Sail Away with Me Valentine's Dinner Party

Every year I host a themed Valentine's Dinner party. This year I called it "Sail Away with Me". I love color combinations and I found the royal blue and yellow appropriate for the theme. I asked the guests to come dressed in nautical attire and as a party favor I had gob hats for everyone that I placed hanging from each chair, My husband was the only one with a captains hat.   I had prepared a playlist with awesome backgroud music. I created an appetizer station with nautical props.We also had a time of pictures.   My appetizers included, bacon wrapped scallops with a tangy sauce, mushroom caps filled with crab meat, coconut shrimp with a mango sauce, crab dip with savory crackers and a ceviche individually served in shooter glasses paired with a Sauvignon blanc. Dinner was oh so yummy, Surf and Turf. The surf was a delicious shrimp scampy and the turf was filet mignon with a red wine reduction sauce, paired with a nice Pinot Noir wine. Dessert was a chocolate fudge cake with chocolate ganache and then decorated with fondant to look like the sea with a boat. Chocolate covered strawberries, mini chocolate trifle shooters and other goodies. Everyone is looking forward to next year to see what fun theme I come up with.  Little do they know that I'm already working on it.

 

 

 

Arabian Nights Valentine's Dinner Party

I had such a wonderful time preparing for my annual Valentine's dinner party for 2012. I got a bit scared with the menu not knowing if my guests would enjoy some of the Middle Eastern flavors, but everyone loved it and even had seconds. Loved working on desserts. As my guests arrived they were directed to the appetizer table where I had several types of hummus Babaganoush, taboulie, pita chips, etc. We had some crazy arab props and we took crazy pictures. They all came dressed with a Middle Eastern feel. I really enjoyed having all my crazy friends over and I dare say that I think they had fun too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parisian Valentine's Dinner Party

I had not posted this and may other things to my blog.  My 2011 Valentine's Dinner Party theme was Parisian. I love how everyone gets into the spirit of my crazy dinner parties. The ladys put on their French feathers or flowers and pearls and as the couples arrived, we greeted them in French with two kisses. The food served that night was also inspired by the French cuisine. Everyone had a great time and enjoyed the food and great company. I have a crazy circle of friends and I love it! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Star Sports Theme Cake and Goodies

My sister-in-law is having a baby boy and I helped her plan her baby shower.  She wanted a sports theme for her co-ed baby shower.  We got vases in the shape of soccer balls, footballs, basketballs, and baseballs, and used those for centerpieces, each one with a onesie cookie and four different balls, decorated with . They looked super cute on each of the tables lined with blue tablecloths. I also used the balls for the dessert table for the red velvet cake pops and the marshmallows covered in dark chocolate with blue sprinkles which I covered in a brown tablecloth.  The cake was a hit!  People loved it.  It was Marble loaf with vanilla buttercream filling.  The elements were all made of gumpaste. My sister-in-law and brother-in-law loved their shower elements very much and I was happy to be part of making this day special for them.