DINNER PARTY THEMES

Dinner parties are a fantastic way to gather family and friends for a fun evening filled with yummy food and great conversation. A dinner party theme can really help pull the night together and will ultimately make planning much easier. For example, a good dinner party theme will help you clearly identify items for the menu as well as wine pairings, music selection, and even decorations.

Here are some popular dinner party theme ideas based on a few different concepts:

• Country or Regional Theme: Some of the easiest dinner party themes to choose are those that are based on a certain country or region of the world. Italian food, French food, and Mexican food are three of the most popular types of dinner parties to plan. This is because many people are already familiar with this food and style of cooking. Other countries known for their distinct cuisine that would provide a nice dinner party theme include Morocco, Spain, Brazil, and Japan.

• Color Themes: Many dinner party themes for adults don't necessarily relate to the type of food served at the dinner party. Rather, they focus on the aesthetics of the decorations, table settings, and overall presentation of the party. Color themes are perfect for dinner parties because they are playful and fun to execute. Yellow and green (also known as "Lemons and Limes") is one example, but you can get creative with other color combinations. Black and white parties are increasingly popular, in which guests often are asked to wear black and/or white. Some other color combos include pink and green, purple and silver, and red and gold (especially at the holidays). 

• Specialty Themes: There are so many unique ideas for dinner party themes. If you want to host a dinner party but want to focus the party on something besides the food or decorations, consider one of these great dinner party theme ideas. Murder mystery dinner parties include a Clue-like game played by guests during dinner. A fondue party is always sure to please guests. In addition to cheese fondue, get a chocolate fondue fountain for dessert. Another idea is to host an Iron Chef dinner party in which guests compete in a cook-off.

Other wonderful dinner party theme ideas are to create a theme around your favorite tv show or movie, host a red carpet themed party, or make it a musical karaoke party!

!! Decorating Desserts Special !!

How to make a CHOCOLATE BOWL using a BALLOON?

                                                 

How to make a CHOCOLATE BOWL using ICE?

!!Occasion SPECIAL!!

French Bread Baking Tips

French bread is probably the most popular crusty bread. Its characteristics are a fairly dense,

chewy center surrounded by a golden brown crispy crust. French bread dough may be shaped in a loaf,

thin stick, or a roll. The flavor is usually rather bland and is best when eaten very fresh and hot. 

French bread serves as an excellent compliment choice for soups, salads, red meat and of course,

all sorts of pasta dishes

Preparation:

Wash the tops of French bread with a mixture of one tablespoon salt and one cup water. 

Wash the first time before the bread rises. Bake French bread at 425 degrees for 15 minutes.

Wash with the salt water mixture again and turn the oven down to 375 degrees. 

Let bake for 10 minutes and wash with the salt water mixture again. 

Continue to bake until done. This will give your French bread a very crispy and flavorful crust. 

Let raw, frozen French bread dough thaw before brushing with the salt water mixture. 

Slice French bread loaves, sticks or rolls and spread on a mixture of butter/garlic salt.

Cover with a dry paper towel and use your microwave for a soft bread. 

Grill in your oven's broiler, cut side up, for a crispy bread.

French bread that is dry or stale can still be used as delicious croutons. 

Slice the loaf thin, spread with butter, butter/garlic salt, or butter/Parmesan cheese,

then toast in your oven's broiler until very crisp.

Baked Buttermilk Doughnuts

Offering amazing versions of classic Thanksgiving, Valentine, Christmas, Halloween recipes.

Category:

American, Snacks

Preparation

Ingredients Nonstick cooking spray Nonstick cooking spray --> 1 cup whole-wheat flour 1 cup whole-wheat flour --> 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 cup all-purpose flour --> 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup sugar --> 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder --> 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg --> 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon salt --> 3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk (1%) 3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk (1%) --> 2 large eggs 2 large eggs --> 1/4 cup honey 1/4 cup honey --> 2 tablespoons melted butter 2 tablespoons melted butter --> 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

How Tos & Summary

Cooking Steps

1. Preheat oven to 425°. Lightly coat a doughnut pan with cooking spray.

2. Combine flours and next 4 ingredients (through salt) in a large bowl, 

stirring well with a whisk.

3. Combine buttermilk, eggs, honey, butter, and vanilla, stirring well with a whisk. 

Add buttermilk mixture to flour mixture; whisk just until combined.

4. Spoon batter into doughnut pans, filling two thirds full. Bake in middle of oven
 until doughnuts spring back when touched and are golden on bottom
(about 8 minutes).

5. Let cool in pan slightly (about 4 minutes); turn out. Coat with toppings.

SPECIAL ICE CREAM RECIPES

Peanut butter ice cream pie with a Rice Krispies crust

Ingredients :

·         2-1/2 cups Rice Krispies

·         1/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons light corn syrup, divided

·         3 tablespoons butter

·         2 tablespoons brown sugar

·         1/4 cup hot fudge ice cream topping

·         1/4 cup Creamy Peanut Butter

·         1 quart (4 cups) vanilla ice cream, softened

Directions :

·    Place Rice Krispies in a large bowl; set aside. In a small saucepan, combine 1/4 cup corn syrup, butter and brown sugar; bring to a boil over low heat, stirring occasionally. Pour over cereal and toss to coat. Immediately press onto the bottom and up the sides of an ungreased 9-in. pie plate.

·     In a small bowl, mix the ice cream topping, peanut butter and remaining corn syrup until smooth. Carefully spread half of the mixture over bottom of crust; freeze until firm, about 20 minutes. Reserve remaining chocolate mixture for topping; cover and refrigerate.

·      Spoon ice cream into crust; spread evenly. Freeze, covered, for 1-1/2 hours or until firm.

·   Remove pie from the freezer 10 minutes before serving. In a microwave-safe dish, microwave reserved chocolate mixture on high for 15-20 seconds or until pourable; drizzle over pie. Yield: 8 servings.

Caramel Macchiato Ice Cream

Ingredients:

• 1 cup milk
• 1 pinch salt
• 2 tablespoons instant coffee granules
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup white sugar
• 3/4 cup caramel dessert sauce

Directions :

• Whisk together milk, instant coffee granules, sugar, and salt in large bowl until sugar is dissolved. Stir in the heavy cream, then cover and refrigerate until chilled, at least 2 hours.

• Pour the chilled mixture into an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer's directions until it reaches "soft-serve" consistency. Transfer half of the ice cream to a one- or two-quart lidded plastic container. Pour half of the caramel sauce over the top, then repeat the layers with the remaining ice cream and caramel. Swirl the caramel into the ice cream using a chopstick or knife. Cover surface with plastic wrap and seal. 

• For best results, ice cream should ripen in the freezer for at least 2 hours or overnight. Original recipe makes 12 servings

SALADS..!!!!

Burnt Corn Salad

Ingredients

1 cup boiled sweet corn kernels

1 white onion , sliced

1 capsicum, sliced
1 tomato, sliced
3 tsp oil
salt to taste

To be mixed into a dressing

1 tbsp lemon juice
2 pinches chilli powder
a pinch of sugar

Method

  1.      Heat 2 teaspoons of oil in a pan until it smokes.

  2.      Add the corn kernels and go on stirring until they are slightly burnt. Remove.

  3.      Add the remaining oil and the onion and capsicum and cook for 1 minute. Remove.

  4.      Mix the corn kernels, onion, capsicum and tomato and salt.

  5.      Pour the dressing on top.

  6.      Serve immediately.

Cabbage and Pineapple Salad

                                                                  

   Ingredients

450 gms cabbage
1 small can (450 grams) pineapple slices
1 head lettuce
4 sticks celery (ajmoda)
1 capsicum
1 cooked beetroot
salt to taste
sugar to taste
pepper to taste

To serve
French Dressing (optional)

Method

1.      Shred the cabbage very finely.

2.      Chop the celery and capsicum.

3.      Chop the pineapple, leaving one slice for decoration and put to chill. Keep aside the syrup.

4.      Keep the cabbage, celery and capsicum in ice-cold water for 30 minutes.

5.      Just before serving, mix the cabbage and pineapple pieces, celery, capsicum, sugar and salt.           Add 2 tablespoons of the pineapple syrup.

6.      Slice the beetroot and add salt and pepper.

7.      Arrange the salad on a bed of lettuce leaves. Decorate with beetroot slices and put a                   pineapple slice in the centre.

8.      Serve chilled. If you like, serve French dressing separately or pour on top just before serving.

Citrus Salad

Ingredients

To Be Mixed Into A Mint Dressing
3/4 cup thick fresh low-fat curds
3 tbsp finely chopped mint leaves (phudina)leaves
3/4 tsp mustard powder
3/4 tsp powdered sugar
salt to taste

Other Ingredients
1/4 cup cooked whole wheat pasta
1/2 cup chopped coloured capsicum
(red , yellow and green)
1/2 cup chopped carrots, blanched
1 spring onions, chopped
1 cup bean sprouts
1/2 cup orange segments
1/2 cup sweet lime (mosambi) segments

Method

1.      Combine all the salad ingredients in a bowl and refrigerate to chill.

2.      Just before serving, add the dressing and toss well. Serve immediately.

Crispy Rice Noodle Salad

Ingredients

For the rice noodles
2 cups rice noodles
oil for deep-frying

For the dressing
1/2 cup grated jaggery (gur)
1 1/2 tsp tamarind (imli) pulp
2 tbsp roasted peanut powder
1 tsp chilli powder
1 tsp black salt (sanchal)

To be mixed into a salad
1/2 cup grated carrot
1/2 dozen shredded cabbage (green and red)
1/2 cup thinly sliced spring onions whites
1/5 cup finely chopped spring onion greens
1/4 cup thinly sliced yellow capsicum
salt to taste

Method

For the rice noodles

1.      Deep-fry the rice noodles in hot oil. Drain on absorbent paper and keep aside.

For the dressing

1.     Combine all the ingredients with ¾ cup of water in a small pan and simmer till the mixture thickens.

2.      Keep aside to cool.

How to proceed

1.      Place the fried noodles on a serving plate, top with the salad and pour the dressing over it.

2.      Serve immediately.

Garlicky Potato and Spinach Salad

Ingredients

For The Garlic Dressing
100 gms finely chopped garlic (lehsun)
1 cup thick curds (dahi)
1/4 cup milk powder
1/4 cup lemon juice
mustard powder to taste
salt and freshly ground black pepper powderto taste

Other Ingredients
3 cups shredded spinach (palak)
4 cups boiled baby potatoes (with the skin)

Method 
For the garlic dressing

1.      Combine all the ingredients together in a bowl and whisk till smooth. Refrigerate to chill.

How to proceed

1.      Put the spinach in a bowl of ice-cold water for half an hour.

2.      Drain, wrap in a muslin cloth and refrigerate till ready to serve.

3.      Refrigerate the potatoes in another bowl till ready to serve.

4.      Just before serving, combine the spinach and potatoes in a salad bowl, pour the dressing and toss well.

5.      Serve immediately.

Paneer Aur Hare Chane Ka Salad

Ingredients

1 cup soaked and boiled hara chana (dried green peas)
3/4 cup tomato cubes
1/2 cup paneer (cottagte cheese) cubes
1/3 cup chopped spring onions (optional)

To be blend into a dressing
4 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp chaat masala
1/2 tsp roasted cumin seeds (jeera) powder
1/2 tsp black salt (sanchal)
salt and black pepper (kalimirch) powder to taste

For the garnish
3 tbsp chopped corriander (dhania)

Method

1.      Place all the salad ingredients in mixing bowl, taking care to handle the paneer carefully so that it is not mashed.

2.      Add the dressing and toss gently in bowl.

3.      Serve garnished with the coriander.

Summer Salad

Ingredients

To Be Mixed Togeather Into Ginger Dressing
1/2 tsp grated ginger (adrak)
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp honey 
1 tbsp fresh low-fat curds (dahi)
1 tbsp skim milk powder
salt to taste

Other Ingredients
1 cup watermelon (tarbuj) cubes
1 cup pineapple cubes
1 cup sliced cucumber
3/4 cup papaya cubes
2 tbsp cooked sweet corn kernels
salt to taste

For The Garnish 2 tbsp grated carrot

Method

1.      Refrigerate the dressing to chill.

2.      Combine the watermelon, pineapple, cucumber, papaya, corn and salt in a bowl and toss well. Refrigerate to chill.

3.      Just before serving, pour the chilled ginger dressing over the salad and toss gently. Serve immediately.