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		Posh Tips | December 2010

Holiday Greetings from Posh Party Box!

It’s that time of year again.  The holidays are here!  The winter season is my favorite – what better time of year to throw an amazing party!  It’s also special because it’s a time to reflect upon the year, and our blessings. 

Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Year’s Eve…  What is your favorite reason celebration?  If you are a party lover like me, you will probably pick more than one opportunity to host a party, whether for family, work associates or friends.  I usually attend Thanksgiving dinner at my parents’ house, host a family Christmas dinner at my house and, for New Year’s Eve, treat my friends to a black tie affair that has gained quite a reputation over the years (more on that later!).

Regardless of your favorite celebration – which I hope to help you plan – it’s important to count your blessings over the coming months.  The holidays can be stressful but if you stop and take a moment each day to be thankful, they will be immensely more enjoyable.

Me?  I am thankful that WomenEntrepreneur.com just featured an article about Posh Party Box on their web site.  I also thank my lucky stars each day to be surrounded by loving family and graced with good health.  And what list would be complete without mentioning you, my Posh Party Box members?  Thank you so much for your continued loyalty and patronage.

Cheers!

Recipe - Candy Cane Fudge

Ingredients

• 2 (10 ounce) packages vanilla baking chips
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1 1/2 cups crushed candy canes
• 1 dash red or green food coloring

Directions

1.     Line an 8 inch square baking pan with aluminum foil, and grease the foil.

2.     Combine the vanilla chips and sweetened condensed milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently until almost melted, remove from heat and continue to stir until smooth. When chips are completely melted, stir in the peppermint extract, food coloring, and candy canes.

3.     Spread evenly in the bottom of the prepared pan. Chill for 2 hours, then cut into squares.

Featured Party: Sugar and Spice Holiday Cookie Decorating Party!

This is an easy and fast way to impress your guests with an original holiday party. Kids and adults alike will love making their very own cookies, especially when it means they get a chef's hat!  Your home will be filled with the aroma of fresh baked cookies!

Once the dough is made, guests can take turns using festive Christmas cookie-cutters and tasting one another's creations. Send your guests home happy, with their very own cooking untensils, recipes and cooking outfits!

Your 12-piece Cooking Baking Party Box includes ($205 for five guests; $35 per extra guest):

 

• 5 gingerbread man invitations
  
• 5 chef's aprons
• 5 chef's hats
• 5 cookie spatulas
• 5 wooden spoons
• 5 rubber spatulas
• 5 rolling pins
• 5 stainless steel cooking whiskers
• 5 measuring spoons
• 1 cookie pan
• 5 Yummy Things to Cook and Eat recipe card sets
• 1 set of Christmas cookie cutters and sprinkles

Holiday Decorating Trends

A good party is made greater by ambiance.  With the holidays, your job is made even easier as many of us have our houses decorated to the hilt by December 25!  However, when you decorate, it’s important to keep the current trends in mind.

This year, think traditional.  During these tumultuous times, people are soothed by the familiar.  As you buy your new holidays decorations, you’ll find there is an emphasis on traditional and classical décor combined with modern elegance.

The focal point of Christmas decorations, the Christmas tree should be graced with voluminous balls and imaginatively designed animals, angels and fairytale figures. Lametta and tinsel are out, instead artificial snow on pine branches will be extremely popular.

In terms of color, almost anything goes. Like last year, various shades of purple are still on trend this holiday season but red, silver, grey, white, vibrant green, orange, lemon and gold are also extremely popular.  

For creating a warmth and magic, use lots of candles and LED lights.  Strategically place pillar candles on reflective plates, tea lights and sparkly LED Christmas lights.

Recipe - Holiday Breakfast Casserole

• 12 slices bacon
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 3 cups croutons
• 2 cups grated Cheddar cheese
• 6 eggs
• 1 3/4 cups milk
• 1 bell pepper (any color), diced
• 1 tablespoon prepared mustard
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1.     Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble and set aside.

2.     Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

3.     Melt butter in the microwave, or in a small pan on the stove over low heat. Spray a 9x12 inch baking dish with vegetable spray. Place croutons in the bottom of the dish, and drizzle with melted butter. Sprinkle with grated Cheddar cheese.

4.     Crack the eggs into a bowl, whisking to break up the yolks. Add milk, peppers, mustard, salt, and pepper, and beat until well-combined. Pour over the croutons and cheese, and sprinkle with crumbled bacon.

5.     Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to stand 10 minutes before serving.

New Year's Eve - Sue Pierce-Style

Each year I host my annual black tie dinner for the holidays. It is a fun event that all of our friends look forward to.

The requirement is that each man dresses in black tie and the women in evening gowns.  It is surprising how much fun everyone has getting dressed to the nines.  Often it is the only time that anyone has the opportunity to dress so formally.

There is no need to decorate because I have already put up all my gorgeous holiday decorations.  It is so much fun to decorate your table with your best china and glassware amongst all of the holiday decorations. In lieu of hostess gifts I ask each of my guests to bring a toy that they would have liked as a child to be donated to toys for tots. This has become such a tradition that the fire station looks forward to our donations each year!

Cooking is another thing!  I used to cook the entire meal and hire a couple of people to serve.  However, over the years, I have decided that I would rather have the dinner catered so that I can enjoy it.  This gives me the chance to relax in a nice bubble bath with a glass of champagne before the party begins.

I have had the same caterer for the past five years so they know where everything is.  We usually have a five course meal: cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, appetizer, soup, entrée, salad (European-style) and then desert with after dinner drinks.

 Menu

 Appetizer

Lobster Ravili

Soup

Cream of Wild Mushroom

Intermezzo

Sorbet

Entree

Osso Bucco Milanesse Topped with a Geumolada

with Wild Mushroom Risotto and Saute Spinach

Salad

Boston Bibb Lettuce, Baby Aurgula, Crumbled

Aged Bleu Cheese, Cherry Tomatoes and

Black Pepper Shallot Vinaigrette

Dessert

Poached Pear with Hippen Tuiles, Fresh Berries

and Carmel Sauce

Coffee and Aperitifs

Featured Party: New Year's Eve Ball

This party box has everything you’ll need to throw a fun and memorable New Year's Eve party for four couples. From beautiful custom party invitations to special New Year's confetti, this box will show your guests that you've gone all out!

Each couple will have their very own New Years Eve tiara and fedora, and the ladies will enjoy wearing a sequined and feathered masquerade mask too. When the clock strikes midnight, all your guests will have horns, streamers and a champagne flute to toast the New Year. This impressive kit will help you start the yearoff in style.

Your 16 -piece New Year's Eve Party Box includes ($175 for eight; $23 for each additional person):

• 8 black, white, and silver invitations
• 4 black and white fedora hats for the men
• 4 tiaras with feather plume for the women
• 4 sequined and feathered masquerade masks for the women
• Black or white party streamers
• 8 black or white party horns
• 8 authentic gold-edged champagne flutes
• 8 champagne flute dinner plates
• 8 champagne flute cocktail plates
• 20 champagne flute dinner napkins
• 20 champagne flute cocktail napkins
• 20 gold guest hand towels
• 24 piece gold tableware set
  
• 3 crystal ball table decorations
• Gold, black, and silver balloons -
• 4 champagne candles
• New Years confetti