Hiring Entertainment
Choosing a Time for Your Party
Edible Ideas for the Party Spread
Recipes and Treats
 

TIPS IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO HIRE ENTERTAINMENT

This cannot be stressed enough...Make sure that you have your entertainment solidly booked BEFORE you mail out your invitations. Many people call to book a specific entertainer after they have mailed out the invitations, to find out that the person is already scheduled for someone else's event.

If you change the location or time of your party, from the originally scheduled plan, don't forget to inform your entertainment company. People may remember to inform their guests, but forget to update the entertainer. 

CHOOSING A TIME FOR YOUR PARTY

When choosing a time for your party, there are many things to consider...
For toddler parties, be sure to take into account nap times. Plan the party after naps, so your toddler is refreshed and not grouchy.

If you are planning a party (starting time anywhere between 11:30 and 1:00) your guests will assume that there will be a lunch or finger foods available. Plan for this - anywhere from a few bowls of chips and pickles to pizza slices, or a fully catered event.

If you are starting your party at 11:30, feed first and entertain second. Guests with growling stomachs won't enjoy games or entertainment quite as much, when their mind is elsewhere (thinking about lunch).

If you are planning your party between 12:00 and 3:00, and the party is outside, be sure that your guests are shaded. The beating sun sure can take the punch out of a party.

If your guests are early risers, a 10:00 am (birthday) party is nice. A morning party leaves the rest of your day open.

MOST children's birthday parties are planned to start between 1:30 and 3:30. If you find a lot of other friends having parties, and find conflicts - try to avoid this "hot" time zone.

Evening parties are a nice change - and like the morning parties, may be a bit more relaxed. Again, be sure to keep in mind that the younger children get tired easier. Evening birthday parties tend to work better with the 6+ age group.

EDIBLE IDEAS FOR YOUR PARTY SPREAD

Several parents have asked for suggestions on what to serve at our tea/dressup parties. The information below was developed for that party, but of course, can be applied to any party.

Our Princess will bring outfits, gloves and other accessories for your little guests to try on. She will also bring a tea set (setting for twelve). She does not bring any actual “tea” or food. 

There are many menu ideas that you can prepare. Some suggestions are:
If you don’t think tea will go over well, try
Pink Lemonade instead of tea or
7-up or Sprite, with slices of lime

Fun foods:
Lady Finger cookies
Pirouline Wafers are delightful
Little ham and cheese  finger sandwiches
Peanut Butter & Jelly, or Cream Cheese & Jelly sandwiches (cut the whole sandwich with diagonal cuts and remove the crust to make little triangles.)
Ande’s Candies, Eight O’clock Mints (or any mints)

A take home treat:
Marshmallow Treats, wrapped in plastic wrap, with a bow or ribbon to top it off. 
Children love those Mini-M&Ms. A little (3 oz.) paper cup filled with Mini-M&Ms, wrapped in pastel cellophane would be colorful and delicious.
(for those under 3, give treat to parent, as plastic wrap and cellophane are choking hazards).

If you have a Publix Supermarket in your area, they prepare many nice platters (the chicken drummettes seem to be a favorite). Publix will need 24 hours notice - be sure to order ahead of time. If you don't have a Publix near you, call your local grocer, you may be surprised at what they have to offer.

Need something in a snap. Just call your local pizza parlor and have your meal delivered. (Try to call an hour before you actually need to feed your guests, sometimes pizza places get backed up, especially on weekends).

RECIPES AND TREATS

Two Ingredient Recipes (below)

Pineapple Angel Food Cake

This recipe is LOW FAT.

1 box Angel Food Cake Mix
1 can Crushed Pineapple

Place angel food cake mix in a bowl.  Add can of crushed pineapple with the juice.

Mix together well.

Pour batter into a greased 9x13 cake pan.

Bake at 350°  for 30 minutes.

Moist enough to serve without frosting.  But great with ice cream.

Loving Cups

1 — 18 oz. Pkg. Refrigerated sugar cookie dough
1 — 14 oz. Pkg. Mini peanut butter cups

Heat oven to 350° .

Coat 2 mini muffin tins evenly with cooking spray.

Divide the dough into 2" slices.  Then divide each of these slices in half and roll each piece into a ball.

Place 1 ball in each muffin cup.  Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, until the cookies puff up.

Press an unwrapped peanut butter cup into the center of each.

Return the cookies to the oven for approximately 1 to 2 minutes, until lightly browned.

Remove from oven and let cool in pan for 10 minutes.  Then finish cooling on a wire rack.

Party Tips are Copyright 2000-2004 A Proske Production