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Come Party With Me: Super Bowl Party - Drinks

partysugar — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 06:59:32 -0800

Super Bowl Sunday is just a few days away and slowly but surely I'm putting together my blowout bash. In order for me not to get overwhelmed when planning a party, I like to do it in little increments. The invitations one day, the menu the next, and so on and so forth until the entire fete is prepared. After the game and the food, the next essential piece of any Super Bowl party puzzle is the drinks. I went all out in the menu and will do the same with the drinks that I pair with my food. (Random side note that has nothing to do with drinks at all: maybe I'm a little excited from FabSugar's sexy week but isn't this pic of a football player's body HOT?) To see what I will be serving my guests while I cheer on the Chicago Bears, read more

Obviously an assortment of beers is a must. I plan on purchasing 3 different twelve packs: Heineken Light (for the gals who are watching their weight), Pacifico (to pair with the Mexican flavors that run through the dishes: chipotle, chili, nachos...), and Stella (for those who are beer snobs). To figure out how much beer you will need in relation to the number of guests who attend your fiesta, check out this handy dandy party drink calculator. Place the beer in a spot close to your tv and make sure to have several bottle openers on hand - it always seems they go missing at my parties pretty quickly! A silver bucket or a big plastic bin in your team's colors filled with ice will work perfectly.

If you want to serve wine as well as beer, pick American wines - afterall the Super Bowl is the ultimate American event. As California produces every nine out of ten American bottles of wine, look to your favorite wines from the Napa or Sonoma Valleys or the Southern regions around Los Angeles. Look for a Zinfandel with attitude, an easy-drinking Chardonnay, or a crispy, light Sauvignon Blanc.

I find that at parties guests are inclined to try one cocktail and then shift over to drinking wine or beer. Since this is the case, I'll have one super special cocktail for when my guests arrive. What says Super Bowl more than the Ultimate Margarita? You can serve it blended (but you'll have to make the mess with the blender during the game...), but I'll mix mine in a pitcher to prevent watering down the cocktail and then pour it over ice into a fun festive glass. If you are feeling like a dare devil and want to have some really outrageous drinks on hand for your overly excited guests, why not mix up a few cocktails with beer as the base? Here's a list of ways to jazz up your boring old bottle of beer:

Lager and lime: Add a dash of lime juice or lime cordial to a light lager.
Snakebite: Mix your favorite beer (usually a heavier beer, like stout, works well) half and half with cider.
Black Velvet: Mix stout and champagne, half and half.
Beer Bloody Mary: Mix beer and tomato juice, half and half. Add a dash of Tabasco and a dash of Worcestershire.
Red Eye: Add a shot of tomato juice to any ale or lager (this cocktail is also known as Tomato Beer or a Red Rooster). If you add a splash of Tabasco, the drink becomes a Ruddy Mary.
Liverpool kiss: Mix a dark beer with Cassis.
BeeSting: Dark beer and orange juice.
Skip and go naked: Combine beer, lemon juice and gin, with a dash of grenadine.
Broadway: Popular in Japan, mixing beer and cola is known as a Broadway
Caribbean Night: Beer and an ounce of coffee liqueur.
South Wind: Beer with a shot of melon liqueur.

Lastly be sure to have lots of water on hand (both sparkling and still) and an assortment of classic ballpark sodas: Coke, 7-Up, root beer, and Orange Crush. Got an amazing drink recipe that you will be mixing at your Super Bowl Party? Please tell me about it below! Next up on the game plan: winning decorations that are sure to score you a touchdown. Look for Come Party With Me tomorrow for the details.

Source: That's The Spirit

Come Party With Me: Knitting Party - Drinks

partysugar — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 07:02:12 -0800

I love ripping pages out of magazines. There's something so satisfying about hearing the tear noise when I rip the pages out, it just makes me happy. I rip out everything and anything: fashion ads to decorate with, recipes to make, beauty products to buy, images to use as inspiration. A while ago I ripped out a page of Harper's Bazaar magazine that had the most beautiful charcoal gray cowl neck knitted sweater. I didn't want to purchase the sweater, I wanted to make it. There was only one teeny little problem: I had no clue how to knit. Well, I actually still don't really have a full understanding and that's why I am hosting a knitting party this Saturday afternoon. It's time to get up off the couch and plan a party that will gather together my girlfriends and teach us a new useful skill as well. The invites were sent and the menu is planned, so today I'm talking about one of my favorite parts of any party: the drinks! For my drink menu, read more

The party takes place in the late afternoon which is the time for both tea and cocktails. Thus I will be offering both options. First I'll set up a Tea Bar by brewing several kettles of different flavored teas. I'll offer a whole bunch of accompaniments for the tea: mini bottles of liquors (amaretto, rum, frangelico, etc.), milk, cream, sugar, lemon, whipped cream, flavored syrups, wedges of fresh citrus, ginger, cinnamon, and vanilla. The tea will be drank from Moroccan style embellished glass glasses.

It's the dead of winter and to liven things up I'll make a tropical Raspberry Rum Punch for the girls who are more in the mood for cocktails than tea. The punch is a vibrant pink color and fits in lovely with the purple/pink color scheme. The punch can be placed on the same banquette where I create the tea bar. It shall be served in festive red wine glasses tied with a piece of dark purple satin ribbon.

As with all of my parties I'll have pitchers of both sparkling and still waters. If anyone fancies a glass of white wine, I'll have a few bottles of Pinot Grigio chilling in the fridge too.

Click on the image below for the recipe:

Next up on the plan: the decorations!

Do you know a cock(or mock)tail that would be absolutely divine at a knitting party? Tell me about it below.

Come Party With Me: Impromptu Concert - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 13:13:13 -0700

What to drink at a concert after party? The answer is sublimely simple: whiskey! Before, and during the show, offer a variety of bottled beers, but afterwards celebrate a successful performance with something a little stronger. This is exactly what I did when I helped host a concert for the Spanish group Cargados Band. The beer supply was exhausted before the concert was over, so the crowd switched to sipping simple whiskey cocktails. Carmen at Ayesta served a variety of whiskeys - Jameson, J&B, Dyc, Chivas, Jack Daniels - straight up or with Coke or 7-UP. Don't forget to offer the option of still and sparkling water and tinto de verano for those who don't drink hard alcohol. For the whiskey recipes, read more

Whiskey & Coke
From Drinks Mixer

2 oz Whiskey of your choice
8-10 oz Coca-Cola

Pour whiskey into large glass filled with ice.
Add coca-cola to fill glass. Stir lightly.

Serves 1.

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Whiskey & 7Up
From About

2 oz Whiskey of your choice
8-10 oz 7Up

Pour whiskey into large glass filled with ice.
Add 7Up to fill glass. Stir lightly.

Serves 1.

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Come Party With Me: KatieSugar's First Birthday Party - Drinks

partysugar — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 05:59:19 -0700

KatieSugar is narrowing in on a very exciting "first" moment. Sure she has plenty of first moments to come - her first words, the first time she walks, and much further down the line, her first kiss - but to me her first birthday party is by far the most important. Although she most likely won't remember this party too well (and not from over drinking!) it will be a milestone for Katie's parents, grandparents, and all those who love this little girl. I'm taking on all of the party plans and started with the invites before moving onto the menu. Everyone knows that Katie Sugar will be drinking milk and formula but what about the of age guests? To see the answer to that question read more

The theme of the food is mini and the look takes its cue from Katie's striped pink bedroom. To incorporate these ideas (miniature and pink) into the drinks, fill tiny shot glasses with a decadent
Strawberry Kiss cocktail (make sure not to mix them with the non-alcoholic mini milkshakes!) and offer up a Watermelon Martini. To really emphasize the fact that it's a baby's birthday party, instead of serving the watermelon martini in your typical martini glass, pour it into baby bottles. Don't forget pink champagne for those who prefer not to partake in hard liquor (I like Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut Rose), beer for Brian and the boys, and Pink Lemonade for a non-alcoholic refreshing option.

Strawberry Kiss
From Inside SCV

1 oz white rum
1 oz Amaretto
4 strawberries
1 oz double cream

Blend all ingredients with ice until smooth.
Pour into a hurricane or wine glass garnished with fresh strawberry on the rim.

Makes 1 cocktail.

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Watermelon Martini
From Be My Guest: Theme Party Savoir-Faire by Rena Kirdar Sindi

3 oz vodka
2 oz fresh muddled watermelon (seedless and strained)
dash of sugar

Combine ingredients, shake over ice and serve up in a chilled martini glass (or bottle!).
Garnish with a fresh slice of watermelon.

Serves 1.

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Pink Lemonade
From Simply Recipes

1 1/4 cup sugar (if using unsweetened cranberry juice, 1 cup if using sweetened)
4 cups water (divided)
1 cup cranberry juice
1 cup lemon juice

Make a simple syrup by heating sugar and 1 cup of the water in a small saucepan until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat.
Stir together the remaining water, cranberry juice, lemon juice and simple syrup. Make adjustments to taste.
Chill for an hour, or add ice to cool.

Serves 6.

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Come Party With Me: Tea Party - Drinks

partysugar — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 06:58:32 -0700

It's tea time! This week I'm planning an afternoon tea party. On Monday I sent out beautiful floral invitations to my girlfriends and yesterday I put together a menu full of scones, tea sandwiches, and shortbread cookies. Now it's on to the drinks, the tea of the tea party. Start by picking out which teas you will offer your guests. You could make several pots of the same kind, or a few different kinds. I am a fan of options and will brew a couple different kinds of tea. At all of my parties I like to offer an alcoholic beverage, so for those who are in the mood for an afternoon aperitif, I'll shake up a green tea martini. For my tips on brewing the perfect cup of tea and the recipe for the mar-tea-ni, read more

In honor of the tea party that I am planning this week, I thought it was necessary to go over a few basic suggestions for brewing a warm, wet, wonderful cup of tea.

To ensure freshness, store in an airtight container in a cool, dark space.

A good cup of tea is only as good as the water used, so choose fresh, flowing, cool, bottled/filtered water.
Take care when measuring out the tea because the tea's strength and flavor depends on the quantity of tea in the pot and the amount of steeping time.
Generally one bag or 1 teaspoon of leaves is considered a 1 person serving.
Do not overboil the water because once it begins to lose oxygen, the flavor of the tea will weaken.
The most important step of tea making is the correct brewing time. Brew for too long and the tea will taste bitter, brew for too little and the tea won't have maximum flavor.

Tea Brewing Time Chart
Tea Type Steep Time (in minutes)

black tea 3-5

herbal tea 5-10

green tea 1-3
Wrap the teapot with a towel or cozy to retain heat while steeping.
Strain tea leaves or remove tea bags before pouring into a cup and enjoying.
Milk dissolves the best into hot tea so plan accordingly.
Do not leave tea uncovered for a long period of time after brewing - drink or refrigerate to retain antioxidants and prevent bacteria from growing.
For the best tea, fill a teapot with hot tap water to warm it up; likewise warm up your teacups in a cup warmer or with hot tap water.

**Tea Brewing Time Chart**
Tea Type	Steep Time (in minutes)
black tea	3-5
herbal tea	5-10
green tea	1-3

Green Tea Martini
From That's The Spirit

Ice
1 ounce green tea, chilled
2 ounces citron vodka
1 teaspoon Cointreau
1 teaspoon simple syrup
Orange twist

Fill a shaker with ice. Add green tea, vodka, Cointreau and simple syrup.
Shake well and strain into a cocktail glass.
Garnish with an orange twist.

Makes 1 cocktail.

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What are your secret tips for brewing the best cup of tea around? Please share them with us below. Next up on the party plan to-do-list: the look.

Come Party With Me: Going Away Party - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:15:14 -0700

The menu for the going away party is simple, classic, and comforting so serve a drink that embodies these qualities as well. A lemonade-inspired punch is refreshing and crowd-friendly. It's simple to make and delicious to drink. Make two batches - one alcoholic and one nonalcoholic. For the clambake offer guests a chilled white wine or light, fruity red. For those who prefer not to drink hard liquor or wine, stock up on beer, water, and sparkling juices. For the easy spiked lemonade recipe, read more.

Lemon Punch
From Everyday With Rachael Ray magazine

Ingredients

Two 12-ounce bottles light-flavored beer, such as Corona
6 ounces frozen lemonade concentrate
3/4 cup (6 ounces) vodka

Directions

In a large pitcher, combine the beer, frozen lemonade concentrate, and vodka.
Allow the foam to settle and pour the punch into chilled glasses.

Serves 8.

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Come Party With Me: Luau Dinner For 8 - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 07:08:51 -0700

At all of my dinner parties, I offer guests one signature cocktail with appetizers, followed by a couple bottles of wine with dinner. I am a fan of a full open bar and pleasing my friends with whatever drink floats their fancy, but I do this when a small group is coming over for drinks only. At a dinner party, there are other things to worry about - the food, the mingling of new friends with old, etc. - so it's easier to make one big cocktail that fits the theme. Don't make an endless amount, a few pitchers full is sufficient. For this week's tropical themed dinner party, a colorful rum punch is ideal. Fresh raspberries give it a festive look and lime slices act as garnish. Sparkling and still water refreshes guests, and a mixture of fresh lemonade and pineapple juice is refreshing for those who do not consume alcohol. With the mahi mahi main course pour California Chardonnay or an Australian Riesling. If you must have red wine, serve a light bodied Beaujolais. For the raspberry rum punch recipe as pictured at left read more

Raspberry Rum Punch
From Instyle magazine

1 pint raspberries (or 1 pint frozen raspberries)
1 cup simple syrup
4 cups club soda
4 cups dark rum
4 cups fresh lime juice
2/3 cup superfine sugar
Ice
raspberries, lime wedges, optional for garnish

In a punch bowl crush the raspberries and simple syrup.
Add the club soda, rum, lime juice, and sugar.
Ladle into ice-filled glasses; garnish with the raspberries and lime slices.

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Come Party With Me: Celebration You - Drinks

partysugar — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 06:57:13 -0800

Call me crazy, but this week I'm all about throwing the most fabulous party imaginable for myself. No, it's not my birthday, I haven't graduated or gotten a promotion, I really have no official reason to be planning this party. I'm doing it because I feel like it and because I'm worth it (and because I've become exhausted by all of the parties I have been organizing and attending lately). That's why I'm taking the night off for a little me party time. I canceled my plans for Friday evening and assembled the fixings for a delicious meal with a delectable dessert. Just because I'm celebrating solo doesn't mean that things won't be stylish. I'll mix my favorite cocktail while I munch on candied walnuts and sip my preferred wine while I savor every bite of my souffle. To see exactly what sort of drinks I'll be pouring for my most wonderful guest (myself!), read more

I'll start my celebration the second I get home from work with a classic vodka (grey goose, is there really any other kind?) martini shaken, not stirred, with three olives. I keep martini glasses chilling in my freezer for any unexpected martini moment. For dinner I'll purchase, chill, pop, and sip a small bottle of expensive Champagne (I'm totally worth it). Ever since I first tasted it at my grandfather's house I have been crazy about Dom Perignon with its teeny tiny bubbles and smooth refreshing palette. For all of you non drinkers out there I suggest pineapple rosemary water a deliciously cool concoction that will awaken your senses.

Party's Perfect Vodka Martini
From PartySugar (hey I was a bartender!)

2 1/2 oz vodka (recommended grey goose)
1/2 oz dry vermouth
3 green olives on a tooth pick
martini glass, preferably chilled

Fill the martini glass with ice. Carefully pour the vermouth into the glass and set aside.
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and the vodka. Shake vigorously for at least 20 seconds. You want ice crystals to form in the vodka.
Carefully pour out the ice being sure to coat the entire glass with vermouth.
Strain vodka into glass and garnish with olives.
Enjoy!

Serves 1.

Warning: it is not highly advised to drink three or more of these potent babies in a short amount of time. Trust me you will only end up with a horrible headache.

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Pineapple Rosemary Water
Modified from Everyday With Rachael Ray magazine

4 sprigs fresh rosemary
2 cups fresh pineapple chunks
sparkling water
Ice cubes

In a saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil with 3 sprigs rosemary.
Remove from the heat, add the pineapple, sparkling water, and refrigerate for several hours for the flavors to meld.
Discard the rosemary sprigs and transfer the drink to a pitcher filled with ice. Garnish with the remaining fresh rosemary sprig.

Serves 4.

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What will you pour yourself for your luxurious love-fest? Tell me about it below. Stay tuned there is more pampering party on the way. Tomorrow I'll tell you a few at home spa treatments.

Come Party With Me: St. Patrick's Day - Drinks

partysugar — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 06:58:19 -0700

St. Patrick's Day is Saturday and I can't contain my excitement. I have been obsessing about what to wear internally for a few weeks now, and had intended on wearing this green mini dress until I found this fabulous old football jersey of my mom's with my Irish last name plastered across the front. Now that I have my sporty chic green outfit picked out, I can focus all of my attention on my pre-pub-hopping, St. Patrick's Day themed dinner party. The invites have been sent and the menu (including a vintage Irish soda bread recipe and a glamorous layer cake) has been planned. Today I am turning my thoughts towards a classic St Patrick's Day subject: drinking. To see what I'll be pouring during my dinner (homemade Baileys anyone?), please read more

After we finish dinner we are going bar hopping, so I dont want to go overboard with specialty cocktails. I'll offer a simple yet widely popular drink, green beer. It's totally uncomplicated, all you do is add green food coloring to your favorite beer. I'll get a few six packs of Harps and Guinness Irish beer, enough for everyone to have a glass or two during the meal. We will be taking cabs and walking to our destinations, but if you are having a get together be sure to have an option for your designated drivers. Sparkling water enhanced with lime and mint or sprite mixed with lime sherbet are two refreshing choices. With dessert I am going to offer everyone a small glass of homemade Irish cream liquor that tastes and looks just like Baileys. I've made this for the last few years and it's absolutely creamy and fabulous. If you are attending a party a bottle of this makes an excellent hostess gift.

Homemade Bailey's Irish Cream
From Gail's Recipe Swap

1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 pint whipping cream
3 eggs
3 tablespoons chocolate syrup
1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
10 oz. Irish whiskey (suggested Jameson)

Mix all of the ingredients in blender and refridgerate.
Shake before using
Enjoy chilled over ice.

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I know a few of you are hosting parties as well and want to know what do you plan on pouring? Share with me below and come back tomorrow and Friday for more. I still have to design a look and select a playlist for this shin-dig.

Come Party With Me: My Birthday Party - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 07:11:31 -0700

My 26th birthday party is being held at a local bar named Wish, so a specialty cocktail isn't as necessary. Guests - who will come dressed as their favorite cocktail - can order drinks at the bar and the need to make a specialty drink in advance is eliminated. When hosting an event at a bar or restaurant you can usually rent out part, all or none of the bar. As much as I would love to have an open bar, my pocketbook won't allow me to. However I do want everyone to have the opportunity to toast fabulous moi during the birthday cake ceremony. Therefore, I've discussed it with the owners and everyone will receive a champagne cocktail at midnight. When the party is over they'll let me know how many bottles of champagne were consumed and I will pay that cost. To see the recipe I'm using for a classic champagne cocktail, read more

Classic Champagne Cocktail
From Drinks Mixer

3 oz. champagne
1/3 oz. cognac
2 dashes Angostura bitters
1 tsp. sugar

Soak one sugar cube in a champagne flute with angostura bitters.
Add champagne and cognac. Squeeze in a twist of lemon and discard. Garnish with half a slice of orange and a cherry, if desired.

Serves 1.

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