Easy Summer Dinner Party Dessert: Prosecco and Popsicles!

Looking for a super easy and super fast dessert for your dinner party, supper club, or get-together? This one is a breeze and everyone will love it! Now, you can make your own popsicles like I did or you can get some really delicious flavors at most organic grocers. Even Wal-Mart has some Mexican "paletas" (gourmet ice pops)  which are a bit exotic and really delicious. No matter what variety you choose, this dessert is easy, elegant, and absolutely a crowd-pleaser! You can match your colors to your party's color scheme, or serve a variety of flavors like I have here!

So, all you have to do is to make sure your pops are really frozen so they don't melt too fast. Also, chill the Prosecco. When you are ready to serve, just pop the pop into a wine glass, pour over the chilled Prosecco and serve! You can also serve this with chilled ginger ale if you prefer not to serve alcohol.

Girls' Night In Party: Throw a Pajama Party

Watching Kathie Lee and Hoda on the Today Show right now and they've got a pajama party on that looks like a lot of fun... They have champagne, cookies, cake, wine, beauty products, chocolate, etc. Well, I think they got their idea from us! Perfect for a bridesmaid's party, a bachelorette party, best friend's birthday party, or for the next time it is your turn to have your gang over, our Guilty Pleasure PJ Party is simple to host and totally affordable, too. Who doesn't need a chocolate covered attitude adjustment on occasion?

This Guilty Pleasure PJ Party featured everything you love but don't indulge in every day... Chick flicks, gossip magazines, fashion magazines, Sex in the City reruns plus loads of our favorite old-school pajama party foods: chocolate cupcakes, homemade truffles, doughnuts, candy, sliders, pigs in a blanket, chips, fondue, and more. Throw on some pink drinks like our Cosmopolitans and a beautiful rose' Champagne and you're done! The best thing about this party was the friends: Arden, Jessica, Ashley-Rose, Jenna Lee, and Charlotte made this girls' night party so easy and so much fun!

Take a look at some of our ideas for a pajama party for the perfect girls get-together. This is one of the most fun and most relaxing parties ever.

 

PERFECT GROWN UP PJ PARTY HOW-TO

The menu was pure indulgence. Mini cheeseburgers and pigs-in-a-blanket are so easy to make, we didn’t even need a recipe. Nachos are always easy but chocolate or cheese fondue is even better. Ask the girls to bring their favorite “guilty pleasure” candy or dessert plus a favorite DVD. Check with each guest to see what they’re planning to bring so you don’t end up with four plates of Rice Krispy treats and six copies of Grease. (Admit it, you know every song)  Serve a signature cocktail or drinks that fit the theme for the evening. Since Sex in the City was on the agenda for our party, Cosmopolitans were on the menu. Pre-mix a large pitcher of your signature drink so you don’t have to play bartender all night. That way, you only have to refill the serving pitcher when necessary.

All photos taken by Arden Ward/Arden PhotographyCLASSIC COSMOPOLITAN RECIPE

Makes 5 servings

5 oz premium vodka
2.5 oz Grand Marnier
2.5 oz fresh lime juice
2.5 oz cranberry juice

Shake vodka, Grand Marnier, lime and cranberry juice vigorously in a shaker with ice. Strain into a pitcher. Serve in chilled martini glasses garnished with a lime. Serves 5. Double or triple as necessary for a party.

DECORATIONS

Use colorful candies and treats as decorations by displaying them in clear bowls and vases. Lollipop sticks from the craft store make a doughnut or marshmallow sculpture to add height and interest to your table. Grab a bouquet of mixed flowers in your party colors at the grocery and pull it apart to use in assorted vases. For an informal party like this one, use stylish paper plates and napkins to cut down on clean up... pity to have so much fun and then have to do the dishes:)

ENTERTAINMENT

In addition to watching your favorite movies, watch your own! Start by scanning pictures of your past good times and make your own movie using your iPhone or FlipCam. Add your favorite tunes from back in the day as a soundtrack.

So call the gang and treat yourselves to a Girls’ Might IN party; it’s a chocolate covered attitude adjustment just when you needed it! 

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Recipes from our Friends: LynnBo's Fresh Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

Lynn and her husband GaryMy favorite photo of Lynn from back in the day-- pep rally day!I've known Lynn about as long as I've known anyone, I think. We went to elementary school all the way through high school together. Lynn had the most amazing parties back in the day... she was a big time party-thrower, even as a kid! I cannot hear Sly & the Family Stone to this day without thinking about spend the night parties at her house. And while we lost touch for a lot of years, I am soooo happy to have reconnected with her. I've met her teriffic husband Gary and one of her beautiful daughters, Kara. (who are both pretty amazing musicians and singers, I might add) I saw a Facebook post where someone was asking Lynn to make this cake for them and they were raving about it... so I asked her to share it with us. Lynn, you are so inspirational! I'm so happy we are friends!

LynnBo's FRESH STRAWBERRY CAKE with STRAWBERRY CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Ingredients

1 strawberry cake mix (plus eggs and oil as required by the package)

1 1/2 cups fresh chopped strawberries plus more strawberries for garnish

1/2 cup of unsalted butter (1 stick) softened
12 oz cream cheese, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 tablespoons heavy cream or evaporated milk

1 small box strawberry Jello- add this to taste. (I used about half of the box)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 (or to package directions)

Prepare or spray your pans as directed on the package; I used Baker's Joy and sprayed mine.

First, chop up 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries and mash them so they resemble a puree.

Make the cake mix as directed except exchange the mashed strawberries for the water the package directions call for. Pour evenly into the prepared pan (s). Bake as directed or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Lynn recommends using a 9x13 pan but I used two 9" round pans for mine. Allow them to cool before frosting.

For the frosting:

Cream together the cream cheese, butter, sugar, and Jello at medium speed of your mixer. Add the milk and vanilla and mix well.

Garnish with lots of strawberries. Lynn recommends adding them just before serving because there is so much moisture in the strawberries, they will slide all over the cake if you add them too soon. She also recommends to pat the strawberries dry before topping.

Hope you enjoy this one.... perfect for Spring and strawberry season!

Want more recipes for strawberry cake? Try this Strawberry Layer Cake recipe from our friends at myRecipes.com which calls for Grand Marnier in the frosting.  Yummy!

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The Royal Wedding: Details for Prince William & Kate's Wedding; Viewing Party Ideas

I've got to admit that I have a growing curiosity about the big day... I'm talking about the most anticipated wedding of the year; that of Prince William to Kate Middleton. It is estimated that over 2 BILLION people around the world will stop what they are doing to watch as this historic event takes place at 11am on April 29, 2011 at Westminster Abbey and I will be one of them. I planned a little viewing party back in the day when Princess Diana married Prince Charles and I do not intend to slight the oh-so dashing William- who, I am sure, is marrying Kate only because she reminds him so much of me:) Live pre-wedding coverage begins at the following times around the USA:

New York, Atlanta: 6am (Eastern)

Chicago, Dallas: 5am (Central)

Denver, Salt Lake City: 4am (Mountain Daylight)

Phoenix: 3am (Mountain Standard)

Los Angeles: 3am (Pacific)

Details of the wedding have been closely guarded secrets; very few of the plans have been released or leaked out. What is known thus far is that Kate will arrive at Westminster Abbey by car and not by carriage. The ceremony will last for approximately an hour. After the wedding, the couple will travel by the same carriage used for the wedding of Charles and Diana to Buckingham Palace where the royal family and invited guests will enjoy a reception hosted by the Queen. Later in the evening, Prince Charles will host a wedding dinner for close friends and family at Buckingham Palace. For more details of the wedding, the history of Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and the couple, visit William and Kate's official wedding website... after all, every couple has one these days:)

ROYAL WEDDING VIEWING PARTY IDEAS

If you're planning a royal wedding viewing party to watch the actual event as it happens, a typical British breakfast is a must. Use formal china and teacups if you have them. This is the perfect occasion to drag out all of your silver trays and tiered serving pieces. The Brits are known for their eclectic and whimsical sense of style so feel perfectly free to mix and match patterns like a slightly kooky old aunt. Kate's wedding color is blue which you can incorporate in china, flowers, or linen. The English are known for their incredible gardens and every Brit I know has a bit of green they are proud to show off. Known for their roses - a bunch of any large, open roses make the perfect decorations. 

THE ENGLISH BREAKFAST: TWO WAYS

The British call the post-wedding meal a 'Wedding Breakfast' but it actually features brunch and main course dishes, not breakfast items. The culinary team at Buckingham Palace is responsible for catering the reception, which will begin with an array of cold and hot canapes for the 660 guests invited to Buckingham Palace after the ceremony. Read more and watch videos about the reception and wedding cakes from the royal wedding site...

Full English Breakfast with eggs, sausage, tomato, etcSince the wedding will happen at the crack of dawn in the US, a real breakfast menu is the perfect way to go. There are two traditional types of English breakfast menus: a 'fried' breakfast" or "Full English" features eggs, grilled sausages, which are called bangers, beans (like our baked beans), hash browns, a baked tomato and mushrooms with grilled cheese on toast on the side.

Scones with cream and jamThe other type of English breakfast includes tea with milk, scones, toast, or English muffins, jam, marmalade, butter, and fresh fruit. The Brits are known for their strawberries and cream, which always show up on the menu at Royal Ascot, Wimbledon, and posh polo matches. The symbol of love, purity, passion, and healing, the strawberry has been incorporated into English wedding breakfast since medieval times. 

Get Martie's recipe for strawberry scones...

Other typical wedding breakfast items include Buck's Fizz, similar to what we know in the USA as a Mimosa.

Buck's Fizz Recipe

Fill a champagne flute with 2 parts orange juice and top it off with one part chilled champagne. The traditional recipe calls for a drop of grenadine.

If you really want to pitch in and feel as if you are a part of the Royal Wedding, the couple has set up a charitible gift fund to help celebrate their wedding. The fund will focus on aid for five different causes that have been chosen by the couple: Conservation for future generations, aid to service personnel and their families, changing lives through arts and sports, children fulfilling their potential, and help and care at home.

Touched by the massive outpouring of good will and congratulations since their engagement, the couple asks that anyone with the desire to send them a wedding gift consider making a donation in their name to the fund.

 Learn more about the Prince William & Miss Catherine Middleton Charitable Gift Fund...

 Cheers and best wishes to William and Kate. Here's to a long and happy life together!

FOLLOW MARTIE ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE RECIPES, COCKTAILS, PARTY IDEAS, AND CONTESTS! Martie with Chanda Temple, writer for the Birmingham News

Weekend Cocktail: Pineapple Upside Down Cake and Pineapple Iced Tea

One of my favorite go-to cocktails is simple: it's just pineapple juice with vanilla vodka. It's refreshing, light; so yummy and perfect for outdoor entertaining! I like to freeze pineapple juice into ice cubes for this drink... keeps it from becoming diluted. Try one and see if this does not become one of your favorite cocktails, too. A fun spin is to add a drop of grenadine in the bottom of the glass.... and a cherry for garnish. That's called a Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Another easy drink is my Pineapple Iced Tea. Perfect for a shower or tea. Hope you like them! Cheers to the weekend!

Pineapple Upside Down Cake Cocktail and Pineapple Iced TeaPINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE COCKTAIL

Add a drop of grenadine to the bottom of a tall glass (you can also use a martini glass and chill the drink in a shaker with ice if you prefer)

Next add:

Ice (I usually make pineapple ice cubes if I have time)

2 ounces vanilla vodka

3 ounces pineapple juice

Stir. Enjoy! Tell me that doesn't taste a lot like a pineapple upside down cake!

PINEAPPLE ICED TEA

For the non-drinkers, try a spin on the Arnold Palmer. This one is called a Tiki Palmer. It's easy and really nice for a summer event like a bridal tea or baby shower.

Simply blend half unsweetened tea* and half sweetened pineapple juice together and serve over ice with a squeeze of lemon. Add a slice of pineapple, mint, or lemon for garnish. *Some people prefer to use sweet tea for this drink but I find it's too sweet for my taste. But either way will work!

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