Ahhhh...spring.
Finally some warm weather, which makes us want to party.
Tis' the season of flowers, bright colors, and all the baby animals coming out to play. To talk more about our Baby Shower Blush Crush, let's talk menu: bites and beverages, shall we?
First up: Cotton candy cocktails.
Line up champagne coupes ontop your bar, and fill with a big fluffy piece of cotton candy. You can order cotton candy in many pastel colors - so be sure to coordinate to your party theme and color palette. Note: cotton candy melts when exposed to air, so do this just before guests arrive.
When serving to guests, pour champagne ontop, for a fun melt away cocktail.
Ice buckets look better when full of rose petals. Simply toss petals ontop ice in your color palette for an instant pop of color.
Rosé Punch looks as pretty as it tastes. Fill carafes with your favorite french rosé (we love the very pale pink Cotes de Provence French Rosés), and garnish with raspberries, fresh mint, edible rose petals.
Now it's time to set a baby bites tasting bar...
Set plates on one end, platters down the center, and napkins and silverware at the other end of the bar.
Peanut Noodle Salad is a party favorite - and looks as good as it tastes when served in small juice glasses with chopsticks peeking out the top.
Guests love to see and taste something new. Shower menus full of pretty, colorful dishes that are easy to taste and enjoy are always the party favorite.
PEANUT NOODLE SALAD RECIPE:
Ingredients
12 oz linguine
1/2 cup loosely-packed chopped fresh cilantro
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1 bag shredded lettuce
1 bag shredded red cabbage
1 bag shredded carrots
1/3 red bell pepper, diced
1 rotisserie chicken, chopped
1 bottle Peanut Salad Dressing
3 tsp sesame seeds, for garnish
1/4 cup chopped peanuts, for garnish
Directions
Boil linguine in water until tender. Drain, let cool. In large bowl, mix all ingredients, saving sesame seeds and peanuts for garnish. Divide into small glasses to serve, garnish with seeds and peanuts. Add chopsticks.
Who's heard of Grilled Egg Salad?
And, egg salad never looked so chic...non?
Guests should always enjoy a mix of dishes with meat, without meat, with dairy, without dairy, with breads, without breads so you can appeal to all the various diets guests bring to the party. This recipe is a huge favorite.
GRILLED EGG SALAD RECIPE:
Ingredients
8 hardboiled eggs, peeled, sliced in half lengthwise
olive oil for pan-frying eggs
3 tablespoons good olive oil
sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper
1 package, watercress
3 endive, sliced
1 bottle, Garlic Expressions Dressing, or other all natural viniagrette
Directions
In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Gently place the eggs in the pan, cut side down. Cook until the eggs are beautifully browned, 3 to 5 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper as they cook.
Place all ingredients into a large salad bowl, top with grilled eggs, add dressing and salt and pepper to garnish.
Next up: Smoked Salmon for the win. This is a bright, colorful bite size recipe that's ready in a flash.
SMOKED SALMON BITES RECIPE:
Ingredients
3 endive, broken into individual leaves (cut end off endive for easy leaf peeling)
1 package pastrami smoked salmon (peppered), cut into large chunks
1 container jalepeno artichoke dip (Boursin cheese can be used as substitute)
Directions
Place endive leaves on platter. Spoon in dip, top with chunk of salmon.
Baby Chicken Curry Bites are delicious, and so easy to prepare. Simply slice mini rolls, and stuff with chicken curry salad. Top with watercress and chopped cabbage to garnish.
Goat Pig Figs are one of my favorite bites - maybe it's the name? Or maybe it's how sweet and salty they are in one little bite. Slice fresh or dried figs into bite size pieces. Schmear with goat cheese, and wrap with Proscuitto strip. Garnish with black pepper.
Time to talk sweets...woodland baby animal cookies take the cake - literally.
Dress your favorite bakery cake with a few pretty roses, and some bright green leaves for the finishing touch. Add a few stems of greens to the sweet table for texture and contrast.
Macarons are always a good idea...especially when hand painted with flowers for the occasion.
Mini angel food cakes topped with freeze dried raspberries and rose petals? Yes please. Have your favorite bakery whip up teeny tiny baby size versions of mama's favorite sweet treats, in your party palette, for a jaw dropped dessert bar.
Designer Tip: Strawberries with their long stems still in tact make your berries look hand picked fresh from the spring garden., and dip dry strawberries one at a time, placing onto wax paper to harden.s
Designer Tip: Strawberries with their long stems still in tact make your berries look hand picked fresh from the Spring garden.
Cheers to your own Blush Crush party - share photos - we'd love to follow along!
Planning, florals, styling, stationery by A Perfect Event
Photography by Riddle Road Photography
Sweets by Toni Patisserie
Venue DL Loft