Whenever you have weddings, you have bridal showers. Traditionally, bridal showers are a celebration where the bride-to-be is "showered" with gifts. Many brides have multiple showers, each featuring a theme to insure the couple does not spend the first few weeks of married life exchanging duplicate gifts. The theme of this shower is "Garden Delight." Take time to shop party stores and gift shops for garden theme items. If you chose your plates and napkins first, you have a color theme to follow for your other items. Make the table (and room if possible) a beautiful array of flowers to delight your guests, especially the bride.
Many women become overwhelmed by entertaining. These are many things you can do to reduce your stress when hosting an event. First, you want to follow these 2 simple pieces of advice:
1. It's the People, Not the Event! Remember, the people you entertain are the most important element of your event. Your event should be designed to insure their comfort and enjoyment. The primary way you can insure this is by following the second rule;
2. Attend Your Own Party! Hostesses seem to get so wrapped up in the event, they neglect their guests. If you plan an event that depletes your energy before the first guest arrives, you and your guests cannot enjoy the party. Plan an event that allows you to have as much fun as your guests. You should always be the #1 guest at your party!
Keep saying these 2 things over and over to insure a party that is low in stress and high in enjoyment.
In addition, as mentioned above, use disposable tableware. You can create a beautiful table with the products made today.
Once you have scheduled your event and discussed it with the bride, you need to determine whether you are planning a sit down event or a buffet. This is not up to you necessarily. This is determined by the number of guests you are hosting. If your table fits 10 and you are hosting 15, then you need to plan a buffet. Remember, guests first then event.
Whether you host a luncheon or a buffet, this menu is a winner. Easy to prepare, it allows you to make dishes ahead so you can save your energy for the shower.
Menu
Crudités and Dill Dip
Chicken Salad
Sweet and Sour Coleslaw
Fresh Fruit
Cake with Strawberries
Punch/Coffee/Iced Tea
Crudités and Dill Dip
1 pint sour cream
1 pint small curd cottage cheese
Fresh dill, chopped fine
Blend sour cream and cottage cheese. Mix in dill. Serve in small bowl placed in center of tray. Surround with assortment of fresh vegetables.
Chicken Salad
1 ½ boneless chicken breats per guests
½ cup chopped celery
Mayonnaise
1 talbespoon fresh dill, chopped fine
salt & pepper to taste
Steam chicken until well done. Rinse well and chill. Chop into chunks then separate chunks with a fork. Add celery and dill. Salt and pepper to taste. Mix with mayo, just enough to moisten. Chill until served.
Sweet and Sour Coleslaw
1-2 bags coleslaw mix
½ cup mayo
1.4 cup zesty Italizn dressing
1 tablespoon honey
½ cup white raisins
½ cup grape tomatoes
Clean slaw mix and let drain. Mix may, dressing and honey. Taste. dressing should be tart but also a bit sweet. If necessary, add a touch more honey. Place slaw mix in large bowl. Add dressing slowly, a bit at a time. Dressing should moisten slaw but not make it sloppy. Mix in raisins. Chill until served. Serve on red lettuce and decorate with tomatoes cut in half.
Cake with Strawberries
Yellow cake mix
White frosting
Whipped topping in a can
½ flat fresh strawberries or 2 cups frozen strawberries, thawed
¼ cup granulated sugar
Make cake in bundt pan according to directions. On the morning of your shower, take frosting and soften in microwave 10-15 seconds. It should drizzle easily but not run. Place cake on pedestal cake plate. Drizzle on cake, covering the top of the cake. Just before party begins, use whipped topping to decorate the edge of the cake. If using fresh berries. use some to decorate edge of cake also.
Using chopped berries, mix with sugar and refrigerate. Prepare 2-3 hours ahead to create berries in syrup. Slice cake and top with berries and whipped topping.
I like to use the cake as my centerpiece. I make a bundt cake so I can encircle it with flowers. You may also create a bouquet to go in the center of the cake.
