Peacock Inspired Holiday Party

Peacock Plume Party!

There is no more beautiful (and potentially feisty) bird than the peacock. Yeah, I hear your Swan song but a swan is just white (sometimes black and disturbing) with a long neck. What other bird in the kingdom can prance around the yard, and with no warning, flash open a fan of the most amazing feathers. Feathers that reach to the sky and shimmer iridescent attitude.

The holidays could be Santa Red and Grass Green OR they could be an array of iridescent blues, greens and golds. The colors of the peacock blend so well that we have come to call this combination of green, blue and gold…Peacock. It has its own Pantone. It needs to be taken more serious and used a lot more in entertaining. Right?

So, I propose a holiday decorating theme & cocktail party, where our feathered friend is the guest of honor.

Decor: A peacock feather wreath on the front door is a must. How lovely is that? Extra feathers can fill bronze or antique gold vessels on the buffet table, hall entry table or on the mantle. Weave the feathers into a traditional mantle garland. For the tree, there are a wide variety of peacock themed ornaments. I like the less subtle ones that just carry the tones of the bird, without having a bunch of birds all over the tree. As one dramatic gesture, perhaps have the tree topper be a peacock. No, it doesn’t have to be a stuffed real one. Although I have to say that would be pretty haute. There are lots of faux options out there.  I also think a regular Christmas tree wreath is nice wrapped loosely with a peacock-blue colored ribbon. Use platters that are of the same tones of our feathered friend  and Caspari has great napkin options in the turquoisey blue-green shades. http://www.caspari.com. Instead of colored candles, use Moroccan tea glass in green and blue for candle holders.

Invites: There are lots of options here. You could use a nice golden color paper and hand stamp a turquoise green peacock feather down the length of the paper. You could also choose to use the peacock-blue green color as the paper and print feather in black on the page with the invite text. Another option is attaching a real feather to the invite, although your invite is certainly now over standard size mail.

Takeaway Gift: Yes, the easy idea is a ribbon tied feather for each guest. I like the idea of using the peacock colors for a sweet treat takeaway. How about pistachio macaroons or mini blue cupcakes with an emerald-green frosting? How about mini blue macaroons with a pistachio filling? It could even be as simple as a peacock sugar cookie with a mix of blue-green frosting swirled across the bird. Strapped for time and can’t make the takeaway sweet treat. No worries. Just buy various shades of blue and green jelly beans to fill clear bags and tie off with a pretty turquoise green ribbon. What other easy take away treats can all you bakers out there think of?

Peacock Party on a Plate

Cocktail: I like the idea of blue cosmopolitan because our bird deserves a sophisticated cocktail. However blue margaritas are another fun option. If serving a blue drink is a little to close to a Smurf theme for you, then just serve your cocktail on a peacock napkin or have the garnish be three olives of various shades of green, bright to dark.

Menu: You most certainly could make a dinner party with this theme. I just happen to be in the cocktail party mood this week. Its more social, lighter and is easier to prepare ahead of time.

Peacock Themed Cocktail Party

Scallops on the Half Shell

Crispy Chili Spiced Shrimp

Rice Paper Rolls filled with Julienne vegetables like jicama, green onion, green papaya, fennel and parsley

Potatoes Hassleback (always party popular)

Squid Salad with Mizuno leaves, Thin red onion and a green pesto dressing

Butternut Squash for that beautiful golden color

Peanut Butter Ginger Cookie Sandwiches filled with Vanilla Nutmeg Frosting

It can be just that easy. Most of these appetizers require little preparation and cook times. I chose these items because they aren’t too heavy but substantial enough to feel like you have had dinner. 

I can already see the gorgeous wrapped presents under the tree with shimmery turquoise and green paper tied with organza ribbon of emerald and jade. Plume your package with a feather and really who even cares what’s inside! Well…

I was going to write tomorrow about a fun Pink themed party but my Broncos just  pull this game off against Chicago so it might have to be a blue and orange horse theme! Go Broncos!

A Minty Holiday Cocktail Party

Design Inspiration

16 Days til Christmas! While we are not quite having visions of sugar plums just yet, the reality of the Holiday Season has definitely set in. Along with much colder temperatures here in NYC. I wouldn’t even mind seeing a few flurries just to really make it official. While RSVPing to my first Holiday Party tomorrow night, I realized I have done nothing about planning one of my own. Might need to get on that soon.

So, I started brainstorming for a few themes that don’t entail holly, faux snow and red velvet. Nothing wrong with those things mind you. I just am ready for something FRESH and FUN. That thought sparked the idea for my first theme.

We all associate Christmas with green. How about we just slide from evergreen to mint green? Easy enough. Its lighter, brighter and has a cool retro sorta feel to it. Don’t ya think?

Decor: Keep it on the sophisticated side. Use matte white, cream, tans and wood tones for the serving pieces and plates. Mix in a few whimsical bits of mint using green milk glass. Make these wonderful book pages coned trees for the buffet table and bar. Its smart

Flowers: The flowers want to stay neutral as well. No mint roses ok. White roses with curly willow or pussywillows creates a soft warm atmosphere.

Invites: I always try to use snail mail for parties. So much more traditional and proper. However time is of the essence, so you may have to go the email route. Use a parchment paper heavy stock hang card for the invite. It  again is neutral and elegant but with an element of fun. Stamp on a winter pattern be it snowflakes or ornaments in soft mint or white. These could show up again as description cards for items on your party buffet.

Take Away Gifts: Because you have all the time in the world and your first name is Martha, string together mix matched buttons to create little wreath ornaments. Tie on a mint colored ribbon as the tree hanger. Place them all in a basket by the door as takeaway ornaments.

For Fun: Make a non mistletoe out of fresh mint and hang over the buffet table. Even 3 of them would be great spread out across the table.

Minty Menu

Now to the good part. What to eat. The color mint feels light and fresh, providing us a good excuse to actually serve healthy appetizers. Use fresh mint as the garnishes.

In lieu of a regular cocktail make a vodka, mint & lemon granita. Its like snow cream for big kids.

For the crudite, blanch white asparagus & French green beans. Thin slice celery and fennel. Peel the skin off radishes and plop them in a bowl with pickled white onions. Pickles! Oh sure why not. But go with little cornichons. Whip up a dip using sour cream, creme fraiche, fresh mint and fresh basil. Salt & Pepper. What else?

Spicy sesame crab cakes with pickled ginger and fresh wasabi, check!

Hollowed out granny smith apples filled with warm caramel sauce. Hey, its 1/2 healthy right?

Honeydew Melon slivers wrapped in prosciutto. A must.

Toss a big organic green salad with a bright lemony vinaigrette. Oh sure, toss in some roasted walnuts and white raisins.

For that one rich decadence we must have around the holidays, whip up some thin mint truffles. Truffles are the easiest things in the world to make. They are in my book. Just work the thin mints themselves in where you would add the flavoring. Sooo delish and Minty!

So that’s it. Now, just to get the invites off, finish unpacking my new apartment and find the time to string buttons together, lol!

Hope to hear from you if you use this theme. Send pics. Tell me what you served or did differently for the decor. I made a pinterest board for the theme, so check it out if need more inspiration.

Happy Holidaze are here…

xo

H

First Fall Fete

A Fine place for a Fete!

When you step onto an international flight on September 1st and step back off on September 16th, followed by a week; including the death and funeral of a Grandmother and the wedding of your best friend 4 states away, well it kinda makes you wonder where your month went. We are a full month into Fall! I have not donned one cashmere article of clothing, have not dusted off one pair of boots and I certainly have not been hit by any swirling autumn colored leaves from overhead.

However today I think NYC got the memo. Fall is here and here to stay. So you know what that means right? Time for the first Fall Fete. There is no better reason to throw a cocktail party than to herald in a new Season. Autumn is a particular favorite of mine and being in NYC makes it all the more surreal. Its the stuff of movies. The brownstones look more stoic, the air is lighter and fresh (well, almost) and that “summer scent” has gone. My tree lined street is minute by minute changing colors and everyone lingers longer on the sidewalk cafes in the evening.

Table Decor Ideas

We are busy though! Too busy to plan some elaborate cocktail party right? Well, then don’t. Be nice to you.

Here is my plan for an “almost” no cook Fall Fete!

Dust off two large off white platters or a few small ones. Wash, rinse and dry champagne flutes and red wine glasses. (White Wine is on leave until April)

Have a dozen or so (depends if your friends are like mine or not) bottles of a mid-range Malbec delivered over with 6 bottles of bubbles. Chill them. (I highly recommend Veuve Clicquot). Never drink or serve cheap champagne. You will always regret it in the morning and even more so when your friends call in their aspirin order to you.

Arrange the bottles nicely on a side table in your living room, decorated in a festive Fall fashion. A few small gourds, seasonal flowers in small vases, a warm deep orange or chocolate table linen and little votive candles. A stack of dusty books from the flea market. For the food platters do the same styling on another accent table or on your coffee table.

Simple, Sexy, Seasonal

Don a pretty cocktail dress, dust off a great pair of boots and spend only 45 minutes preparing the following delicious hors oeuvres.

- Prosciutto wrapped around a teaspoon of soft goat cheese that has finely chopped dried cherries or a slice of fresh pear inside. (Place one sheet of prosciutto on your board. Dollup the goat cheese on either far end with the fruit and simply roll. Secure with a toothpick or just leave lying flat. )

Prosciutto Wraps

- Bresola wrapped around a fresh spinach leaf with goat cheese and fresh pear. *Bresola is a cured beef, just like prosciutto but less salty and well, beef! Check your deli section.

-Bresola wrapped around a fresh spinach leaf with ricotta cheese and fresh pear.

- Bresola bundle filled with goat cheese and/or ricotta cheese with chopped dried cherry and tied off with a chive strand. 

Make a variety of each of these, mixing and matching ingredients as you like, or run out! Any dried fruit is nice here really.

Bresola Bites

 Bruschetta topped with creamy chive goat cheese and roasted radishes. (Thinly slice radishes and place in a baking dish. Toss with olive oil, add a teaspoon of sugar and roast at 400 degrees about 20 minutes until soft and sweet. Bake or quick broil slices of french baguette brushed with olive oil. Mix a tablespoon of finely chopped chives into 1/4 lb goat cheese. Spread soft cheese on the bread slices and top with the radishes. Garnish with more chive sprinkles. )

Roasted Radish Bruschetta Rocks

Dessert Bruschetta!  Raisin Bread Bruschetta topped with chocolate fig spread and a roasted plum.

Raisin Bread Bruschetta

(As above, make bruschetta slices but use a sweet bread like raisin or pecan. In the deli area of the store look for spreadable fig jams. If you are in luck they have a chocolate fig one. If not, buy fig spread and nutella. Mix equal portions and spread onto baguette slice. Roast plum slices until soft and place on top.

Bon Apetit!

It’s just that easy. Put on some Citizen Cope, light a few well placed candles, open the windows to let those Autumn breezes blow in and enjoy a relaxed evening with friends. Let me know how it goes!

Ciao,

H

H’s EZ-ing into Holiday Hors d’Oeuvres

 

Ornaments from India!

It’s the beginning of the Holiday Season and quite frankly I am just not ready to dive in.

I am thinking more along the lines of a toe dip.

I literally ended my Thanksgiving weekend with a flight to India to get the elves motivated for final pre- Christmas furniture shipments. That might have something to do with my slow ramp up to full-blown Christmas Cheer. Nothing much around me here, in Jaipur, to stir that holiday spirit. No carols, no Christmas sweaters, no decorated windows and definitely no car hood wreaths.

So in an effort to try to kick-start some Holiday spirit, I am going to stream some Frank & Bing! and plan a few parties/nights for my return. I am thinking an intimate Tree Trimming Evening, an Open House Cocktail Party and maybe a cozy Dinner Party for just the Girlz! Feeling more in the spirit already!

I recently test reciped a few quick and EZ hors d’oeuvre that I had been pondering. They came out great, look very festive for the season and take less than 10 minutes each to prepare. As I said, we are easing into the holidaze. Let’s start simple.

H’s EZ-ing into Holiday Hors d’oeuvre

Seasons Spice!

*Poppin’ Piquillo Peppers

1 Jar Pequillo Peppers – Creme Fraiche – fresh thyme – roasted pancetta (or bacon) – fresh ground pepper

Combine 4 tbsp. creme fraiche,  1tsp. finely chopped thyme, 1 tbsp finely crumbled pancetta and a good grind of pepper in a small bowl. Drain the peppers. With a teeny tiny spoon fill the peppers with the creme mixture. Yep, you are done. The spice from the pepper, the sweet cream, the salty bacon and the fresh thyme will have your guests singing joy to the world. (Variations: add 1 tsp horseradish  – mint instead of thyme – add 1 tbsp soft goat cheese – make veg by replacing bacon with fine chopped olive)

Chip Dip Gone Gourmet

** Cheery Chip & Dip

Why is it cheery you ask? All its holiday color! and um…it has a nice jingle.

1 bag store-bought (oh yes I did) Terra Chips (go ahead you overachiever and make your own but it then does not pass the “make in 10 minutes rule”

Same dip as previous recipe with or without any of the revisions  – grape or cherry tomatoes (1 per chip, you do the math)

Roast the tomatoes under the broiler with a splash of olive oil, some sea salt and fresh ground pepper until they are wrinkled but have not burst their skin yet.

Place chips on platter, top with a teaspoon of creme fraiche dip, top with a roasted tomatoe. Voila, next!

Bacon Egg & Chz w/the little black dress

*** Bacon Egg & Cheese Bruschetta

Sounds bizarre, tastes divine!

Prosciutto (finely sliced paper-thin) – Quail Eggs – Xtra Sharp Cheddar Cheese – Baked 1/2″ Baguette Slices (Bruschetta)

Place baguette slices, rubbed with olive oil, on a baking tray and toast under the broiler for 10 minutes until crispy not burned.

Place prosciutto slices on baking tray, under broiler for 5 minutes until crispy, not burned. Can be the same baking tray lol.

Hard-boil the quail eggs, cool and peel. Then slice in 1/2 lengthwise.

Slice cheddar cheese into 1/4″ thin slices.

Bruschetta should still be on baking tray. Top first with the cheese slice, then a bit of the prosciutto (about the size of the length and width of the bread slice, and then top with the 1/2 quail egg. Place under the broiler just until cheese melts. Remove. Grind a bit of fresh chunky black pepper over the bruschetta and serve!

(If you happen to be English , Irish or just a fan of fry up, then lovingly nestle one of the roasted toms up to that quail egg. Ah.

Put all your bruschetta on a fabulous Silver, Gold, Crimson or Cranberry Colored Platter (no reindeer or elves please), pop open a few bottles of something that bubbles and has a grumpy Widow looking back at you, get your Rudolph sweater on (ala Bridget Jones), light the fire and get a little lovin’ from…  Frankie!

H's EZ Party Hints

Hate to do dishes even after a cocktail party? Me too. Here is an EZ Holiday H Tip. Buy parchment paper pastry bags, fill with bamboo utensils and make personal with a wax Initial stamp. H marks the spot!

Part 1 of  H’s 2010 Home on the Hill Holiday – coming to you live from sunny Rajasthan!