When we moved to northern Virginia last summer we were lucky enough to move into a super social and friendly neighborhood full of fun people who love to get together. In fact, we just came back from a neighborhood 40th birthday party complete with a bouncy Scooby Doo thingie where the kids and adults bounced away the afternoon (Happy Birthday Catherine!).
Every other month or so, the neighborhood ladies get together for some wild and crazy dice throwin'. I got to host my first one yesterday and I must say - I've been looking forward to it for weeks - you know how I like to throw parties...
I have a thing for little bites of food. So when I was jotting down intial ideas for the menu I wanted to go with mini corned beef sandwiches (although I LOATHE corned beef). Sweetboy insisted he could smoke it and it would come out delicious - and you know how the man can BBQ - so I said ok, he did, and now I have been converted to a corned beef lovin' lady.
Here is the final menu:
Savory
Mini corned beef sandwiches on home baked rolls, mayo & spicy mustard on the side
Egg salad triangles (one of my personal favorites)
Roasted fingerling potatoes with parsley, white & purple
Crudite with a peppercorn ranch
Wheat Thins with Boursin (very popular!)
Wasabi Peas
Veggie Straws
Sweet
Sugar cookie rainbows (didn't end up having enough time to ice more than a few)
Thin Mints (we have several Girl Scouts on our street, this was thankfully the last box)
Lindt truffles
Pocky sticks
Green grapes
Drinks
Malbec
Pinot Grigio
Irish Whiskey (planned for but never drank)
Sierra Mist
Diet Coke
For the 4 Bunco tables I had made little pots of gold ala make and takes. They were so easy - just paint little terra cotta pots with black craft paint (it took 3 coats for the coverage to be opaque), throw in some colorful pipe cleaners, some rolos or nuggets for the gold and voila!
We were short a player so The Boy's friend Rat graciously stepped in. Foksy was our Bunco tiara since I didn't have one. Rat rolled a Bunco at one point.
Planning
I find it helpful to write my initial menu ideas down and then edit as I go - Sweetboy makes fun of me every time I have a party. I think it's perfectly normal. I check off items once I've selected the platter. I struggled with the egg sandwiches and finally placed a piece of parchment on a green cutting board and arranged them in an alternating pattern. So 1950's Betty Crocker! I love it :)
I like to label my platters and serving pieces to visualize how the food will look. I want to make sure there is variety in size, shape and height. I think I read this in an old Martha or something. Over the years I've gotten the timing down. I even had enough time to get a pedicure the day of!! WooHoo!
How do you plan for your parties?
You are truly a Martha disciple - what a Super spread!! I'm so lucky to have a such a crafty lady share my DNA ;)
As for how I plan my parties... call Domino's, stock up on limes and gin, clean the toilet and viola!
Posted by: Squeebmeister | March 21, 2011 at 01:52 PM