In Feburary 2016 30,
Sub sandwiches are relatively inexpensive to purchase from your local mom and pop or national sub shop chain. Order multiple foot-long sub sandwiches in a variety of types. Then, slice the subs into 2 to 3 inch pieces, place on a platter and serve as refreshments. So you don't have to stand in line, order the subs earlier in the day and arrange a pick-up time so that they are fresh. Also, when ordering, ask the sub shop to hold off on mayonnaise, mustard, oil and vinegar and sauces of any kind. Instead, provide those items in small serving bowls next to the sandwiches. People can then add those condiments if they desire. Also, you might consider writing out little cards in front of each platter to describe what is on each sub.
Sundae Bar
If you are hosting an event where a lot of kids are attending, consider offering a sundae bar as a refreshment. Purchase basic flavors of ice cream such as vanilla, chocolate and strawberry. Also purchase toppings such as whipped cream, hot fudge, caramel and sprinkles. About 20 minutes before the refreshments are to be served, take out the ice cream so it begins to soften slightly. Set out an ice cream scoop for each kind of ice cream. Also, heat the caramel sauce and hot fudge in small sauce pans and place them out in bowls as people begin to line up for refreshments. You may need to heat multiple batches of the hot fudge and caramel sauce depending on how many people are attending. Set out the whipped cream and sprinkles and invite people to make their own sundae. You can also purchase other toppings such as candy bars, crushed cookies and nuts.
Fruit and Vegetables
If you are having an event for the health conscious, then you might consider setting out fruits and vegetables for your guests to enjoy. Put together a vegetable platter by purchasing cherry tomatoes, celery, baby carrots, cucumber, raw broccoli and raw cauliflower. For dipping sauces, purchase light ranch, light blue cheese and light balsamic vinaigrette. Wash and pat dry the vegetables. Slice the cucumbers and celery to bite-size pieces and separate the broccoli and cauliflower. Arrange all on a platter and serve with the dressings for dipping. For the fruit refreshments, you can choose to set out items that can be eaten whole such as apples, peaches, and oranges, or make a simple fruit salad by combining pieces of melon, strawberries, blueberries, and pineapple. As a topping for the fruit salad, you can set out yogurt or whipped cream.
Cheese Plate
A cheese plate is very simple to put together and usually popular. Purchase several different kinds of cheese. They can be mild such as a light cheddar, or pungent, such as a bold bleu cheese. Plan to purchase 2 to 3 oz. of cheese per person if this is the only refreshment. However, that number can be reduced if your event is serving other food. About 15 minutes before serving, remove the cheese from the packaging and place on a platter. Place a knife out for each type of cheese so they do not mix. Finally in a basket, place a paper or cloth napkin and layer a bunch of crackers on top. The crackers can be of an assorted variety. Place some tongs in the basket that people can use to grab the crackers.
In Feburary 2016 30,
Showing posts with label ice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ice. Show all posts
Tuesday, 1 March 2016
Thursday, 4 February 2016
How to Plan Family MeetingsIn Feburary 2016 04,
In Feburary 2016 04,
Set a time that works for everyone involved. A Sunday evening before the beginning of the new week is one possibility. Families normally have meetings each week or every other week. Family meetings shouldn’t run longer than about 45 minutes. If you have younger kids, it's a good idea to keep the first few meetings between 10 and 20 minutes, then gradually increase the time so they can get used to sitting through the meetings according to the article '10 Tips for Successful Family Meetings' on Colorado State University's website.
Choose a comfortable location for the meetings such as the dining or living room. It’s a good idea to have family meetings in the same location each week, but don’t shy away from picking a fun location away from home if you’ve had a tense week. A pizza place or ice cream parlor are easy, fun locations.
Plan the agenda for your meeting and keep it consistent. It might include sharing and coordinating schedules, complimenting each other, discussing and solving problems, a fun activity and information on the next family meeting.
Design and post a chart showing the agenda ahead of time so everyone knows what to expect. Keep the chart up as a reminder.
Discuss and write down rules before the meeting. Possible rules include everyone gets a chance to talk, no interrupting and no putting others down. At the first meeting you might also explain using “I” rather than “You” statements to avoid blaming others. For example, “I feel frustrated when you do x, y, z,” is better than saying, “You make me frustrated when you do x, y, z.”
Designate a leader for the first couple meetings, ideally a responsible adult family member. After that, it’s important to rotate the role so everyone feels they're involved. Adults can help younger family members who aren’t quite ready to lead on their own. Other roles you might consider are a secretary to keep notes and a time keeper to make sure the meetings run on time.
Plan activities to help younger children share their ideas. They might draw a picture of what they want to do or give something special to someone as a compliment.
Gather supplies for the meeting. A family calendar where you can make notes of weekly activities and family meetings, a list of activities, paper and a pen are all supplies to have handy.
Plan a fun activity for after the family meeting. This ensures the meeting ends on a good note and encourages more bonding.
In Feburary 2016 04,
Set a time that works for everyone involved. A Sunday evening before the beginning of the new week is one possibility. Families normally have meetings each week or every other week. Family meetings shouldn’t run longer than about 45 minutes. If you have younger kids, it's a good idea to keep the first few meetings between 10 and 20 minutes, then gradually increase the time so they can get used to sitting through the meetings according to the article '10 Tips for Successful Family Meetings' on Colorado State University's website.
Choose a comfortable location for the meetings such as the dining or living room. It’s a good idea to have family meetings in the same location each week, but don’t shy away from picking a fun location away from home if you’ve had a tense week. A pizza place or ice cream parlor are easy, fun locations.
Plan the agenda for your meeting and keep it consistent. It might include sharing and coordinating schedules, complimenting each other, discussing and solving problems, a fun activity and information on the next family meeting.
Design and post a chart showing the agenda ahead of time so everyone knows what to expect. Keep the chart up as a reminder.
Discuss and write down rules before the meeting. Possible rules include everyone gets a chance to talk, no interrupting and no putting others down. At the first meeting you might also explain using “I” rather than “You” statements to avoid blaming others. For example, “I feel frustrated when you do x, y, z,” is better than saying, “You make me frustrated when you do x, y, z.”
Designate a leader for the first couple meetings, ideally a responsible adult family member. After that, it’s important to rotate the role so everyone feels they're involved. Adults can help younger family members who aren’t quite ready to lead on their own. Other roles you might consider are a secretary to keep notes and a time keeper to make sure the meetings run on time.
Plan activities to help younger children share their ideas. They might draw a picture of what they want to do or give something special to someone as a compliment.
Gather supplies for the meeting. A family calendar where you can make notes of weekly activities and family meetings, a list of activities, paper and a pen are all supplies to have handy.
Plan a fun activity for after the family meeting. This ensures the meeting ends on a good note and encourages more bonding.
In Feburary 2016 04,
How to Host a Yappy HourIn Feburary 2016 04,
In Feburary 2016 04,
Yappy hours are often hosted by hotels, bars, apartment complexes or breed play groups. Anybody with the right venue can host one from a cul-de-sac for a neighborhood block party-style bash to a dog-friendly backyard fiesta. Invite owners whose dogs mingle well with others and reserve the right to expel a canine who is too aggressive. Limit guests to two dogs per person so that nobody is trying to manage a pack, and ask owners to not bring their pets on retractable leashes so pups are easier to control. Keep a leash on the size of the event by asking invited guests to ask the host before inviting additional people and their pets. Make the event off-leash only if you know you have a group of friendly dogs and a secure area, such as a playroom at a doggy day care facility or fenced backyard.
Treat the Dogs
Let pups indulge in delicious treats while keeping mess to a minimum. Doggy ice cream or ice pops in summer can compliment mimosas or margaritas poured for their people. Rich foods can cause stomach upset in sensitive pups, so keep homemade treats simple such as chicken and rice meatballs. Pour store-bought treats into bowls yet keep the bags on the table so owners who know what their pets can and cannot tolerate are able to check for ingredient information. If hosting a patio or block party on a warm summer's evening, consider adding a wading pool or two far enough away from the human food and drinks for when wet dogs shake it off. Put fresh bowls of water on the ground by the doggy treat table. Entertaining expert Mark Addison recommends 'martinis' for the pups: plain water in a stainless steel martini glass garnished with a dog treat. Take a cue from some of the most popular yappy hours across the country and collect donations for a local animal shelter such as cash, cans of food or toys.
Treats for People
Arrange the spread for people next to the bar or drink table in a different area of the venue than the doggy snacks. Avoid serving people noshes with ingredients that would be hazardous to dogs, including onions and chocolate, in case the food is dropped and consumed by a hungry pup or generously shared by an owner. Put a fun spin on the menu with a crockpot stew with cubed beef and veggies -- the human, edible version of what's in that pop-top can that feeds your pooch. Make cookies in the shape of bones, serve munchies in clean dog bowls or grill gourmet sausages to fill the air with a smoky scent that invites both humans and canines. Put tunes with 'dog' in the title or artist's name on the event's playlist.
Canine Cleanup
Where there are so many dogs enjoying playtime and treats there are inevitably going to be accidents. To keep the event as sanitary as possible, provide poop bags, paper towels and a special covered waste receptacle far from the food and drink. Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer next to the trash so that guests who responsibly clean up after their pooches can go right back to enjoying the party. Have a different type of doggy bag on hand for guests to take home leftover treats at the end of the evening -- label them 'pup' and 'people,' even though a dog will take both.
In Feburary 2016 04,
Yappy hours are often hosted by hotels, bars, apartment complexes or breed play groups. Anybody with the right venue can host one from a cul-de-sac for a neighborhood block party-style bash to a dog-friendly backyard fiesta. Invite owners whose dogs mingle well with others and reserve the right to expel a canine who is too aggressive. Limit guests to two dogs per person so that nobody is trying to manage a pack, and ask owners to not bring their pets on retractable leashes so pups are easier to control. Keep a leash on the size of the event by asking invited guests to ask the host before inviting additional people and their pets. Make the event off-leash only if you know you have a group of friendly dogs and a secure area, such as a playroom at a doggy day care facility or fenced backyard.
Treat the Dogs
Let pups indulge in delicious treats while keeping mess to a minimum. Doggy ice cream or ice pops in summer can compliment mimosas or margaritas poured for their people. Rich foods can cause stomach upset in sensitive pups, so keep homemade treats simple such as chicken and rice meatballs. Pour store-bought treats into bowls yet keep the bags on the table so owners who know what their pets can and cannot tolerate are able to check for ingredient information. If hosting a patio or block party on a warm summer's evening, consider adding a wading pool or two far enough away from the human food and drinks for when wet dogs shake it off. Put fresh bowls of water on the ground by the doggy treat table. Entertaining expert Mark Addison recommends 'martinis' for the pups: plain water in a stainless steel martini glass garnished with a dog treat. Take a cue from some of the most popular yappy hours across the country and collect donations for a local animal shelter such as cash, cans of food or toys.
Treats for People
Arrange the spread for people next to the bar or drink table in a different area of the venue than the doggy snacks. Avoid serving people noshes with ingredients that would be hazardous to dogs, including onions and chocolate, in case the food is dropped and consumed by a hungry pup or generously shared by an owner. Put a fun spin on the menu with a crockpot stew with cubed beef and veggies -- the human, edible version of what's in that pop-top can that feeds your pooch. Make cookies in the shape of bones, serve munchies in clean dog bowls or grill gourmet sausages to fill the air with a smoky scent that invites both humans and canines. Put tunes with 'dog' in the title or artist's name on the event's playlist.
Canine Cleanup
Where there are so many dogs enjoying playtime and treats there are inevitably going to be accidents. To keep the event as sanitary as possible, provide poop bags, paper towels and a special covered waste receptacle far from the food and drink. Keep a bottle of hand sanitizer next to the trash so that guests who responsibly clean up after their pooches can go right back to enjoying the party. Have a different type of doggy bag on hand for guests to take home leftover treats at the end of the evening -- label them 'pup' and 'people,' even though a dog will take both.
In Feburary 2016 04,
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