We updated our webiste with a Favorites page! From local vendors to shopping, TSP is a big fan of those listed. Check it out: http://www.thesilverplatterllc.com/Our-Favorites.html
Happy Holidays!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
TSP in the current issue of Morris Health & Life Magazine
http://www.morrishealthandlife.com/Morris-Health-Life/December-2010/Planning-a-kids-039-bash/
Whimsical decor and treats galore can be the makings of a great children's party.
Don’t forget the young ones when you plan the season’s entertaining. Kids deserve to party too, and you may even catch a moment to hobnob with their chaperoning parents. You’ll find that a savvy selection of colors, decorations and tasty treats can help make your bash a smash.
Keep children’s ages and genders in mind—along with any special theme you’ve chosen—as you craft invitations to send to your child’s friends. You might consider asking children to dress up and bring a favorite doll or stuffed animal as a “guest.”
Set the table with a traditional tablecloth or perhaps an inventive alternative. Napkins are also a must to prevent sticky fingers. Choose colorful cloth napkins, which you can tie with yarn or hair ties.
TIP: “Kids love ‘make-you own’ mashed-potato sundae bowls, on which they can sprinkle toppings such as cheese, sour cream, chives and bacon bits.”
~Christine Barnes, The Silver Platter, East Hanover
Party gurus suggest serving simple, easy-to-enjoy items that minimize mess. If pizza, ice-cream sundaes and superhero cakes seem trite, try tea sandwiches stuffed with peanut-butter-and-jelly or egg salad—or cookies, cupcakes or other finger foods. You can even use a cookie cutter to cut sandwiches and cookies into stars, hearts and other shapes. And top sweets with colorful frostings and toppings, such as M&Ms, jelly beans and sprinkles. Display desserts on cake stands and consider filling any gaps between the dishes with dolls, figurines, sports trophies or other eye-catchers. You can serve beverages in dainty teacups (or mugs if it’s an all-male group), whether the children prefer traditional tea, juice, punch, milk or hot chocolate.
After the kids are suitably stuffed, a fun-filled game session is in order. Feel free to organize old-fashioned favorites such as the breaking of a holiday piñata, or dream up an innovative game of your own. At the party’s end, be sure to give each child something to take home, perhaps a holiday “goodie bag” or a chocolate lollipop embellished with a colorful ribbon.
TIP: "Try mini-desserts such as petit fours or little cupcakes. And for a girls' party, sprinkle them with edible pearls"
~Laura Bianco, My Bellisima, Morristown
This article appears in the December 2010 issue of Morris Health & Life
Whimsical decor and treats galore can be the makings of a great children's party.
Don’t forget the young ones when you plan the season’s entertaining. Kids deserve to party too, and you may even catch a moment to hobnob with their chaperoning parents. You’ll find that a savvy selection of colors, decorations and tasty treats can help make your bash a smash.
Keep children’s ages and genders in mind—along with any special theme you’ve chosen—as you craft invitations to send to your child’s friends. You might consider asking children to dress up and bring a favorite doll or stuffed animal as a “guest.”
Set the table with a traditional tablecloth or perhaps an inventive alternative. Napkins are also a must to prevent sticky fingers. Choose colorful cloth napkins, which you can tie with yarn or hair ties.
TIP: “Kids love ‘make-you own’ mashed-potato sundae bowls, on which they can sprinkle toppings such as cheese, sour cream, chives and bacon bits.”
~Christine Barnes, The Silver Platter, East Hanover
Party gurus suggest serving simple, easy-to-enjoy items that minimize mess. If pizza, ice-cream sundaes and superhero cakes seem trite, try tea sandwiches stuffed with peanut-butter-and-jelly or egg salad—or cookies, cupcakes or other finger foods. You can even use a cookie cutter to cut sandwiches and cookies into stars, hearts and other shapes. And top sweets with colorful frostings and toppings, such as M&Ms, jelly beans and sprinkles. Display desserts on cake stands and consider filling any gaps between the dishes with dolls, figurines, sports trophies or other eye-catchers. You can serve beverages in dainty teacups (or mugs if it’s an all-male group), whether the children prefer traditional tea, juice, punch, milk or hot chocolate.
After the kids are suitably stuffed, a fun-filled game session is in order. Feel free to organize old-fashioned favorites such as the breaking of a holiday piñata, or dream up an innovative game of your own. At the party’s end, be sure to give each child something to take home, perhaps a holiday “goodie bag” or a chocolate lollipop embellished with a colorful ribbon.
TIP: "Try mini-desserts such as petit fours or little cupcakes. And for a girls' party, sprinkle them with edible pearls"
~Laura Bianco, My Bellisima, Morristown
This article appears in the December 2010 issue of Morris Health & Life
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
TSP at First Comes Love Boutique Holiday Shopping Event
The Silver Platter had the privilege of attending First Comes Love Boutique's holiday shopping event this past weekend. They have unique gifts for brides, babies and much more. We would like to give a special thanks to Amanda for coordinating a wonderful event! http://www.firstcomesloveboutique.com/
At the event we also had the privilege to meet some other local vendors.
If you're looking for a talented makeup artist, Tricia from Ten Hair and Make Up is it. Give her a call to help make you extra beautiful on your special day! http://www.tenhairandmakeup.com/
The Pampered Spirit specializes in traveling spa parties. Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or just need a girls' night, The Pampered Spirit brings the spa to the privacy of your own home. http://thepamperedspiritnj.com/
Avant Bride NYC has a unique collection of combs, veils, pins and headbands to complete your look. Ellen's designs are one of a kind and will truly make you stand out on your special day! www.avantbridenyc.com
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Save the Dates - Destination Wedding
Check out our latest Save the Dates! They were custom made by Lori of Paper and Thread Studio http://www.paperandthreadstudio.com/ for our special bride and groom. They wanted something unique to go along with their destination wedding and these save the date custom luggage tags are great! Need some special custom designs or ideas for your upcoming wedding or event? Contact us today!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Fun stuff
Summer’s over…
Does that mean we should stop having parties? No way! The summer heat might be on its way out the door, but there is always a good reason to throw a party. Whether it’s for a special birthday or occasion or just a fun night out with friends, there’s always a reason to celebrate.
I love any reason to throw a party and was recently able to throw a mini party for my friend. As we know everyone’s schedules are hectic and it is so difficult to get a group of people together. So when we have a conflict and are missing a special occasion, why not throw a mini celebration to make up for it?! Check out this site I found and recently used for a mini bachelorette bash: www.bridalpartytees.com You can personalize everything from types of clothes, color, font, graphics etc and the pricing is reasonable. Use them for wedding related events, birthday events or just a fun night with your friends. They have clothes for men, women, kids and toddlers, so you can be as creative as you want. It can be a great personalized gift, or fun accessory to your night out!
Does that mean we should stop having parties? No way! The summer heat might be on its way out the door, but there is always a good reason to throw a party. Whether it’s for a special birthday or occasion or just a fun night out with friends, there’s always a reason to celebrate.
I love any reason to throw a party and was recently able to throw a mini party for my friend. As we know everyone’s schedules are hectic and it is so difficult to get a group of people together. So when we have a conflict and are missing a special occasion, why not throw a mini celebration to make up for it?! Check out this site I found and recently used for a mini bachelorette bash: www.bridalpartytees.com You can personalize everything from types of clothes, color, font, graphics etc and the pricing is reasonable. Use them for wedding related events, birthday events or just a fun night with your friends. They have clothes for men, women, kids and toddlers, so you can be as creative as you want. It can be a great personalized gift, or fun accessory to your night out!
Friday, July 9, 2010
Event Planning Services
Hi Everyone!
Hope you are enjoying the summer. We still have some openings in August, so if you’re looking to throw a party and need a server, give us a call. Nothing like finishing out the summer months by throwing a party that you can enjoy with guests while we take care of the rest!
Be sure to check out our website next week. We will be updating it with some detailed information about our Event Planning Services. We can provide specialized packages for you from full service, to partial, to the day of. Already have your major vendors booked, but having trouble with some of the design ideas or personalized details? We can help with as little or as much as you may need. From choosing major vendors to picking out invitations and color schemes, no job is too big or small. If you have everything in place, but don’t feel like stressing the day of your event, our day of service is perfect for you! We work with you to personalize your package to suit your needs and budget.
Stay tuned for details!
Hope you are enjoying the summer. We still have some openings in August, so if you’re looking to throw a party and need a server, give us a call. Nothing like finishing out the summer months by throwing a party that you can enjoy with guests while we take care of the rest!
Be sure to check out our website next week. We will be updating it with some detailed information about our Event Planning Services. We can provide specialized packages for you from full service, to partial, to the day of. Already have your major vendors booked, but having trouble with some of the design ideas or personalized details? We can help with as little or as much as you may need. From choosing major vendors to picking out invitations and color schemes, no job is too big or small. If you have everything in place, but don’t feel like stressing the day of your event, our day of service is perfect for you! We work with you to personalize your package to suit your needs and budget.
Stay tuned for details!
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Baby Showers
One of the most fashionable accessories you can ever have is the baby bump! What a joyous time in your life. For first time moms it can be an extremely overwhelming time. You walk into a baby store to try to pick out a few items that are considered a “necessity” and then realize you are facing a wall of just bottles to choose from. So what better way to get yourself prepared then to have a baby shower! Now of course you cannot be involved in this, so you might want to pass this information on to your closest ladies.
Baby showers can be thrown by grandmas-to-be, siblings or close family/friends. No matter who throws the party, it’s nice for everyone to chip in. Baby showers shouldn’t be too fancy. After all they are usually thrown towards the end of the mommy’s pregnancy, and at that point most mommies aren’t very comfortable. Keep it simple by doing a luncheon at a local restaurant, or having it at a family member or friend’s home. Organize a group of ladies that are going to help run the party and assign projects to each. Some things to consider are:
· Location
· Food/Desserts
· Theme/Decorations
· Invitations
· Wishing well
To help create your “team” of helpers, consider those closest to the soon-to-be mommy like her mother, aunts, cousins and/or friends. I would suggest having no more than 6 - 8 ladies in the mix. Sometimes too many “cooks in the kitchen” can make the process more confusing.
First, agree upon your location. If the shower is going to be out at a local restaurant, etc. then establish who will be responsible for doing the research on the location and cost. If the shower is going to be in a home, be sure the home you choose has enough space to entertain the estimated number on your guest list comfortably.
If you choose to have it at a friend or family member’s home, now agree upon a menu. Please keep in mind the mommy-to-be here…sure you may love gourmet tea sandwiches, but the last thing you want is the mommy-to-be to look at the display and run for the hills (aka the bathroom). Make sure the menu contains items that she’s comfortable eating, and there are no smells that could make her sick. Split the food between 2 or 3 people and have each personal responsible for specific dishes. For desserts you can keep it traditional and have a nice cake or make a cupcake tower. The cupcakes can match the theme of the shower. Another fun dessert/favor that you can have is individually wrapped, homemade cookies. You can make them in the shape of baby foot prints, baby carriages, etc. These are another tasty treat to add to the party or for your guests to take home.
Now pick the theme. Everyone should be involved in this part of the planning to obtain the best idea. Remember to keep the mommy-to-be in mind here. If you notice her registry building up with multiple Disney items or see a trend of rubber ducks and frogs popping up, you might want to play off that. If the mommy-to-be knows the sex of the baby, then you can always keep it simple and stick to boy/girl color schemes.
Now get the invitations in order. Decide if you will have them printed, or handwrite them yourselves. Assign another 2 people to this task and ensure that the invites go out at least a month in advance. Be sure to include your whole team on this one so that the guest list is complete and there are no mishaps.
Some people also like to have Wishing Wells at the shower. There are various different ways to do this. Remember it’s a little something extra, so keep it simple. Some ideas for wishing wells are:
· Children’s books
· Toys
· Traditional (bibs, bottles, pacifiers, etc)
· Diaper raffle (have guests bring a package of diapers in exchange for a raffle ticket; then
during the shower draw a few of the raffle tickets and hand out small prizes).
So now that you’re shower to-do list is set, it’s time to start assigning tasks and get moving. Finding yourself short on ladies to help? Well, TSP is here to help! We can assist with all of the above details and help you serve the day of so you can enjoy spending the day with the mommy-to-be!
Feel free to share your Baby Shower ideas and comment below, we’d love to hear them!
Baby showers can be thrown by grandmas-to-be, siblings or close family/friends. No matter who throws the party, it’s nice for everyone to chip in. Baby showers shouldn’t be too fancy. After all they are usually thrown towards the end of the mommy’s pregnancy, and at that point most mommies aren’t very comfortable. Keep it simple by doing a luncheon at a local restaurant, or having it at a family member or friend’s home. Organize a group of ladies that are going to help run the party and assign projects to each. Some things to consider are:
· Location
· Food/Desserts
· Theme/Decorations
· Invitations
· Wishing well
To help create your “team” of helpers, consider those closest to the soon-to-be mommy like her mother, aunts, cousins and/or friends. I would suggest having no more than 6 - 8 ladies in the mix. Sometimes too many “cooks in the kitchen” can make the process more confusing.
First, agree upon your location. If the shower is going to be out at a local restaurant, etc. then establish who will be responsible for doing the research on the location and cost. If the shower is going to be in a home, be sure the home you choose has enough space to entertain the estimated number on your guest list comfortably.
If you choose to have it at a friend or family member’s home, now agree upon a menu. Please keep in mind the mommy-to-be here…sure you may love gourmet tea sandwiches, but the last thing you want is the mommy-to-be to look at the display and run for the hills (aka the bathroom). Make sure the menu contains items that she’s comfortable eating, and there are no smells that could make her sick. Split the food between 2 or 3 people and have each personal responsible for specific dishes. For desserts you can keep it traditional and have a nice cake or make a cupcake tower. The cupcakes can match the theme of the shower. Another fun dessert/favor that you can have is individually wrapped, homemade cookies. You can make them in the shape of baby foot prints, baby carriages, etc. These are another tasty treat to add to the party or for your guests to take home.
Now pick the theme. Everyone should be involved in this part of the planning to obtain the best idea. Remember to keep the mommy-to-be in mind here. If you notice her registry building up with multiple Disney items or see a trend of rubber ducks and frogs popping up, you might want to play off that. If the mommy-to-be knows the sex of the baby, then you can always keep it simple and stick to boy/girl color schemes.
Now get the invitations in order. Decide if you will have them printed, or handwrite them yourselves. Assign another 2 people to this task and ensure that the invites go out at least a month in advance. Be sure to include your whole team on this one so that the guest list is complete and there are no mishaps.
Some people also like to have Wishing Wells at the shower. There are various different ways to do this. Remember it’s a little something extra, so keep it simple. Some ideas for wishing wells are:
· Children’s books
· Toys
· Traditional (bibs, bottles, pacifiers, etc)
· Diaper raffle (have guests bring a package of diapers in exchange for a raffle ticket; then
during the shower draw a few of the raffle tickets and hand out small prizes).
So now that you’re shower to-do list is set, it’s time to start assigning tasks and get moving. Finding yourself short on ladies to help? Well, TSP is here to help! We can assist with all of the above details and help you serve the day of so you can enjoy spending the day with the mommy-to-be!
Feel free to share your Baby Shower ideas and comment below, we’d love to hear them!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Graduation Parties
As finals week for college students comes to an end and high school seniors are counting down the last month until graduation, all they are thinking right now is…Let’s party!
Clearly you know the graduates aren’t really interested in how this party is planned. They just want one to have their friends and family around, oh and of course to get presents! It is usually the parents that get stuck with the choices that need to be made. Below are some ideas on how to make a graduation party simple, yet fun.
Location
Most graduation parties are casual and held in the backyard. If you don’t have the room, and your graduate is open to having a joint party, see if one of their friends would be interested in hosting the joint party at their home. If not, then you can always look into renting a hall. It will give you the space you need, and still give you the ability to bring your own food/beverages to keep cost down. If you want something a little fancier, a dinner or brunch at a local restaurant is always nice too.
Themes
The standard theme for high school and college graduation parties is usually school colors. For high school graduations, you can even use the colors and additional flair of the college your graduate will be attending in the Fall. If you want to get creative, you can always incorporate some personality of the graduate into your theme. For instance, if this is a college graduation party, you can base the party’s theme on their major. Graphic design graduates can have their work displayed throughout the party to add a personal touch. Film graduates can have a red carpet party full with movie posters, movie set items and even a showing of the graduate’s work. For general business or marketing majors, you can make “Fun Facts about the Graduate” charts and graphs to put on display. Something inspirational that you can do for any party is creating a “The Graduate will be successful because…” board and have your guests leave a message for them. It’s a great way to boost their confidence as they are now breaking into the “real world.”
Food
So you have your theme set and now you are concerned about food. Most parties consist of lots of family and friends. For the family you want to make sure you have enough “real food” meaning chicken, pasta, hamburgers, hot dogs, etc. For the kids/friends, finger foods are the way to go. It’s so difficult to get a solid headcount for these types of parties because friends tend to pop in and out during the party. My suggestion hit up Costco and stock up on finger foods/appetizers. The kids really don’t care about the chicken marsala and pesto pasta…they want the fried, finger foods…you know, the good stuff. This will also be a great way to keep the food cost from going completely overboard.
Gift ideas
Ok, so you are browsing the “Things Remembered” catalogue and just love the precious, sentimental gifts they have. My advice, chuck the catalogue and get out your check book. Most graduates, whether high school or college, always need one thing…money. If you are not comfortable giving money, then try and find something that they can actually use or enjoy. For example, high school graduates going away to college need pretty much everything to get their dorm room in order. If you are not familiar with their taste/style, a gift certificate to Target or Bed Bath & Beyond is great! One of my favorite things to do is buy a large Rubbermaid storage container and stock it with goodies that they can use in their dorm room.
And remember, TSP is here to serve you. Don’t feel like dealing with the set up/clean up? Give us a call and we’ll be happy to help so you can enjoy the party with your graduate!
Clearly you know the graduates aren’t really interested in how this party is planned. They just want one to have their friends and family around, oh and of course to get presents! It is usually the parents that get stuck with the choices that need to be made. Below are some ideas on how to make a graduation party simple, yet fun.
Location
Most graduation parties are casual and held in the backyard. If you don’t have the room, and your graduate is open to having a joint party, see if one of their friends would be interested in hosting the joint party at their home. If not, then you can always look into renting a hall. It will give you the space you need, and still give you the ability to bring your own food/beverages to keep cost down. If you want something a little fancier, a dinner or brunch at a local restaurant is always nice too.
Themes
The standard theme for high school and college graduation parties is usually school colors. For high school graduations, you can even use the colors and additional flair of the college your graduate will be attending in the Fall. If you want to get creative, you can always incorporate some personality of the graduate into your theme. For instance, if this is a college graduation party, you can base the party’s theme on their major. Graphic design graduates can have their work displayed throughout the party to add a personal touch. Film graduates can have a red carpet party full with movie posters, movie set items and even a showing of the graduate’s work. For general business or marketing majors, you can make “Fun Facts about the Graduate” charts and graphs to put on display. Something inspirational that you can do for any party is creating a “The Graduate will be successful because…” board and have your guests leave a message for them. It’s a great way to boost their confidence as they are now breaking into the “real world.”
Food
So you have your theme set and now you are concerned about food. Most parties consist of lots of family and friends. For the family you want to make sure you have enough “real food” meaning chicken, pasta, hamburgers, hot dogs, etc. For the kids/friends, finger foods are the way to go. It’s so difficult to get a solid headcount for these types of parties because friends tend to pop in and out during the party. My suggestion hit up Costco and stock up on finger foods/appetizers. The kids really don’t care about the chicken marsala and pesto pasta…they want the fried, finger foods…you know, the good stuff. This will also be a great way to keep the food cost from going completely overboard.
Gift ideas
Ok, so you are browsing the “Things Remembered” catalogue and just love the precious, sentimental gifts they have. My advice, chuck the catalogue and get out your check book. Most graduates, whether high school or college, always need one thing…money. If you are not comfortable giving money, then try and find something that they can actually use or enjoy. For example, high school graduates going away to college need pretty much everything to get their dorm room in order. If you are not familiar with their taste/style, a gift certificate to Target or Bed Bath & Beyond is great! One of my favorite things to do is buy a large Rubbermaid storage container and stock it with goodies that they can use in their dorm room.
And remember, TSP is here to serve you. Don’t feel like dealing with the set up/clean up? Give us a call and we’ll be happy to help so you can enjoy the party with your graduate!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Taking the "Big Booty" out of BBQ
May is finally here and that means BBQ season! I don’t know about you, but if I have to eat another plain hamburger, hot dog or piece of BBQ chicken, I think I may be sick. Here are a few recipes and tips to spice up your traditional backyard BBQ and trim down your booty.
Just because you’re having a BBQ doesn’t give you an excuse to stuff your face with fat. Sure I’d love to have a bacon cheeseburger every weekend, but lord knows my booty doesn’t need that! There are plenty of tasty, less fattening options that you can consider. For instance, try my
Stuffed Turkey Burgers:
1 package ground turkey meat
½ package of frozen spinach, thawed and drained well
Fat free crumbled feta cheese
Sun dried tomatoes (not in oil), chopped small
Take ground turkey and place in bowl. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, 1 egg and Italian breadcrumbs. Mix thoroughly. Next separate the meat into 8 thin burgers, turning edges slightly upwards on four. Place chopped spinach, feta cheese and chopped sun dried tomatoes on top. Then take remaining 4 thin burgers, place on top and pinch edges together. NOTE: Use caution because the meat is thin and can easily separate. Grill about 6-8 minutes on each side. Serve with a bed of mixed greens or on a whole wheat bun. SERVES 4
Need a quick and easy appetizer to start your BBQ off, that’s better than the typical chips and dip? Try my homemade Bruschetta.
6 fresh tomatoes or 2 cans diced tomatoes
1 red onion
Fresh basil
Grated parmesan cheese
Toasted breads
Chop tomatoes and onion into small square pieces and set aside in bowl. Add chopped basil, grated parmesan cheese, garlic powder and olive oil to taste. Chill for a few hours. Serve with toasted Italian bread slices. SERVES 6
Now onto everyone’s favorite side dishes...a tub of mayonnaise disguised with a few pieces of macaroni or potato…better known as macaroni and potato salads. There are many different versions of macaroni and potato salad that you can make that can be tasty and much less fattening. Skip the mayo and replace with Dijon or honey mustard for starters. For my side recipe, I’m going to recommend something a little outside the box. This one comes from a friend from TX. I never liked chic peas much, but trust me this salad is cool, refreshing and tasty. A great burst of flavor and protein to enjoy with those burgers.
Susan’s Summer Salad
1 can garbanzo beans (chic peas)
2 cucumbers peeled and chopped small
1 yellow pepper chopped small
1 can black olives
1 red onion
6 garlic cloves
Fat free feta cheese
2 Tomatoes
Drain chic peas and set aside. Peel and chop cucumber, yellow pepper, black olives, red onion and tomato into small squares. Mix all ingredients with chic peas, sprinkle with feta cheese. Add finely chopped garlic cloves, a few teaspoons of lemon juice to taste and a splash of olive oil and mix well. Chill for a few hours and serve.
SERVES 8
Ok, now it’s onto the most important meal…dessert. For your standard healthy option, fresh fruit is always best. For those of you who need your chocolate fix, I recommend “No Pudge Brownies.” You can find these in your local supermarket near the brownie and cake mixes. Their secret…they use just the brownie mix and fat free vanilla yogurt. They come out fudgy and delicious without too much guilt!
So you’re ready to go with some new ideas to add to your traditional BBQ without adding to the number on your scale. My suggestion, the above recipes are easy, but time consuming. Make these items the night before, cover and refrigerate. Don’t want to deal with the set up, serving and clean up that day? Call TSP and we’ll be happy to serve your BBQ!
Have some healthy BBQ options of your own? Comment with the recipe details below, we’d love to hear them!
Just because you’re having a BBQ doesn’t give you an excuse to stuff your face with fat. Sure I’d love to have a bacon cheeseburger every weekend, but lord knows my booty doesn’t need that! There are plenty of tasty, less fattening options that you can consider. For instance, try my
Stuffed Turkey Burgers:
1 package ground turkey meat
½ package of frozen spinach, thawed and drained well
Fat free crumbled feta cheese
Sun dried tomatoes (not in oil), chopped small
Take ground turkey and place in bowl. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, 1 egg and Italian breadcrumbs. Mix thoroughly. Next separate the meat into 8 thin burgers, turning edges slightly upwards on four. Place chopped spinach, feta cheese and chopped sun dried tomatoes on top. Then take remaining 4 thin burgers, place on top and pinch edges together. NOTE: Use caution because the meat is thin and can easily separate. Grill about 6-8 minutes on each side. Serve with a bed of mixed greens or on a whole wheat bun. SERVES 4
Need a quick and easy appetizer to start your BBQ off, that’s better than the typical chips and dip? Try my homemade Bruschetta.
6 fresh tomatoes or 2 cans diced tomatoes
1 red onion
Fresh basil
Grated parmesan cheese
Toasted breads
Chop tomatoes and onion into small square pieces and set aside in bowl. Add chopped basil, grated parmesan cheese, garlic powder and olive oil to taste. Chill for a few hours. Serve with toasted Italian bread slices. SERVES 6
Now onto everyone’s favorite side dishes...a tub of mayonnaise disguised with a few pieces of macaroni or potato…better known as macaroni and potato salads. There are many different versions of macaroni and potato salad that you can make that can be tasty and much less fattening. Skip the mayo and replace with Dijon or honey mustard for starters. For my side recipe, I’m going to recommend something a little outside the box. This one comes from a friend from TX. I never liked chic peas much, but trust me this salad is cool, refreshing and tasty. A great burst of flavor and protein to enjoy with those burgers.
Susan’s Summer Salad
1 can garbanzo beans (chic peas)
2 cucumbers peeled and chopped small
1 yellow pepper chopped small
1 can black olives
1 red onion
6 garlic cloves
Fat free feta cheese
2 Tomatoes
Drain chic peas and set aside. Peel and chop cucumber, yellow pepper, black olives, red onion and tomato into small squares. Mix all ingredients with chic peas, sprinkle with feta cheese. Add finely chopped garlic cloves, a few teaspoons of lemon juice to taste and a splash of olive oil and mix well. Chill for a few hours and serve.
SERVES 8
Ok, now it’s onto the most important meal…dessert. For your standard healthy option, fresh fruit is always best. For those of you who need your chocolate fix, I recommend “No Pudge Brownies.” You can find these in your local supermarket near the brownie and cake mixes. Their secret…they use just the brownie mix and fat free vanilla yogurt. They come out fudgy and delicious without too much guilt!
So you’re ready to go with some new ideas to add to your traditional BBQ without adding to the number on your scale. My suggestion, the above recipes are easy, but time consuming. Make these items the night before, cover and refrigerate. Don’t want to deal with the set up, serving and clean up that day? Call TSP and we’ll be happy to serve your BBQ!
Have some healthy BBQ options of your own? Comment with the recipe details below, we’d love to hear them!
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Got Bling??
You’ve been waiting for this moment for your whole life, and it’s finally here. Now what? Let the Engagement Party planning begin! There are plenty of different types of engagement parties that you can have. You should ask yourself the following questions to help narrow down the choice.
How much should we budget for our party?
One of the most important things is to set a budget…and stick to it! The wedding industry is a multi-billion dollar industry and that means that you are now about to “donate” to this cause. This will be one of the first events that you or your parents will be spending money on, so my advice, don’t go overboard…there are going to be some hefty checks that you will need to write shortly down the road. You might be saying to yourself, I’ve never planned an event like this so how am I supposed to put a price tag on it? Well once you continue reading on, you will get a better idea of some of the expenses that an engagement party entails. In each scenario below, I’ve provided you with ideas on how to create your dream party with a large budget or small budget. There are plenty of ways to make your party elegant without breaking the bank.
How many people do we plan to have? Will it be just family or friends too?
Some people like to keep their engagement parties small and intimate, while others want to share their engagement with the world! Both are fine, just be aware that the larger the party, the more you will have to take into consideration. Also, when making your guest list it is important to discuss with your parents and future in-laws. You don’t want to forget to invite Aunt Sue!
What time of the year will the party be?
Now that you have your list, let’s pick a date. The customary time frame is about 3 – 6 months after you become engaged. However with today’s busy schedules, it is really at your convenience. Once you pick the time of year, you will be better able to narrow down your venue choices.
What type of venue should we choose?
Let’s eat! Ok, so you’ve got your list and your date, now it’s time to search for venues.
If you have chosen to stick with a smaller, intimate party you might want to look into the following.
· Local restaurant for lunch, dinner or brunch. A lot of restaurants will close for a party and you can have the entire place to yourselves or have a separate private room. Keep in mind that lunch will more than likely be the cheapest of the three choices. Brunches are delicious, but add on extra items which will incur additional costs. Also, a place with a liquor license will run up the bill, so consider finding a BYOB restaurant. You can then go to a discount liquor store and purchase the liquor yourself. Don’t go crazy with options; beer, wine and champagne are sufficient. After all this is your engagement party where it should be a social event, not a frat party!
If you have chosen a larger guest list then keep these things in mind.
· If the season is warm, and you have the room, a backyard party is great! Just remember, you have a lot to consider. If you want a full on tented event, the check list can get quite large. Most towns also require tent permits, so be sure you check into that. With a party at your home you have to consider catering, servers, liquor, décor, plates/silverware/napkins/glasses, dessert/cakes, entertainment and seating. Now if you want the party to be more casual, and budget friendly, skip the tent, fancy serving items and entertainment. There is nothing wrong with sharing good food and drinks with your closest family and friends!
· For a more formal event, and if you don’t have the room at your home, then off to the catering halls we go! Again lunches and brunches are easier and less expensive to plan here. A lot of venues keep evening dinner events open for weddings and may not book a smaller event until 6 months prior to the date. Just something to keep in mind. You can also check into local hotels in your area, but if you’re looking for a better quality of food, this might not be the best option. Remember, these are all places that will have liquor licenses so you will need to include that into your pricing.
Invites? Décor? Favors?
I have my date and venue chosen; now it’s time to invite my guests! Here is where you get to bring your creativity into the mix. The theme of the invites can correlate to the type of venue you choose, but more importantly your personality as a couple. For a formal, slightly pricier option, you can check your local invitation vendors in the area to create something unique to you or order from one of the invitation books they have. The books will help you obtain ideas and/or order the exact invitation that you see.
For a less expensive, more casual approach, there is always online websites such as http://www.impressinprint.com/ that have a wide variety of invites for a more reasonable price. Save some more cash here by ordering them blank and printing them on your own. Don’t have a printer? No worries, TSP (The Silver Platter) offers invitation printing packages. We will be happy to print the text of your invite and also the addresses. Don’t forget that you should send them out no later than 6 weeks prior to your event. You want to give your guests notice and also most places require a headcount 10 days to 2 weeks prior to your event.
Time to decorate! With an engagement party there is no reason to go crazy no matter what type of venue you choose. Something from simple flower arrangements to romantic candles as centerpieces or throughout the room will provide a nice touch to spice up the room with your personality. Not crazy about either? Add a touch of color with your linens.
Your guests are not expecting a favor at this party, but if you want to thank them, there are a number of things that you can give away as favors. My suggestion, stick to something edible. I’m sure many of us can open up a drawer that has 10 heart shaped measuring spoons and multiple wine stoppers that we’ve never used, so why give your guests more stuff they don’t need? A small box wrapped up in a nice ribbon with chocolates or candy of your choice is simple yet elegant. For a more extravagant edible option, you can create your own candy buffet.
Check out our Gallery to see a Candy Buffet display: http://www.thesilverplatterllc.com/Gallery.html. You can get the different shaped glasses at your local crafts store and check into candy pricing at either a local candy store (Black River Candy Shoppe in Chester, NJ provided candy shown in our Gallery), or a wholesale store like Costco. It’s quite the attention getter and your guests no matter how young or old, will be sure to stock up on some goodies!
Who should fund this fabulous event?
Well now that you are full of great ideas, and a better idea of where our budget should be, who is footing the bill? It is customary for the bride’s parents to throw the party, however these days, it’s nice for the couple to chip in too. Sit down and talk with your parents and see what they may be willing to help you with. As you are checking out your venue, décor and invitation options, you will get a better idea of what will be realistic in relation to your budget.
Now that you have a step by step check list to help plan your party, how do you feel? Still overwhelmed? Give us a call, enjoy your party and let us do the work. TSP provides full service event planning from start to finish and our pricing is affordable. We will get to know you as a couple, and create ideas that will suit your personality and budget. This is supposed to be an enjoyable time for you and your fiancé. So sit back, enjoy your bling and let us take care of the details!
How much should we budget for our party?
One of the most important things is to set a budget…and stick to it! The wedding industry is a multi-billion dollar industry and that means that you are now about to “donate” to this cause. This will be one of the first events that you or your parents will be spending money on, so my advice, don’t go overboard…there are going to be some hefty checks that you will need to write shortly down the road. You might be saying to yourself, I’ve never planned an event like this so how am I supposed to put a price tag on it? Well once you continue reading on, you will get a better idea of some of the expenses that an engagement party entails. In each scenario below, I’ve provided you with ideas on how to create your dream party with a large budget or small budget. There are plenty of ways to make your party elegant without breaking the bank.
How many people do we plan to have? Will it be just family or friends too?
Some people like to keep their engagement parties small and intimate, while others want to share their engagement with the world! Both are fine, just be aware that the larger the party, the more you will have to take into consideration. Also, when making your guest list it is important to discuss with your parents and future in-laws. You don’t want to forget to invite Aunt Sue!
What time of the year will the party be?
Now that you have your list, let’s pick a date. The customary time frame is about 3 – 6 months after you become engaged. However with today’s busy schedules, it is really at your convenience. Once you pick the time of year, you will be better able to narrow down your venue choices.
What type of venue should we choose?
Let’s eat! Ok, so you’ve got your list and your date, now it’s time to search for venues.
If you have chosen to stick with a smaller, intimate party you might want to look into the following.
· Local restaurant for lunch, dinner or brunch. A lot of restaurants will close for a party and you can have the entire place to yourselves or have a separate private room. Keep in mind that lunch will more than likely be the cheapest of the three choices. Brunches are delicious, but add on extra items which will incur additional costs. Also, a place with a liquor license will run up the bill, so consider finding a BYOB restaurant. You can then go to a discount liquor store and purchase the liquor yourself. Don’t go crazy with options; beer, wine and champagne are sufficient. After all this is your engagement party where it should be a social event, not a frat party!
If you have chosen a larger guest list then keep these things in mind.
· If the season is warm, and you have the room, a backyard party is great! Just remember, you have a lot to consider. If you want a full on tented event, the check list can get quite large. Most towns also require tent permits, so be sure you check into that. With a party at your home you have to consider catering, servers, liquor, décor, plates/silverware/napkins/glasses, dessert/cakes, entertainment and seating. Now if you want the party to be more casual, and budget friendly, skip the tent, fancy serving items and entertainment. There is nothing wrong with sharing good food and drinks with your closest family and friends!
· For a more formal event, and if you don’t have the room at your home, then off to the catering halls we go! Again lunches and brunches are easier and less expensive to plan here. A lot of venues keep evening dinner events open for weddings and may not book a smaller event until 6 months prior to the date. Just something to keep in mind. You can also check into local hotels in your area, but if you’re looking for a better quality of food, this might not be the best option. Remember, these are all places that will have liquor licenses so you will need to include that into your pricing.
Invites? Décor? Favors?
I have my date and venue chosen; now it’s time to invite my guests! Here is where you get to bring your creativity into the mix. The theme of the invites can correlate to the type of venue you choose, but more importantly your personality as a couple. For a formal, slightly pricier option, you can check your local invitation vendors in the area to create something unique to you or order from one of the invitation books they have. The books will help you obtain ideas and/or order the exact invitation that you see.
For a less expensive, more casual approach, there is always online websites such as http://www.impressinprint.com/ that have a wide variety of invites for a more reasonable price. Save some more cash here by ordering them blank and printing them on your own. Don’t have a printer? No worries, TSP (The Silver Platter) offers invitation printing packages. We will be happy to print the text of your invite and also the addresses. Don’t forget that you should send them out no later than 6 weeks prior to your event. You want to give your guests notice and also most places require a headcount 10 days to 2 weeks prior to your event.
Time to decorate! With an engagement party there is no reason to go crazy no matter what type of venue you choose. Something from simple flower arrangements to romantic candles as centerpieces or throughout the room will provide a nice touch to spice up the room with your personality. Not crazy about either? Add a touch of color with your linens.
Your guests are not expecting a favor at this party, but if you want to thank them, there are a number of things that you can give away as favors. My suggestion, stick to something edible. I’m sure many of us can open up a drawer that has 10 heart shaped measuring spoons and multiple wine stoppers that we’ve never used, so why give your guests more stuff they don’t need? A small box wrapped up in a nice ribbon with chocolates or candy of your choice is simple yet elegant. For a more extravagant edible option, you can create your own candy buffet.
Check out our Gallery to see a Candy Buffet display: http://www.thesilverplatterllc.com/Gallery.html. You can get the different shaped glasses at your local crafts store and check into candy pricing at either a local candy store (Black River Candy Shoppe in Chester, NJ provided candy shown in our Gallery), or a wholesale store like Costco. It’s quite the attention getter and your guests no matter how young or old, will be sure to stock up on some goodies!
Who should fund this fabulous event?
Well now that you are full of great ideas, and a better idea of where our budget should be, who is footing the bill? It is customary for the bride’s parents to throw the party, however these days, it’s nice for the couple to chip in too. Sit down and talk with your parents and see what they may be willing to help you with. As you are checking out your venue, décor and invitation options, you will get a better idea of what will be realistic in relation to your budget.
Now that you have a step by step check list to help plan your party, how do you feel? Still overwhelmed? Give us a call, enjoy your party and let us do the work. TSP provides full service event planning from start to finish and our pricing is affordable. We will get to know you as a couple, and create ideas that will suit your personality and budget. This is supposed to be an enjoyable time for you and your fiancé. So sit back, enjoy your bling and let us take care of the details!
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