Are you getting married this holiday season or just looking for a reason to celebrate and want some fabulous fall cocktails to use as a signature drink at your event? If so, here are some great recipes that we have come across that are sure to tantalize your guests taste buds.

Hot Apple Pie

Made with Tuaca which is an Italian liqueur with deep roots and a wonderful citrus and vanilla hint and, when combined with hot apple cider, it is extremely comforting and soothing.

Ingredients:

• 2 oz Tuaca
• hot apple cider
• whipped cream
• cinnamon stick for garnish

Preparation:

1. Pour the Tuaca in an Irish coffe glass
2. Fill with hot apple cider
3. Top with whipped cream

Garnish with a cinnamon stick.

Pumpkin Divine Martini

In the Pumpkin Divine a little bit of pear is mixed with lush pumpkin butter and the seasonings of cinnamon, clove nutmeg and apple finish off the fall flavors in a fantastic splash

Ingredients:

• 1 part Grey Goose La Poire vodka
• 1 part pumpkin butter
• 1/2 part triple sec
• 1/2 part simple syrup
• pinch each of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and ginger
• grated nutmeg and an apple chip for garnish

Preparation:

1. Pour all the ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosted and beaded with sweat.
3. Strain into a cocktail glass

Garnish with nutmeg and an apple chip.

Falling Leaf Fizz

This cocktail called the Falling Leaf Fizz is a great dessert drink for any fall occasion. Grey Goose La Poire is a fitting match for pumpkin.

Ingredients:

• 1 part Grey Goose La Poire Vodka
• 4 parts of sparkling wine
• Dash of simple syrup
• 1 heaping teaspoon pumpkin butter
• Pinch of pumpkin pie spice
• dried apple chip for garnish

Preparation:

1. Place GREY GOOSE La Poire, pumpkin butter, spice and syrup in the bottom of a champagne glass
2. Stir well

Top with sparkling wine and garnish.

Thank you to Foodnetwork.com and About.com for these yummy fall cocktail recipes and ideas!

Last weekend , as a parent and an event planner I was proud to be a part of the Saint Andrews School Auction in Boca Raton. The theme this year was Mardi Gras,  perfectly timed with Mardi Gras festivities in New Orleans. With the traditional color palette of gold, purple and green coupled with outrageous Mardi Gras masks and decor the scene was set for a fabulous evening. The decor was provided by Party Perfect of Boca Raton.

The entrance was decorated with lamposts with street signs, trees and a grand mask with roses in jewel tones.

The gymnasium was transformed with oversized masks  decorated  with an abundance of feathers in different colors. Each mask marked the various categories of auction items for the silent auction. The linens for the cocktail tables were a multi color shag which were festive bringing together all the jewel tone colors of Mardi Gras.

Floral arrangements of green and purple hydrangeas with peacock feathers and beads dressed the cocktail tables. Beads were everywhere….

An ice sculpture lit in mardi gras colors was used for the seafood station. Our in house caterers, Sage Dining created a true New Orleans menu for our guests.

After the silent auction, the guest moved into a second gymnasium for the after party . Guests were entertained by the Dereck Mack Band, Spencer from A Hot Party provided the casino tables and entertained the guests .The gym was transformed with illuminating lighting created by  SFL Lighting Company creating a party atmosphere.

The gals who put it all together, Laurie Woliung, Karen Jacobsen, Cheryl Cherney and myself . What a team , who together with Kristen Oliver , Auction Coordinator at Saint Andrew’s planned a successful event for our school and had fun at the same time. Thank you Cindy Newnam from Saint Andrews School and my daughter Nicolla (a sophmore) for providing  photographs of the event.

Even if you are not a fan of the teams involved everyone still loves the Super Bowl!!! It is the ultimate party day of the year. Many people attending these parties don’t love football as much as they love the excuse to get together with friends.  Here are some simple rules when planning your party .

•    Plan simple, portable foods. A buffet is your only option. Nobody wants to be sitting down at a table to eat when they’d rather be screaming at a television set or two.
•    Set up as many televisions as you have available .
•    Plan on plenty of beverages, and don’t forget the beer.
•    If you want to  decorate, think team colors, footballs, team jerseys, goal posts, and pennants.
•    Have lots of paper towels, napkins and rug cleaner handy .Someone is bound to drops something during an  exciting play.
•    Keep small bills handy for any betting pools that just might suddenly come up over the course of the evening.

A simple invitation would be just fine for this party or go online and create an invitation.  You can create an evite or go to  punchbowl , a great site for online invitations.

Decorations, for something casual ,  head down to Party City where they have an array of themed party accessories. They are fairly inexpensive and have everything from cups to whistles.

Thinking about the traditional party food for this event- chips, sour cream or cheese dips (onion soup dip springs to mind), chili, salsa, Buffalo wings, cheese balls, plain cheese pizza.

These chocolate Rice Krispie treats shaped liked footballs are the sweetest ending to your great party.

Have fun and enjoy your day! The Super Bowl is a great time to connect with friends and family and just have a day of partying! Enjoy the game!

It rarely gets cold in Florida but the last couple of years we have enjoyed some wonderful winter days. This is a great time to change up the menu for your event  with some warm recipes for chilly days.

Sheri Jacobs owner of Chez Gourmet Catering shared these wonderful recipes with me which she offers when creating menu’s for this time of year.

Savory Tomato Herb Bisque
Makes 1 quart
1 large sweet onion
2 tbsp minced garlic
1 minced Shallot
½ cup sherry wine
3 large cans whole or chopped tomatoes
½ cup heavy cream
chopped fresh herbs -  basil, tarragon and parsley
salt and pepper to taste

Saute onions and shallots in vegetable oil until soft, add garlic and sauté until soft but not browned.  Add sherry wine and cook for 2 minutes.  Add tomatoes and lower heat to simmer for 15 minutes.  Season to taste.  Remove from heat and puree with a hand blender or in a cuisinart until smooth.  Return to pot and add ½ cup of heavy cream and fresh herbs to taste.  Top with a sliver of your favorite grilled cheese for a warm lunch on a chilly day!

Baby it’s Cold Outside Chili Hot Chocolate
(makes 1 gallon)

3 quarts of whole milk
1 quart of half and half
2 cup nestles chocolate chips
½ cup hersheys special dark cocoa powder
½ tsp cinnamon or a couple of cinnamon sticks
1 tsp cayenne pepper
½ tsp ancho chili powder
½ tsp salt

In a large pot over medium heat warm milk and half and half until very hot but not boiling – just until it starts to bubble. Turn heat to very low and whisk in cocoa powder and chocolate chips and blend until smooth.  Add spices to taste.  Garnish with cinnamon stick , chocolate shavings or marshmallows.

This is great to offer guests when they leave the party in a  To-go cup to drink on the way home.

Just for fun, take a look at winter menu’s on MasterChef , Gordon Ramsey’s  website. Go to ,  hot tips of the month. http://www.gordonramsay.com/index2.html

Enjoy, summer will be here  sooner than you think.

A few miles from our home in Downtown Delray Beach on Atlantic Avenue  , the lights will go on the 100 foot christmas tree  located on the front lawn of Old School Square. The ten story – tall walk through holiday showcase holds replicas of historic city scenes, elves at work and other festive exhibits. The tree is  lit with  15, 500 LED lights and topped by an impressive 18-foot lighted star. Erecting and dismantling the tree requires almost 8,000 volunteer hours, which are logged by area students, volunteers as well as City and Downtown Marketing Cooperative staff. A visit worth taking and at the same time enjoy  the avenue with great restaurants, stores and  people watching .