A Kiss Of Refreshment!

WBPalmer

The WBPalmer is a twist on the Arnold Palmer, it's a simple mocktail that mixes two favorite summer beverages. At first you may not think that lemonade and iced tea cannot be mixed, but they do combine extremely well for a refreshing summertime sipper or breakfast drink.

Ingredients:

5 quart pitcher

3 quarts Lemonade

2 quarts Iced Tea

Karo syrup

Raw sugar

Lemon Slice

Ice

Preparation:

I like to start with sweetened Lemonade made with fresh lemons and a family sized tea bag (lipton) brewed sweetened while in the pot.

Allow tea to cool down. Combine both beverages in pitcher and stir.

On a small saucer, squeeze a small amount of lemon juice and add a teaspoon of Karo syrup and mix. Place raw sugar on a separate saucer. Dip rim of glass into juice and syrup mixture, then coat rim with raw sugar.

Add ice and WBPalmer to glass and garnish with lemon slice and Voila! The marriage of Sweet and Sour!

Enjoy!

Pay Attention To Detail...

Here are some classic Flatware settings to get you jump started in the right direction to entertaining perfection! Don't subject your guest to use your everyday flatware when entertaining...you don't want to be the cause for gossip afterward, and yes people do take note to flatware.

This is a classic flatware setting
Oneida Royal Pearl 45 piece
Target $82.99




This one has nice weight to it, very modern and elegant!
Bamboo Mirror 45 piece
Target $59.99

If your going for the minimalist yet modern look, this is perfect!
Julian Mirror 45 piece
Target $59.99




I like the skinny in the middle, for some reason this style give the hand a nice look!
Hampton Forge Americana 45 piece
Target $61.99

Not only will you find great deals at discount stores like Target, Home Goods, even Wal-Mart, but you can also find nice pieces at antique, secondhand and consignment shops. Your flatware would like your attention, it will not accept being ignored! :-)

The Art of Entertaining:Glassware and Flatware

Today man has mastered the glass-making process and can make many different types of glass in infinitely varied colors formed into a wide range of products.

For the most part, glass is the shiniest element to a table. Mix the sparkle factor of glass with candlelight, and the result is an enchanting backdrop to your meal!

There are many styles of glasses, but they all serve one purpose, and that's housing your beverage of choice. When it comes to entertaining you should have on hand the basics, water goblets, tall tumblers, and white and red wine glasses,or one that can house both of them. So instead of explaining in detail the different styles, I'll just give you a visual presentation. Remember, feel free to use a non-traditional glass at any time of the day to drink your favorite beverage or something as simple as water...you'll enjoy it!

Water Goblets

Tall and Short Tumblers


White Wine Glass



Red Wine Glass (more rounded in the body)

The Martini Glass (seen here in black and white)

Champagne Flutes



The Margarita Glass

Okay...let's see, we have plates-check, glasses-check, flatware...oh yes, the flatware! sometimes a forgotten element, flatware is just as much a star of the table as the glassware and dinnerware.

When I think about flatware, I think about a time when I was young and went flatware shopping with my parents. I've never given thought to flatware until that trip. My sister and I were subjected to a grueling two hours of shopping and debating over the right flatware set. I had to ask my then seven year old sister " Are they serious?" "Just buy some forks, knives and a couple of spoons already!" It wasn't until I grew up that I understood the importance of the "Right" setting. Take a look at the following kinds of flatware...there's something for everything...literally!

(Top to Bottom)
Tablespoon 8 1/4", Large soup spoon 7 7/8", Dessert spoon 7", Child's spoon 6 1/8"



(Top to Bottom)
Tea and Coffee spoons in various sizes

(Top to Bottom)
Cream spoon 6 3/4, Bouillon spoon 6", Fruit spoon 6"

(Top to Bottom)
Iced Teaspoon 7 1/2", Marrow scoop 9 1/8", Lobster pick 7 3/4"...a marrow scoop??



(Top to Bottom)
Ice cream spoon 5 1/2", Ice cream fork 5 3/8", Baby spoon (for jams or jellies)




(Top to Bottom)
Child's, Dinner, Lunch, Dessert, and Child Four Prong Fork



(Top to Bottom)
Salad fork 4 prong, Salad fork 3 prong, Pastry fork



(Top to Bottom)
Oyster, Snail and Seafood fork



(Top to Bottom)
Table, Dinner, Luncheon, Child's, Butter Knife


(Top to Bottom)
Sauce Spoon, Fish Knife, Fish Fork


(Top to Bottom)
Fish Knife Spoon Handle, Fish Knife Dished Blade, Fish Fork Spoon Handle



(Top to Bottom)
Steak Knife, Fruit Knife, Hors d'oeuvre knife, Hors d'oeuvre Fork


(Top to Bottom)
Caviar Spoon, Caviar Knife, Cannon Handle Spreader

Okay folks, there you have it, all the flatware you need-unless your name begins with Queen or King.
An exceptional quality flatware setting for everyday and entertaining use is all that's needed, but it's nice to know there's a Pastry fork out there in case a regular fork won't do! :-) Ciao!

The Art of Entertaining: Dishware

en-ter-tain: to have as a guest; provide food, lodging, etc., for; show hospitality to.

The definition may seem simple in describing what it means to entertain, but there are a variety of categories adjoined to the Art of Entertaining and they are: Tableware, Centerpieces, Place settings, etc. Over the next few weeks we'll take time to help you sort through the BASICS of entertaining, starting with DINNERWARE.

I found myself apologizing to my family one night at dinner as I delivered their food on plates with forks carelessly hanging off of them and paper napkins placed in the center of my bland and poorly set table. "Look at this table!" I muttered to myself. My family seemed to be uninterested in the awful display I presented before them.

Lovely...isn't it?

Where is my napkin?

I offered a voluntary explanation to them that while growing up, I was taught that it doesn't have to be a special occasion for a perfectly set table; A charming table seemed to make the food taste even better. Although I strayed away from the everyday formalities of table setting, those lack luster tendencies are no more when it comes to entertaining. I digress.


Let's talk...dishware!

Every cupboard should house a BASIC set of white dishes, nothing fancy. In fact the dishes don't have to match! Go ahead, let your creative juices kick in, mix and match pieces to give settings a unique display, and might I add, WHITE goes with just about everything!

There are a number of places to find PLAIN WHITE dinnerware, these places include: kitchen supply stores, department stores, discount stores i.e. Home Goods, and even thrift stores. One of my favorite places to buy BASIC white pieces is at Crate and Barrel. They have shelves and shelves of white dishes and bakeware.

I also found one of my favorite pieces here-a pancake warmer, for my oohh so delicious homemade buttermilk pancakes!

You may wonder why you need this piece of bakeware? Well, have you ever made pancakes for breakfast and put them in the oven to stay warm until the others were finished? The end result-hard and dry pancakes. If you are cooking for a large group, i.e brunch, your pancakes will stay warm and fluffy in this warmer. (and again I digress :-)

Let's get back to dishes! For a perfectly stocked cupboard, it's best to have at least 10 to 12 place settings which include, dinner plate, salad/dessert plate, shallow soup bowl, cup and saucer. Once you've built up your repertoire of WHITE dishware, you can start to introduce COLOR into your collection.

Here are some interesting finds that are "outside of the box" of normal dishware. Enjoy!

Floor Plan Square Plate $ 16.95
http://www.fishseddy.com





Impression Crockery
http://www.funktionalley.com

Glass Water Serving Bottles (So Clever!) $31.99
http://www.popdeluxe.net

(Postscript) , here is the recipe to:

The BEST Buttermilk Pancakes...Really!

Follow the recipe to the tee, and you will understand why they are the best!

40 min | 20 min prep

20 pancakes

• 3 eggs, separated
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 2/3 cup of milk
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 3 tablespoon sugar (reserve 1 tablespoon for egg whites)
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted until slightly brown
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Beat the yolks until smooth.

Beat in the buttermilk, milk, vanilla and baking soda; mix well.

Sift in the dry ingredients mixing as you add; make sure the batter is smooth.

Make sure to mix well...No Lumps!

Add in cooled melted butter and mix well.

Add 1 tablespoon sugar to egg whites.

Beat the egg whites in another bowl or mixer until stiff.

Fold into the batter until no bits of white are visible.

Let batter stand about 20 minutes before making pancakes.

Make sure your griddle is really hot!

Ladle batter onto griddle; turn when bubbles form across the cakes and allow to lightly brown on the second side.

I added Blueberries to mine! Yum!

Serve with warm maple syrup and fresh sweet butter.

mmm...mmmm...mmmmmmmm!!

SWEEEEEEEET!

Ciao!