|
SubscriptionsSites I Read
|
|
|
|
| SPRING BRUNCH
originally published on May 31, 2002 on Suite101
Now that we’re in the clear from the dreary, cold days of winter, doesn’t it seem that all things sunshiney and warm coax us to come outdoors and lounge? In the past few weeks of warm temps and clear skies alone, we have gotten a fair amount of mileage out of our patio and our secondary, seasonal dining table. Sunday mornings at our house are kicked off with the Sunday Tribune, comfy seats, and a leisurely spread of yummy things to eat. Take the best elements of spring and food and host an idyllic Spring Brunch.
Invites
A casual brunch doesn’t call for any extraordinarily fancy invitations; although, it’s always a lovely gesture if you want to put in a little extra effort. Lazies like me use email, eVites, and phone calls, while Martha-enthusiasts might take an extra step and create little, leaf-shaped invitations that actually travel via snail-mail. I revel in the easiness of a casual get-together, but feel free to make the event as special as you’d like. I’d give at least a week’s notice, so people can plan their weekend accordingly.
Setting Up
We scooped up a lovely wooden patio table with folding legs last spring, and it has heartily served us well. But there’s no need to go out and buy expensive patio furniture if you don’t have the space or budget for it. Before we got our table, we used an old door we found in our garage and laid it across a couple of carpenter’s sawhorses. Folding lawn chairs are a convenient way to seat, but if you don’t have them, you might be able to bring out your chairs from inside the house. Tablecloths are a really easy way to add a bit of panache to your outdoor eating area, so if you’ve got one you love, use it. If you don’t, a simple flat white bedsheet is my favorite snazzy substitute.
Decor
No need to get all-frills with décor when everything else is laid back and casual. I’d just take a potted plant from my back patio and pop it on the table. We have lots of nice, potted herbs that I think look really striking on their own. Keep it simple. Outdoor eating is beautiful even without extra adornment.
Food and Drink
Light and easy, easy like Sunday morning….(thanks to Lionel Richie for that fun line). Make ahead what you can or have guests bring a dish if you’d like. Since we have makeshift breakfasts/brunches every weekend we possibly can, we sometimes resort to good old basics: fresh fruit, crusty breads, butter and jams, cheeses, coffee, even cereal. I find impromptu meals sometimes are more fun and certainly much less on the effort/stress front.
Refer to some of the resources below for menu ideas and recipes.
Relax, breathe in the fresh spring air, and dig in! | | |
| CREATIVITY CIRCLE
originally published April 26, 2002 at Suite101
Hello all. It's been a while since I've put in a new story here at Suite101. With the splendors of spring (aren’t you all just loving the blooming flowers and the warmer temperatures and the smell of freshly-mowed grass?) have come a few exciting developments for me…which has left me with less time but lots to look forward to. I got engaged in February and am currently planning the wedding…which has taught me it’s a bit trickier to easily entertain on such a grand scale. Over the next few months, I will keep you posted as my attempt to entertain easily unfolds. You resourceful brides out there, please feel free to post your suggestions and ideas for making wedding planning easy. Never has throwing a party ever felt so difficult before! To compound my list of interesting events, I have just begun a course to become certified in graphic design. So far, it’s been a lot of fun and great for sparking the creative flow again, which brings me to this month’s easy entertaining idea: gather up your arts-and-crafts-loving pals and host a creativity circle.
Pick a day.
Dedicate a specific day of the week you will meet for crafting. It’s much easier for planning other aspects of life when you know when you’ll be meeting on a regular basis. Pick a day of the week that works out for the group of pals you want to gather and stick with it. It’s easier to plan around a revolving gathering when it’s consistent.
Decide what you’ll craft.
I am an HGTV fiend and get loads of inspiration from simply watching a few craft/home décor shows. Other possible sources of crafting ideas include:
Invite your crafty pals.
You can send a standing email invite, which is effective but a bit blasé. You can jazz up the email invites: be creative and crafty and set up a webpage with details of where the party will be (it might rotate among the members of the creativity circle), what the project will be, and what supplies (craft stuff, food, etc.) to bring. Send the webpage URL in the standing email invitation a day or two before the craft day weekly.
Set the mood.
Pop on a few fun CD’s, set up a table or two for crafting (you might want to invest in some cheapy vinyl tablecloths to protect your table surfaces), and lay out your spread for snacks and tasty beverages nearby. Tear out or print up photos or drawings of the crafts you’re wanting to do. Tack them up around you with light-tack tape .
Have at it!
Revel in the joy of letting loose and feeling creative. My sister and I have been keeping ourselves busy with wedding crafting these days…we beribboned about 100 little bottles of bubbles last night in less than an hour’s time. | | |
| CONCOCT-A-MEAL NIGHT
originally published on February 23, 2002 at Suite101
With the limbo days of not-quite-spring-yet-mostly-not-winter upon us, it often takes a big push of encouragement to get my sluggish self into active, social-butterfly mode. Being lazy doesn’t preclude our need to eat, and it shouldn’t preclude seeing our chums, either. One of the ways I keep the social thing going without very much planning or expenditure of effort is with a Concoct-a-Meal Night. This month, I’ve put together a small list of the options I’ve used before on lazy-get-together nights. Please enlighten us all and share your own ideas and tricks in the Easy Entertaining Discussion Board!
Concoct-a-Meal nights are easy on you and your pals because planning is on the very low-end of the Martha scale. All you really need to do is send out a message telling the friends that it’s going to be a concoct-a-meal night, what meal it is you will be concocting, supplies (if any) you’d like your friends to bring, time and location of the low-key do. On Meal Night, clear off a counter top or sideboard or table area and lay out the ingredients for everyone to chef their own meal. Plate up your creations and serve a fitting beer, wine, or soda, and enjoy a meal made together!
Pizza Party
Supplies
- Pizza Crusts – Pillsbury Rollout, Boboli, French bread loaves
- Sauces – Tomato (I sometimes use pasta sauce), pesto, creamy white sauce
- Toppings – Fresh & roasted veggies, meats (pepperoni, ham, bacon, sausage, etc.), cheeses (mozzarella, parmesan, feta), herbs and spices (oregano, basil, garlic)
- Baking pans
Soup Night
Supplies
- Broth
- Vegetables
- Pastas or rices
- Meats
- Crackers
- Crusty breads
Sandwich Counter
Supplies
- Bread – sliced breads, crusty loaves, baguettes, rolls, croissants
- Dressings – mayo, mustard, vinaigrette, pickles
- Fillings
- Sliced deli meats
- Cheeses
- Veggies – lettuce, onions, tomatoes
- Sweet options – peanut butter, jam and preserves, bananas
- Chips
Sundae Buffet
Supplies
- Ice cream
- Syrups - caramel, fudge, butterscotch
- Fruits – cherries, bananas, strawberries, pineapple bits
- Toppings – sprinklies, candy bits, whipped cream
Pasta Bar
Supplies
- Pasta - Linguine, capellini, spaghetti, penne, macaroni, etc.
- Sauces – red, white, meat, pesto
- Additions – veggies, ground beef, sausage
- Cheese – parmesan, mozzarella, ricotta
- Garlic bread
- Salad
| | |
| PATCHWORK MEAL
originally published on December 21, 2001 at Suite101
The last week before Christmas is a notoriously hectic one for many of us, and it can be difficult to round up friends and family before they head off for their Christmas destinations...or, to keep guests who are in-town and visiting with you duly entertained. But it isn’t impossible. Round up your beloved for a fuss-free and relaxed patchwork meal.
The operative element of a patchwork meal is the contribution of foods bit by bit, be it generous donations from your guests, or little lifts of your own energy throughout the week. The casual factor should be high, as this is about relaxing and relishing good eats and good company. No fretting about the decor and table settings, no fussing over a monumental menu or exuding ambiance. This is all about eating, relaxing, and having an enjoyable (i.e., not stressful) time. Anyway, it’s very likely your pad will already be decked out for the holidays, so no need to add more. Pop on a holiday CD and you are set. Stress relief during this very busy and bustling season is high on many lists of priorities, and I’ve compiled some useful resources out on the web below.
Gather your munchers. Because this time may be stressful for your intended guests as well as yourself, don’t expect a turnout that would please New Year’s Eve-ing Dick Clark. Whoever can come will come, and the food will sort itself out accordingly. Key to remember is this is a meal meant to up the respite quotient, if only for one night. We all have to eat, right?
If your patchwork meal is meant to gather up your friends before they all jet off for their holiday plans, clue them in as soon as you get the idea to throw this little shindig. Phone up or email your invitees, at the very least, a couple days in advance. A week ahead is preferable. Be sure to cement the details of where, when, and what (buffet? brunch? bring something?).
If your patchwork meal is meant to feed your visiting family and friends and take a little pressure off the big holiday meal you know you‘ll be slaving over later, you’ll also want to clearly communicate your meal plan, but it might be a bit easier to coordinate since they’re in town to see special little you.
Whatever the reason for this (almost) impromptu meal for the season, be sure to convey the specifics that are important to you to make the meal hassle-free for all.
 Holiday Brunch ~ There is a special, warm-fuzzy about mornings that meet you with a tasty meal and the warmth of your loved ones. Even now, I always look forward to the big, home-cooked breakfasts that Mom (and occasionally, Dad) wakes us up with when we’re home for visits. Brunches are nice for time convenience (not too early, not too late), easy menu possibilities (a bit of brekkie, a bit of lunch), and general enthusiasm for attendance (probably because of the first 2 factors). Even better, there is a wealth of possibilities for saving time by prepping parts of the meal the night before and simply popping them in or on the stove the next morning. You can serve your brunch family-style, with all the fixings being passed around the table, or you can lay it out buffet-style and let the traffic flow take care of itself.
See the following resources for great recipes and ideas for easy brunching:
Holiday Buffet ~ If dinner or lunch is more suited for you or your guests, a buffet is the easiest way to go. Potluck is my favored method of procuring copious amounts and varieties of food, and guests feel they truly are contributing something to the endeavor. Appetizers and finger foods are easy for most anyone to whip up (my secret is to buy them pre-made and frozen; I just warm them up, and presto! insta-contribution!), and even store-bought comestibles are great for the buffet. If you really feel you need to do a bit of traffic-copping on who brings what (boo! this is about relaxing, remember?), you could assign types of things you need people to bring; however, I find part of the fun is in the surprise of what may appear. See the following spots for buffet tips and pointers:
Also see these guides for general holiday cooking and party-planning tips:
~ AllRecipes Christmas
~ Better Homes & Gardens Make-Ahead Cooking
~ MSN Home Advisor Holiday Party Planning Guide
Stressbuster Meal Out ~ The ultimate way to chill, the meal out saves you planning, place-setting, cooking, and cleaning. Make reservations for you and your favored folks to get a little nourishment in the tummy, a little socializing on the brain, and a nice time especially slotted for not doing other holiday errands. A couple weeks back, my friends and I met up for tapas at a lovely place rooted in the middle of a beautifully decked out downtown area. This certainly fit the patchwork bill with the various dishes we shared. The feeling was festive and fun, and the relief of going home to a clean kitchen was fantastic. Hit your favorite food joint; it doesn’t need to be a fancy or formal spot. You can infuse the patchwork feel by sharing all the dishes ordered, so everyone gets a nibble of everything.
Eat up and relax! Remember...Main requirement: fill bellies well. Positive side effect: jovial, good fun to be had by all. Hope you have a peaceful, enjoyable Christmas and see you in 2002! | | |
| HOLIDAY SHOW
originally published on December 7, 2001 at Suite101
When I was young, the holiday season was always a brilliant time chock full of school concerts, plays, TV specials, and our traditional annual visit to the Morris Civic Auditorium for the visit of The Nutcracker. We kids were bristling with excitement. The air was pure magic as we happily filed into the theaters in our stiff little dresses, be it to appear as little carolers on stage or to be spectators to the ballet company’s stars. This magic--it’s a pure, simple joy that I still enjoy and crave in this time of grown-up-ness and heavy world events. Strive to create a little of your own magic, memories, and begin a new tradition with a day out for a holiday show.
Check out your options. Like I’d mentioned, this time of year is one extremely rich in events and happenings that will be sure to fit the holiday show bill. Be on the lookout for ideas everywhere. Keep your eyes peeled for school and community bulletins, check local newspapers and city websites. Keep on the prowl for a good holiday outing. Following is my humble list of possibilities. Grow your options from there, or let me know of something you do that I’m obviously missing out on!
The following events can be found in all types of locations at all sorts of levels. The range can span professional performance troupes like the Rockettes and the Joffrey Ballet dancers, mid-level pros like civic playhouse players and university theater department players, and pure players like church productions and elementary, middle, and high school concerts and shows.
- Dance productions ~ As I alluded to at the open of this week’s column, The Nutcracker is a tradition that is deeply rooted in childhood for me and for many of my friends. As a child, we went every year for a 7-year stretch. More than 15 years later, and I still yearn to get back into the annual habit. If this ballet doesn’t catch your fancy, you can opt for ice-skating shows or less traditional dance presentations at performing arts schools, city activities offices, etc.
- Plays ~ Lots of people think of “A Christmas Carol” and old Ebenezer Scrooge when it comes to Christmas plays, but there is a vast array of new “classics” being cultivated each year in smaller playhouses and theaters. Many universities and high schools get a hand in the holiday plays this time of year, and that most certainly makes for an interesting and inexpensive time of entertainment. The range of storylines and players’ talent could very well astound you.
- Choral concerts ~ This type of event holds a special place in my heart because I have always been a ham of the choral sort. From nursery school onward, I always looked forward to costuming up and singing my heart out to the good old holiday tunes. I can still remember the costume theme of “festively colored” sweaters and exaggeratedly pink cheeks my junior year in high school choir. I currently carry no musical aspirations of late, so I really enjoy catching the local high school’s holiday concert every now and again, and the occasional elementary school production when I am really yearning for nostalgia. School marquees often advertise the upcoming holiday shows, but you can usually gain a bit of info on the inside track by chatting with your neighbors and co-workers with kids.
- Musicals ~ A combo of plays and concerts, musicals are a rousing fun time of unlikely discourse between characters. My friend Kris has made a tradition for the last 3 or 4 years to attend the Rockettes’ Radio City Christmas Spectacular with her sisters. I often stick with The Sound of Music for my Christmas musical.
- Television specials ~ I still remember waiting with bated breath for the animated (cartoon and/or Claymation) holiday specials of Frosty, Rudolph, and Santa Claus coming to town. Also wonderful were the occasional Andy Williams or Bob Hope specials (I am really dating myself now…) of the singy, jokey variety. Scan TV listings for upcoming shows you want to catch.
- Films ~ If the weather outside happens to get too fierce, or the exhaustion of fending off holiday throngs too much, consider renting (or growing your own collection of) a slew of holiday favorites. The big benefit of this is being able to plan your gathering on your own time, rather than on specific dates and at specific show times. My little video library includes A Christmas Story, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, Frosty the Snowman, and Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Chicagoans, check out these resource lists on citysearch.com and metromix.com.
 Invite fellow revelers and reverie followers. Share the greatness of the holidays by rounding up your friends and family. You can attend a ton of holiday shows and events if you want by spreading your guest list over several events. A simple invite or phone call should suffice with details (event, date, time, place), but there are so many festive options in electronic as well as paper greetings. Because the holidays are such a busy, hectic time for many of us, and schedules often fill more quickly than usual, it would be wise to send out the invitation/idea as soon as possible. At the least, a week before the actual event.
Sweeten the deal. Part of the fun of seeing a show is making a big day or night of it. If you’re attending an afternoon show, consider meeting prior to the show for lunch at an eatery near the venue or stopping off after the show for a nice cup of coffee or cocoa. If it’s an evening event, perhaps plan to gussy yourselves up a bit and then head out for a nice dinner or drink before or after the show. The experience of the show itself can only be improved with a bit of good food and drink.
Soak in the sights and sounds; savor. They say one of the stronger triggers for a memory is in sound. I think this is absolutely true, as I still get taken back to a particularly rigorous tree-trimming session when I was 8 every time I hear the Chipmunks’ Christmas album, a post-kindergarten class visit with Santa at my daycare center is always conjured up when I hear “Up On the Rooftop,” and I’m reminded of a relaxing Christmas at home sophomore year of high school when I hear the score from Home Alone. The “sounds of the season” is a popular phrase for a good reason. So, really stop and listen to the show. Even sing along with the songs you know if you’re so inclined (I learned this uninhibited trait from my freshman-year roommate, Sarah, who sang along with The Graduate at an on-campus viewing of the flick). Occasionally glance at your fellow audience members and take in how pleased they are by the show. Let loose and enjoy yourself! You will be sure to look forward for next year’s holiday shows before this year’s are even over. Happy caroling!
| | |
|
