Home Entertainment and Party Tips

The summer is here and frankly my appetite decreases with the increased humidity and sweltering temperatures. This is a good time for light foods, such as salads and finger sandwiches. I like to lay some tuna salad and a hard boiled egg on top of a couple of Romaine lettuce leaves with a little tomato on the side and bleu cheese dressing on top. Crackers on the side of summer salads as opposed to breads are a nice light way to eat something satisfying and cut calories at the same time. Now, the reason I do this is not only to lose pounds in time for the holiday season but also to leave space for dessert. Along with ice cream and popsicles, I like to indulge in tarts and pastries.

Summer parties offer a great opportunity to put out a platter of pastries, and of course a nice big salad or two. This is a little table I have presented in the past that my guests have enjoyed. Chicken Breast Salad on a bed of Iceberg Lettuce, Shrimp Cocktail Platter on ice, Deviled Eggs, Salsa and Chips, Spinach Dip and Salmon Pate with pumpernickel crackers. It never fails to please everyone. For dessert I add a few fruit tartlets, some rainbow cookies and Napoleons or Éclairs. What a great gift to bring to the party, if you are on your way to someone else’s gathering, help enhance the affair and lift the spirit of your host with a nice little platter (make sure it hasn’t already been included in the menu). Life is good, so live it up!

Written by Delightful Biteful 

Summertime parties are a favorite American pastime. A couple of the most popular are simple and effective, for sure fire party success. The ever popular pool party is a lovely idea after sunset as opposed to the ritual afternoon barbeque. A nice touch is globe or battery powered candles placed evenly around the patio with jazz or blues playing in the background and assorted party foods, such as shish kabob, chicken fingers, tempura, bow tie pasta salad, and chips and salsa. You of course can use your own imagination and even choose a party theme like the Hawaiian luau.

Other ideas for summer fun can include an evening soiree with the windows and doors opened and screened to allow in the cool breeze. Decorating the room with candles and flowers placed directly across the room from one another make a wonderful impression on the eye and add symmetry for that posh look. The summer is also a great time to find reasonably priced art work. It is a great time for artists to sell, and the competition is fierce. Checkout your local art fair and you should find something colorful to hang above the flowers.

Great foods for this kind of thing are pates with various breads, cheese and crackers with fresh fruit, chef salad and green bean vinaigrette. In any event have your dessert ready with the most popular dessert choices; fruit tarts, and cheesecake. Have a happy and safe summer!  Written by Delightful Biteful   

The meaning spans across thousands and thousands of lives lost in defense of our nation against one threat or another. Many lives were lost in vein and for them in particular, I sit silently on the holiday morning to remember, if for nothing else but courtesy, that I am here because of our soldiers. 

This is a great day to rejoice with family and friends and enjoy the little things in life that I and many others sometimes take for granted. Picnics and barbeques are traditional American activities, and I have some tricks I use to make the day hold its meaning.  First the barbeque; I make sure that the history channel is on so the folks moving around the house can get a refresher course on what the country has been through. I hang American flags in different parts of the house and drape some red white and blue streamers across the walls. I love to play songs from the great wars to inspire everyone and add that sense of pride to the day and of course I eat with fervor with a mind for how much of a blessing all that food truly is.

Now for the picnic; I bring red white and blue party favors with matching paper plates. For the sake of tradition, I always bring fried chicken and potato salad. I keep the radio tuned to a station commemorating the day and I wish everyone I see a happy Memorial Day. It never fails to lift my heart and help me to keep perspective on things. 

Wishing all the best to our soldiers.. Happy holiday! 

Written by Delightful Biteful

Have friends from all corners of the political arena? Well you’d better have the proper foods for each end. There is a general trend in the preferred foods of people in each group. I believe this is due to the tastes that have evolved in each group over time. 

To your Left: Chicken, Assorted Vegetables, Tortellini, Caesar Salad, Spinach Dip, Vanilla Cake, Small Pastries, Decaf Coffee and Latte. 

To your Right: Steak, Potatoes, Lasagna, Chef Salad, Stuffed Mushrooms, Chocolate Cake, Pie, Columbian and Espresso Coffee.

If you like, you can take a little from each list and I guarantee that everyone in your circle will be pleased or reasonably satisfied even if the conversation turns to the big P. Holding your gathering outside may be something to look in to, especially for guests with very strong feelings on the events of the day. The cool breeze reminds everyone that they are there to have some fun. I have noticed recently that politics is becoming a very big part of the conversation at most gatherings. I strongly recommend that as host, you stay out of it and focus on your objective (to throw a great bash) and most of all; keep a sense of humor.