How to Host a Stylish Wine Party

I love entertaining at home, especially as it gives me an opportunity to flaunt my new dinnerware sets! But in light of the recession many people are forgoing conventional dinner parties and instead opting for a rich but simplified menu. Having come to be known as chic "Wine Parties", guests usually delight in being able to have a more casual get together that isn�t meal-oriented. These new types of parties are not only friendly on the wallet, but are also far more time/cost efficient � requiring less preparation and clean up, they can be thrown at the last minute while still being a hit with your guests. Guests also enjoy the opportunity to sample new types of wines in a relaxed and friendly circle. Hosting a Cocktail party for a stylish and sophisticated evening can be fun and easy, with just a little bit of planning. here are some tips and ideas to help you do the same!

When hosting your own bash, the center of any lively conversation should be several bottles of wine alongside casual but well-thought out platters or dinnerware. Conventionally, platters were limited to cheese, but excellent hosts know that mixing it up with breads, chocolates, and some delectable deserts works equally as well. With such a colorful sensation for the palate and the array of pairings to choose from, you and your guests will be marveled by how easy it can be to have a great time with such minimal effort.

Going Beyond Just Red and White Wines
There�s a lot more to the aged drink of perfection than just red, white, and rose. With the rise in environmental awareness, there�s now a mushrooming rise of eco-friendly wine and wineries. There are three categories of eco-friendly wines: sustainable, organic, and bio-dynamic.

"Sustainable" means that grapes were grown with few to no chemical, fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides. This method nurtures the soil naturally, whereas �organic� wines are grown in organically certified vineyards and are made without added sulfites. On the other hand, �biodynamic� winemaking goes way beyond organics by viewing the farm is viewed as a living system.

And as easy as it would be to pull out a bottle of red from under the kitchen sink, fact is anyone that does anything well does with style � besides, if you�re dusting off wine it should be because its aged with precision rather than because it�s simply forgotten about it. There are three basic types of wine cooler storage devices: bottle coolers, wine coolers, and cellars. Depending on your need, either one of these adds a level of sophistication to your party.

Creating a Warm and Welcoming Environment
When it comes to entertaining, some of the greatest ancient civilizations were perfecting the art far before our own. A clean and crisp environment, carefully laid out dinnerware set and wine goblets, soft lighting and some light music will quickly warm up the room as well as your guests! If you are hosting a party in winter, make sure your space creates the ideal ambiance for a memorable evening. While you may choose to use a heater, it�s much more practical and both cost and energy efficient to use a single portable space heater. An electric space heater is far more eco-friendly to use than a central heating unit.

Your guests will likely be in one, maybe two rooms � so why waste energy and money heating the whole house when a space heater can do the job at a fraction of the cost. However, if you prefer an outdoor venue, you can achieve that too through using a couple of portable patio heaters.

A warm heated room serves as an escape from the cold � pair it with some soft background music and plenty of seating and you�ve got a can�t fail recipe. After process of sorting through wine, pairings, and creating the perfect warm welcoming environment, you�re well on your way to a creating wonderful holiday memories without the usual hassle normally associated with holiday living.

This article How to Host a Stylish Wine Party is brought to you by Shireen Qudosi, who is a lifestyle writer with http://www.heater-home.com.Image Credit: Julie's Kitchen, Christmas Magazine

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BBQ & Grilling Tips - Perfect for Memorial Day

As we approach summer, its time to get out your barbecue grills and start having some fun with them, especially around Memorial day weekend! Whether its camping or just a backyard bbq, there is always a thrill attached to grilling; in fact we absolutely love it! But as easy as it sounds, grilling is not everyone's forte. I am sure all of you must have had some good and bad experiences with barbecues; it serves to be one of the best events for a pot luck, meeting with friends, chilling out and having fun. A few simple pointers go a long way in making a bbq successful. I'd like to share with you some common tips and techniques about grilling, what bbq grills work best, what food to grill and how to make sure you are doing it right, followed by a beautiful Memorial Day BBQ Menu to get you going!

I'm no expert at bbq, but we've had our fair share of grilling, and it has taught me a few tricks that will make an outdoor barbecue less stressful and more fun. If you are interested in knowing how bbq attained such a craze in US, here's a brief history about how bbq's originated. The first step, of course, is to buy a bbq-grill, and though there is a wide variety of products available to suit your style, I love the charcoal grill, especially for small-scale grilling.

Buying a Grill: Though charcoal grills are still most widely used, I'd recommend a Gas or an Electric Grill (especially for first-timers) as they are the easiest to use and produce nice results. They burn hot enough to make distinct "char" marks and add the smokey flavor to your food. If you have to use charcoal, for picnics or camping, try to avoid the self-igniting briquettes. Though easy to burn, they can give the food a petroleum flavor.

Basic Tips & Techniques: Grilling is a lot of fun, but not everyone can manage a great job the first time. Here are some general techniques to help you in your outdoor grilling venture.

1. Prepare the fire a half hour or more before grilling. For quick lighting, use a chimney starter with crumpled newspaper in the bottom and briquets or charcoal above. Or stack the charcoal in a pyramid shape and light with a liquid or electric starter.

2. First make sure that the grill is medium-hot. For most of the grilling recipes, the fire should be medium-hot with a single, even layer of coals lightly covered with grey ash. Less heat, and there'll be no "smoky " falvor to your food, too much high heat, and you'll practically burn and blacken your food! Also, adding a handful of aromatic wood chips such as mesquite, hickory, alder, or fruitwood chips over the coals can add whole new dimension of flavor to your food.

3. Make sure to clean the grill with a wire brush, and remove any previous residue food bits from the grill, before putting anything new onto it. Any burnt food chunks sticking to your main entree can so kill the taste!

4. Place the food item to be grilled on the clean grill. Be sure to put the presentation side down first on the grill in order to utilize the intense initial heat which guarantees the beautiful "grill marks" on the side that is visible on serving.

5. As the item cooks, move it around slowly so that it does not burn, and turn it over when it is cooked half-way. This is where the art of grilling comes in. The goal to perfect grilling is to give the item delicious dark brown (not black) grill marks on both sides and remove it from the heat without overcooking it.

6. To reduce the chance of overbrowning, apply tomato- based sauces or those containing sugar or other sweeteners only during last 20 to 30 minutes of grilling. For grilling paneer, do not marinade for more than 20 mins before grilling or it will turn out soggy.

7. Try to space food so that it does not stick to each other and also shift items from the center of the hot grill over to the sides as you keep placing new food in the center. Closing the lid speeds up the cooking time and increases the smoky flavor, but also increases the likelihood of a small fire, so be careful. And remember to open the small air vent on the top of the grill if you decide to close the lid.

8. Use a pair of gloves and tongs to remove hot food from the grill to prevent yourself and your guests from getting burnt.

9. Position your grill according to the direction of the wind so that coal burns quickly and at the same time, your guests don't have to put up with the heat! A corner of the backyard is not always the best spot; wind governs where you place your grill!

10. Last but not the least, be prepared! Keep a suppy of charcoal and igniter fluid handy so you don't have to run in the middle of the bbq to get more coal. Once it loses heat, its very hard to bring it back to the right temperature again. Also, keep a first-aid kit handy for accidents and burns, especially with children around. Try to maintain a safe distance between the grill and the serving area to prevent random accidents.

Direct & Indirect Cooking
There are two methods to grill food over a gas, wood, charcoal, or infrared - direct or indirect cooking. based on what you are cooking, you should choose the method that the recipe demands.

With the direct heat method, the food item is placed directly over the flame or coals. This method exposes the food item to very hot temperatures, often in excess of 500F or 900F for infrared grills. This is the fastest way to cook food items on a grill. The food items are cooked by the flames and radiant heat coming from the heat source of the grill.This method is ideal for grilling steaks, hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage, pork chops and skewers. All veggie and fruit skewers use this method. The food items must be carefully monitored so as to not burn them.

With the indirect heat method, you place the food item so that it is not directly over flames or coals. This is done by having the fire or coals on only one section of the grill and placing the food items on the other side. In a charcoal grill, it is best to place a foil pan of water under the food to keep it from drying out. This method is best for large cuts of meat or bone-in poultry. It allows the food to cook all the way through without burning or charring on the outside of the meat.

Best Items to Grill

Vegetables: Capsicum, Potatoes, Onions, Corn, Eggplant, Zucchini
Fruits: Pears, Pineapples, Apples, Grapes, Apricots, Plums,Peaches
Meat: Steak, Chicken, Fish, Sausage

I hope this article can help some amateurs like me to host a successful barbecue event, or at least enjoy the experience of grilling. Once you master it, grilling can be wonderful and addictive! Use these basic tips and techniques to make your outdoor grilling & bbq a fun and relaxing event this summer!

Memorial Day Vegetarian BBQ Recipes:
Paneer Tikka with Mango Dressing
Grilled Pesto Burgers
Grilled Asparagus Salad
Grilled Peaches with Chipotle Raspberry Sauce

Is your Kitchen Ready for Entertaining?

Any holiday celebration is incomplete without Cooking & Baking, I'm sure all of you have started gathering and bookmarking favorite recipes for your family dinners! But, after entertaining guests for the last two weekends, and cleaning up my precious Enclume Pot Rack, I suddenly realized that though I have the recipe list ready, I don't think I have all the kitchen tools and utensils needed for the immense amount of holiday cooking that I have planned! Funny, as most of us don't think about the cooking tools right until we actually start executing a recipe! Most of the times makeshift-tools will work, but what about those large family-size pots and pans? or the holiday Bundt-cake pans? Is your Kitchen ready for some serious Holiday Cooking and Baking? [img source - Williams Sonoma]

Baking Tools
As baking would undoubtedly be a primary contender to holiday preparations, its imperative to make sure you have all the tools and kitchen bake-ware to make your baking as stress-free as possible. I for one, need to get a new Bundt-Cake Pan, and also a simple baking Thermometer. In fact, a simple search online will get you several deals on professional cookware including cookie sheets, cake pans, measuring spoons, muffins cups, cutters, scrapers, chafers, enclume pot racks and more! Make sure you have different cookie-cutters for all your fancy Christmas cookies, and also some fancy serving trays & tableware to serve those in!

Cookware and Tableware
My biggest concern when I have to prepare a dinner for a large group is what to cook it in! Dividing the same curry into two non-stick pans will mostly never work, so make sure you have cookware large enough to cook your entire dish. Ensure that you have all your kitchen equipment in order - from casseroles to mashed potatoes, and soups and stews to serving bowls and roasting pans, everything needs to be co-ordinated, so you don't go scrambling at the last minute! And if you are going to use your ancient china, wash and clean them a few days ahead so it sparkles. Buy table linens and matching napkins as well as serving ware, as holidays are special, and a little pre-planning will keep you more relaxed on the main day. I have added a new food-processor, and perhaps a Chocolate Fondue set to my Go-Get-it list already! And perhaps some new Fall dinner set won't be bad either:)

Dinnerware & China
When it comes to a party, your dinnerware is as important as your food, and White is mostly the preferred choice at holiday dinners, mostly because they bring out the color of the food. But these days, there are a lot of designer options available. Choose a theme, and find a matching Dinner set that goes with your linen and china. Autumn themes, leaf-shapes and fall-colors are greatly flavored at such occasions, so choose what pleases you the most, as there are tonnes of options to select from! And again, artistic enclume potracks will be a perfect fit too!

Wines & Glassware
No festive dinner is complete without a fancy wine, a fitting festive Cappucino or a Fruit Cocktail! This is the time to splurge on the expensive wine labels, and choose nice and fruity champagnes. If you love making cocktails, you'd know its important to serve them in a fancy way too! Make sure your buffet table has enough of glassware, depending on what you plan to serve. I have 2 sets of wine goblets, and it really doesn't look impressive when you use two incomplete sets to serve different guests at the same party. So I'm adding some new wine glasses and some cute coffee mugs to my shopping list!

Holidays are all about family gatherings, a few times in the year when everyone gets together and spends some quality time, enjoying great food and chatting and reliving pleasant memories over a cup of coffee. As food is one of the biggest contributors to a successful Holiday gathering, one should start planning ahead, not just about what you are going to cook, but also how, when and where! Take some time see if your Kitchen is ready for the holiday season, and make sure you have all you need to impress your guests on the big day. Remember, the plate that you cook and serve the food in, is as important as how your food tastes!

Choosing and Pairing the Best Wine with your Food

Whether its a festive holiday, or a simple dinner with friends, when you are hosting an event, it is always special. Entertaining can be really fun and satisfying when you know what you are serving, and that you have done your best to make great food and serve the best drinks! Holidays are a time to be a bit more extravagant and indulge yourself in a few luxuries. So naturally, there is bound to be some Wine and Champagne at the table. A meal will always be more enjoyable if paired with a great tasting wine. You can go and pick out a good-looking affordable wine for your guests, but unless you are a vintner, how do you choose what wine will go best with the food that you are serving? And what should be the criteria for choosing your wines, besides the price, of course?? Luckily for all of us, here are some simple points to consider that would make your food and wine pairing process, a bit less intimidating.

Wines are characterized by different wine grades, and come in three basic forms: red, white and sparkling. Sparkling white wine that comes from a particular region of France is called Champagne. Generally, Red wine is considered appropriate with red meat and hearty pasta dishes, while White wine is preferred with fish and many chicken dishes. Red wines are benefited by aging, while white ones can served immediately after they are produced, with the exception of some sweet wines and champagne. Without getting too technical, the general idea is to serve lighter wine with lighter food and hearty wine with richer food. Here are some excellent tips that I could gather from here and here to help you in the wine-selection process.

A few obvious questions to ask yourself are these:

1. How much do I want to spend? Keep a budget in mind so you don't get distracted.
2. Do any of my guests prefer red or white wine?
3. Are there some favorite brands you'd like to stick to?
4. What kind of food am I going to be serving it with?

With answers to these questions ready in your head, you can relate to the guidelines given below which show how food and wine can be paired together. These two when combined together, have the ability to alter each others flavors. And usually, the spices, seasonings, sauces, herbs or the style in which the dish is prepared will determine the best-suited wine.

Salty/Spicy or Grilled Foods go best with lightly-sweet or mild fruity red wines. Chardonnay harmonizes with poultry and cheese. There are many variations of this white wine that can run from sweet and fruity to sour. It can even be paired with seafood quite well. Chenin Blanc is also a white sparkling wine and goes well with fish and chicken. A general rule is that wines that blend well with fish and other white meat contain high acidic flavor. The sharp, crisp hint of acid enhances the flavor of fish like a drop of tangerine juice would.

Meat and Seafood are difficult to pair with, especially as it depends on the type of cuisine and the spices. Most oriental food and white meat dishes won't go wrong when matched with a Riesling. Spicy Mexican foods on the other hand are best eaten with Shiraz, which is a versatile wine; it complements many popular meat dishes such as chicken, pork, beef and duck. A medium bodied wine such as Red Zinfandel will always taste better with red meat while White Zinfandel which is a newly-developed wine in the market goes in tune with pasta with light sauce, fish and most light dishes.

Acidic or Bitter Foods have a highly pronounced taste, so these are best paired with light reds or whites with medium-to-high acidic levels. Recommended choices are Merlot or Pinot Grigio.

Rich and Creamy Foods, like meat gravies and cheese sauces should definitely be served with full-bodies high-tannin wines so they can balance the greasiness in cheese or meat. Good choices would be Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Sirah and Bordeaux.

Sweet Foods definitely have to go with mildly-sweet or highly-sweet wines to grasp the flavor. Desserts are best paired with Rieslings, Port wines, or Madeira.

There, a nice and short summary of what I have learned till now. You can also find several wine reviews around the web.With a little bit of preparation, you can surely entertain yourself and your guests in a much better way! There's nothing like the "best" or "perfect" wine; the key is to find the one that will highlight the taste of your meal best. As you try more wines and learn more, your confidence will grow, and you'll develop the knack to mix and match.

Hope this article proves to be a starting point in your "spirit-ual" journey. It's time for celebration, and there's nothing more fun than entertaining with style!!

Ideas on Hosting a Cocktail Party

Cocktail parties are a fun way to catch up with old friends, or entertain people from work. And they are so much easier to plan and execute as these parties last for mostly an hour or two, and as the menu has only drinks and appetizers, perhaps some desserts, they do not require a lot of work! The other thing I love about cocktail parties is that they can easily be hosted inside your house, out on a patio or club-house, or you can choose to host a happy-hour at a restaurant or cafe, which can be a great option for someone who is short on time or doesn't need the pain of planning a party. Whatever your incentive, here are a few tips that can help you host a successful cocktail party, and master the art of entertaining! (img source: wikimedia )

Know Your Guests
This is extremely important because you have only a couple of hours to dazzle your guests and play the perfect host! So think ahead about who your guests are and their preferences. Are their vegetarians in the group, or people who'd prefer virgin drinks and sodas over cocktails? Is this a conservative work group or a gathering for friends? Will they prefer loud music or soft instrumentals in the background? Think about these things and consider it while deciding on the venue, decor and the menu. Check out online resources or entertaining magazines, or good old food-network for ideas and tips; this helps to give shape to what you might have in mind!

The Purpose and Occasion
The success of a party depends largely on what you plan to accomplish by hosting it. If you are just trying to catch up with old school friends you haven't met in quite some time, you'd have to go for neutral choices in food. If you are entertaining your boss and his family, or colleagues from work, trying to attract a promotion or get into someone's good books, it pays to take an extra step in knowing their favorites so you can impress them! If its just a bunch of people hanging out on friday night, or a high-tea with movies and games, you don't need to fret that much as you know your friends and their taste.

Planning Ahead
No matter what kind of a party it is, it always pays off to maintain a list of your invitees, and another task List that you can check-off as you finish things. Keep sections like guest list, catering options, menu items, grocery list, contact numbers, etc so you know what's missing and you don't get frantic at the last minute! If this is a formal or theme party with a dress-code, make sure you inform everyone about it, as well as check to see that you are ready for the theme party too! I've seen so many instances where parties turn sour because some of the guests did not know you were supposed to be "dressed formally", or because they think "Jeans" is "formal", while others are dressed in tuxedos and blazers! If this is an event aimed at having fun, think about simple drinking games that you can enjoy while talking and lounging, not something you have to rack your brains for!!

Hiring Caterers or Bartenders
Again, based on why you are entertaining, choose a location to host the party. Your house works fine for casual gatherings, but if you need this to go perfect, try hiring professional terers as they are trained for this! Here's a site that can help you find places that host a Happy-Hour. They also have a wider range of food and drink options to choose from, and you don't have to worry about anything except paying them and impressing your guests! if you have a fancy bar in your house that you are keen to show off, consider hiring a bartender who's familiar with several drink recipes (or just ask him to take a look at the right sidebar of this blog for some great recipes!:))

Food and Drinks
A cocktail party menu is generally more stress-free than other parties as you mostly serve appetizers or finger-foods, drinks and desserts. Choose 3-4 entrees, at least one of them vegetarian, and choose individual desserts, mainly petit-fours or tarts and cakes. Decide on what you want to cook at home and what you'd rather order from outside. It's good to balance between time and money. If you are doing this at your house,it might be a good idea to ask for help your family or friends or guest so they can come in early and help you with the cooking, cleaning, decoration and setting up the place. As Cocktails are the highlights, decide on what you'd like to serve. Here's a cocktail drink-dictionary if you are not familiar with the gazillion options available; mixed drinks with seasonal fruit flavors, coffee or shakes work best. Also keep room for sodas and virgin drinks for people who do not take alcohol. Select strong or mild alcohol depending on the time of the party. You can't serve whiskey at 4 pm!! Wine goes best with any kind of food as long as you pair it well. Here's a good read on wine-and-food-pairing.

Enjoy Yourself
Playing a host doesn't mean you shouldn't enjoy yourself. Planning ahead is crucial so it leaves you to mingle with your friends and entertain without being stressed. After all, its your gig, and you control the way you want the party to go! So keep these effective tips in mind the next time you plan a cocktail party and you can be sure to win accolades for being a perfect host!

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What is Port Wine & Why is it Special?

Port Wine, the famous sweet fortified wine of the Douro River Valley in Portugal, has long been the classic way to end a meal and celebrate an evening. Port is a sweet red wine with about 20% alcohol (as opposed to table wine which is usually about 13%) and rather low acidity and tannin, yet a rich spicy flavor and smooth taste! Port wine range from very sweet, semi-sweet to semi-dry, dry, and extra dry. The wine maker will determine its sweetness based on when and how he interrupts the fermentation process. Often served as the perfect Dessert Wine, here's an attempt to understand what makes Port such an exquisite wine, that draws people by its taste and aroma.

Port is created in a unique way that captures the fruit and flavor of the ripe grapes in wines that possess extraordinary longevity. During fermentation, prior to reaching the point where all of the natural grape sugars have been converted into alcohol, high-proof brandy is added to the vats to stop the fermentation. This leaves a wine with great depth of color and a high natural sweetness. After fermentation is complete, the wines are transported to "lodges" where they rest in large oak casks called "pipes."

The alcohol in port wine is produced under very specific conditions that result from natural and human factors. While aging in wood, port wine's fruity aroma develops through oxidation to create a bouquet that is reminiscent of dried fruit, toasting, wood, and spices. The aging process also adds to its smoothness while making the bouquet more complex. Much older wines have a greenish tint.

The Ageing Method
There are several styles of port, but there are essentially two aging methods, reductive aging and oxidative aging. Ports that are aged using the reductive process are sealed in their container and have no exposure to oxygen. They are smoother and less tannic. The port wines that are aged using the oxidative process are matured in wooden barrels and are slightly exposed to oxygen. Oxidated ports are more viscous and intense.

Types of Port
Vintage Ports are to be held in the bottle for a long time, ten years considered being just a start while truly great vintages can require 20 years and more to reach optimum maturity. This gives them a distinct taste, often known as "grapey". Ruby Ports, on the other hand, are generally young wines that have not lost their youthful ruby-red color. Fruity on the nose, they tend to be very fresh in the mouth. Tawny Ports are aged a long time in wooden barrels, spending 3 or 4 years in casks. They tend to lose most of their fruit and the normal deep red color becomes more of an amber hue as the wine acquires a nutty character. White Ports have different degrees of sweetness due to the manner by which they are made. They have a very floral & fruity flavor, and a minimum alcohol content of 16.5%, comparatively lower than the other port wines.

So all in all, it's an affluence of flavors that makes Port Wine so special. While other wines get a lot of their flavor from fruits and other additives, these dessert wines are naturally sweet and fruity, making them an ideal choice for pairing with any kind of food. And with enough Port Wine choices available for an amateur to a connoiseur, you are sure to find one that suits your tastebuds! But beware of Port wine stains - they can be really hard to get off!:)

Related Articles:
Is Red Wine Good for Health?
How to Pair WIne with your Food?
How to Store & Serve Wine?

Flavor Sprays - Great Taste & Zero Calories!

Those who haven't heard of and tried the Flavor Sprays from the award-winning chef David Burkes, you are seriously missing something! When I first read about them, I was intrigued and attracted at the same time - it's such a great idea to use Flavor Sprays which can enhance flavor of anything you eat, without adding tonnes of extra calories that generally go hand-in-hand with indulgent recipes! It is no wonder then, that people have caught up to the Flavor Spray Diet - you can actually eat the healthy food you need, without missing on the great flavor factor! These sprays are safe and contain absolutely no fat, no carbs, calories or cholesterol! They work with any and every type of food - so what are you waiting for? Spray some flavor into your nutritious food, and you can pamper your craving, without gaining any extra pounds or disturbing your diet plan!

David Burke, a renowned chef, restaurateur and cookbook author has introduced a line of zero-calorie Flavor Sprays to enable people to put more flavor into diet food like steamed vegetables, boiled eggs, or plain fruits and turn them into tasty concoctions. These are especially formulated for those who are on a low-calorie diet, so they can still cater to their cravings by trying to assugae them using these calorie-free, fat free, carb-free Flavor Sprays.

Flavor Sprays come in 35 flavors, and range from sweet and savory, both naturally-flavored and a combination of natural and artificial. Anybody on any diet or food plan can use the sprays. Though it was introduced a some time ago, it is only recently that the craze has increased. I watched an episode about these on Food Network, and decided to try a couple flavor bottles myself.

The basic idea of using Flavor Sprays is not to substitute actual fresh ingredients, but only to use it as a zer-calorie flavor enhancer on drab or plain foods. Instead of actual cheese, use Parmesan Spray, instead of Chocolate Sauce, spray 2-3 squirts of Chocolate Truffle flavor and your milk might taste better than before! With innovative flavors to choose from like Bacon, Bleu Cheese, Chocolate Fudge, Banana, Cookies & Cream, Memphis Bbq and many more, you can even combine certain flavors together to add the zing missing from your dish.

However, as exciting as these may sound, they are not real flavors, and hence do not taste as great as the names make them look! I found that I had to spray a lot of Chocolate Truffle on my ice-cream to make it taste even close, but Cookies & Cream in my milk had a stronger taste than Raspberry or Banana; so it really depends on your taste, and also the strength in the Flavor Spray. Perhaps the Memphis BBQ or Teriyaki flavors might provide some variety to plain, skinned chicken and steamed or broiled fish when one has tired of all of the seasoned salts and citrus squeezes. It may also be a good idea to use these with kids, as this way you can give them the taste without all that sugar! Or use it on someone who has high cholesterol and loves Bacon - a dash of spray on eggs is all he may need!

Flavor Sprays are a nice compliment to your diet routine, but they cannot substitute the actual ingredients. As David Burke says himself "The sprays do not compete with a gourmet chef or a balanced diet. Rather, they help in adding flavor to food without adding the fat and calories. They complement well-prepared food and a healthy diet plan." With this in mind, a $5.00 bottle of your favorite Flavor Spray can be enticing to try - I loved my Strawberry Shortcake and Cheesecake flavors; I'd urge you to try one yourself, as you might just find the flavor you were looking for!

Is Red Wine Good for Health?

Many of us have heard about red wine being good for our health, but do we know why? Here are some reasons which may help you appreciate your glass of wine more, knowing that it is actually doing you some good. It does not mean you can help yourself to a glass of wine every day! It only brings to your notice that Red Wine contains certain phytochemicals which have shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, certain cancers and slow the progression of neurological degenerative disorders like Alzheimer�s and Parkinson�s Disease. But this is all true, only when you drink it in Moderation! The moment you go over the safe limit, the health benefits are overpowered by the harmful side effects of excessive drinking, leading to deteriorated health. So be educated about what you are drinking, and the next time you have to choose a single glass of alcohol, go for the Red Wine instead of anything else!

A Look at the Positive Side
To benefit from drinking red wine, it must be drunk in moderation. Studies have shown that it helps in the prevention of heart disease. In fact, these studies also show that for middle aged people, one glass of wine for women and two glasses for men will actually lower the risks involved with heart attacks by between 30 and 50 percent. Here are a few health benefits of red wine:

Lowers Blood Cholesterol
It�s been proved that moderate amounts of alcohol can raise your good cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol) and thin your blood. This is true for red Wine too, which means that by drinking in moderation, the body's cholesterol level will be reduced, so reducing the risk of having blood clots due to fatty deposits in the blood vessels.

Source of Antioxidants
Being a good source of antioxidants which cleanses the human system, red wine is indeed beneficial to the body. Other substances found in red wine include Resveratrol, which is a substance know to help increase the levels of HDL or good cholesterol, and various other antioxidant properties that assist in the prevention of blood clot and plaque formation within the arterial walls of the veins and arteries, as shown by medical studies.

Prevent Deafness
I was surprised at this one too! But moderate amounts of red wine protects the delicate hair in the inner ear, according to Dr Jochen Schacht in America. He told New Scientist magazine that experiments found antioxidants in red wine neutralized chemical agents that attack these hair. Red wine has similar protective properties to green tea, which can help prevent deafness upto a certain limit.

A Look at the Negative Side
Wine, however, is not for everyone. Certain medical conditions are worsened by the consumption of wine, so it�s vital you seek the advice of your personal physician before making this a daily habit! Wine, is after all, a type of Alcohol, and comes with its own set of negatives:

High Triglycerides
One downside to wine consumption is that it can elevate triglyceride levels, which is associated with health problems such as diabetes. Those who already have high triglycerides should, therefore, avoid or dramatically limit their wine (and alcohol) consumption.

Breast Cancer Risk
Studies have shown alcohol can increase estrogen levels and raise tumor progression in women with (or at high risk for) estrogen positive breast cancer.

Migraines
Wine is often a big trigger for people who suffer with migraine headaches. Although white wine contains more sulfites than red wine (sulfites are added to white wine to preserve its light color), red wine seems to be a much bigger migraine trigger. That�s probably due to the accumulation of histamines and tannins from prolonged contact with the skin.

Weight Gain
People who drink alcohol also consume empty calories, calories that lack nutrients and can lead to weight gain. One glass of wine is equivalent to 120 calories - so you can imagine how easy it is to load up on calories if you get to drinking at a party!

After all this, people will continue drinking wine as a habit. This article is not to pass a judgment whether Red Wine is good for health or not - rather, it should be treated as an insight into the composition of wine, which makes it beneficial and harmful at the same time. Enjoy a glass within the safety limits, and you'll relax your body and mind; but always know when to stop, even if it's red wine!

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Wine Basics - How To Choose & Buy Wine

Do you feel confused and intimated when you have to choose a wine as a gift or to serve one at dinner? Are you someone who loves entertaining, but lacks enough knowledge about wines? There is a plethora of information about how to choose and select wine, and how to pair wine with food, and as fine dining becomes global, it becomes imperative to have at least some basic knowledge about the types of wine, and how to judge a good one from a mediocre one. While most people just feel comfortable going with some chosen labels, this may not always be your best bet! There are several factors which determine how to select a wine, and this article focuses on the basic wine knowledge that would help enhance your understanding of different types of wine, thereby making it easier to choose!

Whether you're out to dinner at an upscale restaurant or preparing a meal at home, knowledge about wine pairing will always be useful. Certain wines go best with certain meals and deciding on the right food & wine pairing can be a lot easier if you know the basics of wine characteristics. After a recent trip to Napa Valley, where we saw the entire wine-making process at a famous vineyard, I know I am much better educated about wines than I ever was, and definitely in a position to share my findings with you!

The types of grapes used to make a wine, often known as "Varietal", are the most important factor in the taste of the wine. However, the flavors are also affected by factors such as soil, exposure to sunlight, climate, how the grapes are handled and fermented, types of yeast used, whether the wine is aged in wood or oak etc

Types of Wines
The two basic types of wines are "White wines" and "Red wines". All wines are manufactured with the help of grapes, however, different flavors are created by combining the basic wine with fruits, or other additives, and the actual manufacturing and ageing process. The main difference between red and white wine is that the juice used to make red wine includes the skins, stems and seeds of red or black grapes. White wines can be made from any color grape, but only the clear juice of the grapes is used. The general rule of thumb is that red wines tend to be heavier while white wines are usually sweeter. When the wine is prepared in a way that produces carbon dioxide, it is termed as a "Sparkling wines". The sparkling wine that specifically comes from the Champagne region of France, is what we all know as "Champagne". These wines can be further categorised as Sweet or Dry, which is usually scaled between 00 (very dry) to 6 (very sweet). So the first thing you do, is narrow down your choices so you know what characteristics to focus on next!

Tannin Content in Wine
Tannins are a vital ingredient in wines, especially red wines, and form the basis of wine reviews. It comes from the stalks, skins and pips of grapes. Tannins in a young wine produce a bitter, taste on the palate, while the aged wines are more subtle in flavor. Also, the "length" of a wine, which means the amount of time the sensations of taste and aroma persist after swallowing, is a good measure to consider. This can only be learnt after you've tasted a few wines, but recommendations work the best here.

Acidity of the Wine
Acids of various types are present in wine, and are essential to the wine's longevity and also to its taste. A higher acidity makes the wine more tart and sour tasting; whereas a low acidity results in flat tasting wine that has a higher chance of getting spoilt. Acidity, when present in the right quantities, makes all other flavours in the wine stand out, including the undertones of fruit, spice and herbs. The flavour in wine that you would describe as tangy, sharp, refreshing, bracing, bright, crisp or zingy is basically due to its Acidity.

Alcohol Content of the Wine
You've probably heard of full-bodied wines, which is a direct measure of its alcohol content. The variations in the "body" of wine are like varying levels of fat-content in milk. On every wine label you�ll notice a percentage of alcohol by volume, which indicates its body as follows:

* 7.5% - 10.5% indicates light body
* 10.5% - 12.5% indicates medium body
* 12.5% and over indicates full body (very high alcohol)

Reading the Wine Label
This is perhaps the most important step for a novice person as reading a wine label carefull will often help you know the type, variety, flavor, region and vintage of the wine. It also pays to read the owner's notes on the bottle as it may guide you about the flavors, brand and sometimes, even food pairing suggestions. Plus, the wine labels will generally have Wine Grades printed on them; the higher the rating, the better the wine. Its recommended not to go below 80 points for a quality wine.

Vintage of the Wine
Vintage simply refers to the year the wine was made. Because weather cooperates better in some years than in others, certain years will produce better wines than others. The amount of rain that falls close to harvest time typically determines the amount of sugar in the grapes and thus, will affect the taste. It is beleived that 1990 was a great year for all wine, so if you are looking to impress, order a 1990 bottle and you are less likely to make a wrong choice! But remember, older wine does not necessarily mean better wine, especially if the older bottles were from a bad vintage.

Where to Buy
It is important to purchase wine from liquor outlets that take proper care of their wine, like buying directly from the winery. Extreme heat or cold, direct sunlight, and dramatic temperature fluctuations are not good for wine. Its is also important to buy wine from a vintner who uses quality Oak barrels for the ageing process, as this imparts a lovely flavor to the wine. Also, before you buy, make sure the wine is filled up to the neck of the bottle, the cork is not pushing out of the bottle, and there are no signs of leakage.

Wine has been a favorite topic among food and drink connoisseurs since long, and even if you are not into Wines, it can come in handy to learn the basics of wine. There are several factors to consider when selecting a bottle of wine, and those mentioned above are just a few of them. Understanding the basics of wine types, selections, storage and taste will surely add new dimensions to your wine experience. Hope this article serves to be an efficient introduction to help you choose and select the best wine, fit for your taste and your budget!

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Appetizers & Hors'Doeuvres - The Monthly Mingle Roundup!

Finally the wait is over! The much awaited roundup (at least for me!:)) that features lovely Appetizers & Hors'doeuvres is nothing but spectacular; thanks to everyone for making this happen! This post is indeed a wonderful collection of beautiful, bite-sized servings that will keep you full of ideas for your next party. Whether you love to entertain, or simply love cooking for your family, this roundup of Monthly Mingle gets you everything, from drinks to appetizers to desserts, we have it all covered, thanks to all you food bloggers out there! So without rambling any further, let's move on to the mega roundup!

Savoury Appetizers
Bleu Cheese and Tomato Crostini - Nicole at Cherrapeno
Asparagus & Feta Cheese Tartlettes - Marta at Italian in the US
Double-Dip Mirchi Bhajji - Ramya at RamyaCooks
Assorted Appetizers - Namratha at Fingerlicking Food
Stuffed Mushrooms - Sumathy at Sumi's Kitchen
Homemade Veg Puffs - Kamala at Kamala's Recipes
Greek Appetizers - Ivy at Kopiaste
Parippu Vada - Ranjitha at Ranji's Corner
Asparagus & Pepper Stromboli - Madhuram at Eggless Cooking
Cauliflower Fritters - JZ at Tasty Treats
Hara-Bhara Kabab - Shubha at Chutki Bhar Pyar
Zenzai-Sweet Red Bean Soup - Elsye at Dari Dapur Saya
Parmesan-Garlic Herb Bread - Shilpa at Aayi's Recipes
Quick Appetizers - Jayashree at Spice and Curry
Mini Bites - Shubha at Chutki Bhar Pyar
Vegetable Cutlets - Neha at Easy n Tasty Recipes
Polenta Quinoa Sticks with Rhubarb Sauce - Johanna at Green Gourmet Giraffe
Pastry-shell Kachori - Diksha at What's on the Menu
Red Lentil Appetizers - Chriesi a Almond Corner
Mini Samosas - Neha at Easy n Tasty Recipes
Gobi Wings - Shri at Emiinent Life
Paneer Tikka - Anisheetu at Sweety-My Kitchen
Aloo Samosas - Dee at Ammalu's Kitchen
Savoury Cheese Puffs - Cristina at From Our Home to Yours
Nutritive Maggie Hearts - Anisheetu at Sweety-My Kitchen
Stuffed Mushrooms with Pepper & Cheese - Ruth at Ruth's Kitchen Experiments
Multi-Grain Cucumber Vada - Trupti at RecipeCenter for All
Potato Cheese Bites & Cucumber Nibbles - Deeba at Passionate About Baking
Phyllo-Caprese Bites - Mike at Mike's Table
Veggie Hearts - Hetal at Isha's Kitchen
Asian Corn Fritters - Rosemary at Homemade Heaven
Spinach & Black-eye Fritters - Madhu at Ruchii
Vietnamese Corn Egg-Rolls - Wandering chopsticks
Break Pakoda - Maheshwari at Beyond The Usual
Sev-Dahi Puri - Alka at Sindhi Rasoi
Bread Rolls - Vandana at Vandy's Culinary Adventures
Spinach Tartelettes - Nikki at Canary Girl
Adas Bil Hamod - Easy at Simple Indian Food
Sago Cutlets - Su at iDayz
Mirchi Pakoda - Medhaa at Cook With Love
Bhujiya - Priya at Live To Cook
Summer Rolls with Soy Dip - Cham at Spice Club
Sai Bhajji - Medhaa at Cook With Love
Veggie Bread Cups - Srimathi at Foody Guru
Peanut Masala - Divya at Divya's Cookbook
Gobi Manchurian - Veda at Iyenger's Kitchen
Savoury Mini-Bites - Arfi at HomeMades
Potato Bajjis - Divya at Dil Se
Soy Shangrila - Rashmi at Food Dutchess
Curried Bananas - Sukanya at Hot n Sweet Bowl
Garlic & Honey Bread Cubes - Pat at Patricia Furdato
Stuffed Mushrooms - Nilmandra at Soy and Pepper
Ribbon Sandwich - Aparna at My Diverse Kitchen
Spannakopita - Bhags at Crazy Curry
Cucmber Sandwiches - Erin at Skinny Gourmet
Muthiya - Smita at Smita Serves You Right
Bell-Pepper Rings - Uma at Essence of Andhra
Grilled Baby Eggplants - Christie at Fig & Cherry
Goat Cheese & Red Pepper Crostini - Kim at Live Love Laugh & Eat
Okra Corn Cakes - Kalai at Samithu Paarkalam
Potato Mushroom Cakes - Raaga at Chef at Work
Veg Nugget Saatay - Archana at Archana's Kitchen
Upma Stuffed Bell-peppers - Madhu at Eggless Cooking
Fresh Corn Pakodas - Maya at Konkan World
Cucumber Petits - Sukanya at Hot n Sweet Bowl
Mushroom Rolls - Arundhati at My Food Blog
Cabbage Pakoda - Meera at Enjoy Indian Food
Millet Falafel - Rachel at Tangerine's Kitchen
Sabudana Patties - Jan at Food with a Pinch of Love
Mini Millet Patties - Uma at Essence of Andhra
Savoury Empanadas - Sophie at Flour Arrangements
Crostini Duo - Rachel at The Essential Rhubarb Pie
Tofu Biscuits - Jessy at Cherry Blossom
Goat Cheese Olive Balls - Lisa at Food and Spice
Pasta Tikki - Priya at 365 days of Pure Vegetarian
Fried Herb Mozzarella - DK at DK's Culinary Bazaar
Cauliflower Manchurian - Rama at Andhra Kitchen
Dahi-Vada - Arundati at Escapades
Quail Eggs with Zaatr - Lorraine at Not Quite Nigella
Fava Bean Bruschetta - Karen at Off the Meat Hook
Multani Paneer Tikka - North ki Rasoi Se
Samosas - Sangeeth at Art of cooking Indian Food
Sambosi (Spinach Pastry) - Siri at Siri's Corner
Veg Crostini - Naina at Naina's Recipes
Stuffed Potatoes - Ketki at My Two Cents
Gougre Cheese Puffs - Asha at Aroma
Black-eye Pea Fritters - Srivalli at Cooking 4 all Seasons
Papdi Pizza - Ranjitha at Ranji's corner
Chips & Gaucamole - Kalva at curry in Kadai
Fried Plantain Cracker with Mango Salsa - We are never Full

Salads & Drinks
Grilled Asparagus Salad - Abby at Eat the Right Stuff
Mediterranean Couscous Salad - Meeta at What's For Lunch Honey?
Cardamom White Chocolate - Rashmi at Delhi Belle
Kairi ka Jalzeera - Sheetal at My Kitchen
Chilled Pear & Watercress Soup - Glamah at Coco Cooks

Luscious Desserts
Hazelnut Rum Balls - Evelyn at Mountaineous Bites
Bavarian Creme Petit Fours - Alexandra at Addicted Sweet Tooth
Goat Cheese Lollipops - Dhangitt at Dhangitt's Kitchen
Walnut Cake - F at My Kitchen Hobbies
Blueberry Muffins - Mona at Zaiqa
Banana Fritters - Sowmya at Creative Saga
Lemon Flan with Strawbeery Compote - Lisa at Spicy Ice Cream
Peanut-Butter Brownies - Sagari at Indian Home Food
Carrot Muffins - Divya at Dil Se
Date & Walnut Muffins - Raaga at Chef at Work
Madata Kaaja - Sita at For Spice Lovers
Coconut Macaroons - Medena at Cafe Chocolada
Orange Hazelnut Madeleines- Lina at Eat Yet
Chocolate Kiss Cookies - Shibani at Pearls of East
Coconut Souffle - Jennie at My Cake Wardrobe

Fun and Food Entries
Strawberry Margarita
Almond Mocha Frappucino
Vegetable Bread Baskets
Colorful Dhokla Sandwich
Paneer Tikka with Mango Dressing
No-Bake Mini CheeseCake
Spiced Vanilla Tea Cupcakes
Marbled Cream Cheese Brownies

This was indeed a wonderful roundup; I apologise if I missed any entry, just send me an email and I'll double-check it. Once again, thanks Meeta for allowing me to host it, and thanks to everyone for sending in such delicious recipes to make this mingle a huge success! Happy Father's Day everyone!!

Sweet Sixteen Birthday Party - Ideas and Tips!

Sweet Sixteen is one of the most celebrated birthdays, and though every birthday of their kids is special to the parents, there are some milestones that demand a bit more attention! What was once a simple gathering of family and friends has now transformed into a birthday-bash, and hosting birthday parties takes a lot of time and planning these days! Sixteen is a special year because it is one of the most enchanting times in a girl's life, and turning sixteen is a gentle transition between your cuddly daughter to an adult teenager! And if it's important to her, it should be important to you too, so take some time to plan a wonderful Sweet Sixteen Birthday party for your daughter, for that may very well be the last one that she lets you plan, at least for a few years!!

As I said, 16 is a delicate year in a girl's life, and as you plan for her milestone event, it's important to respect the self-image of your growing teenager and her desire to be treated as an adult. At the same time, you want it to be special, as well as fun, something that she'd remember all her life. There was a time when a trip to Party City would be enough for all your birthday party supplies. But times have changed, and the web is now the new place to look for ideas and advice! Throwing a Sweet-Sixten party involves much more than a simple cake, some food and invitations. This is an era of party favors, and people go to great lengths to customize these to make it a memorable event for their daughters and the guests! However, there are a lot of factors that determine what kind of a party you want to host. Here are just a few things to keep in mind before you start planning, and also some ideas that might just click with you!

Avoid a Surprise Party
Parents love planning surprise parties for their kids, but while that would have been fun a few years ago, Sweet Sixteen is not the right time to throw a surprise party. For one, be sure that what you like and choose is going to be mostly rejected by your daughter, and your idea of fun, may be totally different from hers!! So unless you are prepared to face the consequences of a not-so-fun party, I'd advise you to plan it with your daughter. Involve her in all the planning stages, and maybe just keep one small thing at the party as a surprise, so you get the best of both worlds!

Fix a Budget
Needless to say, this is the first thing you should finalise, and be prepared to go over it a little! Parties like these can get really elaborate, and its better to discuss and decide on a budget before you start the planning. Everything that follows governs the budget, and while you can always stretch a little, its never wise to splurge more than you can afford on a party. Better invest it in getting your daughter a wonderful gift rather than throwing away the money for show!

Discuss Your Guest List
This is very important, especially because you need to know who is it that your daughter wises to invite. Is it a girls-only thing, or a mixed party, or a large gathering where a few families are involved? Sometimes parents want to involve close family members, but the birthday girl may have different plans! So talk to her and discuss it; if possible, keep a separate gathering for family and reserve the bash for her school friends. Whatever you choose, make sure everyone agrees on the Guest list, to avoid any embarrasing appearances at the party!

Choosing a Theme
This is one of the fun parts; its not necessary to have a theme, but choosing one is exciting, and also makes planning for other things a little easier, as you only have to focus on a certain theme. You can choose several ideas like a Beach or Pool party, a casual high-tea in your backyard, a high-end formal party at a banquet hall. It can also be a musical rock-concert theme where everyone performs a little something, or plan a lavish affair at the spa for a group of close friends; other favorite themes are Hollywood theme, a decade theme like 70's or 80's or the Pink Sweet Sixteen theme - there are too many options, it boils down to what your daughter likes, and what would be the most manageable for you. Once the theme is finalized, try searching for discount party supplies online, as this is where you'll get the best deals, and also the best ideas and value for your money.

Choose a Venue
Depending on the theme, you need to finalize a place to host the party. Most people prefer their own houses to minimize costs; but if you have a budget leeway, try renting a place as they would take care of everything, generally even the decorations, and you don't have to worry about cleaning up after the party ends. This also gives you more time to focus on the other things like arranging party favors and catering menu.

Send Out Invitations
Once the date, time, place and theme are chosen, its time to send out the invitations. For the traditional approach, you could send paper invites that are designed to suit the theme. But you can easily avoid this expense by opting for Evites that can be customized to make them suit your style. No matter what approach you choose, make sure you include the necessary information - date, time, place, requested attire, any other special events, and a note to RSVP by a date with the number of guests attending.

Planning & Decoration
The decor relies totally on the theme; if you do not have a theme, you just need to arrange tables for food and drinks, clear out the area of furniture, arrange some lighting and music to set the mood, and deck it up with some flowers and centerpieces. But if you choose a theme, take some time to research your options and choose the correct party supplies. Most of the online stores and even retailers will be able to help you once you tell them your theme. From ballons to streamers and boas to confetti, there's loads to choose from. But generally, its advisable to go light on the decorations and focus more on the mood, food, music and party-favors as that is what the kids would really enjoy!

Food & Drinks
When there's a large mixed group, its best to stick to a buffet-style party rather than elaborate meals. depending on the time of the day you choose to entertain, opt for hors'doeuvres, a main course entree, salads, chips and dips, and a course of simple desserts. Remember to plan a menu which can be handled by people as they walk around, chit-chat and play; If its more of a formal affair, you can choose an italian meal with pasta and baked casseroles. You do not want any curries and sloppy meals, nor food that cannot be served in paper plates. Keep it simple, but keep it good. Use plasticware for serving, and set a different counter for drinks. Beers, fruit punch and sodas will totally serve the purpose, and avoid alcohol if possible as these are teenagers, and you don't want to be responsible for what they drink and how much they drink! Stick to finger food, appetizers and desserts as the best choice.

Customize Party Favors
This is a new trend, and it pays to put some thought and time in selecting party favors that are appealing to you and your guests. The possibilities for birthday party favors are endless; from engraved picture frames, trinket boxes, flower vases or chocolates, to the more customized mugs, t-shirts, handbags and more, there is tonnes of stuff that you can choose. YOu can even choose scented candles, goodie-boxes, jewellery or anythign else; just make sure you do not go overboard, and at the same time, choose something that is meaningful, so that the recipient would remember this day fondly.

Dressing Up!
As you plan the party, don't forget to plan for yourself and your family! One of the best things about being a host is that you get a chance to pamper yourself too. Go out and shop for yourself and your daughter, especially if its a formal affair with a ball-room theme. You do not want to look shabby in front of your teenage guests, and definitely not look old!! Also, its customary to get "Tiaras" for the girls and probably "bead-bands" or bracelets for the boys at a Sweet-Sixteen party. So while you shop for yourself, don't forget to get it for your guests too.

Don't Forget the Camera!
Once the party begins, just get into the mood and enjoy with the kids. By planning ahead, you've done your part, and now you deserve to relax and have fun too. Of course, you'll still be on your toes chaperoning your daughter and seeking out the (male) friends she lingers longer to talk to, but trust your daughter and let her enjoy, and don't forge to take loads of pictures! Some people opt for professional photographers as they want to order an album; but frankly, its not such a big deal. If you are good with a camera, you can take pictures yourself! However, if its a themed party with dances and performances, then a professional video will be a better option. Plus, it allows you to enjoy more if someone else is responsible for the outcome of the priceless pictures and videos!:)

Just like any other birthday party, a sweet sixteen party is also intended to be fun; being a milestone, it does demand more planning and preparation, and I hope this article helps some of you plan a memorable sweet sixteen for your daughter! If you have your own ideas, please feel free to share it with our readers via the comments section. After all, there are never enough ideas, right?!

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Personalised Wine Boxes Make Excellent Gifts

Wines have served to be excellent gifts since ages, be it a house-warming, wedding, anniversary, a simple dinner or a holiday celebration. Lots of meals, occasions and gatherings are incomplete without a serving of wine. But in today's high-tech world, almost everything is personalised, from wardrobe to cell-phones, any gift you give or receive comes with a "personalised" message; so its no wonder then that Personalised Wine Gifts have become a new rage, and you'd be amazed to know how many options there are! But after my recent trip to Napa Valley, I am convinced that there's more to wine-gifting than I thought and a few tips to customize your next gift will surely go a long way!

We have a neighbor who is a 63-year old woman, and we often chat with each other over a cup of coffee. This Mother's Day, she received a personalised wine bottle from her daughter who stays in Missouri, and the package arrived when I was there. I was intrigued by the lovely gift box that housed a bottle of premium wine, along with some tinned goodies, all decked up with a lovely message from her daughter and grandkids and also a photo of the entire family, artistically printed as a personalised wine label on the bottle. One look at her face and I knew she was thrilled to have received it; even I would feel special if someone gifted that to me!

Lucky me, I not only got to share a glass of the exquisite wine with her, but also a look at the company that had provided the service. Connoisseur is a company specialising in california wine gifts. They have a large range of premium wines and champagnes that serve to be great gifts for friends, family or even clients and colleagues. From regional varieties to dessert wines, organic wines or sparkling ones, right upto other liquors and spirits, there's a lot of options to choose from. I really liked their packaging of rustic wooden boxes, which gave it that old-world charm. The gift boxes also include customised crystal stemware and gourmet food items like chocolates and cheese to go with your wine gift. You can create your own labels by providing your own text or verse, even choose fonts and style; for the less imaginative ones, they have some suggestions for all the major occasions. The cool part is that you can upload your photo so that it becomes a part of the message, as if you are there delivering the gift in person! They also add a personalized gift card made out for the recipient with a little story to suit the occasion! The prices are affordable to fit any budget, and if you are not a wine connoisseur, you can opt for gift certificates instead.

There's nothing like taking that extra step to personalise your gift. Wine is already a coveted gift, and with personalised wine labels you can make it even more fancier! Believe me, if you had seen my neighbor's face you wouldn't doubt it! Mother's Day is gone, but there's still plenty of time to buy a gift for Father's Day(June 15th)!! So if wine-gifting is on your agenda, make sure you personalise it to add that extra touch of sentiment and love, which is sure to bring a huge smile to the recipient's face!

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Spring Finds For Eco-Friendly and Stylish Entertaining

Playing a host is supposed to be as fun and fulfilling for the hosts as the guests, and entertaining does not have to be burdensome at any time! As we move into warmer weather, spring and summer collections are everywhere, be it clothes or home decor, so why not change your entertaining styles too! As they say, variety is the spice of life! So whether you are looking for ideas to entertain a large crowd, or host a simple dinner or cocktail party with friends and family, check out these cool, stylish and eco-friendly hostess collections that are ideal for the sunny weather and also the upcoming Earth Day!

As Earth Day is around the corner (April 22nd), I thought it would be great to look at some "green entertaining" deals. There are several alternatives to paper plates and cups, and one of the hot favorites is the elegant-looking Veneerware party supplies from Bambu, which is made from 100% organically-grown bamboo and will biodegrade within 4-6 months of disposal. Co-ordinate these with the stylish bamboo vases from jamaligarden that work great as centerpieces, or even to hold veggies or breadsticks!

And if you are looking for that splash of color that catches the eye, these hand-colored woven fruit baskets available in shades of green, red, orange, chocolate and olive are a fun addition to your kitchen or living room, and it's multi-faceted to be used to hold anything from food to papers to plants! Crate & Barrel offers some fusion dining options in earth tones of green, brown, olive and mocha in glossy and semi-matte glazes for that rich ethnic feel!



This wonderful spring dishware with matching placemats are all about going green and welcoming spring right into your house. With the vibrant christhaneum motifs on classic white porcelain, these dishes(not totally eco-friendly though) are ideal to serve appetizers and salads! The stylish spring placemats ($3.95) only add to the beauty of your table setting. If you are going for the more modern look for spring, try these amulet-placemats that can do with any dishes and come for only 99c!! Rosanna's carries a range of eclectic collection for mugs, plates and bowls.



Most of us try to use disposable serving-ware for larger parties. But disposable does not mean it can't reflect your acute sense of design or your values! Great hip colors, wonderfully designed shapes great for party and picnic use, these biodegradable and disposable tableware is sure to suit your style and budget. Available in bright green, aqua blue, rich red, and salmon pink, this set is great for summer parties and picnics! To really bring the spring into your house, add these miniature bio-degradable egglings ($7.99 from amazon)as part of your decor; they are not only pretty, but you can actually grow tiny herbs in them without much effort.

You don't need to spend a fortune to entertain in style; with these spring findings that are stylish and affordable, you can surely host a party that's both chic and green. And this Earth Day, make an effort to go eco-friendly if you can!

Raspberry Coulis(Sauce) with Creme - Layered Dessert

When you think about making desserts, fruits are one of the main ingredients most of the times. One of the easiest and most satisfying way of eating seasonal fruits is by making coulis, compote or preserves out of them, without giving up their nutritional value. Raspberry Coulis is one of the preferred toppings for many desserts. Coulis, traditionally a french recipe, is a form of thick sauce made from pur�ed and strained vegetables or fruits, and used as a base for other sauces or as toppings for other dishes. I have used it as a primary ingredient in my recipe for an easy Layered Dessert with Raspberry Coulis and Creme Fraiche; I also used some crushed orange biscuits to give it that cheesecake-like appeal.

The recipe below can be easily modified to suit availability of seasonal fruits like strawberries, pears, apricot or apple. The fruit coulis can also be made ahead and preserved in a jar in the refrigerator and used as topping for other cakes, ice creams and desserts.

Ingredients
3 ounces fresh or frozen raspberries (or strawberries)
1 cup sugar(or more if needed sweet)
1/2 cup water
8 orange-flavored biscuits(cookies)
1 cup ready-whip (cool whip)

Method

Raspberry Coulis (Sauce)
Take the fresh raspberries, deseed them and add to a blender. If using frozen ones, thaw then first then blend. Add the sugar and blend to form a smooth puree. Strain the puree theough a colander or sieve mesh to remove seeds and keep aside.

Now heat a pot on medium flame, add the raspberry puree to it and 1/4th cup water. Stir to mix and thicken the syrup. Add a little more water if required, but not too much. Cook the puree to form a thick jam-like fruit preserve, more like a compote recipe. When the water has evaporated and the mixture is thick enough, remove from flame and allow to cool.

Take the cool whip (add sugar if its not sweetened) and blend in a mixer on the "whip" setting for 3 short pulses. Add the orange zest and pulse again, then set in the refrigerator until time to serve.

Take the orange biscuits and grind them in the blender to form a smooth-to-coarse powder.

To assemble the dessert, take a tall clear serving glass. Start with a layer of ground biscuits, then add the warm raspberry coulis, then layer with the creme fraiche. Repeat the process with all 3 layers again. Top with a sprinkling of fresh orange zest, or use the ground powder and mint leaves for garnish. This delicious dessert is on its way to Susan who's hosting this week's edition of WHB started by Kalyn's Kitchen!

This layered dessert tastes best with warm fruit topping and cool creme fraiche; the temperature difference nicely balances the taste. This is a great and simple recipe for a quick dessert when you are entertaining! Plus the basic Raspberry Sauce can be used as a topping for any other desserts.

Similar Recipes:
Plum Compote with Cardamom
Carmelized Almonds with Strawberries and Cream

Tips to host the Perfect Super Bowl Party

Super Bowl is around the corner, and with just about a week to go, I'm sure everyone is on a planning spree! Whether you are throwing a party at your place, or have been invited to one at a friend's place, deciding on the menu and organizing everything so you are enjoying the game rather than stressing yourself out at the last minute is always a good idea. Super Bowl is not a formal party event; it's just a bunch of sports-lovers getting together, cheering their favorites, jeering at the losers, and having fun together. So don't stress yourself out and try to be more relaxed about. I scoured the net and magazines for some fun ideas and thought it would be great to share these with you. Basically, a big-screen TV, lots of finger food, chips and salsa, and chilled frozen beers would do the trick! But if you want to play the perfect host, here are some additional tips!:)

Invite Friends and Family
Duh!! That's so obvious:) but still, no game night party can be fun when there's just the 2 or 3 of you sitting in front of the TV. To get the real excitement going, invite as many friends as you like, the more the merrier!! You need friends for cheering, passing comments, jumping up and down, shouting with glee or cussing the player for a stupid move, and finally, to share the joy of victory or lend a shoulder to cry on when your favorite team loses!! This is what makes the game more fun, right!

Food and Drinks
Once you are done with the invitations, the next thing obviously is the Food, because that's what we all love!!! To make things simpler, you can always arrange a pot-luck, and ask each or some of your friends to bring in one entree. Division of work is easier and can often work out well. But if you are like me, you'd like to take the cooking-forefront yourself, so it's necessary to plan ahead. Food needs to be simple, so sandwiches, finger-food, chips, dips, and cookies work out the best. You don't want to spend time cooking or heating up food while the others are enjoying the game!! Ordering pizzas or long foot-long subways works great too. You can also find tonnes of super-bowl recipes on Rachel Ray's emag site! You'll also find some nice recipes right on this site, in the Entrees/Snacks section:) Keep you snack table simple for this night, and leave your gourmet stuff for some other time!

Setting the Mood
It always helps if you have sme props and table settings to compliment the game. Use stuff like megaphones, miniature footballs, and whistles for calling penalties. It can be fun for the kids too. Clear your seating area of ornate furniture. Some comfortable chairs, bean-bags or a rug spread on the ground with pillows and cusions would work best! Planning simple fotball trivia games with small themed prizes add a lot more fun to the event. You can organize this before the game or during half-time to keep the momentum going. And lastly, if there are kids, it's always a good idea to keep some toys out for them so they don't feel neglected:)

Setting the Buffet Table
Game Nights always have to be buffet nights, so set two tables, one for all the appetizers, drinks and beer cans, and the other for the food. It's advisable to use aluminium containers that you can pop into the oven when required; for meat and chicken, you might even go for the warming trays. Paper plates and plastic cutlery with packs of napkins should be stacked at one end of the table. Make sure you have enough ice to survive the game, and ask people to re-use their glaases and pitchers by marking them with their initials. This can be fun too:)

Wrapping It Up
Once the game is over, and all the hugging and crying has subsided, it's time to clean up! There's nothing wrong in asking your friends to help clean up. Dump stuff into large trash bags and take their help in loading the dishwasher, as well as moving back the furniture! Trust me, you'll feel way more relaxed when all this is cleared immediately, rather than getting to it later.

Always remember that parties are a time for fun, and that includes the hosts too. Pre-planning will help a lot in keeping things organised, and you will not be stressed at the end of it all. Follow these simple tips and hope you have a blasting Super Bowl Party!!