2010 April | She Plans Parties

Cinco De Mayo~ Summer Tequila Cocktail Recipes With a Twist

April 30, 2010 By Linette 2 Comments

Today I have some fabulous Cinco De Mayo cocktail recipes to share with you. These recipes would also be perfect vor any summer party. I can see myself beside the pool, or lounging in the beach chair with one of these in my hand.

These cocktail recipes would also be fabulous for a backyard barbecue, with a tropical island theme. Just looking at them makes me think of sandy beaches!

I might just have to make one of these tequila cocktails this weekend!

The recipes are courtesy of Oro Azul Tequila.

Island Sunset

1 ½ oz Oro Azul Blanco Tequila
½ oz Cointreau®
2 oz pomegranate juice
1 oz fresh lime juice
½ oz simple syrup

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice add above ingredients shake well and pour into a Collins glass filled with ice.

La Bonita

1 ½ oz Oro Azul Reposado Tequila
½ oz Cointreau®
2 oz fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 oz pear juice
1 oz simple syrup

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice add above ingredients shake well and pour into a Collins glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

El Matador

1 ½ oz Oro Azul Blanco Tequila
3 oz pineapple juice
Juice of ½ lime

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice add above ingredients shake well and strain into a champagne flute.

Pomegranate Perfection

1 ½ oz Oro Azul Añejo Tequila
½ oz apple brandy
2 oz pomegranate Juice
2 oz fresh squeezed lemon Juice
Splash of cinnamon

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice add above ingredients shake well and strain into an ice filled 12 oz glass. Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Mangorita

2 oz Oro Azul Reposado Tequila
½ oz Triple Sec®
2 oz mango juice

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice add above ingredients shake well and strain into a martini glass.

Oro Azul is produced by the Lopez Garibay family, which has been in the tequila business for over 100 years. Established in 1921, their present ranch is located in the heart of the tequila region, Los Altos, where only the finest blue agave is found.

After five generations, the family continues to follow a traditional style, handmade tequila production process that focuses on 100 percent estate grown blue agave and attention to preserving the original cultivation and distillation techniques used over a century ago.

Always remind your guests to drink responsibly, and never drink and drive!

Filed Under: Cinco De Mayo, Cocktail Recipes, Featured, Summer Entertaining Tagged With: Cinco De Mayo, Cocktail Recipes, cocktails, summer party, tequila cocktail

Cut Some Fresh Flowers For Your Summer Party Decorations

April 30, 2010 By Linette Leave a Comment

Fresh spring an summer flowers make fabulous table centerpieces, and decorations for your outdoor or indoor party. Just walk out in your garden and clip a handful of your favorite blooms, and arrange them in a vase.

A couple more quick flower arranging tips:

1. Use the freshest flowers possible.

2. Clip your flowers early in the morning, late in the evening, or just after a light rain. The flowers will be holding more moisture at these times. The extra moisture will keep them fresh longer.

3. Carry a pitcher of warm water with you as you clip, and put your flowers in it as soon as you cut them. This helps keep the stems open, and helps the plant continue to take up moisture.

4. You can use almost any flower in your arrangements. If you’ve got enough flowers, you might want to do a practice run ahead of time to make sure the flowers you pick will hold up, and to check out what looks good together.

5. Even tiny flowers can be used in small vases, or glass jars to make a cute table display.

You can’t go wrong with cut flowers for a summer party centerpiece. It’s really hard to make a floral arrangement look bad if you include an assortment of different flowers, and plenty of greenery! Just have fun with it!

Filed Under: Decorating, Featured, Summer Entertaining Tagged With: decorating with summer flowers, flowers, fresh flower party decorations, Summer table decorations

Graduation Party Themes

April 30, 2010 By Linette Leave a Comment

Every graduate has their own unique personality. You don’t have to stick to caps and gowns for your graduation party. You can create a party that’s as unique as the graduate themselves.

Here are a couple graduation party themes and some basic ideas to go with them. Over the next couple days we’ll expand on some of these themes, and give you more food, decorating, and cake ideas.

Do you have a music fan? Someone who loves to play the guitar, drums or any other instrument? Plan a music themed graduation party. Use music notes, or cardboard cut out musical instruments to decorate for the party. Music note cupcakes, a keyboard, or guitar shaped cake would also be fun.
Plan a graduation luau, complete with roast pork and grass skirts.
Is the graduate into sports? Either playing a sport, or a spectator, plan their party around their favorite sport or sports team (high school, college or professional). Decorate your party with team colors and memorabilia.
Plan a Mardi Gras theme graduation, use the Mardi Gras colors of purple, green, and gold to decorate. Hang brightly colored streamers and and masks for decorations. Let New Orleans influence your menu choices.
Make graduation a red carpet event. Take photographs of the graduate and their friends as they arrive, and let them walk the red carpet, just like the stars. Serve a star shaped cake, or add star sprinkles to your cupcakes.
Does your graduate speak a foreign language? Are they thinking about studying in a different country? If they’re fluent in French or Spanish use those cultures to influence your party decorations and food.

For personalized graduation invitations, cake ideas, graduation postage, banners and more, make sure you check out Graduation Party Ideas and Supplies.

If you have a unique graduation theme party idea please share!

Graduates Image: istockphoto

Filed Under: Featured, Graduations, Summer Entertaining Tagged With: graduation party, graduation party ideas, Graduation party themes, luau graduation party theme, Mardi Gras Graduation party, music graduation party theme, Rock Star graduation party, sports themed graduation party

Red White and Blue Dessert Idea~ Cupcake Flag

April 29, 2010 By Linette 2 Comments

Here’s a fun twist to the flag cake. This cupcake flag would be a fun dessert idea for Memorial Day, The Fourth of July, or any summer party. I used mini cupcakes to put this one together. You could also use regular size cupcakes to make the cupcake flag, if you’re making it for a large party. You can use a large covered cardboard, or assemble the flag right on the dessert table.

The cupcake flag takes 48 cupcakes to make. Here’s the breakdown: Ice twelve cupcakes with royal blue icing, use one of the star tips to make white stars on the blue cupcakes. Arrange the blue cupcakes in 3 rows of 4.

Ice the rest of the cupcakes with white icing. Arrange the white cupcakes 4 more cupcakes to finish off the blue rows. Add 3 more rows of white cupcakes below. For a total of 6 rows of 8 cupcakes. Add strawberry slices to make stripes.

Like I said above you can assemble the flag right on the dessert table, or you can cover a large piece of cardboard, or a baking sheet with silver foil. If you will be traveling with your cupcake flag, add a tiny dollop of icing under each cupcake to help hold them in place.

Filed Under: 4th Of July, Featured, Holidays, Party Recipes, Summer Entertaining Tagged With: Fourth of July party, Memorial day party, patriotic dessert, red white and blue dessert, summer desserts, summer party

Cinco De Mayo Party~ Guacamole Mexican Flag Dip

April 29, 2010 By Linette Leave a Comment

Today I have a fun recipe to share with you for your Cinco De Mayo celebration. I love guacamole, salsa and sour cream, so this dip is definitely a big hit as far as I’m concerned! It would great for any Mexican fiesta, or just because for a summer outdoor barbecue, or fall football party.

The recipe is courtesy of Wholly Guacamole , I have to say I’ve had the opportunity to try their guacamole and their salsa (they sent me a sample a while back), both are delicious.

Here’s the Guacamole and Salsa dip recipe: