Add a little pop to your party
July 24th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
I’ve noticed popsicles have started popping up (ha!) in recent fashion blog postings and magazines. They are a great way to add color and flavor to any dessert feature/event. Have fun with it by using gourmet flavors and fun shapes. Here are some cute, quirky molds I found if you want to wander outside the traditional tombstone:
Guitar pops (Amazon- $9.70)- they are mini-sized so they could also be a cute drink garnish to add a flavor to a cocktail. I’m thinking mango puree pop to drop into your mojito…
Remember ring pops? $9.95 on Prairie Moon
And of course my personal favorite- light saber pops! Not only do they light up, but the mold also comes with a recipe book with flavors like “C-3POrange” $34.95 at Think Geek
What happens when summer’s over and you can’t stop the pop?
Chocolate Chipsicles! $15.13 on Amazon
What to put in your pop? Start with your base be it mimosa, lemonade, chocolate pudding, sky’s the limit! Then, add some texture by dropping in solid pieces like fresh fruit, molded chocolate, or edible flowers. How fun would it be to make bright blue pops and drop in swedish fish!
Hint: if you are going to put solid pieces it requires a little babysitting if you want them spaced evenly. Freeze a layer of your pop, drop in your solid, then add more liquid, freeze, repeat.
Happy Friday! … and a little cake pop trick I just picked up
July 22nd, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Long overdue cake pop display I sold for a fundraiser- in purple and gold because the purchaser is a big Huskies fan (so is the baker!)
When I make cake pop displays I’m always searching for creative ways to cover up the floral foam anchoring the sticks. The popular way is with candy covered chocolate candies (aka m&m’s) but they are so expensive for something that’s not a feature. Today I found that tissue paper torn into strips and scrunched in between the sticks makes an easy, cheap presentation. I think I’ve found my new go-to for my displays!
Lavender on the menu
July 18th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Lavender season is coming! Being from a small town, it wasn’t until college when I was introduced to the crazy idea of actually eating it. Lavender had always been something that comes in soap or lotion.
When I was 10 my Girl Scout troop made wands out of lavender which my mother proudly hung in my bathroom… and there it remained for the next twelve years before it was eventually taken down, boiled, and made into a delicious cocktail. True story
Lavender Martinis! There is a bar in the artsy part of Seattle called Chapel that has what I believe to be the best lavender martini I’ve ever had. I convinced the bartender to share the recipe. The drink on the right had blackberry juices added to it, I do not recommend.
It’s all about the lavender simple syrup. The recipe made a ton so I’m hoping to experiment with other recipes (lemon squares with lavender or perhaps lavender-rosemary lemonade?)
Here’s the recipe- make sure and warn your guests that the drink is particularly deceptive. It’s much stronger than it tastes!
Lavender Martini
- 1/2 oz Lavender simple syrup (recipe below)
- 3 oz vodka
- 1 oz fresh lemon juice
Add to a shaker filled with ice, shake it up and serve in a martini glass. Sugar rim optional.
Lavender simple syrup
- 3 tbs fresh or dried lavender
- 1 cup water
- 2 cups granulated sugar
Bring water to a boil with lavender in a medium saucepan, stir in sugar until it is dissolved. Remove from heat and refrigerate for 1-3 hours. Strain out lavender and serve. Makes about one cup syrup.
Broccoli Crunch Salad
July 4th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Taking a slight break from my emerging trends week. Hey, it’s a holiday. My mom asked me to make something with veggies for her birthday yesterday and I immediately thought of the broccoli crunch salad they make at Whole Foods. Partly because it has cashews in it which is my mom’s guilty pleasure, but mostly because it is an incredibly addicting crisp, sweet, delicious crunchy salad. Perfect for summer.
I scoured the internet to find the recipe but it seems like none is out there. I did find the list of ingredients provided by Whole Foods and I took on the rest. I made it once yesterday, and again today because we were supposed to save half for my aunt’s 4th of July party and well, that didn’t happen so here I am again making the recipe. The recipe only takes about 15 minutes tops.
Broccoli, bacon bits, currants, golden raisins, and candied cashews in a honey-chipotle mayo dressing.
Cashews candy-ing on the stove. I remove them as soon as the sugar dissolves and they barely get that toasted look on the bottoms.
When chopping the broccoli I turned the head upside down and hacked fairly close to the head to get perfect bite-sized pieces.
For the recipe- I personally like my salad a little light on the dressing to balance out with the rest of the components. If you’re one of those people that likes the dressing to dominate the salad then I’d suggest doubling up. I got the best feedback from my two-year old nephew who, upon his first bite, actually did a little happy dance. Love it.
Broccoli Crunch Salad
Ingredients
- 2 medium heads of fresh broccoli
- 1/4 cup currants
- 1/4 cup golden raisins
- 2 strips turkey bacon
- 2/3 cup roasted and salted cashews
- 1 tbs sugar
- cayenne pepper
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tsp sauce from a can of chipotle peppers
- 2 tsp honey
Method:
- Candy the cashews by cooking in a medium-sized skilled with sugar, dust with cayenne.
- Remove from heat and lay out on waxed paper to cool once sugar is dissolved and nuts are slightly browned.
- While the nuts cook, prepare the turkey bacon and allow to cool.
- Wash and chop the broccoli into bite sized pieces and place in a bowl.
- Once bacon has cooled, chop into small bits, set aside.
- In a separate bow, combine mayo, chipotle sauce, and honey.
- Stir dressing into broccoli, then add currants, raisins, bacon bits, and cashews.
Emerging Trends in Celebration Decoration Day 4: BIY Bars
July 3rd, 2011 § 1 Comment
… as in Build-It-Yourself! I’ve already done a couple of postings on the Mac and Cheese Bar as well as the Slider Bar at the mother’s day party. Guests love the flexibility and opportunity to be creative and it gives the host less to prepare aside from setting out the ingredients. I’d suggest framing suggestions for combinations for guests that may need some extra help.
Perfect for summer- this build your own hot dog bar includes toppings like banana peppers, onions, cheese, chili, jalapenos, pickles, mayo, green onions, salsa, cole slaw, ketchup and mustard. From Hostess with the Mostess. Clearly the author Jennifer has never had a Seattle Special- bratwurst with caramelized onions and cream cheese. You’ll thank me later.
The old favorite- Ice Cream Topping Bar, via Eat Drink Chic. Do a healthier version with frozen yogurt- those Red Mango-like shops are pretty much taking over Seattle.
This one has to be my favorite- Benedict Bar via Local Social. They have bacon, smoked salmon, and asparagus for main toppings- I’d also add tomato, avocado, and crab cakes.
Hot Cocoa bar from Katie Grace Designs. So creative with chocolate and white chocolate covered spoons, toppings like marshmallows, crushed peppermint, chipped cream, and peanut butter chips, and different flavored syrups. Where’s the Baileys?
YES! Thank you Apartment Therapy for the idea. A fondue party first of all would be amazing because cheese is pretty much the tastiest thing on the planet- second of all a fondue bar makes a great addition to an Achorman, Mad Men or any other 70′s party. The Melting Pot is a chain that specializes in cheese, broth, and chocolate fondue- their menu is a great source for ideas on fondues and dippers.
Emerging Trends in Celebrations Day 3: Meet my friend ROY G BIV
July 2nd, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Rainbow color schemes are all over the place these days- what better way to add energy to a space. Make it more modern by focusing on white or black with rainbow accents.
Why hide the true origins? Notice the pillar candle wraps. David Stark
Rainbow cake- lots more pictures and tutorial on whatever… I’d love to try and inverse the coloring with 8 layers of white cake and rainbow frosting in between.
Jello slices! So clever. Photo from Coolhunter, tutorial on Not Martha.
Great way to make a statement- love the mixed mediums of lines and dots. Via Blowout Party!
I’ve seen mini bunting but these adorable yarn poms look like mini tissue poms. Buy at Etsy here.
I love this party trick! Totally had me stumped until I did some digging and found a recipe and tutorial here.
All of these ideas can be great themes on their own, but can also tie in for a Wizard of Oz or St, Patrick’s Day party.
Emerging Trends in Celebrations Day 2: Ruffle Cakes
June 30th, 2011 § 2 Comments
Can pastries get any girlier? I’ve started seeing these pop up all over the place from cute little girl parties to whimsical weddings.
Is that sequined heart edible or is that a party favor for the hostess? Either way I want one. by Cupcakes Couture.
I love the pairing of the ruffles with the flowers- the petals are the perfect echo to the texture. Cakes from Sugar Custom Cakes.
I love the two-toned frosting on these frilly cupcakes from sweet e’s- the baker gives a couple pointers on re-creating the look in the Flickr comments here.
More like pleats than ruffles- this cake has a more structured, sophisticated feel- the baker used layers of white chocolate. By Nicky Grant Patisserie and Chocolatier.
Emerging Trends in Celebration Decoration Day 1: Fringe Benefits
June 30th, 2011 § Leave a Comment
Last year it was all about dress-up photo booths, fake moustaches on a stick, bunting and cake pops. So what’s new and awesome? I’ll be posting something new every day for the next week. Today it’s fringe!
First came the economic recession and all people want is a little order, a sense of control; preppy prints and clean lines. Now that the economy is recovering everyone is craving a little crazy.
Confetti Systems- pioneering the tassle trend.
Photo shoot by Martha Stewart. I love the place cards!
Wedding picture from A Beautiful Mess, you can buy your own custom version on the Nice Etsy shop. Not just for love and marriage- make your own with glittered letters paired with fringe from the fabric store, anything from “Hooray!” to “Leave Already!”
Speaking of weekend projects- I am already blocking out my next DIY project for this fringe chandelier from Sweetest Occasion.
Out of control. Brought to you by Bash, Please.
Go crazy! Release your inner flapper in 40 different colors- chainette fringe by the yard here. Metallic party drape via Amazon. Make sure and keep the colors to one or two to avoid looking like a used car lot.
Decoration inspiration: Oddfellows Cafe
June 19th, 2011 § 1 Comment
I love going to new places to get inspired- usually I find inspiration from weddings, thrift stores, the occasional boutique hotel- it’s rare when I find inspiration from a cafe. I can’t decide what element I like best- the original brick walls, the vintage signs, or the well-worn antique dressers and hutches offset by industrial light fixtures and steel chairs.
The Specials board is hanging by giant cables on pulleys offset by iron weights.
Even the floral arrangements and terrariums added to the cafe’s time-capsule effect.
I love the tiered display of sugars for coffee and the drawers as lid containers. If you’re in the Seattle area- www.oddfellowscafe.com
Picnic themed barbeque with Slider Bar feature
June 14th, 2011 § 1 Comment
My family had never seen me go into full-blown party panning mode until this Mother’s Day- as a present to my mom I offered to not only style the party she hosted for my giant army of aunts/uncles/cousins, etc. but also do all of the cooking and baking.
Chalkboard paint put to good use.
I printed out the “Lemonade” sign from my computer before tracing over the black ink with chalk- one of my favorite party tricks. I like to smudge the paper a bit to give it the chalkboard effect. 
The best part was the slider bar!
The guests loved being able to try different combinations of gourmet toppings without the commitment of an entire burger.
Grilled pineapple, caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, cheddar, and blue cheese.
Spreads in mason jars- I loved the idea of using clothespins for the labels. Avocado, barbecue sauce, teriyaki sauce, mayo and ketchup.
And yes, it may take some hunting but some of the fancier grocery stores actually sell slider buns- brioche is a good alternative and there’s always dinner rolls.
My little creations.One grilled pineapple/onion/mayo/teriyaki sauce. The other sautéed mushrooms/blue cheese and bbq sauce. SO good.
