Fancy Gourmet Dessert Cakes

Rule #1: Do not take on the challenge if you are not up to it. I learned that the hard way. Remember that people can sense what you are feeling in any situation, especially if you are apathetic. Your guests pick up on your feelings and it often sets the mood for the event. Now, that is a pretty powerful thing. I was approached by someone I met a long time ago. He became a long time acquaintance after arriving unexpectedly at a party I held.  This nice, shy man told me that my party turned into one of the nicest evenings he could remember. That particular evening was one of my most successful events. It was a night of good food, dancing and games where all of the guests were encouraged to participate. I was in a wonderful mood and it showed.

I used to hate to go to a party “in the third person” (welcomed to come with an invited guest) because it was likely that I would not know too many people and would feel a little bit out of place. This was often the case because the host or hostess did not make it a point to welcome me. I would receive a harried half acknowledgment as he or she rushed by and would think to myself “Alright, I can expect no help from you for comfort ability here; I’d better check for the nearest exit.” Do you know I have actually stepped through a couple of them? Courtesy is a big word and not always easy to spot.

Unexpected guests must be expected for a gathering to come off well. I see it as a compliment. Someone sees my home as a nice place to be and my friends as good people to spend time with. When I take the position of humility, I treat people the way I would like to be treated. It is the responsibility of the host/hostess to be organized and have room to take care of the needs of the guests, beyond the food and beverages. Make sure that they have someone to talk to and someplace to sit. You can build a strong reputation with something as simple as an enjoyable evening. 

Rules that have worked for me over the years are as follows: Smile and look your guests in the eye. Stop what you are doing and put the people first. This is done through careful preparation. Have everything together so that you can take the time to get to know someone well enough to introduce them around and join them with others that share similar interests. For instance I have brought together a music lover and an artist. It was the closest match I could think of and it worked very well. As a matter of fact the two of them are still married. It’s okay to ask for help. Get the brightest personalities among your friends to act as ambassadors, for guests that seem out of place. You may just give someone a night to remember.

Written by Delightful Biteful

Now that the holidays are over and we adjust to the New Year; a strange lull sets in, like a big “happy” balloon slowly deflating. I think that is one of the reasons Valentine’s Day is celebrated in February. The lengthy gray winter months are a little drab in my opinion. Well, I have an idea for the post holiday blues. It’s called “The Arts”.  Have friends or potential friends bring a picture or poster of their favorite piece of art work to a get-together. I have had friends for years that I really didn’t know until we went to museums and concerts together. It’s nice to appreciate the unique characteristics of a person while learning about and enjoying something artistic. 

I am also a believer in sharing cultural customs. I enjoy gatherings where people from different countries bring something from their homeland to share with the other guests. Most Americans have families that originate from another country, so sharing aspects of their nationality gives everyone a chance to appreciate their country and how far their families have come. Full breed Americans are hard to find nowadays and may know of recipes and foods that are uncommon or unknown to many in modern day America.  Meanwhile décor is a wonderful addition to the celebration; works of art from different countries can offer an educational experience as well as new and exciting surroundings.  I hope these ideas help, if in fact you suffer from the post holiday blues like I do.  

Written by Delightful Biteful   

It’s the New Year again and although the holiday season has passed the desire for rich foods hasn’t; at least not for me.

 I have some strawberries that are nice and ripe due to the green house growth process, so I can still have my serving of fruit to help with the needed nutrients, and tonight, I will have a nice salad instead of a large meal. A Caesar salad, yes that’ it, and it works too. I manage to hold off my weight gain more effectively with this sort of logic. If you want to try it, here’s a recipe that I like to use.

You only need a head of Romaine lettuce and a few ingredients.1/2 tsp. Fresh Ground Pepper½ tsp. Salt1 egg yolk¼ cup Parmesan Cheese ¼ cup virgin Olive Oil1 tbls. Lemon3 Anchovies ground up½ clove finely chopped garlicMix all ingredients thoroughly and let sit for about 1 hour.Don’t forget your regular exercise! (If applicable) Written by Delightful Biteful