A Cup Of Glee - Weekly Newsletter - This week - PUNCH!

Welcome to the Blog for Fancy That!
We proudly call our blog “A Cup of Glee.”
Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy!

The Flying Saucer
(What’s new at Fancy That!)
Can you believe the Holiday Season is right around the corner? There is no reason to be blue about it… instead, serve pink punch! ok, by now you may have realized that I have a soft spot for all things pink, but the truth is, no matter what color or flavor the punch, it’s going to look fabulous in our new 2-gallon apothecary-style decanter. And while we’re on the subject of pink punch, check out this recipe for pink petal punch with rose petals.

Table Talk
(Manners and TableTop Tips)
I want to take a moment and talk about the Punch Table. Many times the hostess will have a tale just for the punch bowl (or decanter) and cups or glasses. It is an elegant way to display your new punch set, and to draw your guests to another location that will almost certainly spark conversation. But, don't leave the table sitting bare with JUST the punch decanter and glasses. Simply – decorate it! How many times have you waltzed into an elegant dinner party and over there, alone, in the corner, is the most beautiful punch bowl and cups that you have ever seen. You walk over, sadly, wanting to whisper to the punch bowl, “it’s O.K. people will notice you as soon as they are thirsty!”

Let’s face it! The punch bowl is the one thing that is most ignored. Your guests aren’t sure what you have put in the bowl to make that yellow color, or the light pink color, and they simply are not wanting to take a test. Make it easy for them! “Announce” your recipe on a cute little card. Make sure your guests can see the card. Elevate it and place it separate from the punchbowl…not hidden underneath. Be certain to “adorn” your punch table. Use beautiful greens, a spray of flowers, little nose gays placed on the corners of the table, or three or four large bowls of crunch croutons! Make the table announce itself and your punch will be a HIT!

The Butler

(Host and Hostess tips and Helpful Hints for planning your event)
Planning for a Dinner party can be overwhelming. Trust me! I know. When you have such great sites as this one to provide you with over 400 recipes for punch alone, your eyes may glaze over and before you know it, it’s pizza delivered 10 minutes after your guests arrive.

Planning for Punch is easy when just a few simple steps are followed. Luckily, here is a link
to outline those steps. Once you have a punch idea, you will be surprised how easy planning the remainder of the meal can be. Just remember the one rule you cannot ignore: Sample the punch before the guests arrive. And enjoy!


Wedding Bells
(Tips for planning your Wedding)
By now, you have come to the realization that there is a punch for every occasion. Of course you are NOT SURPRISED that there is specific recipes for Wedding Punch, right? Oh My!

Let me tell you how surprised I was that there are expectations for Wedding Punch. Fear Not! Lulu Marie’s World Famous Wedding Punch is available for you to ORDER. Yes, ORDER! You hand the mix to the caterer and say, MIX IT UP! Add some pineapple pieces and you are all set!

Another fun recipe to have your wedding guests talking about your Wedding Punch for years, is this fun Tart and Bubbly Recipe. When planning for your special day, don’t forget to include the all-important Wedding Punch!

Until our next post, please remember:
Suggestions tolerated, compliments always welcomed. Tell your friends, and visit often.
acupofglee.blogspot.com

PINK FLATWARE

Check out this AMAZING pink acrylic flatware! I am in love with it and bought service for twenty! I would love to sell it in my store, but the manufacturer was not helpful :( Anyhoo, for a limited time, you can buy it here.

Until my next post, please remember:

Suggestions tolerated, compliments always welcomed. Tell your friends, and visit often.

Sarah E for acupofglee.blogspot.com

A Cup of Glee - Weekly Newsletter Buffet and Family Style

Welcome to the Blog for Fancy That!
We proudly call our blog “A Cup of Glee.”
Sorry we have been so tardy in our weekly posts! Computer glitches and other fun things we won't bore you with.

Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy!

The Flying Saucer
(What’s new at Fancy That!)
To Buffet or not to Buffet…that is the question. Fancy That! is always answering the big question: should the service be plated or buffet? Should we include stations like “fruit stations” and candy stations or should we have everything in it’s place including favors at each table?

The short answer is: mix it up and have fun! You may not be a buffet person. But it might be nice to have a candy bar for your guests. You may BE a buffet person, but have assigned seating in your dining room or rented hall. Remember that, today, everything and anything goes. Simply HAVE FUN!

Table Talk
(Manners and TableTop Tips)
Buffet manners are always those little things that you hope your guests know, but realize that they simply do not. This link: http://www.vialarp.org/victorian_tea/manners.html is a great read (be sure to scroll down and read the section on the Buffet Manners!). My hubby has an Edwardian side. Adding to my Victoriana, and we find that eating a scone is as fun as discussing the “proper” way to actually EAT that scone. Enjoy the manners from the Annual-Victorio-Edwardian Valentine Tea web site.


The Butler
(Host and Hostess tips and Helpful Hints for planning your event)
You have already decided that you are doing a “family style” dinner party (or wedding for that matter! More and more caterers are doing family style service where each table gets their “serving” of food and they pass the serving bowls around). You will carve the bird at the table, and will have bread and butter passed like the scenes from a movie shot in Tuscany. But you wonder: how do I mix it up a little and provide some fun for my guests?

Here’s a suggestion: Allow your guests to set the table. As your guests enter the dining room, they see the plats stacked neatly on a corner of the table, the napkins are to the right corner, the wine glasses and water glasses are grouped mid table to the right, and the bread plates are grouped to the far right hand corner of the table. Your centerpiece is surrounded by a “table setting buffet”.

You tell your guests to take their place setting and have a seat! While they are “shopping” on the table for their utensils and plates, conversation ensues making the seating portion of your dinner party a nice, serene “mixer” which sparks conversation. Trust me! The next dinner party you go to after this, you will see the “table setting buffet” again and again. It’s fun. And that is what today is all about. Enjoy!

Wedding Bells
(Tips for planning your Wedding)
Casual, elegant, relaxed, fun! “Family Style” at your reception is a great alternative to the drab plated meal, or the overused buffet of dried pasta and meats. Now I know there are great buffets out there with excellent carving stations, fast made sweets, and so on, mixing up the old is always a great way to have a memorable event.

Your guests are seated and out comes the bread, the serving bowls of pasta, of rice, of the main course, and veggies. Each table feels like they are eating “at home.” Your guests are mingling, talking to one another, and enjoying their meal.

Ask your caterer if they can accommodate Family Style Service. Once you enjoy Family Service at a wedding reception, you will wonder how any bride does any other style of serving the food!

Suggestions tolerated, compliments always welcomed. Tell your friends, and visit often.
acupofglee.blogspot.com