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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Host a Derby Day Party: Mint Julep Recipes and Easy Decorations

Big hats, red roses, pretty spring dresses, horses, Kentucky Bourbon and mint juleps. Now if those aren't reason enough to host a party, I don't know what is! The races at Keeneland are underway now and The Kentucky Derby will be run May 1 at Churchill Downs. So call your friends, dust off that huge hat and mix up some mint juleps! In fact, why wait for Derby Day? Mix some up this weekend! Go baby go!

Derby Decorations

Decorations for a Derby Day party could not be easier. Use anything silver as a container--- use whatever you have. You can even just spray paint something you already have silver if you don't have anything.... a terra cotta pot, for example. A mint julep cup makes a perfect vase. Add a few red roses and you're done! They call the Derby the "run for the roses" because the winning horse is covered with a blanket of red roses so use lots of red roses for your decorations. You can get them anywhere--- even Wal-Mart! We used 3 per container for this arrangement along with some leaves and a little moss.

Mint Juleps from MyRecipes.comMint Julep Recipes

A classic mint julep begins with good Kentucky bourbon like Maker's Mark or Four Roses. Mint is also essential, although there are some versions that use fresh basil; very different but very refreshing. Add some ice. That's really all you need. Here's my version-use mint simple syrup so you don't have to play bartender all day and you get lots more mint flavor.

Martie's Classic Mint Julep for a Crowd

These mint julep recipes below are all from our good friends at MyRecipes.com!

Stanley's Mint Julep

Fresh Basil Julep

Mint Julep Iced Tea

And my own spin on the perfect Derby Day cocktail, Pomegranate Spiked Sweet Tea!

FOLLOW MARTIE ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE RECIPES, COCKTAILS, PARTY IDEAS & FUN!

It's Mardi Gras! Menu and Cocktail Ideas for Your Mardi Gras Party

I love Mardi Gras--- after all, isn't it named after me? Martie Gras? LOL. 

Fat Tuesday, the day most of us celebrate Mardi Gras, is coming up on February 16th so I recently blew down to New Orleans to get some inspiration for Mardi Gras 2010. Let's get down to the most important thing about Mardi Gras--- the food.

I literally ATE my way through the city: Ulglesich's (lunch only) Oyster Po' Boys and their incredible Remoulade. Acme Oyster House in the French Quarter for the amazing Chargrilled Oysters and Red Beans and Rice. Galatoire's on Bourbon Street for everything but especially the Shrimp Remoulade and their famous Bread Pudding with Banana Sauce. Awesome! Click to get their recipes.

Visit our friends at MyRecipes.com to see their collection of Mardi Gras recipes; everything from Shrimp Etouffee to Jambalaya and these great mini-muffulettas.

Now, you know you just cannot go to New Orleans without a trip to Cafe DuMonde for Beignets. You can order their beignet mix online or you can make them from scratch. I have tried both. It doesn't matter which way you go. Just try to use cottonseed oil for frying and transfer them immediately into a brown paper lunch bag with powdered sugar in it once they are done. Give a shake and serve them to guests in the bag! These will be a huge hit!

Along my culinary exploration of New Orleans, I tried Chef John Besh's Restaurant Luke- a French Bistro with New Orleans flair. It was wonderful! Over fabulous shrimp and grits using Alabama's McEwen & Sons Organic Stone Ground Grits,

I had a great chat with bartender, Tomas, who is not only talented but entertaining as well. Tomas mixed a perfect Sazerac Cocktail, the traditional New Orleans drink made with a sugar cube and Herbsaint. Delicious!

Of course, you can't have a Mardi Gras party without a great Hurricane! Here's the famous Pat O'Brien's recipe using their mix or you can try mine:

 Martie's Party Hurricanes 

• 1 1.2 ounces light rum
• 1 1/2 ounces dark rum
• 1 ounce FRESH orange juice
• 1 ounce FRESH lime juice 
• 1/4 cup passion fruit juice (find it in the canned juice or International foods aisles)
• 1 sugar cube (about a teaspoon)
• 1 teaspoon Grenadine
• Maraschino cherries and orange slices
• Ice

In a cocktail shaker, mix the rum, juices and sugar until sugar is dissolved. Add Grenadine, and stir to combine, then add ice and shake. Add ice to a Hurricane style glass, strain drink into glass. Add a dash of the cherry juice. Garnish with orange slices and cherries.

NEED BEADS? DON'T FORGET THAT ORIENTAL TRADING COMPANYHAS EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO THROW A 'NAWLIN'S STYLE MARDI GRAS BASH!

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!

Labor-Free Labor Day Party Ideas: One Pot Seafood Boil

Hey everyone! I just got back from a great weekend in Charleston with friends and am inspired to try a little Lowcountry cuisine for Labor Day. A Lowcountry Boil is what's on my mind. It's the end of the summer so I want my party food to be really simple. What could be easier than putting everything in one pot to cook and serve? No labor for this Labor Day party! I love it!

A good boil starts with the freshest seafood. I think you can put just about any kind of shellfish in your pot---- so go to the market and get what is the freshest but traditionally it is made with shrimp and clams. And here in the South- Old Bay Seasoning is a must with shrimp. You can usually find it at the grocery or ask the guy at the fish counter. You can cook your boil on the stove, on the grill or over a fire.

One Pot Lowcountry Boil

5 pounds whole fresh shrimp (in the shell)

3 dozen small clams in shell-optional (make sure the shells are closed when you purchase!)

3 pounds smoked sausage (I like Hilshire Farms Smoked Beef Sausage or Hot Chipotle Smoked Sausage)

3 pounds small red potatoes, skin on-- cut them in half if they are large

3 large white onions, cut in quarters

5 pounds of fresh corn-on-the-cob cut into 4 inch pieces

1/2 stick butter

2 lemons, sliced

6 cloves garlic, finely minced

Old Bay seasoning to taste (add a little at a time)

1 bottle of your favorite beer (optional)

Salt & Pepper to taste

Put the potatoes and onion along with all of the seasonings (garlic, butter, lemon, too)  in a huge stockpot with enough water to cover and add  the beer. Put the lid on and simmer until almost done. Add corn and sausage and simmer until the corn is almost done. Add the shrimp and clams. Cook until the clams just open and  the shrimp turns pink. Don't keep cooking once your seafood is done--- it will get tough.

For patriotic decorations and backyard party games- check out this blog post from Memorial Day! 

You can get tons of great party decorations from Oriental Trading Company and they can still get them to you in time for your Labor Day bash!