Make Your Own Barbecue Mop

Here's wishing ELP a very happy birthday!

Mop: Fresh Herb Grill Technique
With the abundance of fresh herbs in the market, it's easy to get instant flavor on the grill by making an herb barbecue mop. Using butcher twine, tie several sprigs of herbs to the handle of a wooden spoon, dip in olive oil and brush on grilled food as it cooks. A Mediterranean blend of fresh rosemary, thyme, and sage works well on just about anything from vegetables to poultry and fish.
Great party idea to impress your guests!

Have a Happy 4th of July!

It's here...July 4th. The day of barbecues, picnics, day at the beach, getting together with relatives and friends, watermelons and fireworks. As a child I looked at the 4th of July as the summer being half over. As an adult, I wonder how it got here so soon.

Whatever your plans are for today we hope you'll have a fabulous time - celebrate our country's freedom and enjoy life.

Four Leaf Coasters

Here's an economical and clever summer idea from a Martha Stewart Living magazine.

Freshly cut large leaves make natural waterproof anchors for summer drinks. Lush foliage, such as hosta leaves add color to table settings. Cut leaves early in the day and set them in water immediately, keeping them hydrated in a container until it's time to serve drinks. Dry before using.

Friendly Dog Salad that's easy for kids to make

Here's a fun recipe to make with your children taken from Eleanor's Betty Crocker Cookbook for Boys and Girls published in 1981. The pages are getting a little yellow with age but, the recipes are still fun and ageless so put on your vintage apron and get started. Check out the Snapoutofit Little Apron Shop on Etsy.

Friendly Dog Salad
Ingredients
1 lettuce leaf
1 canned or fresh pear half
1 prune
2 mandarin orange segments
1 maraschino cherry
1 raisin

Directions as Betty Crocker wrote them...

1. Wash lettuce leaf and pat dry with paper towel. Place on salad plate. Lift 1 pear half, 1 prune and 2 mandarin orange segments from cans and 1 maraschino cherry from jar with fork and place on paper towel to dry.

2. Place the pear half cut side down on the lettuce leaf. Cut the prune lengthwise in half with scissors and take out pit. Place one of the prune halves at the large end of the pear half for the ear. (Eat the other prune half!)

3. Scoop out a tiny hole in the pear half for the eye with a teaspoon. Place 1 raisin in the hole. Cut the maraschino cherry in half with the scissors. Place one half at the top of the narrow end of the pear half for the nose. (Eat the other cherry half!) Use the mandarin orange segments for the collar.

It's Recession Garden Time

Excitement is in the air! I'm going to San Francisco this month and will combine the trip with a short visit with Finn in Seattle. I've suggested we create a recession garden in Eleanor's yard, that is if she has enough sun which is critical for a successful garden. After all, if the Obama family is now gardening, it must be cool. The idea came after El sent me an interesting garden article from CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/04/01/recession.garden/index.html?eref=rss_latest
There's currently lots of "how to garden" information available. As a gardener myself, I would highly recommend you give it a try. There's nothing like picking lettuce from your very own garden and making a delicious and healthy salad. A real Snapoutofit treat for guests.

Little Apron Shop

Snapoutofit is proud to present our Little Apron Shop on Etsy! Our Come To Mama dinner party kit has been such a hit because of the included vintage apron we decided to start a shop selling them individually!

Check it out
Little Apron Shop
"Every party deserves an apron"

Here Comes the Sun-Sign Menu Tips

PISCES (Feb. 19 - March 20)

The water sign Pisces will enjoy just about anything from the water. Yet, a lack of boundaries is also attractive to this sign, evident in its creative and dream-like state. So a chef shouldn't hesitate to experiment when cooking for a Pisces - he or she will be open to whatever is put on the table.

Try decorating the table with recycled glassware (to symbolize the wide open sea) and maybe begin the meal with a glass of cucumber-flavored water or a tropical fruit juice.

Arrange silverware correctly

I just went to a dinner party where the silverware was organized correctly! Laying the flatware on the table in the order it will be used, from the outside in. We had multiple courses, and it was so much fun!

Some general rules: The dessert silverware rests above the plate horizontally. The napkin is generally folded into a rectangle and goes in the center of the plate.

Here is more information if you are as excited by this as I am.
http://www.wikihow.com/Arrange-a-Place-Setting-for-a-Formal-Dinner

Award winning dinner party kits!!!!!


YES

Check out our new and improved site, we love it!

New Year, New Direction

Happy 2009...we have been lax about blogging because we have been working on a great new look for our website. We still offer the same fun dinner party kits. We've also created a line of new kits called Finn's Friends Art Kits for Kids. These kits are perfect for birthday parties, gifts, or snowy days at home. Check out the slide show on our home page created by Eleanor (smarty pants).
We like our new look and hope you will too.

Times-Republican Iowa's Newspaper

Hot off the press!

Susan, an Iowa native was featured in the Sunday Marshalltown Times-Republican, Iowa's Daily Newspaper introducing Snapoutofit.com! Check it out below.

http://www.timesrepublican.com/page/content.detail/id/512025.html?nav=5002

THANKSGIVING

Eleanor, Joe and baby Finn will be visiting for Thanksgiving which is great news. We will be in Evanston, IL on Thanksgiving day and will spend the rest of the weekend with friends in a small town in Wisconsin. We're already busy meal planning which includes one of our family favorites - cheese fondue. We traditionally have fondue on Christmas Eve but this year we won't be together so now's the time. That recipe will be posted in December.

We are planning on making crafts, working on new Dinner Party Kits, laughing and making the most of our time together.

Speaking of meal planning, Eleanor sent me this recipe and said it was terrific. With cold weather on the way, the thought of a curry sounds perfect and these flatbreads served with chutney would be a wonderful accompaniment.

Ground Coriander and Cilantro Flatbreads
(very Indian like, would be great with chutney)

1 1/2 cups flour (or more)

2 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro

3/4 cup (or more) plain whole-milk yogurt

olive oil for frying

Sift first 5 ingredients in bowl. Stir in cilantro. Add yogurt and stir with fork until small clumps form. Knead mixtures in bowl just until dough holds together, adding more flour or yogurt by tablespoonfuls for a soft and slightly sticky dough. Turn dough out onto floured surface. Knead just until smooth, about 1 minute. Divide dough into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into ball, then roll each dough piece out on floured surface to 4 1/2 inch round.

Brush large nonstick skillet generously with olive oil. Heat over medium heat. Working in batches, cook until golden brown and puffed, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to platter serve warm.

PENZEYS SPICES TO SPICE UP YOUR LIFE

Have you ever heard of Penzeys Spices? Snapoutofit has and we love them. In fact, we use spice blends in our original Dinner Party Kits.

Ay Caramba features Fajita Seasoning

By the Sea, Carolina Frogmore Stew has Sprimp and Crab Boil Spices

Dim Sum Doo Wopp Doosey contains Mustard Powder

Hippy Dippy Nights has Salsa Blend

You can find the kits on our website http://www.snapoutofit.com/

Penzeys also offers delicious 4 Jar Boxes of herbs and spices which make great gifts. Here are some examples:

Indian Curry Gift Box

The most popular curry seasonings, a perfect set for creating Indian cuisine bursting with vibrant spicy flavor. Box Contains: Maharajah Curry Powder, Garam Masala (Punjabi Style), Tandoori Seasoning, Balti Seasoning

Cocoa Lover's Gift Box

This gift contains all the spices needed to make delicious, homemade hot chocolate. Also perfect for coffee lover, just line up the jars by the espresso maker. Box contains: Natural Cocoa, China Cassia Cinnamon, Regular Hot Chocolate Mix, Hot Chocolate Mix with a Hint of Mint.

Herb Gift Box

There is no better or easier way to add flavor to everyday meals than with the use of herbs and herb blends. Box Contains: Pasta Sprinkle, Bouquet Garni, Bavarian Rub , Parisian Bonnes Herbs.

Taco Seasonings Gift Box

All the Taco Seasonings you need in one box. Tacos are so tasty, quick and easy, is it any wonder one of the most popular flavors in America is Mexican? Box Contains: Original Taco, Bold Taco, Chicken Taco, Rojo Taco Seasoning

You can find many more gift assortments at http://www.penzeys.com/

and check out http://www.eatingcleveland.com/2008/10/31/penzeys-spices-free-food-blogger-contest/ for all types of recipes, restaurant reviews, product review and more.

FABULOUS POMEGRANATE-CHAMPAGNE PUNCH RECIPE TO DELIGHT YOUR HOLIDAY GUESTS

FABULOUS POMEGRANATE-CHAMPAGNE PUNCH
12 servings

Here's a fab recipe for an easy, festive holiday punch using the very trendy pomegranate. You can make this punch non-alcoholic by using a mix of sparkling water and Sprite in place of the Champagne and rum.

1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
2 - 750-ml bottles chilled brut Champagne (doesn't have to be the expensive stuff)
1 and 1/2 cups white rum
1 and 1/4 cups pomegranate juice
1 large lemon, thinly sliced
Pomegranate seeds
Fresh mint leaves
1 ice block (see below)

Bring 1/2 cup water and sugar to boil in small saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Simmer 5 minutes. Cool syrup completely.

Combine Champagne, rum and pomegranate juice in punch bowl. Add enough syrup to sweeten to taste. Mix in lemon slices, pomegranate seeds, and mint leaves. Add ice block to bowl.

HOW TO MAKE AN ICE BLOCK Fill a metal bowl, empty paper milk container or Bundt pan with water. Freeze overnight. Let defrost just long enough to losen the ice from its mold. For added flair, add fresh ingredients to the water before freezing. Try pomegranate seeds, sliced oranges and limes.

Links

One of our very favorite sites is http://www.notmartha.org/ on how to make "Stuff." This site is filled with easy, fun and creative ideas for all of your dinner party needs. Right now she has an adorable recipe for leaf shaped soup crackers, perfect for fall. Check it out!

Fresh After Dinner Mint

Make Your Own After Dinner Mints

Dip fresh mint leaves into melted 1/2 cup dark chocolate. Hold by the stems or use tongs. Place leaves on waxed paper and freeze, uncovered, until hard, up to 6 hours.

Serve immediately as a garnish on ice cream or cake. You can also place them on a pretty plate and just eat them on their own.

Note: Fresh mint leaves can be found in your grocery store produce section - look for the packaged herbs.

Jazz Up Your Party Dim Sum Doo Whopp Doosey Dinner Party

Ay Caramba Feedback

Ay Caramba!

One of our favorite customers just wrote to us about the Ay Caramba Dinner Party Kit

" We had more fun than I would have ever expected!........I didn't want to tell my guests where I had bought the kit because I wanted to take all the credit myself.....Thank you!"

Life is too short for bad parties

Life is too short for bad parties

buy a snapoutofit dinner party kit today!

http://www.snapoutofit.com/

Cranberry Bars that Melt in Your Mouth

De-Licious and De-Lightful Cranberry Bars

yummmmmmmy

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch cubes

2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Divided 3 cups fresh or frozen cranberries (not thawed if frozen; 3/4 pound)

1/4 cup water

Confectioners sugar for dusting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees with rack in middle. Line a 9 inch square baking pan with 2 crisscrossed sheets of foil leaving an overhang on 2 opposites sides, then butter foil. Blend butter, flour, salt and 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a food processor until mixture begins to clump together. Press into bottom of pan. Bake until pale golden and sides begin to pull away from pan, 25 to 30 minutes. While crust is baking, cook cranberries, remaining 2/3 cup granulated sugar, and water in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until berries burst, 6 to 8 minutes. Pour cranberries over crust and bake until edge is golden, about 25 minutes. Sift confectioners sugar over top and cool completely in pan on a rack. Lift out of pan using foil overhang, cut cut into 12 squares, then sift more confectioners sugar over top. Yum Yum Yum!