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Impromptu Dinner Party Plan #1

partysugar — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 13:18:33 -0700

To encourage you to host more dinner parties, I'm starting a new series where I plan an impromptu dinner party and take you along for the ride! If you love to cook and get an itch to entertain, call up your friends and invite them to dinner tonight. With my tips, recipes, and ideas, you will find that a fabulous party can happen without hours and hours of planning.

Start by choosing a location and menu. We decided to make a big green salad and two pizzas: One Greek style vegetarian and another Spanish style meat.
Create a grocery list. Shop for ingredients. Keep it hassle free. We picked up pizza dough from the neighborhood pizzeria.
Create a game plan and delegate tasks. I was in charge of the pizza sauce and dough. Sasha was in charge of pouring wine and making the salad, Erica was in charge of setting the table and inviting friends, and my sister was in charge of music and mood lighting.
Remember an impromptu party is not supposed to be stressful, it's supposed to be fun!!

To take a look at the recipes, pictures, and a video from the dinner, read more

For simple appetizers, we served slices of manchego cheese and black olives.

Green Salad
From PartySugar

4 cups fresh arugula, washed and spun dry
1 avocado, cut into chunks
1 cup kalamata olives, pitted and cut in half
1/2 cup sliced cherry tomatoes
juice of one lemon
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons vinegar of your choice
1 teaspoon mustard
1/4 teaspoon each: dried dill, salt, and fresh ground pepper

Toss the arugula with the avocado, olives, and tomatoes.
In a small jar combine the oil, lemon juice, vinegar, mustard, and spices. Shake vigorously.
Pour dressing over salad right before serving. Toss to coat leaves.

Serves 6.

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Party's Chunky Pizza Sauce
From PartySugar

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 28 ounce can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup white wine
3 tablespoons fresh herbs (such as basil, parsley, thyme, oregano)
1 teaspoon dried herbs (such as basil, parsley, thyme, oregano)
salt and pepper to taste

In a large saute pan heat olive oil over medium heat.
Add onions to the pan and saute until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and saute 2 more minutes. Add the chopped tomatoes and saute stirring often for 4 minutes.
Add the wine and simmer until the wine is almost completely evaporated.
Add the tomatoes, fresh and dried herbs and mix to combine.
Simmer, stirring often for about 15 minutes. If you prefer a smooth sauce puree in a food processor or blender. But if you don't mind the chunky sauce spread on pizza.

Makes about 2 cups.

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Greek Inspired Pizza
From PartySugar

1 small ball fresh mozzarella
1 container crumbled feta
1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
1 cup shredded fresh basil
1 cup Party's chunky pizza sauce
dough for 1 large pizza

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Roll the dough out to fit the pans that you have on hand.
Precook the dough for 5 minutes. Flip dough over in pan.
Top with the pizza sauce and a sprinkling of mozzarella and feta cheese. Evenly top with tomatoes, basil, and the rest of the feta.
Bake in the oven until cheese is bubbly and melted and crust is crisp, about 12 minutes. Slice into pieces and enjoy!

Serves 6-8.

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Spanish Inspired Pizza
From PartySugar

1 small ball fresh mozzarella
1 cup manchego cheese shavings
1 large red pepper sliced into 1 inch matchsticks
2 chorizo or hot sausages
1 cup Party's chunky pizza sauce
dough for 1 large pizza

Remove the casing of the sausage or chorizo and crumble into a heated saute pan. Cook the sausage over medium heat, stirring and crumbling into just cooked through about 8-10 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Roll the dough out to fit the pans that you have on hand.
Precook the dough for 5 minutes. Flip dough over in pan.
Top with the pizza sauce and a sprinkling of mozzarella and manchego cheese. Evenly top with red pepper, sausage, and the rest of the manchego.
Bake in the oven until cheese is bubbly and melted and crust is crisp, about 12 minutes. Slice into pieces and enjoy!

Serves 6-8.

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Come Party With Me: Pool Party - Invites

partysugar — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 12:21:38 -0700

Although the 4th of July has come and gone, summer is here to stay (well at least for the next 2 months!), making it the perfect time to throw a pool party. This week I'm all about bikinis, water balloons, and blended cocktails, so come party with me by following my pool party plan. A pool party is a "the more the merrier" type of party where you can invite people from different groups of friends to come together to enjoy the glorious weather and cool off in the water. When inviting a lot of people to any event, keep the invites as simple as possible. A chic flyer invite with images of water are ideal because they are easily mass produced and can be sent though regular email. To see how I made my invites, read more

To make an invitation similar to the one seen here, you will need:

images of pools
image of girl in bikini
computer & printer or email

To assemble an invitation similar to the one seen here:

Start by finding several images of pools that you find pleasing to the eye. Drag and drop them into either Photoshop or Microsoft Word. Arrange them into an interesting collage.
Insert text boxes with the details of the party. For mine I used Arial Rounded MT bold in sizes 18 and 14. Here is what I wrote:

The time has come to dive into summer!
Please join PartySugar
in cooling off this
Saturday July 14th, 2007
by taking a dip in the pool.

2:30 in the afternoon
PartySugar’s
Grandfather’s House
Walnut Creek, CA
directions to follow

bikinis & board shorts requested
rsvp 415.555.5555
Place the image of the girl in the desired space.
Ask a friend or family member to proofread the invitation. Once you are satisfied, save to your desktop and send in an email to everyone you know. Be sure to tell friends that they can forward the invite on to more people.

Are you hosting a pool party this summer?! Please share the details of your invitation below!

No Fail Impromptu Party Menu

partysugar — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 08:01:38 -0700

I ended up throwing an impromptu dinner party last Wednesday. Instead of panicking, I took a deep breath, came up with an easy, manageable menu, and wrote out a grocery list. If you ever find yourself on the hosting end of an impromptu dinner party, be sure to check out my no fail planning tips.

For appetizers make one dip (I made a quick Sun Dried Tomato Dip that involved no chopping) and round it out with store bought goodies. Bowls of burst-in-your-mouth blueberries, salty black olives, crispy flatbread, and buttery french bread crisps can be plated in a matter of minutes. Chunk a few pieces of smoked gouda or other cheese and slice up some salami.

Choose a menu that is quick, easy and meat-free in case any vegetarians unexpectedly show up. Fresh Basil Pesto with pasta and a Green Salad With Citrus Vinaigrette is a simple meal that can be put together in under an hour.
For dessert, have everyone help out and make ice cream sandwiches.
Ask your guests to bring a bottle or two of wine.

What do you cook for your last-minute dinner parties?? Share your menus with me below!

To take a look at a gallery of images from my middle-of-the-week dinner, read more

View 17 Photos ›

Come Party With Me: Bridal Shower

partysugar — Wed, 16 May 2007 11:03:19 -0700

Although this week I am all about the Bachelorette Party, I thought it would be helpful if I also discussed my bridal shower ideas. While the bachelorette party revolves around the bride's best girlfriends, the bridal shower involves all of the important females in the bride's life (mother, grandmother, aunts, cousins, etc.). Like the wedding, the bridal shower should reflect your personal style, attitudes, and preferences. Love to cook? Have it at a cooking class. Crafty? Host a knitting, pottery, or painting bridal shower. Pamper you and your ladies with a spa shower. Other ideas are a picnic, outdoor activity (horseback riding, white water rafting, etc), psychic reading, salsa dancing, sleep over, and tea party. Themes make planning the event much easier and so will my party tips so read more

Invites: Keep the invites chic and simple. Make them yourselves with pretty baby blue and yellow cardstock. I like the cards on Paper Style for easy, original pre made invites. Write a message along these lines

PartySugar invites you to join her
in honoring the bride-to-be
Julie Barber

Saturday May 19, 2007
5:00 pm
PartySugar's House, San Francisco

Rsvp 415.555.5555

Guests are invited to bring presents, as the point of the event is to shower a bride with love, gifts, and attention. Don't forget to invite the important females in the groom's life as well: his sisters, cousins, mother, grandmother should all be in attendance.

Menu: Depending on what type of party you host the menu will vary. Keep things relaxed by choosing a few scrumptious appetizers for guests to nibble on throughout the event. Yum's Rosemary Crackers are buttery and tasty. Pair with an assortment of cheeses, olives, and fresh berries for a chic wine party. For dessert slice up a Lemon Cake. Bowls of Curried Vegetable Dip with Homemade Potato Chips are perfect for an outdoor gathering when paired with Apricot-Nut Turkey-Salad Sandwiches. For dessert Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Hearts are adorable and yummy.

Drinks: Female friendly Champagne or sparkling wine are wonderful choices for this girlie event. Buy a case of regular white wine and chill several bottles. For pregnant friends or those who simply don't drink offer faux champagne and Near White Wine. Not into wine? Mojitos can be made by the pitcher and poured as guests arrive. A PomTea Spritzer is another good choice if you prefer vodka.

The Look: Decorate with smooth fabrics, warming colors, and glowing candles. Fill every vase you own with the bride's favorite flower in her favorite color. This will fill the party with a beautiful floral fragrance. Create texture by covering surfaces with various shades of the shower's colors. Usually a shower involves some sort of activity or games however I enjoyed what the bride did at the last shower I attended: it was a luncheon where we all sat in a big square facing each other. Instead of playing a game we went around the room and each guest said something special about the bride. Whether it be a funny story from her past, why they loved her so much, everything that was said was genuinely heartfelt, honest, and memorable. It really made the party much more intimate and I left feeling much closer to everyone who was present. Afterwards the bride said her teary thanks and opened her presents.

Music: Keep things light and comfortable by playing a mixture of the bride's current and classic hits. A variety of styles: classical, jazz, soul, pop, r&b is a good idea to ensure that the music doesn't become boring. Have it playing low in the background throughout and turn down when the games, speeches, or presents begin. If playing a game that involves a certain song be sure to have it ready and waiting so there are no jerky transitions during the event.

Got a great tip for a bridal shower? What was your bridal shower like? Please share your thoughts and experiences with all of us below, as they can be truly inspiring!

The Wedding Program

partysugar — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 11:13:32 -0700

Although a guide to your ceremony is not a must for your wedding, programs have become increasingly popular as of late. Like many other parts of the wedding stationery, you have full creative liability here. Generally the program should be in the same style and form as the invite, save the date card, directions, and any other part of the stationery trousseau. The program should start by listing the bride and groom's names as a title of sorts. Underneath include the wedding information: the location, date and time.

Next list the order of the service (circling, sharing of Kiddush cups, rings and vows, etc), the names of the wedding party (the best man, maid of honor, bridesmaid, etc) and the names of the parents and grandparents.
If you are having musicians at the ceremony it's customary to list them as well. Brief bios of the wedding party, vows, readings, a favorite love poem, songs, explanations of traditions, a monogram, your new address, directions to the reception, and a thank you or remembrance are all additions to the program. I recommend to avoid cheese, leave out any photos.

After you have decided the text of your program decide what form the program will take. A small one page booklet is the most traditional but anything goes. Small booklets tied with pretty ribbons, pull out accordions, flat postcards, long bookmarks, flip books, popsicle stick fans, and fan booklets are all wonderful artistic options. Speak with your stationer well in advance to figure out the design of the program and be sure to proof read the invite several times and check the spelling of names with everyone mentioned. To cut back on costs have the stationer print only the cover to your program and create a document on your computer to fill the rest of the pages. Decide whether each person will be handed a program or simply one for each couple and family.

I personally love the mini booklet idea because it can easily fit into a purse and the bows are so pretty. What about you? How was your wedding program designed?

Image Source

Come Party With Me: Wedding - Invites

partysugar — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 06:58:45 -0700

I'm taking on a pretty difficult task this week: planning a wedding. A few weeks ago I threw an engagement party for lucky reader julieulie and this week the wedding talk continues with my inspirational ideas and helpful tips for her wedding. Julie will have a traditional Jewish wedding in Philadelphia on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend in 2008. Following DearSugar's wedding time line, the bride to be should start thinking about invitations at least six months before the date of the wedding. Wedding invitations are incredibly important to setting the tone, feel, and look of your event and when your guests receive a thick beautiful envelope in the mail, they should know that their presence is requested at a very special moment - think of the invite as a keepsake memento. If the wedding is a black tie formal event, it should be reflected in a sleek, elegant invitation with classic lettering. If the wedding is a low key beach party, the invitations can be more playful with seaside motifs. An invitation is about making a grand opening statement, so get artistically creative with your fiance(e) and let your style as a couple shine. Use the colors of your wedding in the paper, font, and detailing and choose a motif or symbol (a flower, your initials, a pattern, etc.) to give each aspect of the invitation a uniform look.

I spoke with my buddy Jake over at Paper Source, a wonderful resource for wedding invitations, and the colors that are hot this year are chocolate brown, bluebell blue, and vibrant red. Currently their best selling motif is a birds and leaf design. Remember that there is more than just an invitation that must be considered. A complete set of wedding invitations include (choose what you want to include inside the envelope with the invite):

save-the-date cards
the invitation
response cards (this is how guests rsvp)

programs
seating cards
place cards
menu cards
thank you notes
directions to the location
hotel information (if it's a destination wedding)

With wedding stationery, the options are limitless from the paper that you choose to the method of printing. The paper can come in many shapes, sizes, and textures with various glosses, finishes, and weights. Generally the heavier the cardstock, the more expensive the paper. The shape of a traditional invitation is a 4 1/2 by 6 1/4 inch flat card although Jake said that this year the A7 (roughly 7 by 5 inches) and A10 (about 4 by 9 inches) are popular.

The most formal and expensive printing method is engraving when the information about the party is etched into metal plates that are then impressed on the paper. Engraved invitations will have small indentations on the back of the paper along with raised type on the front. Engraving makes a powerful statement with a light colored text on a dark background. Letterpress is an old technique where the type is created by impression resulting with indented words that have a handmade feel. Offset lithography is flat printing that you'll find on standard greeting cards and invitations. This is the least expensive printing technique and can create very modern invitations. Thermography is another affordable option that uses a heat based process and a resin powder to create raised lettering that looks similar to engraving.

Now that we've covered the basics it's invitation making time! To see what I've created for Julie in her light blue, black, and white color scheme, read more

Julie's wants her wedding to be a black tie formal event with a jazzy, sophisticated, classy urban feel to it. The wedding will take place completely indoors in the ballroom of the beautiful Loews Hotel (the building was America's first modern skyscraper!).

To make Julie's card you will need:

cardstock
decorative paper
invitation backing
ribbon (I used a blue velvet and trimmed satin)
envelopes (in the same color as the cardstock)
pretty wrapping paper
scissors
glue
computer and printer
ruler
pencil

To assemble Julie's card:

Start by creating a new word document on your computer. Use elegant wording and fonts to convey the information surrounding the marriage. Traditionally the wedding is hosted by the bride's parents so their names head the invitation. At the top I used Julie and her fiance, Scott's initials to establish the relationship between the two. Next I wrote the following (in Edwardian Script ITC bold, size 16):

J & S

Mr. and Mrs. James Barber
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Julie Samantha
to
Mr. Scott Eric Rotenberg

Sunday June 1, 2008
7 o’clock pm
Loews Hotel
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Dinner and Dancing to follow

Print a test copy of the invitation to make sure it is correct in size, lettering, and wording.

Print out on the nice cardstock. Cut down to the size of the invitation backing.

Tuck the text sheet up into the backing and with the pre-punched holes as your guide trace holes into the text sheet. Punch holes.

Slide the ribbon through the wholes and tie a pretty bow. (A special thanks to DearSugar for helping me tie the perfect bow)

Cut the decorative paper of your choice down to size. These two sheets of paper are going to act as doors to the invitation. The important information will be hidden underneath until the doors are lifted.

Center the cardstock on the invitation and using the ruler establish where you want the two side holes to be. Punch the holes in the black backing and then in the decorative over laying doors.

With the satin ribbon gently tie each door into place. Voila! Your invitation is complete.

To line the envelope, roll out the wrapping paper and trace the shape of the open envelope on the back of the paper.

Cut down to size, cutting 1/4 inch inside the traced lines.

Slide the backing inside the envelope and with a glue stick, glue to the back inside of the envelope. Fold to crease the paper. Address the envelopes with your best calligraphy, seal with a wax insignia, and stamp with beautiful vintage stamps.

For the reply cards: make small post cards and self address and stamp. Use the same cardstock, font, and sophisticated wording.

Note: Keep the wedding stationery as uniform as possible Use the same cardstock, decorative paper, ribbon, envelopes, initials, and font throughout. My favorite wedding resources are Dauhpine Press, Paper-Source, Cat Seto, and Felix Doolittle.

What did your wedding stationery look like? Do tell us your ideas and inspirations below! Stay tuned all week for more of this fabulous wedding, because there is much more planning to come.

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Come Party With Me: Baby Shower - Menu (Appetizers)

partysugar — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 05:59:31 -0700

Guess what? This week I'm planning Naomi Watts' baby shower! As much as I wish I was a celebrity event planner, this is a virtual party plan that I'm creating per your requests! So many readers have asked for help with baby showers they're planning for girlfriends, sisters, and mothers, but since I don't know anyone who is pregnant, I thought it would be fabulous to design a luncheon for one of Hollywood's most chic starlets. The event has a light pink and baby blue theme that was established with the polka-dot invitations sent yesterday. The menu for the sit down lunch will be light, fresh, springy, vegetarian, and absolutely delicious. To see what simple appetizer will meet the all female crowd as they arrive, read more

Bowls of Curried Vegetable Dip with Homemade Potato Chips will be ready and waiting for the girls to snack on until the lunch is served.

Curried Vegetable Dip
From Gourmet magazine

1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise
3 oz cream cheese at room temperature
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, or to taste
1 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/3 cup finely chopped celery
1/3 cup finely chopped peeled and seeded cucumber
1 scallion, trimmed and finely chopped
Garnish: scallion greens, sliced diagonally

Whisk together all ingredients except celery, cucumber, and scallion until smooth, then stir in vegetables.

Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

Make ahead: dip can be made 2 days ahead and chilled, covered.

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Homemade Potato Chips
From Food & Wine magazine

5 Idaho baking potatoes, peeled
Kosher salt
Vegetable oil, for frying

Using a mandoline, slice the potatoes 1/16 inch thick. Rinse the slices under cold water and put them in a large bowl with 2 tablespoons of salt. Add cold water to cover and let stand for 1 hour.
Drain the potatoes and return them to the bowl. Add water to cover and let soak for 1 more hour. Drain and pat dry.
In a large pot, heat 2 inches of oil to 350° over moderately high heat.
Working in small batches, fry the potato chips, stirring a few times, until golden, about 4 minutes.
Using a slotted spoon, transfer the potato chips to paper towels to drain. Sprinkle with salt and serve.

Serves 8.

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Curious about how I round out the menu? Well check back later today for the main course and dessert recipes.

Come Party With Me: Baby Shower - Invites

partysugar — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 05:58:32 -0700

I've been getting lots of requests for help in planning a baby shower, so this week I'm planning a baby shower for Naomi Watts. I don't know anyone who is pregnant, so I thought, hey I'll plan one for the beautiful actress. A baby shower is a time when mothers are bestowed with blankets, bottles, bibs, and advice on how to handle the little one once he or she arrives. Generally they are held by a friend, family member or co-worker, but never by the mother to be. Baby showers can also be celebrated after the baby is born, as they are in the Jewish culture, where tradition states that bestowing gifts upon an unborn baby is considered bad luck. My party for Naomi will be a lunch with the classic baby colors pale pink and light blue as the theme. Naomi is elegantly chic and I can't imagine her wanting a cheesy baby shower, so I'll do everything I can to make things stylish, lovely, and sophisticated - starting with the invitations. To see how the simple color combination can inspire an entire party, read more

No boys are allowed at this all female fashionable luncheon so I want the invite to be appropriately girlie.

To make the invitation you will need:

light blue cardstock to fit with the theme
ribbon
a computer and printer
scissors

one whole punch

To assemble this invitation:

on your computer create two new documents in either word or photoshop. Cover them both in the color of your choice (I used light blue) and scatter with pink polka dots. On one write You're Invited....

On the second write the details of your party. For Naomi's invite I wrote, in the font Curlz, size 14 Bold:

To an afternoon lunch to celebrate the upcoming arrival of Naomi Watt’s baby
Saturday April 12, 2007
1:00 pm
PartySugar’s House, San Francisco
rsvp 415.555.5555
please wrap presents in either pink or baby blue paper
Print out a test sheet, and if satisfied with the results, print out on the cardstock.

Cut each one down to size.

Punch a whole in the upper left hand corner of each sheet, the first page and the second page.

With the pink ribbon tie a pretty bow to keep the two pages together and form the complete invitation.

View 25 Photos ›

Naomi Source

Come Party With Me: Easter - The Look

partysugar — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 05:55:55 -0700

As I was surfing the web for Easter decorating inspiration, I came across a lot of scary bunny decorations and plenty of tacky pastel eggs. That's why I decided my Easter party's look has to be chic, adult, and very modern. I established sunny yellow and cool green by sending invitations in those colors, so I'll incorporate them into the look and table setting. Whether you're hosting a brunch or dinner, pouring mimosas or wine, keep the atmosphere light and fabulous with my spring look: read more

As always, start with a room that has been recently cleaned. Spread the table with a smooth ironed pale yellow tablecloth.
Set the table with your nice china and special-occasion flatware.

Head to your local craft or party supply store to pick up pretty ribbon with daisies. Use this ribbon to tie the napkins and to tie bows around the chairs if desired.
For a centerpiece, arrange various sized green vases in the middle of the table. Fill with your favorite spring flowers.

Light white circular candles and place around the room and table for a soft glow. If you don't have enough votive or candle holders, fill large decorative plates or bowls with rock salt and put the candles inside.

If you have Easter decorations - when I was little my sister and I loved our Easter tree - dust them off and set them up.
Be sure you have enough chairs for each of your guests to sit around the dining table.
Make glittery cut-outs of Easter eggs and hang on fishing wire from your chandelier or ceiling.

How will you decorate your dining table for your festive Easter meal? I love to learn from you so please share your inspirations and ideas with me below!

The Impromptu Dinner Party

partysugar — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 02:53:32 -0700

I've said this before and I'll say it again: I love dinner parties. I love intimate family dinners, elaborate planned meals with a group of select friends, and last night I was reminded of how much I love impromptu dinner parties. My mom ran into one of her best friends from college who asked us to come by her house for a quick drink. She lives in a beautiful house overlooking the bay and when we arrived, the house was filled with wonderful aromas of something delicious in the kitchen. Wine was poured, we got to talking and it turns out her husband had made a fresh pesto dish with basil fresh from his garden. He had the fixings for salad too and my dad happened to have a fresh baguette in his car that he had picked up at the Ferry building. I set the table in their dining room and BAM! instant dinner party! It was absolutely wonderful, good fun paired with fabulous food and company. But not everyone is like me and my hosts from last night, Dave and Michelle - so to learn a few tricks to pull off a successful last minute surprise dinner party, read more

When guests unexpectedly show up at meal time, look carefully through your fridge and pantry to get an eye for what ingredients you have and what you can make.
Choose pasta because it's filling, simple to make, and you can create a sauce with whatever components you have found: fresh herbs, canned tuna, tomatoes, or beans, leftover vegetables.
Use day old bread to make crisp toasted garlic bread.

Stock your pantry and fridge with dried goods, sauces, and vegetables. This way you will never be caught off guard on the nights when fate brings you a surprise guest. Have several bottles of wine on hand for effortless entertaining.
The most important thing is to not freak out, keep things uncomplicated: it's more about spending quality time with long lost friends or visiting family members.