Saturday, April 6, 2013

Share the joy ...Final Spring challenge


As you know there can't be talk of spring and leave out "spring cleaning" my least favorite.  I didn't include it in my four fun things to do because for me, its anything but fun. lol That said, I called in reinforcements; my friend Jen Lewis.  She is the only person I know that has a perfectly organized house, makes home made meals, takes great care of her hubby and two kids and still manages to look stunning. So she is the perfect pick for tomorrow's post.  She will teach us how to organize our food pantries; I will be the first to try her advise to organize mine.  I haven't decided whether or not I should post before and after pictures, mine looks like a tornado lives in it.  hahaha

For today's fourth and final suggestion of things to do during spring; I would like to challenge you to host a spring gathering.  It could be with your neighbors friends or family members.  I will provide you with ideas for everything from decor to menu.  How about it? I love hosting theme parties, everyone gets so excited about looking for the perfect things to go with the theme.  I would love to host a "spring hats" party lol.  Let's see if I find anyone brave enough to attend wearing a hat.

Setting: Weather permitting outside would be the ideal place to host it.  But, inside could be just as fun.  I have a canopy that I could place in my backyard to create a more intimate space. 

Decorations: simply decorate the table you will be eating at, not the entire house.  Most of the things I bought are from Dollar Tree.  I spent $10 in decor; yellow table cloth, three glass bowls for candles, and flowered paper plates.  I didn't have to buy center pieces because I could use the same ones I made for my formal dinning room table.

Menu: For starters, lemon (or any flavor) sorbet, if you have an ice cream scooper you can make cute round scoops and put them inside glass bowls.

* You can prepare this entire dish the day before.
Main dish, Thai lettuce wraps with stir-fry vegetable rice.  NOT FAST AND EASY (sorry) but so worth it!! The most difficult part of this dish is the sauce. If you take the time to make it you will not regret it.  It's like nothing I've ever had, so I cant substitute it for anything easy. Except for maybe sweet and sour sauce mixed with a little soy sauce (not the same at all) lol

Ingredients:
1 pkg of Butter lettuce leaves (walmart)
2 lbs of boneless, skinless chicken breast
Shredded carrots
1 pkg of bean sprouts
4 green onions tops finely chopped
2 lg cucumbers
Thai coconut noddles (I use the oriental pk of noodle soup, cooked and drained)
cilantro
Rice vinegar
2 cloves of garlic (minced)
Veggie stir-fry rice - Your nearest Chinese delivery take out... that's what I do :/ lol

Ok first thing; marinate the chicken in whatever teriyaki marinate you find.  Refrigerate for 30 min or more in while you prep everything else.
Peel and slice cucumbers thinly. Make marinade;
Add 1/3 cup of rice vinegar
1/4 cup of sugar
1/4 of water
1/4 tsp of salt
1/4 tsp of pepper.
pour over cucumbers (AMAZING!) lol

  • Cook the Oriental pk of noodle soup, drain and refrigerate
  • Saute bean sprouts, green onions and garlic in olive oil until tender
Sweet chili sauce
1 green onion
1/2 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tbs sugar
1 lime
1 tsp garlic (minced)
1 tsp red chili paste

Grill chicken and cut into strips, separate lettuce leaves, place carrots, cucumbers (drained), noodles, bean sprouts and cilantro into separate bowls for self serve.  You can create a buffet type of table with all of the ingredients if that's easier. 

For eating, the idea is to make something that looks like a lettuce taco.  Everyone can choose what they would like inside their taco.  The sauce is spicy so you might want to have a non-spicy alternative like; the same sauce without the red chili paste or sweet and sour sauce or even duck sauce would probably work.

Drink: Raspberry ice tea would be my choice but you can make your favorite drink.

I know this was not a simple challenge but think about it, it could be fun. lol feel free to inbox me with any questions of comment below. If all else fails you can always go to The Cheese Cake factory and try their lettuce wraps.... simply the best!

                                                         
                                                                  HAPPY HOSTING!






5 comments:

  1. I'll try ! Thanks ! Dalmita

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