AL596 AUG10

PARTY GUIDE.

INSIDE

AL596 AUG10

When the weather outside

means you'd rather

STAY INSIDE...T his time of year the weather can be a bit of a mixed bag - you never know

quite what

you’re going to get. If you’re planning a party or

having a few friends over, it’s often easier to plan

something indoors.

Here are some ideas to make sure everyone has

a great time. We’ve also thrown in some

ways you can be a great host and help people

ease up on the drink so no one gets

carried away or hurt.

For ideas on hosting great parties in the

warmer months, see The Great Summer

Party Guide at www.alac.org.nz

Take a look at some

of these delicious

recipes to help

keep you warm ...

Kiwi Kai.T here’s nothing like a bit of home cooking when

you’ve got a

few guests to entertain - especially if it’s a bi

t chilly outside.

Something hearty and nourishing is a

lways a good option.

To help make sure no one crosses the line aft

er a few drinks,

have plenty of food on hand when they

arrive and

throughout the event.

Recipes provided by the Heart Foundation.

See more great recipes at www.heartfoundation.org.nz

Wedges Serves 25• 3kg large, floury

potatoes, scrubbed

and sliced into wedges

• 25gms garlic cloves, peeled and

finely chopped

• 1/2 cup fresh mint, finely chopped

• 5 red peppers, sliced into thick wed

ges

• 2 1/2 cups low-salt tomato paste

• 1/2 cup brown sugar

• 1/2 cup vinegar

• 2 1/2 cups water

• 1/2 cup oil

Place all ingredients in a large, flat

baking dish and toss to coat.

Bake at 180°C for 30 minutes or unti

l

the potatoes are tender. Turn once or

twice during cooking.

Add a little water at the end of cookin

g

if necessary to ensure a smooth, glos

sy

coating of the delicious sauce.

Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl. Make a

well in the centre of the dry ingredients.

Beat the eggs and then add in the milk. Pour into the

well and stir until the dry ingredients are just

dampened. Stir in the extra ingredients.

Heat a little oil in a frying pan. Add tablespoonfuls of

the mixture and cook over a medium heat until small

bubbles appear on the surface and the underside is

golden brown. Turn and cook until the second side

is golden brown. Variations:Kumara and Ginger:

Stir in 4 cups peeled, grated raw kumara,

2 Tbsp grated fresh root ginger, 4 Tbsp sweet

chilli sauce, 1 tsp crushed garlic (optional),

and 4 Tbsp fresh coriander or parsley.

Corn and Herb: Stir in 4 cups whole kernel corn,

4 finely chopped spring onions and

4 - 6 Tbsp chopped fresh herbs.

Fruit: Stir in 3 - 4 cups chopped banana

or coarsely grated apple.

Serve with bacon or dust with

icing sugar.

Fritters Serves 25Easy to make

• 800gms flour

• 2 1/2 Tbsp baking powder

• 10 eggs

• 500ml low fat milk

• 1/4 cup oil

Extra ingredients, see variations

Tomato and basil bruschetta• 1 loaf ciabatta or 1 baguette

(French stick)• 2 vine ripened tomatoes, chopped• 1 Tbsp basil, finely shredded• 1/2 red onion, diced • Cracked black pepper

To make the bruschetta base, cut the bread into thick slices and toast both sides until crisp and golden. Combine the chopped tomato, diced onion and shredded basil. Spoon on top of the toasts and sprinkle with cracked black pepper.

Mini Thai pork sausage rolls Makes 24• 500gms lean pork mince• 1 tsp ground cumin• 1 tsp ground coriander• 2 Tbsp sweet chilli sauce• 2 Tbsp chopped fresh coriander• 1 cup fresh breadcrumbs• 4 sheets frozen reduced fat

puff pastry, thawed and halved lengthwise

• 2 Tbsp low fat milk

Preheat oven to 200°C. Put the mince, cumin, ground coriander, sweet chilli sauce, fresh coriander and breadcrumbs in a bowl and mix to combine.Spread 1/4 of the mixture along one edge of one thawed sheet of pastry and roll up to conceal the filling. Repeat with the remaining filling and pastry sheets. Cut each roll into 6 bite-sized sausage rolls and place the rolls seam-side down onto baking trays lined with baking paper.Lightly brush the rolls with milk and bake for 20 minutes or until the pastry is crispy and golden and the filling is cooked through.

A few bevies...

L et's face it, your party won’t be memorable

unless you make the extra

effort.

Have a few interesting n

on-alcoholic drink choices

.

Along with the usual

juice and fizzy drink ther

e’s

a huge variety of

non-alcoholic drink opti

ons

you could wow

your mates with.

Mulled grape juicePer glass:

• 200ml grape juice

• Pinch of cinnamon or

piece of cinnamon quill

• 2 whole cloves

• 1 tsp orange rind

Place all ingredients in a small pan

and simmer to bring out the flavour.

Remove cloves and cinnamon quill.

Serve warm.

Virgin Moscow Mule

Use a large jugNo.7 Cup• 2 slices orange• 2 slices lemon• 2 slices grapefruit• 2 sprigs of mint• 1 cinnamon quill• 500ml lemonade or

soda water• 500ml ginger ale• Ice

Per glass:• 350ml ginger beer• 1 lime • 1/2 lime for garnish• 1/3 cup of ice• 1 sprig of mint

Fill the jug with ice and add all the ingredients in the order listed above. Give it a good stir and enjoy!

Pour ice in glass, add ginger beer and lime juice. Garnish with half a lime.

Some thingstoremember

Music & More

Best served in a large jug or bowl with a ladle

Punch

• 1/2 pineapple, peeled• 1/2 orange, peeled• 1/2 lemon, peeled• 2 cups frozen mixed berries• 500ml cranberry juice• 500ml pineapple juice• 500ml cloudy apple juice• Ice

Slice the pineapple, orange and lemon into small wedges and place in the jug. Add the frozen mixed berries and cranberry juice. Place into fridge for at least an hour. When ready to serve, add pineapple juice, apple juice and ice and stir.

Some thingstoremember

Music & More

Having some activities planned is a great way to make sure your

party is about having a great time

together and is not focused

on drinking. What would a party

be without some good tunes?

Make sure there’s a variety of m

usic to cater for everyone. Anthems

go without saying too, ther

e’s nothing like a group sing-along

.

If one of the guests plays an instru

ment, get them to bring it along

for a live performance. Karaoke and

the lastest electronic games are

bound to liven up the night and ge

t everyone out of their seats.

• Twister

• 20 Questions

• Charades

• Board games

• Group quiz

A nd you don’t have to spend money.

Here are a few other games you

could try that are bound to ke

ep

the fun going.

You could also have a theme.

Try one of these

• Costume party

e.g. Ask everyone to come dressed as

their favorite film star

• Bake off

• ‘Top Chef’ Competition

• Progressive party

e.g. Visit three different houses for

entrées, mains and dessert.

Plan how you’ll get from place to

place, e.g. have a sober driver.

I t can be a bit chaotic having a lot of people in your house. Remember to clear away things that could get in the way and lay dow

n some non-slip mats if it’s raining.

Keep outside areas clearly lit so everyo

ne can make it in and

out of the house safely. Move away any

unnecessary furniture

and fragile ornaments. Block off any are

as where people could

get burnt, such as hot ovens and heater

s.

It’s also a good idea to have a first-aid

kit on hand in case one

of your guests takes a tumble on the da

nce floor. For more ideas

on preparing for your party visit www.fa

meorshame.co.nz

SpaceMake

A s the host you set the tone for the party.

Make sure people have a good t

ime without over-indulging.

Keep an eye on how much p

eople are drinking. The best tim

e to

do something to make sure your

guests have a great time and do

n’t

go too far with alcohol is earl

y on and before they get drunk

rather

than waiting until they have ha

d too much.

Have some activities planned so

people don’t resort to

knocking back heaps of alco

hol to escape the boredom.

I f you’re providing alcohol make sure you have food available and don’t just rely on light snacks. Remember to keep food on hand so people can come back for more if they want to and make sure there’s interesting drink options other than alcohol. If people are taking their time over a drink, don’t feel the need to keep topping it up, just leave them to it.

When all is

said and done.

Remember, just because the

weather might drive you in

doors,

it’s not all doom and gloom.

Hopefully you’ve found som

ething

in here that will help you ha

ve a memorable time with f

amily

and friends.

For more info on being a gre

at and responsible host, che

ck out

the ease up on the drink inf

o at www.alac.org.nz

Make sure all your guests ge

t home safely. Call taxis and

make sure

anyone driving home is oka

y to get behind the wheel. Y

ou might also

want to offer them a place

to stay for the night.

To top it off.