PINTEREST PARTY???

Have you ever attended a "Pinterest Party"?

Abby and her friends have been hosting these parties for the past few months...and I finally had the opportunity to join in the fun.

What is a Pinterest Party, you say?  

Each hostess chooses a SIMPLE craft or (two, or three) from Pinterest. She gathers the needed materials and has them ready, with instructions, for all who attend. 

Each guest brings an appetizer, dessert, etc. made from recipes found on Pinterest....

Here's some of the foods brought to this Pinterest Party:

Cinnamon Wonton Crisps

(Cut each wonton wrapper in half and place on a Silpat/Perforated Baking Tray...or on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.  Spritz each crisp with canola oil and top with cinnamon/sugar mixture. Bake for 6-7 minutes at 350 degrees. Place on a cooling rack. When cool, store in an airtight container. ***Watch the crisps when baking.They cook quite fast... Serve with fruit salsa.)

Fruit Salsa (my personal recipe) to go with the Cinnamon Wonton Crackers

(Mix diced and peeled apples, chopped strawberries and chopped bananas - or any combination of fruit - a little lime juice, a sprinkling of sugar or sweetner, and a couple of dashes of ground cinnamon. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, to allow the flavors to blend.)

Delicious Trifle

Chocolate Chip/Peanut Butter Cup Brownies (in a mini muffin pan)

Using a brownie mix, spoon batter into a mini muffin baking tray (I use the Demarle at Home mini muffin flexipan and the Perforated Baking Tray). Top with a miniature Reese's Peanut butter cup. Bake according to the directions on the mix box. The batter encloses the PBC for bites of deliciousness!

Strawberries dipped in White Chocolate, drizzled with blue 

Cheesy Artichoke Bread
Oh this was sooo good! (and I don't like artichoke!)

Wrapping Pool Noodles with torn denim jeans...Hot glue and persistence. 
(And a few burned fingers!)

Done! Now to add decorations...

Bow-making 101

Wrapping is "dangerous" work...that glue is HOT!

One of the finished wreaths...

We also made cool flip flops...gift card holders...rice candles...and more. Mostly, we laughed and ate and just enjoyed being together...

This is a fun evening to share with your girlfriends. 

Give it a try.....

HELP WANTED

How is it that every time I entertain, I am never done in the kitchen before my guests arrive? Is it because I am truly disorganized? Or is it something GREATER???

All the cleaning is done...all the tools are put away. I am dressed and ready to greet guests. But then,there's still bread to slice, lemons to slice...appetizers to place on platters...even silverware to shine and place on the table (oops! I forgot that!!!) 

(Tip - Wipe silverware with a soft cloth and Evian, or any sparkling water. This removes any spots and gives a beautiful shine to flatware.) 

But my guests...really good friends...come in and after hugs are exchanged, they always ask,
"What can we do to help?"  Sometimes I am not sure if this is pure willingness to help, or that they just expect me to be behind... Then again, my friends are always asking how I do things...how to make this or that dish...and by working at my side, they learn new techniques and recipes. (And they even teach me some new tricks!) And you know, we really have a good time in the kitchen! So I choose to believe that is the true reason...

How about you...are you always ready when your guests arrive? Or are you like me..."slightly" disorganized?

Happy cooking!
Jane