Tip of the Week - Patricia Mendez
Keep Checking Back for Entertaining Tips from Patricia Mendez
Patricia Mendez has catered and coordinated special events in the Los Angeles area since the early 1990s and now teaches “Easy Entertaining for Beginners,” a cooking class for novice hosts and hostesses in Torrance, California. She is the author of Easy Entertaining for Beginners, a multiple award winning book, including the 2009 Recipient of the Mom’s Choice Award.
Halloween Entertaining Tip - October 26, 2009
Purchase 1 large and 1 smallish pumpkin. Set up this fun and festive treat at your Halloween party. No more than 1 hour before serving, skewer bite-size pieces of fruit on bamboo skewers. Sprinkle with lemon juice to avoid turning brown. Draw a spooky or silly face on the pumpkin and stick skewers all around the top to resemble hair. Hollow out a smallish pumpkin, wash and dry well. Prepare dip in advance and when ready to serve spoon into pumpkin and place next to large pumpkin with fruit skewers along with a bowl of gingersnaps for a delicious autumn treat.
- 1 package (8 oz.) 1/3 less fat cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 can (16 oz) pumpkin
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1 cup light whipped topping
- 1 package purchased ginger snaps
- Skewered fruit kebobs, apples, grapes, pears, sprinkled with lemon juice.
In a mixing bowl, mix softened cream cheese with pumpkin, powdered sugar and pumpkin pie spice. Fold in 1 cup light whipped topping. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Serve with skewered fruit kebabs and ginger snaps.
Cinnamon Roll Christmas Tree Tip - December 20, 2009
With this simple recipe, you can make a cute, delicious treat for the holidays!
- 2 – 12.4 ounce packages refrigerated cinnamon rolls (8 in each)
- Red and green gum drops, or maraschino cherries
- Cooking spray
- Place a sheet of aluminum foil on a baking sheet, and spray with cooking spray. Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees.
- Arrange all 16 cinnamon rolls to resemble a tree. Start with one at the top, next row two and so forth. Place the last one in the middle for the trunk. Bake for 16-17 minutes
- Lift with aluminum foil to carefully transfer to serving platter. Use a spatula, if necessary.
- Place icing in a pastry bag or a zip-lock bag with a corner cut off and pipe onto baked rolls in a zig-zag fashion resembling garland. Top with gum drops or cherries and serve immediately.
Tailgating Snacks - January 3, 2010
Colorful and bursting with delicious flavor, these bite-size stuffed sweet peper poppers are crispy, salty and savory. They will be a hit at your next tailgating party. This recipe can be prepped at home and grilled on site. Set up your Lifetime Folding Camp & Tailgate Table and get ready to cheer on your favorite team.
- 20 small sweet peppers, orange red and yellow
- 1 - 8 oz. package 1/3 less fat cream cheese, room temperature
- 2 large cloves garlic, chopped finely
- 2 tablespoons sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil, drained, chopped finely
- 1 – 16 oz. package center-cut bacon
- Toothpicks
- OPTION: You may also use jalapeno peppers for those who like their poppers spicy!
Soak toothpicks in a bowl of water. Wash and drain peppers. Slice through front half of pepper horizontally about ½ inch from the stem and vertically down the middle of the pepper in a “T” shape. Do not cut through the back of the pepper. In a small bowl, mix the cream cheese, garlic and tomatoes together. Carefully open the peppers with your thumb where sliced and with a teaspoon fill the pepper with the cheese mixture. Wrap half a slice of bacon around the pepper and secure with toothpick. Grill for about 6-8 minutes, turning as needed until bacon is crispy. Serve immediately.
Children's Photo Frame Activity - January 17, 2010
Children love to make crafts and this nifty idea is made quick and easy with the use of a digital camera and printer. Take a photo of your smiling children and their friends and have a helper make 4 x 6 inch prints of the photos from your home computer. Meanwhile, show the kids how to make this adorable frame. Insert the photo and Voila! They have a fun keepsake of your event to take home with them.
- Clear CD Cases
- Scotch tape
- 2White glue
- Sheets of fun foam, any color
- Stickers, feathers, beads, jewels, trims or other craft supplies, used for decoration
Trace around CD case on back of foam sheet and cut out. Using a ruler, mark 1 inch from the outside edges all around and cut out the middle portion to make a frame. Trim and tape photo to inside front cover of CD case and glue frame on outside of case. Add decorations. Open CD case slightly to stand up frame.
Entertaining Tip: Drop-In Guests - February 14, 2010
Stock your pantry with the following items and you will be well prepared to serve tasty finger foods when unexpected company drops in for a visit.
Pantry Items:
- Smoked nuts, olives, crackers, cheese straws, bread sticks, dried fruit, Dijon or honey mustard, cookies, biscotti, dip mix.
Refrigerated Items:
- Cut-up veggies, sour cream, grapes, cheese, pound cake (in freezer)
Drinks:
- Bottled water, regular and sparkling
- Sodas, regular and diet
- Coffee and tea