This morning I attended a class at Pottery Barn on Backyard Entertaining. These are always fun when I can remember to go (thank you, Sue, for the reminder.) The focus was on a red, white and blue theme with Memorial Day and the Fourth of July approaching. A clever place setting was created with a small galvanized pail (3 for $15) which held a flag napkin, cutlery, a beverage and a bottle opener. What a great idea!
I found another theme for summer entertaining (only 31 days away!) I bought a fishnet tablecloth, shell napkins and small buoys which I will tie around the napkins and add a tag to serve as a place card and will also be the party favor.
A tip of my hat to Sue for naming this night. I love themes! We all brought appetizers and with wine enjoyed the first warm evening on her outdoor bistro. It was wonderful!
Festivities started with salsas, guacamole and sour cream accompanied by four kinds of chips served in a sombrero ....
Also, shrimp quesadillas;
all washed down with Cactus Juice and
a salty chihuahua. Did anyone snap a pic of that drink?
Enchiladas carne, chili and chilequiles, Mexicana rice, honey cornbread and a green salad were the main fare.
Dulce de leche bread pudding with cream sauce and fried bananas with a Kahlua chocolate sauce were offered along with Mexican wedding cookies and a Mexican flag inspired red, white and green layered dessert. (There's always room for jello!)
My photo exposures weren't good - a testament to the fact that the margaritas were! Missing are photos of the guests for their own protection including Tom who kept his sombrero on from the moment he walked in until he walked out. The question was asked 'did he sleep in it?' since he seemed so attached.
Once the theme has been established, you then determine the party type and menu. It could be a sit down luncheon/dinner, a buffet luncheon/dinner, a brunch, or a cocktail party. I chose a buffet dinner with cocktails. For drinks, there'll be margaritas, of course (featured in another post), a Salty Chihuahua and a non-alcoholic punch colored green. I like to assign fun names and will call thisrefreshing drink,Cactus Juice.
For the invitation to my Cinco de Mayoparty, I created a sombrero shape to capture the flavor of Mexico. Here's how: Take one 8.5 by 11 inch piece of tan card stock. Print party details on lower half. Fold top half down and trace on sombrero shape. Cut out leaving a section at top along fold attached. Decorate with colored markers and/or scraps of paper cut from magazine pages.Fiesta!!!!!!
May is National Asian Pacific American Heritage, Asparagus, Flower, National Bar-B-Que, National Egg,National Duckling, National Hamburger, Salad, Strawberry and Older Americans Month.If those aren't enough reasons to party, how about Mother Goose, International No Diet, Dance like a Chicken, National Tap Dance, Pack Rat, Kite, Limerick, and/or No Socks Day. There are also two special days: National Teacher (Always the Tuesday of the first full week of May) and Mother's Day (on the 13th) Enjoy!
This morning I attended a class at Pottery Barn on Backyard Entertaining. These are always fun when I can remember to go (thank you, Sue, for the reminder.) The focus was on a red, white and blue theme with Memorial Day and the Fourth of July approaching. A clever place setting was created with a small galvanized pail (3 for $15) which held a flag napkin, cutlery, a beverage and a bottle opener. What a great idea!
I found another theme for summer entertaining (only 31 days away!) I bought a fishnet tablecloth, shell napkins and small buoys which I will tie around the napkins and add a tag to serve as a place card and will also be the party favor. 
