Party Serving Solutions: Mason Jars for Serving a "Salad in a Jar"

Canning jars are awesome. No matter if you use them for serving beverages, as a vase for flowers, or as a portable serving solution, canning jars are inexpensive and also rather cool. I have quite an assortment of canning jars: Mason, Ball, and Kerr are some of the brands you'll see in stores. And if you have some of the blue or antique jars... lucky you!

This past weekend, I shared one of my ideas for spring and summer entertaining with guests at The Trussville Literary Club's tablescape event. Everyone loved my "salad in a jar" so I thought I'd share it with you. There are lots of variations on this theme. Be creative and come up with your own!

Salad in a Jar: An easy and creative way to serve salad for a party!Salad in a Jar: Layered Spinach & Fruit Salad with Poppyseed Dressing

Functional, easy, and pretty! If you are going to prep the day before your event, you probably should add the dressing just before serving so everything doesn't get soggy. But you can prep up to four hours before with the dressing in the bottom of this recipe and you'll be fine... but keep the jars chilled on ice, in the fridge, or in a cooler. And it is a perfect solution for picnics, too!

Makes 6

1- 9 ounce package of fresh baby spinach leaves, wash and remove the stems

1- 16 ounce container fresh strawberries, washed, dried, hulled, and sliced

1- 15 ounce can mandarin orange slices, drained

2 cups walnuts, toasted and roughly chopped

1- 6 ounce container Belle Chevre Belle and the Bee Breakfast goat cheese (or if you cannot find it, make your own by swirling honey into goat cheese to make it creamy and slightly sweet)

Poppyseed Dressing recipe  (or your favorite dressing)

Assembly

Start by spooning about 2-3 tablespoons of dressing into the bottom of the jar. Enough so you can see the layer of dressing. Next, add about 1 1/2 cups of the spinach leaves. Layer the strawberry slices around the outside of the jar and work your way in so they look pretty. Do the same with the orange slices. Next, add the walnuts and top with a thin layer of the goat cheese. Secure the lid and chill until serving time.

Poppyseed Dressing Recipe

1 1/2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1/2 teaspoon dry mustard

1/2 teaspoon honey

1/4 teaspoon lemon juice

1/8 teaspoon Kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon sugar

1/8 cup sweet white onion, like a Vidallia, chopped

1/2 cup plain yogurt (some people prefer mayo instead)

2 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil

3/4 teaspoon poppyseeds

a bit of water to thin, if required

Add everything but the oil and the poppyseeds into a blender or food processor and blend until very smooth and there is no trace of the onion. Reduce to the lowest speed and stream in the vegetable oil. Turn off the blender and add the poppyseeds. If you find it too thick (which I love for fruit) you can thin with a bit of water.  I use an immersion blender for this recipe. It's fast and easy to clean up!

FOR MORE TIPS AND IDEAS ON USING CANNING JARS, VISIT THE BALL WEBSITE!

Academy Awards Party Recipes: True Grits (Individual Three Cheese Grit Casseroles)

TRUE GRITS: MARTIE'S THREE CHEESE GRITS

2 cups Quick cooking grits; make according to the package directions for 6 servings (you can use regular or gourmet stone-ground grits if you have them but the cooking time on the stone ground grits is much longer) 

Photo: Tamika Moore/The Birmingham News2 tablespoons butter 

Kosher salt to package directions

Fresh cracked pepper to taste

1/4 cup heavy cream or whipping cream (use what's in the fridge, even milk will work) 

1/2 cup Gouda, coarsely grated 

1/2 cup Gruyere, coarsely grated 

1/2 cup goat cheese, crumbled 

Dash cayenne pepper (optional) 

Smoked paprika (optional, to lightly sprinkle on top) 

Butter 12 ramekins and place on baking sheet. Make grits according to package directions. Stir in pepper, heavy cream and 1 tablespoon butter as the grits are almost done. Stir in the cheeses, reserving a bit of each for the top. Stir until the cheese is melted and pour into the buttered dishes. 

Bake at 425 for 9 minutes or until the top is golden brown. Serve immediately.

Wishing for Wimbledon? Host a Lawn Party, British Style

I just got back from visiting friends in the UK and I got a good dose of polo, British pub food and culture while I was there. Everyone was gearing up for Wimbledon, the oldest tennis tournament in the world which started yesterday at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. The Wimbledon buzz inspired me to plan a Lawn Party.... British style!

About Wimbledon

Some of the traditions of Wimbledon have been in place for 100+ years! Wimbledon is played on grass, so even if you don't have access to a tennis court, if you have a patch of grass, you can host this great summer get-together. The women's final is on July 3rd and the men's final is on July 4th. What could be more appropriate than an all-American win on British soil on the date we celebrate our country's Independence?

The Invitation

Since a strict all-white dress code is in place for players at Wimbledon, it's always fun to stick to an all-white theme for the party. Ask guests to wear white attire and mention that lawn games will be involved. I always like to start this party late in the afternoon or early evening, after the temperatures have dropped slightly. A 6pm start time will give you several hours of daylight for games during the summer. White linen paper or card stock is just right for your party invite. A casual, handwritten note (very old school) is perfectly acceptable for this casual gathering.

The Party Menu

Wimbledon Strawberries and Cream

There are a couple of traditions at Wimbledon that you are a must for your party menu. Strawberries and Cream are a Wimbledon staple so dessert is going to be easy! In England, cream is always single or double cream and it is difficult to find the English version in the US. If you want to make it easy on yourself, just get some really good vanilla ice cream, let it melt until it pours. Pour some cream in the bottom of each dish and fill the bowl with strawberries. Serve with a pitcher of the cream for those who want extra. Make sure to get extra fresh and really delicious berries....  Try Driscoll's Berries. Always fresh, always reliable!

CHECK OUT 7 WAYS WITH STRAWBERRIES FROM MY FRIENDS AT MYRECIPES.COM FOR MORE GREAT STRAWBERRY RECIPES!

Pimm's Spritzer

Another staple at Wimbledon is a Pimm's Spritzer. Pimm's is to Wimbledon is what the Mint Julep is to the Kentucky Derby. I love a good Pimm's Cup. Pimm's is a gin based liquor and it's so refreshing on a summer day. The Pimm's Spritzer. Use my Pimm's recipe for this or add ginger ale in place of the lemon-lime soda. Add 1/4 cup of chopped fresh fruit with chopped celery and cucumbers if you want the traditional garnish.

Another great British beverage is the Shandy. A Shandy is half lager (shown below) and half lemon-lime soda. Believe me, I was a skeptic but it's delicious and refreshing on a summer day!

British Pub Food

Your menu can include traditional British Fish and Chips, and mushy peas. Or, something simple like sandwiches and crisps (chips). or Cornish pasties... easy to make ahead and serve room temp at party time. Mushy peas are just green peas that are slightly mushed up with a hint of olive oil, mint, and a little lemon juice. Maybe an acquired taste--- but very British. I really like them:)

The Decor

Since the mood for this part is elegant, you can use simple decorations like candles in glass containers. I put sand in the bottom of the glass and then add one pillar candle to each and place these around the space. If you want a DIY project, you can get small mason jars, add a little sand to the bottom 1/4 of the jar and add a votive or tea light. You can hang these anywhere you need a little ambience. They won't offer much light but are very pretty! A dozen mason jars at Wal-Mart is under $10. 

I like to set up a viewing area close to the games so guests can watch the competition. Set up lawn furniture in clusters and include a tray or a container of drinks close by. Fill large pitchers with ice water and float lemons or cucumbers in them so that guests can serve themselves. If you don't have enough lawn furniture, you can ask guests to bring a lawn chair or you can buy large 10 or 20 gallon plastic buckets for about a dollar at Lowe's or Wal-Mart. Turn them upside down and viola, you have seating! Granted, it's not the most comfortable seating, but it really works.

The Entertainment

This party starts with the lawn games so if you don't have access to a tennis court, set up a badminton net instead. Since croquet is also played at Wimbledon, you can also set up a croquet course in the backyard or at the park. Other fun lawn games include horseshoes, bocce ball. or lawn bowling. The game I came to know in Chicago as "baggo" is also fun for a lawn party. I always find lots of great lawn games at Target during the summer. Set up your game course in whatever green space you have. If the party is in the late afternoon, I like to string little while lights all around my game course.

This is a great summer evening party theme... try it for a rehearsal dinner or engagement party, a girls night out or guys night out  party, a neighborhood party, family get-together, or anyone's birthday party! You can make it kid friendly or invite the adults only, but no matter who attends, my Summer Lawn Party is perfect for any occasion!

Summer Entertaining: Host a Pirate Party with Island Decorations, Food and Drinks!

Ahoy maties.... Are you looking for a fun party theme? An island-inspired pirate party is the perfect way to kick off summer- or end it, for that matter! Use these ideas for a end of school party, a high school graduation, a backyard movie night party complete with a screening of Pirates of the Caribbean, a birthday party, a Luau---it's even perfect for your next supper club or a bridal shower! Tweak the decorations and the food to fit your crowd. I got the idea from a dear friend, Terri Merren, who lives in the Cayman Islands. Terri sent me her cookbook and explained that the Cayman Islands hosts a "pirate week" celebration each year. Her picture below inspired my pirate party theme. Thank you Terri!  

 

HERE'S THE PIRATE PARTY WE SHOWCASED DURING THE METROPOLITAN COOKING & ENTERTAINING SHOW IN ATLANTA!

PIRATE PARTY MENU

Signature Cocktail: GOOMBAY SMASH

I knew I wanted to use my Goombay Smash recipe as the signature cocktail for this party theme because it is a favorite drink in the islands. Since it has rum and pineapple, I decided to use those elements as a consistent theme throughout my menu and for decorations. To cut costs, eliminate the brandy and use Grand Marnier or whatever orange liqueur you have instead.  

MARTIE'S MOJITO MELON BOATS

Use honeydew or cantaloupe as your melon. I prefer cantaloupe. The marinade is exactly what you'd find in a mojito.... rum, mint, and lime.

For the marinade, mix a cup of rum, the juice of one lime, and 1/2 cup finely chopped mint leaves for each melon. I don't use spiced rum for this recipe. If the melon isn't very sweet, I will add about 1/2 cup simple syrup that I have infused with mint to my marinade or a little drizzle of honey.

Cut your melon into "boats" and use a toothpick to poke small holes in the top of each slice. Fill the holes with the rum mixture and let it marinate in the refrigerator or cooler for an hour or more before guests arrive. Plate and insert your "pirate sails" or other nautical decoration. I used scrap paper and some pirate stickers from Oriental Trading Company and a wooden skewer to make the sails.

CARIBBEAN-SPICED SHRIMP with PINEAPPLE SALSA

I love this recipe from my great friends at MyRecipes.com and it's perfect for this party theme. I thought it would make it on skewers to make serving easier. The shrimp cook so quickly, it's an easy make-ahead dish. Make the salsa in advance and bring it all to room temp before serving. This recipe calls for a lot of spices but you don't have to use all of them.

BAYLEY'S WEST INDIES SALAD

Another great recipe from MyRecipes.com, also perfect for an island themed party. I make it ahead and store individual servings in jars (a mason jar works great) kept on ice in the cooler until party time. I like to add plantain chips as a garnish just before guests arrive.

PIRATE PARTY DECORATIONS

The decorations are so simple. You can get a lot of what you need from my friends at ORIENTAL TRADING COMPANY. I made some of the decorations---- like the pineapple tree and the sails for my melon boats and filled in the rest with supplies from OTC. The pineapple tree only took about 30 minutes to make- start to finish. The sails were about 15 minutes. Use pirate hats, swords, coins, treasure chests, etc to fill in the rest. Here are the instructions for our fantastic pineapple tree:

You need a stable base--- a heavy piece of wood works. I told the guy at Lowe's what I wanted to do and he pointed me to the plumbing supplies for a flange and a short piece of pipe that screwed together. I attached it to the wood with Velcro but you can screw it down or glue it. Next, twist the top off the pineapples and cut the top and bottom to make them level. Cut out the inner core of each pineapple. I used an apple corer to do this, but a long, thin knife will also work. Stack the pineapples on top of each other to form the trunk of your tree. Add some foliage (you can even take cuttings from your own plants) by sticking the stems into the cut pineapple. Add a flag if you want to like we did. You can also use the pineapples to serve your shrimp skewers by inserting them into the pineapple! Everyone loved this idea! 

Get party decorations from Oriental Trading Company. You can get a huge box of pirate party booty and supplies for very little money. Check out the awesome pirate hats; you can double duty them by turning them into table decorations and serving bowls like we did for our Pirates of the Caribbean candy bar! Special shout out to all of our friends from the Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show in Atlanta for having so much fun with us at our pirate party!    

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Party Quick Fix: A Cheese Board--- Yum!

Still need a few ideas for your holiday get-togethers? A cheese board is fast and easy--- and who doesn't love cheese? Some cheeses are not cheap--- in fact, some are completely outrageous but sooo worth the expense. Get several large blocks of cheese for a cheese board or get 6-10 smaller blocks for a cheese tasting. For a tasting, label each cheese so guests can identify their favorite.

A a large cutting board works well for a cheese board---or a marble pastry slab, if you happen to have one. Add baskets of baguettes and different types of crackers or breadsticks and fruit that pairs well with your cheese assortment. Pears, apples, strawberries, cherries, and figs are delicious with cheese and they add color to your presentation as well. Shopping for cheese can be a bit overwhelming so here is a list of some of my favorites!

1. Manchego: Spain. This is my all-time favorite. I have noticed it in lots of stores lately so it must be increasing in popularity. Maybe that’s because I have served Manchego at every party, picnic, or tailgate I have hosted since my first trip to Spain in 1997. Get the Manchego that has been aged for twelve months. It is worth the price difference.
2. Saint Andre: France This soft, smooth triple cream cow’s milk cheese is on every single cheese board I present, also. It is almost like brie but the taste is smooth and creamy. Delicious when served with a fresh baguette and pear or apple slices, this one is really a crowd pleaser--- my friend Debbie absolutely loves it!
3. Cypress Grove Humboldt Fog: California A soft, ripened goat’s milk cheese that pairs well with honey and pears or wild mushrooms and earthy flavors.  
4. Valdeon: Spain An award winner for Spain’s best blue cheese, the distinctive sycamore leaf wrapping makes this cow and goat’s milk blue stand out in a crowd. It is a less intense blue cheese, perfect for a cheese board and paired with smoked or cured meats.
5. Quickes Farm Traditional Cheddar: England This is everything a good cheddar should be. The rich sharp flavor has a slightly spicy undertone. Everyone will ask about this one.
6. Amsterdam Reserve Gouda: Holland Gouda is a familiar favorite but this young cow’s milk variety is very creamy with a hint of honey and butterscotch.  
7. Cypress Grove Midnight Moon Goat Cheese: California Firm, dense, and smooth, this pale ivory cheese is a perfect compliment to cured meats and fruit.
8. Amadeus: Austria Buttery soft with a Havarti-like taste that is best paired with something sweet like figs or roasted meats like turkey and chicken.
9. Brillat Savarin: France Rich and buttery with a sweet but tangy taste, this triple cream brie is best served with grapes, apples, and pears.
10. Parmigiano Reggiano: Italy It is impossible to have a top ten list without this one. Most people think it is just for cooking or best grated over pasta, but it is wonderful alone or with crusty bread, dipped in good balsamic vinegar, and with olives. It has a complex nutty flavor and dense, slightly grainy texture.
11. Belle Chevre: Elkmont, Alabama This cheese should have been in my Top 10 and it's only because you can't find it everywhere that it isn't higher on the list--- but you can have it shipped almost anywhere. If you like goat cheese, this will be a favorite. Their marinated goat cheese made the Real Simple list of top gifts under $50. Try it!

Update on Tuesday, December 21, 2010 at 12:05PM by Martie Duncan

We were invited to participate in a segment yesterday on ABC 33/40's Talk of Alabama in Birmingham with Tasia from Belle Chevre on putting together a cheese board for easy holiday entertaining. A cheese board is one of those things you can just whip up fast when guests just show up. Yesterday we used Greek Kiss from Belle Chevre from Elkmont, Alabama, Piedmont from Wright Dairy, and a delicious triple cream Mt. Tam from Cowgirl Creamery. Add these to your list to try!