FEBRUARY PARTY THEMES
In the middle of the winter doldrums, unless you are lucky
enough to be in Australia, it is fun to think about warm
weather. This is a great time to host a Caribbean Party,
Hawaiian Party, Southwestern Party - you get the idea.
These are two themes for you to enjoy:
Tropical:
For a tropical party, go all out and have your guests wear
flip-flops and Hawaiian shirts. Turn up the heat and if you are
brave or have an enclosed porch, fill up a small blow-up pool
with sand and seashells. If you really have cabin fever, go
crazy, get some fake palm trees from the party store, and hang
tropical flowers from the fronds. Get large seashells and paint
your guests names on them.
Mardi Gras:
The end of February is time for Mardi Gras. Just go to any party
store and gather up those cheap, shiny beads, hats and feathers.
Get some bright colored flowers for the table and scatter beads
and confetti all over - a very inexpensive and colorful way to
decorate.
SOUNDS AND AROMAS:
For Tropical, play your favorite island music. Burn candles
fragrant with coconut.
For Mardi Gras, find some great jazz from New Orleans.
DRINKS:
Make your favorite boat drink for a tropical theme, or try your
hand at a Sazarac for Mardi Gras. Many people think that New
Orleans is the home of the cocktail, and that this may have been
the first cocktail invented.
So these are just some ideas. Pick something that makes you
happy and go from there. Be creative and have fun...
BRIGHTEN UP THE HOUSE
Start bringing spring flowers indoors. This is the time for
primroses and forcing bulbs. If you want to lift your spirits
and soothe your soul, stop into your local greenhouse or florist
for lots of ideas and an instantaneous pick-me-up. The bright
colors and fragrant scents of spring blossoms will do wonders.
Get a few pots of primroses to scatter all over your kitchen or
hallway or living room. Try to place them in areas that you pass
by a lot when you are at home. Mix colors and inter-space these
with pots of variegated ivy. This is also the time that fresh
cut tulips are in - buy bunches - they are very reasonably
priced.
Valentine's Day and 'Ask the Cook'
Red, Red, Red - What a great color for February. From red
candles to red tulips, use this color lavishly throughout the
house. Wear red. Also, remember it is the time to think of
others, and to be a bit romantic in the midst of our crazy
lives. These are a few questions, and my answers, which were
recently asked of me for an article on Valentine's Day:
Q:-What is your idea of a romantic repast -- particularly at
home?
A : My ideal romantic meal would be a surprise and entirely
arranged by my husband. The table would be set with linens,
candles and flowers, with my favorite music playing. As for the
food, it wouldn't matter if he made dinner or if he went to a
local, really good restaurant and got take-out. The surprise
factor and the time that he would take to organize and present
this dinner would be very romantic for me.
Q: At home -Do you set the mood? (candles, flowers, etc...)
Yes, I must say especially when entertaining or when there is a
special occasion, I always set the mood. I usually pick a color
theme first, and then select the china and glassware or crystal.
Cloth tablecloths and napkins, flowers and candles are always a
part of these meals. Soft lighting is also really important for
setting the mood. I may use a dozen votive lights in glass
containers, and put the overhead lights on low. Also, being
organized ahead of time and cooking most of the meal ahead
really helps to set the mood. I want to be sure I am not
frazzled at the last minute - nothing can ruin a mood than
rushing around trying to cook everything at the same time. And
no kids, no pets, and no telephone calls.
Q: What make food sexy? (I wasn't quite sure how to answer this
one at first.)
A: Texture definitely makes food sexy - the creaminess of a
crème Brule or the experience of a ripe, juicy pear or peach.
The velvety feel of a chocolate truffle all fall into the sexy
food category.
And Taste also goes a long way to make food sexy - Cold salty
fresh oysters with a hint of the sea. Deep, rich, dark
chocolate, which melts away, is also quite nice.
Q: Ideas for plating? Setting the table?
A: Serve the dinner already plated. Tuck a small rose or other
flower on the plate. Details matter! Use the dining room if you
have one, for a change. I would like to use either a gold or
silver trimmed plate, a red or white tablecloth and starched
white napkins with a small silver or glass vase filled with red
roses and red and white carnations or freesias . Keep the
flowers small and low. Stay away from highly scented flowers
such as stargazer lilies. Too intense. Add lots of white votive
lights, soft music, chilled wine or champagne, and your mood is
set to go.
Q: Creating the mood - What are your top 3-5 favorite
romantic/sexy foods? Why?
A: A juicy, ripe fresh pear or peach - the smooth texture and
the sweetness and the juice of these fruits are incomparable for
a mouth-watering experience.
Very cold Champagne- the explosion of the bubbles and coldness
of the Champagne in the mouth has a very dramatic feel to it.
Lobster or lump crabmeat - juicy sautéed lobster or crab dipped
and dripping in melted butter taste quite decadent.
Dark chocolate sauce poured on strawberries - the warm chocolate
sauce and the sweetness of ripe strawberries really gets your
mouth watering - what a combination.
Q: What one should include in a romantic dinner for two for
Valentine's day?
A: Mood wise- taking the time to do something special and
showing that you care is most important. Valentine's Day is a
perfect holiday to give to others by doing something special.
A romantic meal is not just about food- it is about the effort
and meaning that goes into it. Some Tips:
What do you want to serve? Keep it simple - have 3 or 4 items,
and not everything has to be homemade. Cook an easy recipe. Get
a great dessert -go out and buy the most decadent chocolate cake
you can find, or find fresh strawberries dipped in chocolate
from your local candy store.
Make it light - a bloated heavy feeling is not really favorable
to romance. And no garlic, please.
Choose food that your partner likes, not just what you like.
This shows that you have put a lot of thought in to this and
care, which is the point.
Be sure to start several days in advance. If you save everything
for the day of the celebration, you will be frazzled and in not
much of a mood to enjoy this time together.
Linger - savor the food and each other. Remember that this is
about Love, not Technique. Don't cook a complicated menu if you
haven't cooked that way before. You both need to enjoy
yourselves.
As with other activities associated with love, cooking does not
have to be totally perfect. If something does not come out in
time, or if it doesn't look exactly like the picture in the
cookbook, relax. Stay in the mood you set out to create- being
grumpy or upset defeats the purpose. Laugh and have fun...
______________________________________
Speaking of hearts, February is National Women's Heart Health
Month. Everyone needs to know about heart health and about the
signs of heart problems. Visit the American Heart Association
and other related websites for more informaion. Do something
special for yourself and your family and find out about heart
health.
_________________________________________
Enjoy the best of the season- Marybeth
www.girlfriendsinthekitchen.com
About the author:
Marybeth Gregg, owner of 'Girlfriends In the Kitchen' and 'Cook
With Confidence Cooking Schools', has been cooking, entertaining
and giving cooking advice for almost 20 years, is well-known for
her wonderful cuisine, great parties and started her successful
cooking school several years ago. She has been featured in
several newspapers, is currently working on cookbook, and a dvd
series of cooking lessons. You can visit her at
www.girlfriendsinthekitchen.com
