraps the hotdog.

The main advantage of bacon roll is its ability to cook the hotdog faster. Good bacon should still have some fats on it so some of the oil would drip to the hotdog. The hotdog would be cooked faster and its taste will not go against the bacon.

Marshmallows and Hotdogs

This is another familiar hotdog recipe because you simply add a marshmallow at the end of the hotdog on a stick. But try to do things differently by going small. Instead of sticks, use toothpicks. For the hotdog, slice it in half or you can purchase smaller, cocktail sized hotdogs.

Before you place the hotdogs in the toothpick cook them first and add the marshmallows later. It will require a lot of work but the hotdogs can be easily consumed because it’s only bite size.

Mini Hotdog on a Bun

This is my favorite because it allows me to be very creative. A regular hotdog on a bun is a good idea but for a children’s party, a smaller hotdog on a bun is surely a hit. In this type of preparation, smaller chunks of tasty vegetables are added. Tomatoes, onions and lettuce and other vegetables compatible with the taste of hotdog are added. Mustard, ketchup and other condiments could be added as preferred by the kids. This will allow them to formulate the taste of their hotdogs.

Planning for Your Kids First Birthday Party

sandra — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:38:08 +0000

The first birthday party is always special. It’s a milestone celebrated by family, friends and relatives of the celebrant. But too many parents are planning this type of party the wrong way. As a result, the party because too dull or doesn’t really cater to the hype created by parents.

It’s Still about You

Your child will never remember his or her first birthday. This means no matter how much you prepare your kid, it won’t matter. Instead of focusing the party for your child, focus on what you really want. Your party ideas will be easier to implement rather than creating things that will only amuse your birthday celebrant.

Be Smart with the Party Time

The best time to start your kid’s first birthday party is after their naptime. Kids are very energetic after their nap so the celebrant should be able to enjoy the activities. Even though the celebrant won’t be participating in the events, the celebrant will be able to see the activities. You don’t want to have a party with your kid not having enough sleep or napping during the party.

Focus on the Older Kids for Planned Activities

When planning for games and other activities, think on the possible guests. If there are older kids, plan for different type of games according to their age. Just like your preferred theme for the party, focus on how the kids will be entertained during the party. Older kids who come to the party with enough entertainment will help improve the atmosphere as they will also have fun playing the games and participating in the activities.

Get Your Video and Digital Cameras Rolling

Because the celebrant is not aware of the activities, document as much as you can about the event. A video and photo of everyone attending including the activities is a great way to create memories. You can use the photos as souvenirs as they can be placed in a cup or plates. After you have collected the images and videos, you can create an online scrapbook or print all the photos you collected on that day and create a small photo album.

4 Indoor Summer Party Ideas

sandra — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 23:17:49 +0000

If it’s too hot outside, consider an indoor party. With the right preparation, attitude and a little creativity, an indoor party would be a memorable experience for everyone.

Movie Marathon Party

Ask your guests to bring a DVD to your house for a movie marathon. You can start in the afternoon until late in the evening to avoid the heat of the sun. Suggest a theme so that everyone will be in the same mood. If you’re hosting the party without too much preparation, ask your guests to bring some food to the table. A party where everyone has movie suggestion and food can easily create a fun and interactive atmosphere.

Indoor Beach Party

If you can’t go to the beach, let the beach come to you. Indoor beach party is a popular birthday theme during the summer but it’s also a fun theme for friends who want to come together for a few hours. Redecorate your home so that you can create a beach atmosphere and ask your guests to come in their beach wear. Pipe in some reggae music, make some piña colada, smoothies and shakes and you’re set to have a fun beach party without enduring the heat of the sun.

Crafts and Cooking Party

This is a 2-in1 party suitable for moms and kids. If the party would have a lot of kids, crafts can be paired with cooking for kids. Each parent brings their ingredients so that the host doesn’t have to spend too much on food. If it’s an all-girl event, a cooking party would be a great way to spend the day indoors. Everyone shares their favorite recipe and even share their secrets on how to cook a specific meal.

Mall Tour

This is a great idea for friends who just wanted to have fun with each other. Go to the mall and enjoy various activities offered by the establishment – watch a movie, play some arcade games or even window shopping for your favorite gadgets, clothes and jewelries. It’s not expensive and the mall gets you busy most parts of the day.

Consider these party ideas this summer. You really don’t have to find yourself sunbathing in the beach just to enjoy this great season.