A couple weeks back I had a few friends around for a jolly good time in order to celebrate my birthday. Using my recent British citizenship as an overarching theme I planned for a small intimate 'do' - one that could showcase one of the things I love best about England, it's quintessential quirkiness.
There was a significant amount of research, lists, excel spreadsheets (NERD), cooking, baking and cleaning involved in the preparation. And even if I never completely relaxed during the evening (need to make sure people's champagne glasses are never more than half empty, dah-ling) and spent three hours cleaning up the next day, I'd do it all over again. Only this time ensure Jeeves was available to do the butlering. I really should not have given all of my staff the evening off.
Chortle.
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| Even Liz sent her fondest welcome. |
As I've mentioned before, one of my fail-proof ways of getting a party off right is greeting my guests at the door with a welcome beverage. Considering the theme of the evening, I'd purchased some mismatched antique teacups off of ebay and decided on two signature cocktails. The Royal-Tea and Spiced Pimm's. Recipes to follow.
But of course every good cocktail needs a substantial nibble to support it. And trying (for the most part) to again stick with the theme I came up with:
- Cheese from Neal's Yard Dairy (likely the main reason I went way over my party budget)
- Dates stuffed with pistachios and wrapped in bacon (my take on Devils on Horseback)
- Shepherd's Pie Croquettes
- Hot artichoke, emmenthal and cheddar dip
- Assorted dips served in home-made bread baskets
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| Channeling my inner Martha Stewart, hand made Union Jack toothpicks and cheese labels |
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| Moustache sticks - serving up dates and pistachios wrapped in bacon |
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| Shepherd's Pie Croquettes |
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| All playing along nicely together |
But let's remember, what's the key ingredient to a first birthday party? TREATS! Making enough to potentially double my invite list, I was eating cake for a whole week after and that was even after unloading most of it on M and my colleagues.
Coming out of my oven?
- Banoffee cupcakes
- Sticky toffee shortbread
- Chocolate speckle birthday cake
- "Ironic moustache" sugar cookies as wee take away pressies for my friends
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Banoffee cupcakes - banana cake, toffee piped inside, cream on top = HEALTHY!
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| Chocolate speckle birthday cake. I had trouble keeping Buddy at a distance. |
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| The making of the "ginger" moustache. Edible sparkle powder is my friend. |
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The Earl. The Major General. The Duchess (sad facial hair for a woman, but hey-ho it happens).
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Care packages for guest's departure (snack for the tube / taxi ride home) - in the making.
Each labeled with their own special "character". |
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| 1 of 2 care packages brought to the office. And weirdly - the only shot of the sticky toffee shortbread. |
RECIPES
Royal-Tea
1 part English gin
2 parts brewed and cooled Earl Grey tea
Lots of lemon juice
Serve over ice. Or in my case get it nice and chilled but serve without ice in proper tea cups. Confuse friends as to why you are offering them tea when greeted at the door at 8:30 pm on a Saturday night.
Spiced Pimm's Cocktail
On the stovetop heat 3 cups water 3 English breakfast tea bags, 2 tablespoons sugar, 2-3 cloves, 1 broken cinnamon stick, orange zest. Let seep and then remove teabags and bits of peel, cloves, stick etc. Let cool and then add 1 cup Pimm's. Serve over ice.
Bacon-wrapped dates
Shepherd's pie croquettes
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