YumSugar

Come Party With Me: Mother's Day - Music

partysugar — Fri, 11 May 2007 07:05:32 -0700

Mother's Day is only two short days away and I am busy as a bee preparing my mom's brunch. Everything is going along quite smoothly - a party for one is so much easier than a party for 300. I took care of making her a card earlier in the week by turning the mother's day card into a Mother's Day invitation. I'll make an easy breakfast of fruit salad, an egg sandwich, and sweet crepes with a strawberry bellini to wash the whole thing down. A very delicate beautifully set breakfast in bed tray will hold the magnificent meal. On Fridays, I usually talk about what kind of music will play at the party. Quite simply it all depends on your mom. If your mom loves Sting get a copy of his greatest hits for her. If she loves jazz make a compilation of new jazz songs for her. BuzzSugar suggests getting her The Reminder by Feist, a new cd filled with interesting ballads that your mom will love.

However there may be the chance that your mother prefers to watch tv or a new movie or read the paper. If this is the case, then netflix the movie she has been dying to see or order her the new book she has been talking about. The most important thing that you must remember is that Mother's Day is all about making mom feel loved and appreciated. Oftentimes the people we take for granted are the ones we love the most so go out of your way to be honestly nice and genuinely loving. If you do so, I can guarantee that your party will be a success and your guest of honor, your mom, will be unbelievably happy.

Come Party With Me: Mother's Day - The Look

partysugar — Thu, 10 May 2007 06:57:32 -0700

Mother's Day is this Sunday - if you didn't know, there is still time to send a card and have it arrive by Saturday! - and I am making a very special brunch to celebrate my wonderful mom. She got all teary eyed when she saw the beautiful card I made her inviting her to the brunch. As this is breakfast in bed, no over the top decorations are necessary. However a spotless house is a must and after you make the meal don't forget to clean the kitchen. The last thing your mom needs is to come downstairs from a luxurious breakfast in bed to a messy kitchen. Place the fruit salad in a silver bowl, the egg sandwich on a clean white plate, and the crepes on a separate small plate. Place all three on a beautiful old fashioned breakfast tray. Give her a big linen napkin to ensure that her bedspread does not get dirty, as well as several smaller paper napkins to wipe her fingers on. Use your good silverware and a chic fluted champagne glass for the bellini. Don't forget to place a napkin underneath the plates and glass to prevent them from sliding around on the walk from the kitchen to the bedroom. A small vase with your mom's favorite flowers will complete the look.

Come Party With Me: Mother's Day - Drinks

partysugar — Wed, 09 May 2007 07:57:39 -0700

My mom is a super hard working school teacher. I try to help her out as much as I can because she is always there for me when I need motherly support, but I worry I never help her enough. That's why this Mother's Day, I'm making her a glorious breakfast in bed just for her (ok dad you can have some too!). I already made her a memorable handmade card and surprised her by leaving it underneath the covers of her bed. I came up with a simple yet delicious menu consisting of easy breakfast recipes that I'm positive my mom will devour. Next up on the party plan to do list: the drinks. My mom prefers beer and margaritas, but since those are a little inappropriate for the morning I'll be making her a strawberry bellini. We often order mimosas when we go out to brunch which is why I chose the bellini to make it seem more like a celebration. The only wine she'll drink is sparkling, so the prosecco based bellini is the ideal brunch drink. I've also found a great pomegranate orange juice recipe for all of the mom's out there who don't drink. Nothing beats fresh squeezed oj! Although this time of year the pomegranate juice will have to be from a bottle, but it still tastes absolutely divine. Please, for the recipes read more

Strawberry Bellini
From Mario Batali

1 bottle prosecco (Italian sparkling wine)
2 cups pureed and strained fresh strawberries
Special equipment: Blender, strainer, iced champagne flutes, pitcher and tall "swizzle stirrer" (for the pitcher)

Place 8 Champagne flutes in the freezer for 20 minutes.
Open the prosecco and let it stand in an ice bucket for 5 minutes.
Into a pitcher, pour the 2 cups pureed strawberries. Gently pour in the bottle of prosecco and stir gently to combine.
Divide among Champagne flutes and serve.

Serves 8.

Print recipe with images | without images

Pomegranate Orange Juice
From Martha Stewart

1 cup fresh pomegranate juice (fresh or bottled)
5 cups freshly squeezed orange juice

To extract the pomegranate's sweet-tart juice, if using fresh pomegranates, use a juice press, and then combine with freshly squeezed orange juice.

Print recipe with images | without images

Come Party With Me: Mother's Day - Menu (Part 3)

partysugar — Tue, 08 May 2007 14:28:59 -0700

Recently I went to brunch with my family and ordered some amazing cheese and berry crepes. Ever since, I have been searching for a reason to make my own version and this week I've finally found one: Mother's Day! I'm whipping up a super special brunch for my mama, complete with a homemade card, fruit salad, and egg sandwich (my mom's an old fashioned kind of girl and likes her food simple and scrumptious). I've already covered the savory section of the breakfast and while the fruit is slightly sweetened, I want a decadent finish. Crepes filled with a sweet marscarpone cream cheese mixture, topped with a bright strawberry sauce, will be a perfectly sweet ending to the meal. You know the drill: for the recipe, read more

Strawberry Mascarpone Crepes
Modified from Emeril Lagasse

8 ounces mascarpone cheese
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons sugar
2 large egg yolks
1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest
1 teaspoon fresh orange juice
1 teaspoon Grand Marnier liqueur
Pinch salt
12 crepes, recipe follows
1 pint blueberries
Strawberry Sauce, recipe follows
Confectioners' sugar, garnish

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly grease a large glass baking dish.
In a medium bowl, beat together the mascarpone, cream cheese, sugar, egg yolks, zest, juice, Grand Marnier, and salt until smooth.
Place the crepes flat on a work surface. One at a time, spoon 2 tablespoons of the filling down the center, and top with a few fresh strawberries. Roll the sides of the crepe up and over the filling and place in the baking dish, seam side down.
Bake until the filling is warmed through and slightly puffed, 10 minutes.
Spoon the sauce over the crepes and return to the oven and hot, 2 to 4 minutes.
Remove and arrange 3 crepes on each of plates. Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve immediately.

Serves 4.

Strawberry Sauce:
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup fresh-squeezed orange juice
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons Grand Marnier liqueur
1 1/2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest
1 3/4 cups strawberries, picked over, chopped and rinsed
1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter

In a small saucepan combine the sugar, water, orange juice, cornstarch, Grand Marnier, and orange zest, and stir well.
Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 5 minutes.
Stir in 1 1/2 cups of the strawberries and simmer the mixture, stirring occasionally, until the berries burst and the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes. Add the butter and remaining 1/4 cup of strawberries and stir until the butter is melted and the berries are warmed through, 1 minute.
Remove from heat and cover to keep warm until ready to use.

Makes 3 cups

Crepes:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 large eggs, beaten
3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons whole milk
1 tablespoon sugar
Pinch salt
6 teaspoons melted unsalted butter

Whisk together the flour, eggs, milk, sugar, salt, and 4 1/2 teaspoons of the butter to form a smooth, thin batter. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before proceeding.
Heat a heavy 6-inch skillet or crepe pan over medium-high heat. When hot, brush with a light coating of the remaining butter.
Ladle about 1/4 cup of crepe batter into the pan, tilting the skillet to evenly coat the pan with batter. Cook until golden brown on the bottom and the top begins to look dry, 1 to 2 minutes.
Using a spatula, carefully turn the crepe and cook on the second side just until the bottom colors slightly, about 30 seconds.
Transfer to a plate and cover loosely to keep warm. Repeat with remaining batter.

To make ahead: when cool, layer between sheets of waxed paper and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate until ready to use, up to 3 days.)

Makes 12 (6-inch) crepes.

Print recipe with images | without images

Come Party With Me: Mother's Day - Menu (Part 2)

partysugar — Tue, 08 May 2007 10:01:08 -0700

Today I'm planning a simple and elegant brunch for Mother's Day. My mom is a fairly picky eater (onions give her heartburn) so I'll be making a breakfast menu suited to her likes and needs, rather than to mine. I think that cooking a special meal for someone is the most honest, pure way to really show them how much you love them. My mom doesn't cook so I am lucky enough to be able to make her meals all the time and that's why this menu has to be different. I want it to stand out from the crowd. I'm making her a fresh fruit salad and as the main event, a breakfast sandwich. The English muffin egg sandwich has four trusted ingredients (and I know mom loves them all!): spinach, bacon, cheese, and milk. This recipe would also be great for a late night snack so check it out now and read more

Breakfast Sandwich
From Martha Stewart

2 bacon
4 large eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup spinach, tough stems discarded, leaves rinsed and finely shredded
1/3 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
4 English muffins, split and toasted

n a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, cook bacon until browned, about 4 minutes per side. Drain slices on paper towels, then crumble. Reserve rendered fat in skillet for hash browns, if desired.
Heat broiler. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs and milk, then whisk in the remaining ingredients (except muffins and 4 tablespoons cheese).
Heat an oven proof 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Pour in the egg mixture, and cook until bottom is set, about 7 minutes. Transfer to broiler, and cook until top is set and puffy, about 1 minute. Remove from oven, and immediately slide onto a cutting board; let rest 1 minute.
Using a biscuit cutter or inverted glass, cut out four rounds, or cut into four wedges with a knife.
Place one portion on the bottom half of each of the English muffins. Transfer to a baking sheet.
Sprinkle remaining 4 tablespoons cheese over the sandwiches; broil until cheese is melted and bubbling, about 30 seconds.
Place top half of muffins on each sandwich, and serve immediately.

Serves 4.

Print recipe with images | without images

Come Party With Me: Mother's Day - Menu (Part 1)

partysugar — Tue, 08 May 2007 06:58:32 -0700

This Sunday, in case you didn't know, is Mother's Day, so set your reminders and be sure to call your mom. Better yet, you could send her a heartfelt handmade card. Better still, you could make her a beautiful breakfast - which is what I'll be doing for my mom this weekend to show her how much I care. My mom isn't much of an adventurous eater, especially when it comes to breakfast. She likes things simple with delicious ingredients, so the menu will be specifically suited to her needs. The first thing I'll make for her breakfast tray will be a cool and refreshing fruit salad. The fruit salad will be served on the side in a little silver bowl. This salad has a subtle sweetness from fresh squeezed orange juice and packs a punch with a splash of Grand Marnier. A fruit salad is an ideal dish for a large brunch or an intimate one because you can easily modify the amount of fruit that goes into the salad. For the recipe, read more

Fruit Salad
From Bon Appetit magazine

2 cups green grapes
2 cups sliced strawberries
2 cups sliced plums
1 cup sliced peaches
1 cup orange segments
1 cup sliced peeled kiwi
1/2 cup Grand Marnier or other orange liqueur
1/2 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons sugar

Combine all ingredients in large bowl. Cover and refrigerate up to 8 hours.

Serves 8.

Print recipe with images | without images

Come Party With Me: Mother's Day - Invites

partysugar — Mon, 07 May 2007 13:22:16 -0700

I have the best mom ever. Although she doesn't cook, she is unbelievably cool, young beyond her years, and is fabulously patient. I don't want to have kids because I know I could never be as an amazing mom as she is. I like to tell her I love her everyday, but I know sometimes she may feel a little under appreciated. This year I want to do something super special for her and make her a lovely breakfast in bed. She has done so much for me in the last twenty five years (I mean she gave birth to me, that in itself should grant her a lifetime of brunches) and the very least I can do is make her a meal made with 100% love. Since she is the guest of honor - and the only guest - I'll be making her an intimate invitation inspired by the ones you used to make in elementary school. So come party with me: make your mom a handmade card to go along with your homemade meal, read more

Remember when you were little and you made your mom silly little cards and she loved and praised them and placed them on the fridge? Well I wanted to recreate that sentiment in a card with simple text and a photo collage of pictures of me and mom.

To make this card you will need:

cardstock in the color of your choice (I chose a creamy butter)
satin ribbon in an attractive color that matches the cardstock (I chose pale yellow)
single hole punch
scissors
glue
a computer and printer
old photos: I chose one of my mom when she was pregnant with me, one of myself (yes I had a mullet), and one of my mom and me when she was pregnant with my little sister

To assemble this card:

Scan the images into your computer or make color copies of them as you don't want to cut up the original images. Make a collage in photoshop or with scissors and glue. I did mine on photoshop and printed out the image when I was done.

Once you have the collage done, create a new document in word on your computer. Type out a nice note in a fun font (I used Lucida Handwriting in size 12) for your mom. Here's what mine said:

Dearest Mom,
Without your loving care and undying support I would be lost.
To celebrate your absolute wonderfulness I will be making you a special-private mother/daughter brunch.
Please set aside Sunday morning for me.
I love you,
PartySugar

Print out on a plain sheet of paper. If you are statisfied with the layout and wording, print out on the colored cardstock.

Cut the collage down to size with no edge.

Glue to the back of the text. I glued mine at an angle because this is an invite that is not about perfection.
With the single hole punch, punch holes, roughly 1 inch apart.

Thread the satin ribbon between the holes and tie in a bow at the top on the text side.

Voila your invitation is done! I'm going to place it on her pillow so it will surprise her when she goes to bed tonight. What will you do for mom (or the person who you're celebrating) on Mother's Day? Tell me your party plans below!

View 14 Photos ›

15 Mother's Day Brunch Ideas

YumSugar — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:00:12 -0700

This Mother's Day, surprise mom with breakfast in bed, or just invite her over for a fabulous brunch. To ensure that this Mother's Day is delectable instead of dreadful, I've rounded up a bunch of recipes - sweets are at the end! - that will be sure to delight. So grab your apron and get cooking, Mom's Day is this Sunday!

View Slideshow ›

Is Your Mother's Day Celebration Brunch or Dinner?

partysugar — Sun, 10 May 2009 01:30:40 -0700

Source

Ne-Yo To Celebrate Foster-Mother's Day with Brunch

LibertySugar — Fri, 09 May 2008 09:00:13 -0700

Ne-Yo is speaking out about his childhood in an attempt to shine light on America's foster care system. Ne-Yo credits his mom for helping him overcome his frustration with the fact that his dad left the family.

There are half a million children in America's foster care system, many of whom face a life in foster care that can be worse than their family lives. Foster parents are often under compensated and under trained to take care of children who feel unwanted and unloved.

Ne-Yo believes we all have a responsibility toward our future, and thus all children. To see what he's doing about it, read more. To show his appreciation for those doing something positive, the Grammy winning singer-song writer is throwing a brunch this Sunday for 50 single and foster mothers.

Ne-Yo told AP:

They need something special. So with the success I've been given, through the blessings I have, how could I not use it for good? This is a way to help people who deserve it - for both the mothers and children.

At the Mother's Day brunch, Ne-Yo will perform and childcare workers will entertain young children, while their mothers enjoy themselves.

I think it's wonderful that Ne-Yo is showing his appreciation for his mother with an event that celebrates other strong mothers, while also shining attention on a crisis facing America. What are you doing this Mother's Day to show your mom you appreciate her?

Source