Archive for the ‘Entertaining’ Category

• How Much to Buy

  Date: 2010.05.23 | Category: Entertaining | Response: 0

  My mommie (yes, I am a grown woman who still calls her mother, mommie) found a delightful guide to home entertaining printed in 1964.  It was gifted to me last week for my birthday and I could hardly wait to share the contents with you.  It’s called The Calvert Party Encyclopedia and includes tips, recipes, party menus and hints for a successful party.  I will share many recipes from this whiskey distiller’s vintage pamphlet but today I am sharing their grid for how much one should purchase in whiskey according to how many gets are expected.  I got a bit of a giggle out of it and I hope you do it.

  If You’re Having	For Pre-Dinner Cocktails	For a Party
  4 people	8 to 12 drinks (one fifth required)	12 to 16 drinks (two fifths required)
  6 people	12 to 18 drinks (two fifths required)	18 to 24 drinks (two fifths required)
  8 people	16 to 24 drinks (two fifths required)	24 to 32 drinks (two fifths required)
  12 people	24 to 36 drinks (three fifths required)	36 to 48 drinks (three fifths required)
  20 people	40 to 60 drinks (four fifths required)	60 to 80 drinks (five fifths required)
  25 people	50 to 75 drinks (five fifths required)	75 to 100 drinks (seven fifths required)
  40 people	80 to 120 drinks (eight fifths required)	120 to 160 drinks (ten fifths required)

  HTML Tables

  As much as it made me giggle, I can say that the adults of the 60′s were a bit more genteel in their beverage consumption than those in my life today.  I will drink to that.

  xo–me

• Sangrita

  Date: 2010.04.17 | Category: Entertaining | Response: 0

  If you are slightly (or very) hungover today from indulging in my previous recipes, I hope to help usher you through your nightmare this morning.  I found this recipe in a book entitled Drinkology Eats.  It is a nice alternative to Bloody Mary’s and it does ease you back into the real world on those horrible morning afters.

  Ingredients:

  1 quart tomato juice
  1 c. freshly squeezed orange juice
  4 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
  3 Tbsp. green Tabasco sauce
  2 Tbsp. sugar
  1/2 tsp. salt
  3 3/4 c. tequila

  Mix all ingredients in a large pitcher.  Chill.  Sip or simply ‘take it to the head’, as Chris would say.

  Now even if you are not feeling hungover, this is a delicious addition to Sunday brunch.  I serve with whatever fruit is around.   Enjoy!

  xo–me

• Sangria Blanca

  Date: 2010.04.16 | Category: Entertaining | Response: 0

  I have shared a delicious traditional sangria recipe, made with red wine.  This one is made from white wine and there is something secretly refreshing about it’s color.  It’s a perfect drink that travels if you need to to take it to a picnic or an outdoor music festival, if you would be doing that this weekend.

  Ingredients:

  1 lemon cut into 4 thick slices
  1 lime, cut into 4 thick slices
  1 orange. cut into 4 thick slices
  1/2 c. Cointreau
  1 bottle of fruity Spanish wine like Verdejo or Albarino
  a lot of ice

  Put fruit slices in a large pitcher and pout in Cointreau.  Carefully muddle the fruit and liqueur, smashing the fruit slightly.  Add the wine and ice cubes ands tire  Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving.

  I like it best if the fruit soaks overnight.  Double, triple or quadruple this recipe if you are entertaining or a simple drunk.  I kid, I kid.

  xo–me

• Buddha’s Punch

  Date: 2010.04.15 | Category: Entertaining | Response: 0

  I am spending the next few days in the California desert at what I believe to be the country’s premiere music festival–Coachella.  Along with seeing old friends and some great music, I will, like most, raise a toast to the California sky a few times.  I thought it would be fun to share a few great adult beverage recipes this weekend.  Just in case you too are going to the desert and want to mix up something new.

  This recipe is called Buddha’s Punch and I am not quite sure why the great enlightened one was chosen to share a name.  Double or even triple this recipe to make a large batch of punch.  It will last all day if you aren’t sharing with an army.

  Ingredients:

  2 c. dry Riesling, chilled
  1 c. light rum, chilled
  1/2 c. Cointreau, chilled
  1 c. orange juice
  1/2 c. fresh lemon juice
  1/2 c. simple syrup
  4 dashes orange bitters
  1 bottle brut Champagne, chilled
  1 orange, thinly sliced

  Place a cake of ice in a chilled punchbowl (or if you are traveling, the biggest ice bucket you can find!) and pour in the Riesling, rum, Cointreau, juices and simple syrup.  Shake in the bitter and gently stir.  Carefully pour in the Champagne and garnish with the orange slices.  Indulge!

  Make sure you have your sunscreen if you are enjoying this outdoors this weekend!

  xo–me

• Breakfast in Bed

  Date: 2010.02.12 | Category: Entertaining | Response: 0

  Why not surprise your sweetheart with breakfast in bed on Sunday?  Heart shaped pancakes (use a heart-shaped cookie cutter and pour batter inside), goat cheese scrambled eggs, mimosas and some fresh made muffins.  You can assemble your menu here simply by searching over there, on the right, for all the recipes you need.  If you are pressed for time, sneak out of the house while your loved one is still sleeping and pick up some bagels or danish, fresh coffee and make these mimosas at home.

  Ingredients:

  a few sections of a blood orange
  1 oz. fresh-squeezed tangerine juice
  1/4 oz. Mandarine Napoleon liqueur
  5 oz. champagne

  Pour the juice and liqueur into a champagne flute, and drop in the sections of the blood orange.  Very carefully, top with champagne.

  You could get really crazy and make a bucket of it.  And by a bucket I mean a pitcher.  Enjoy!

  xo–me

• Bob’s Raspberry Punch

  Date: 2010.01.23 | Category: Entertaining | Response: 0

  My sister-in-law’s father is a big man in the kitchen.  He can cook and create dishes like the best of them.  I would love to see him compete on Hell’s Kitchen or one of these chef/cooking shows.  I know he would finish at the top.

  Bob makes a lovely punch each time our families get together.  I chug cupfuls until someone spots me back at the punchbowl for the 18th time and then I lie my way out of the embarrassment.  “Oh I am getting this for mom” or “I spilled the last one”.  Yes I have no shame.  The recipe is very simple and I promise you will love it as much as I.

  Ingredients:
  

  2 bottles sparkling lemonade
  1 pkg. raspberry sherbet

  Put in lovely punch bowl you found at a yard sale for $8.  Serve.

  Yes, I found thee best punch bowl this summer.  For $8.  It looks best when it’s filled with Bob’s Raspberry Punch.

  xo–me

• Green Fizz

  Date: 2010.01.17 | Category: Entertaining | Response: 0

  It’s been a long week.  Nothing extraordinary, but rather too many small things that have now become overwhelming as I review them collectively.  Yikes!  What is a girl to do?  Take a bath and enjoy a nice adult beverage.  Here is one I enjoy sipping while in the tub.  Maybe you will as well.

  Ingredients:

  2 oz. gin
  1 tsp. sugar
  1 tsp. green creme de menthe
  juice of 1 lemon
  1 egg white

  Mix all ingredients in martini shaker over ice.  Shell well and serve.  Then make more.

  xo–me