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.

Life is too short and after all, another year past is one less holiday season to enjoy. I keep going until I absolutely have to check the scale. So out comes a thick piece of cake to keep my coffee company.

 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

The holidays are synonymous with turkey, gravy and mashed potatoes so if you would like a few tips for each; here goes. To really lock in the juices, butter baste your turkey. Put about three tablespoons of margarine and three tablespoons of cooking oil into a microwavable cup. Heat the mixture until both are melted together. Baste the turkey thoroughly with the mixture and cook your turkey as you normally would. You’ll be amazed at how juicy the bird turns out. Oh, by the way, get a kitchen thermometer and cook your turkey at a slightly lower heat, even if it takes a little longer, it will keep the bird from drying out too much. The thermometer will ensure that the turkey is safely cooked so you won’t get thrown off track by the change in degrees. 

Gravy is relatively simple to make. You can take about 11/2 cups of the juice which melted off the turkey during cooking (this is assuming that you are cooking an 18 to 20 pound bird), mix it with about 1/4 cup of flower and stir the mixture thoroughly in a large skillet over a low heat. The flower thickens the leftover juice and creates a nice gravy texture. Adjust the measurements accordingly to your bird’s weight.  

For mashed potatoes, you can add a little garlic powder along with the butter and milk before using the mixer on your boiled potatoes. It makes the potatoes a little more flavorful. Some people use a dash of Cheyenne pepper on the potatoes but I would recommend doing a test run before hand so that you are sure you like the flavor. We all develop little tricks over the years and I hope these come in handy. There is nothing like enjoying a fine meal, especially one that you have prepared yourself. Happy eating everyone!  Written by Delightful Biteful 

For many people decorating the tree is one of the most rewarding activities of the year. Here are some ideas I’ve come across in years past. Frosted white Christmas tree balls placed in front of the tree lights create an iridescent glow. If your conventional tree top keeps drooping over, try putting a big velvet bow on top of the tree, it adds a homey feeling. Many folks like using a strict color theme when decorating their tree; white and blue or white and green; another popular combination is maroon and gold. Satin balls and bows are usually the main decorations for this sort of thing. If you have some bright silk flowers on hand, you may want to place a few of them on your tree. Dried wild flowers in small bunches are also very nice (safest on artificial trees). A new and fun garland wrap is beads. A string of gold or silver beads really brightens up the tree during the day so you can refrain from lighting the tree all of the time. The best part is that the decorations are not hidden from view as with old fashioned garland. 

Popcorn balls for the kids wrapped in thin ribbon and hung from the tree branches are an old fashioned favorite. Remember? Melt five tablespoons of butter in a medium sauce pan and add about 15 large marshmallows and eight small squares of caramel, stir them together over a very low heat until the mixture becomes a thick liquid texture. Pour over half a bag of popcorn (medium size), careful not to burn your hands; mix together and mold into 21/2 inch balls. 

It is my opinion that, since we only get to do this once a year, we should dress things up as much as possible. It may help to keep the holiday spirit alive for the rest of the year. 

Written by Delightful Biteful

I was breaking out the decorations, and planning the “what, where, and when” of everything. After thinking about some of my favorite Christmas customs, I wanted to touch on a little bit of history starting with those beautiful Poinsettia plants.  The plant originated in Mexico where the sap was believed to control fevers and the leaves were used to make red dye. The plant was eventually inducted into the homes of millions of Americans for the holiday season. As a child, Poinsettia plants always filled our home at holiday time. They made a perfect decoration with their festive colors of red and green. (Try not to let the cat eat it because it can cause a tummy ache.)  

Then there is Mistletoe; the tradition started in Europe where it was believed that the plant could protect against illness and promote peace and love. Eventually it was adopted by Christians for celebration purposes. It is a lot of fun, especially when catching someone off guard with plant and camera in hand. Yes, I have had my obnoxious moments. 

As for that beautiful Christmas tree, it all began in

Germany and many believe it was originally used for pagan worship. Others say that the custom began with the Lutherans but I think it was a little bit of several situations that evolved into the tree tradition. One favorite story is that St. Boniface chopped down a pagan oak tree and discovered a fir tree hiding behind it. Believing that it was a sign, he used it to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

However it all happened, it is apparant that our traditions have been brought about by many caring people and that it is a “Wonderful Life” really. Folks who are so inclined to celebrate but are without family or friends should celebrate for themselves and remember that the joy of the holiday is in the hope for peace among us all and not just for those in a particular circle.

Written by Delightful Biteful