Swap a Semi-Homemade Dessert Bar for a Formal Homemade Creation | Tuesday’s Tip of the Day!

It’s ok, no one will remember 2 minutes from now that your delicious bite size brownies, peppermint bark, cookies and eclairs weren’t homemade. They won’t even remember that they were served with minimal fan-fair and rigmarole. Your party should be about great company, conversation and delectable bites (and sips!). Bite size creations are easy to serve only requiring a few cake stands or platters and can be plated earlier leaving you more time to mix and mingle. And for those guests that are nagging you to bring something, have them bring a batch of their favorite holiday treats to share with all. And yes, if you must, make a few treats beforehand like my Peppermint Bark, Peanut Butterfinger or Chocolate Pecan Fudge all that can be made a few days in advance.

For other terrific tips and hundreds of recipes, visit my website (thetabletogether.com). While there, consider “subscribing” and I will send a new tip or blog post directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

P.S. Make sure you check out my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, for dozens of videos solely dedicated to bringing all of these fantastic tips and recipes to life!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Throwing the Ultimate Party in a Small Space | Tuesday’s Tip of the Day!

Yes, entertaining is often about refinement. A pressed tablecloth, folded napkins, oh, and chairs for every guest. Let's face it, come the holidays we are often entertaining more people than normal and you may just not have the space. When your motto is like mine, "there is always room for another," don’t be afraid to kick traditional entertaining refinement to the curb, sans-chairs, “proper” tables, linens and a 5-course menu. There is no need to spend countless hours and dollars trying to refigure your home and purchasing more chairs, wine glasses, and linens to what, impress your guests? After all, isn’t hosting a dinner party all about the company you’re with?

Instead, have fun with what you do have using a bathtub filled with ice to chill wines, cutting boards over your burners for more counter space, pretty dishtowels for makeshift runners or tablecloths and paper plates, napkins and drinkware for serving. At the end of the day, your guests won’t remember the chair they sat on or the fork that touched their lips with delectable bites and incredible flavor. What they will remember is the company they shared and the evening itself.

For other terrific tips and hundreds of recipes, visit my website (thetabletogether.com). While there, consider “subscribing” and I will send a new tip or blog post directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

P.S. Make sure you check out my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, for dozens of videos solely dedicated to bringing all of these fantastic tips and recipes to life!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Extra Counter Space in a Jiffy | Tuesday’s Tip of the Day!

Looking for a little more counter space this holiday season? Consider bringing your cutting boards into the mix. With the oven off and burners cool, place cutting boards over your burners and allow guests to serve themselves buffet style. Pretty nifty tip, wouldn’t you say?

For other terrific tips and hundreds of recipes, visit my website (thetabletogether.com). While there, consider “subscribing” and I will send a new tip or blog post directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

P.S. Make sure you check out my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, for dozens of videos solely dedicated to bringing all of these fantastic tips and recipes to life!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!

Stocking the Bar Cart: Celebrating New Years with all the “Fixings"| Tuesday’s Tip of the Day!

Photo by Papereskimo 

When it comes to a festive New Year’s, its important to stock the bar cart with an element of sophistication while not breaking the bank – or countless hours of sleep. Today I offer my top tips for a fully stocked, festive and show stopping bar cart primed for your guests every wish.

Sips:

• To keep things simple, offer a signature cocktail that is pre-mixed and only in need of a shake, stir or few ice cubes to finish. By streamlining the bar cart – remember, less is more – you minimize clutter and spillage all while keeping your costs down. If you would like to take your bar cart to the next level, keep a supply of the basics like prosecco, whiskey, brandy, vodka, and even sparkling cider from which your guests can choose from. While on the subject of sips, consider offering a hot cider or mulled wine for those looking to take off the cold chill from their commute.

Add-Ons:

• Don’t forget tonic water, club soda and freshly squeezed orange juice or grapefruit juice as well! Bitters, cherries, orange peels, simple syrup…consider your options and have fun with it. Heck, pomegranate seeds for your prosecco is another simple and festive way to take ordinary to extraordinary levels.

Glasses:

• Depending on available drinks, have a collection for glasses available for guests to craft their drinks in. Prosecco? Champagne flutes. Old fashioned? Rocks glass. 

Ice:

• Use the right cube for drink. Crushed ice simply won’t do with your scant of brandy – plus it melts faster – in your rocks glass. P.S. don’t forget that ice scoop and bucket!

Napkins:

• Always have cocktail napkins on hand. One way to help adorn the bar cart, is by using festive holiday themed napkins which are both useful and practical.

Festive Accompaniments:

• From festive colored straws, umbrellas, fancy bamboo pics skewered with olives or cherries, or really whatever may suit your fancy, have a collection of stirrers and straws to adorn even the simplest of sips.

Equipment:

• Cocktail shakers, stir sticks, strainers, muddlers, lemon or lime juicers, peelers…don’t forget the details because each and everyone make the difference in your overall success! 

Decorations:

• A small vase of flowers, Glassybaby’s, bowls of gold and silver M&M’ – don’t forget the spoon – and even outlining the bar cart with fresh garland, you immediately take your cart to a whole new level with minimal effort.  

Now that you have a fully stocked bar cart, prepare yourself for an incredible evening as you cheer to 2016 and toast to 2017!

For other terrific tips and hundreds of recipes, visit my website (thetabletogether.com). While there, consider “subscribing” and I will send a new tip or blog post directly to your inbox every Tuesday and Wednesday morning!

P.S. Make sure you check out my YouTube channel, The Table Together with Tiffany Lewis, for dozens of videos solely dedicated to bringing all of these fantastic tips and recipes to life!

Cheers to starting a new tradition around The Table Together!

Sincerely,

Tiffany Lewis

Founder and true believer in the power of bringing people around The Table Together!