|
Last Updated: Jul 2nd, 2008 - 21:15:22 |
(NAPSI)-When the party is outdoors, keeping your guests cool, comfortable and entertained can be easier with help from Leslie Segrete of TV's "Trading Spaces" and "While You Were Out":
• Keep people from trailing through the house by creating a pathway to the backyard using strung lights, exotic flowers or tropical plants. Set up a self-service beverage center with a well-stocked outdoor minirefrigerator, a beverage cart with plenty of garnishes and mixers and a blender. Decorate with natural materials such as netting, palm fronds, rattan, burlap, tropical flowers and grasses. Pull out the hammock, float rafts in your pool and hang brightly colored lanterns around the yard for a festive yet relaxed atmosphere.
• It's important to greet your guests with a signature cocktail upon their arrival, said Segrete. Nothing is more invigorating on a hot day than a refreshing, ice-cold drink. She suggests Kahlua Iced Lattes made with three parts Kahlua, one part vodka, two parts cooled coffee and one part milk mixed in a blender with a generous amount of ice. Garnish this exotic concoction with shaved chocolate, shaved coconut or mint leaves. Create drink markers from exotic flowers attached to stemware with craft wire--they not only look pretty, they keep guests from having to get new glasses and so help cut down on cleaning time.
• Keep the menu to a few easy-to-prepare dishes. Grilling is a great solution for easy cooking and cleanup so you can spend more time with your guests. Consider kebabs--dinner on a stick--such as citrus-marinated swordfish cubes, curried lamb kebabs or sage-infused pork brochettes. Combine chicken broth, peanut butter, Kahlua, dried red chili pepper, chopped garlic and horseradish for a zesty kebab marinade or dipping sauce. Don't be afraid to use the kebab theme with skewered fruits and sweets as well.
"Outdoors, people feel freer to be messy, so using your hands to make drinks, dinner and dessert is a great way to get everyone at the party involved," said Segrete. "And it's always important to have some running water for the guests to refresh themselves with."
• Finally, don't forget to set the mood with some music, recommended Segrete. A light, tropical and energizing soundtrack can keep the mood festive. Start with slower tunes and build up to a faster pace as the party heats up. As the evening winds down, select some more mellow music to relax guests.
You can get more entertaining advice, great recipes and other information online at www.kahlua.com.
|
© Copyright by Eveningsnews.com
Top of Page
|
