Set this up for me please?!
I want to do a nice dinner for my friends that gives them a moment to relax and be girls!. I particualrly want the table to be beautifully decorated and surprising to them!. We are a group that stay in close contact with each other thru good and bad!. I just want to do something special!. It will be at my place!. Any table set up suggestions or pics will help!. The # of ppl doesn't matter cause I can change accordingly!. Best gets 10!. Men's ideas welcome too!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
Layers of mix & match fabrics on the table, with mix & match napkins (and napkin rings); a different beautiful china place setting for each girl; lots of lace & extravagant flowers - white wicker (think Shabby Chic); different height fat candles on mismatched saucers !.!.!.!. Perhaps a votive or jar candle for a favor for each girl!.!.!.!.!.!.!. Food that's a little more "girly":
MARINATED SCAMPI
1-1/2 lb!. raw extra-large shrimp
1/4 c!. extra virgin olive oil
1/4 c!. Italian bread crumbs
1/4 c!. fresh grated Parmesan cheese
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/4 c!. extra virgin olive oil
1-1/2 TB!. fresh lemon juice
salt & pepper to taste
1 TB!. fresh chopped parsley
Split shrimp, but leave in shells!. Mix olive oil, bread crumbs, cheese & garlic and spread over cut sections of shrimp!. Broil until browned (2-4 min)!. Put shrimp in singlelayer on a plate!. Combine remaining ingredients (except parsley) and spoon over shrimp!. Let cool, then refrigerate at least 1 hour, or overnight!. To serve, bring to room temp and sprinkle with parsley (use toothpicks or serve on small individual plates) !.!.!.!. serves 4-6
ZUCCHINI WATERCRESS SALAD
4 zucchini
1/4 tsp!. dry tarragon
1/2 c!. minced watercress
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped!.
Halve & thinly slice zucchini!. Combine with tarragon, watercress & red pepper!. Add some GOOD Balsamic Vignarette and toss!. Chill, covered, overnight!. Serve on individual salad plates !.!.!.!.!. serves 6
Baked HALIBUT SUPREME
2 lbs!. halibut steaks
1/2 c!. oil & vinegar dressing
2 TB!. lemon juice
1/4 tsp!. salt
3-oz!. can French-fried onions
1/4 c!. fresh grated Parmesan cheese
Cut steaks into 6 serving portions and place in shallow buttered baking dish!. Combine dressing, lemon juice & salt!. Pour over fish and let stand for 30 min, turning once!. Remove fish from sauce and place in single layer in well-greased baking dish!. Crush onions, add cheese & mix thoroughly!. Bake at 350 25-30 min, or until fish flakes easily is cooked throughout !.!.!.!. serves 6
STEAMED ASPARAGUS BUNDLES - tied with strips of roasted red pepper !.!.!.!. RICE PILAF
and one of my very favorite desserts:
LEMON MELTING MOMENTS
1 pt (2 c) heavy whipping cream
1/2 c!. sugar
juice of 4 lemons
grated zest of 2-4 lemons
2 TB!. condensed, sweetened milk
8-10 fresh whole strawberries
Combine all ingredients (except berries) in well-chilled bowl and beat to stiff peaks!. Put into 8-10 parfait glasses!.!.!. chill until ready to serve & garnish with a strawberry !.!.!.!. (nice serve with Pepperidge Farm Bordeaux or Piroutte cookies)Www@FoodAQ@Com
MARINATED SCAMPI
1-1/2 lb!. raw extra-large shrimp
1/4 c!. extra virgin olive oil
1/4 c!. Italian bread crumbs
1/4 c!. fresh grated Parmesan cheese
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/4 c!. extra virgin olive oil
1-1/2 TB!. fresh lemon juice
salt & pepper to taste
1 TB!. fresh chopped parsley
Split shrimp, but leave in shells!. Mix olive oil, bread crumbs, cheese & garlic and spread over cut sections of shrimp!. Broil until browned (2-4 min)!. Put shrimp in singlelayer on a plate!. Combine remaining ingredients (except parsley) and spoon over shrimp!. Let cool, then refrigerate at least 1 hour, or overnight!. To serve, bring to room temp and sprinkle with parsley (use toothpicks or serve on small individual plates) !.!.!.!. serves 4-6
ZUCCHINI WATERCRESS SALAD
4 zucchini
1/4 tsp!. dry tarragon
1/2 c!. minced watercress
1/2 red bell pepper, chopped!.
Halve & thinly slice zucchini!. Combine with tarragon, watercress & red pepper!. Add some GOOD Balsamic Vignarette and toss!. Chill, covered, overnight!. Serve on individual salad plates !.!.!.!.!. serves 6
Baked HALIBUT SUPREME
2 lbs!. halibut steaks
1/2 c!. oil & vinegar dressing
2 TB!. lemon juice
1/4 tsp!. salt
3-oz!. can French-fried onions
1/4 c!. fresh grated Parmesan cheese
Cut steaks into 6 serving portions and place in shallow buttered baking dish!. Combine dressing, lemon juice & salt!. Pour over fish and let stand for 30 min, turning once!. Remove fish from sauce and place in single layer in well-greased baking dish!. Crush onions, add cheese & mix thoroughly!. Bake at 350 25-30 min, or until fish flakes easily is cooked throughout !.!.!.!. serves 6
STEAMED ASPARAGUS BUNDLES - tied with strips of roasted red pepper !.!.!.!. RICE PILAF
and one of my very favorite desserts:
LEMON MELTING MOMENTS
1 pt (2 c) heavy whipping cream
1/2 c!. sugar
juice of 4 lemons
grated zest of 2-4 lemons
2 TB!. condensed, sweetened milk
8-10 fresh whole strawberries
Combine all ingredients (except berries) in well-chilled bowl and beat to stiff peaks!. Put into 8-10 parfait glasses!.!.!. chill until ready to serve & garnish with a strawberry !.!.!.!. (nice serve with Pepperidge Farm Bordeaux or Piroutte cookies)Www@FoodAQ@Com
They have very inexpensive charger plates at a party shop!. I bought some at holiday time, the gold ones and you can buy matching napkins with the table cloth!. Buy fresh flowers, in bouquet style for the center of the table!. Fresh flowers always is impressive!. Once your table is set beautifully, you can serve anything you want and will still be an elegant affair!. Even rice, beans and chicken burritoes with melted cheese over them w/sprig of parsley to garnish will be elegant, it is all in how you set the mood!.Oh, and don't forget the candles!Www@FoodAQ@Com
You could have an alice in wonderland theme!. Have a mad tea party!. Have a simple white tablecloth!. Mismatch all the dishes though!. Serve different kinds of teas or whatever kind of drink you like just have them in teapots!. Put different platters on the table with tea sandwiches, fruit, veggies, small cakes or cupcakes, kolaches!. Stuff like that!. Have different flower arrangements!. Some in vases others in teacups!. Use different colored handkerchiefs for napkins and have lit candles on the table!. If you're not superstitious you could break pieces of a mirror and put the candles on the pieces!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
How about doing something like afternoon tea!?
So, you make some sandwiches and cut the crusts off!. Cut them into triangles!. You also serve scones with fresh cream and jam + some fancy cakes!.
You serve them on a three tiered holder, something like this:
http://www!.regalhotel!.com/Files/Image-Ho!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
So, you make some sandwiches and cut the crusts off!. Cut them into triangles!. You also serve scones with fresh cream and jam + some fancy cakes!.
You serve them on a three tiered holder, something like this:
http://www!.regalhotel!.com/Files/Image-Ho!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I think to decorate it would be cute to get some Wizard of Oz decorations!. Some Ruby Red Slippers, and maybe a little stuffed lion!. Hopefully if you go to a party store they will have stuff to decorate with,
For the dinner you could make taco salads or baked chicken marinated in Asian toasted sesame (its a salad dressing by Kraft but its an awesome marinade)!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
For the dinner you could make taco salads or baked chicken marinated in Asian toasted sesame (its a salad dressing by Kraft but its an awesome marinade)!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Check out these sites: I done the hard part, now you have to choose, LOL
http://www!.semihomemade!.com/tablescapes/
http://staging101!.com/KitchenM/Kitchen!.h!.!.!.
http://www!.hgtv!.com/hgtv/ah_tips_enterta!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
http://www!.semihomemade!.com/tablescapes/
http://staging101!.com/KitchenM/Kitchen!.h!.!.!.
http://www!.hgtv!.com/hgtv/ah_tips_enterta!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
