"engagement parties" news and stories

Necessary Nibbles from YumSugar

by Monika Bartyzel, Posted Apr 16th 2009 @ 1:00PM

Each Thursday, we round up a selection of scrumptious links from our friends over at YumSugar. Here's what they've got cooking this week:

One delicious-looking midweek pick-me-up with a twist (look to the right!): A recipe for Coconut Lime Chicken Soup.

Burger King apologizes for the "Texican" Whopper commercial that angered Jorge Zermeno, the Mexican ambassador to Spain.

A love letter to (and recipe for) 'Wichcraft's Chickpea and Red Pepper sandwich.

In a quest to perfect the engagement party process, the Come Party with Me series offers Tips.

Poll: Do you own fashionable servingware?

YumSugar readers sound off on the perfect salad bar fixings.

Rhubarb recipes for beginners and addicts alike.

Filed under: YumSugar

A Bellini Bar - The Hungry Bride

COMMENTS 2

by Sarah Christine, Posted Feb 11th 2009 @ 1:59PM

This entry is in answer to a reader's comment from my first post. I had included a picture of my Bellini Bar and she wanted to know more about it. So here it goes!

My fiance and I decided to hold an engagement brunch. Brunch happens to be much more affordable than a dinner, as well as cocktail party and its one my fiance's favorite meals. While I love mimosa's and bloody Mary's, I wanted to do something a little different and at the same time, I wanted it to be interactive. Welcome to the bellini bar. With a set budget and a mound of DIY projects, we were able to set some money aside to rent white table clothes, as well as champagne glasses. Both my finance and I are ultimate foodies, so even though we were holding this party in my soon to be in-laws backyard, we still wanted our menu to be an experience. It is always important to remember that beverages play just as large of a role in the menu as the food.

Attention to detail goes a long way. Whether you're holding a party for seventy-five or ten, including a similar bar to this will leave a lasting impression. What makes these so special? We offered bellini's in several flavors: Strawberry, Peach and Mixed Berry. Guests poured the desired amount of puree into their glasses, then topped it off with either Champagne or Prosecco (it's good to offer your guests both, some may prefer a sweet bellini to a dry bellini).

Pictures, instructions and recipes after the jump.

Filed under: The Hungry Bride

Too Busy to Enjoy - The Hungry Bride

COMMENTS 9

by Sarah Christine, Posted Feb 6th 2009 @ 7:02PM

Do you cook as often as you like? Since my engagement party, I haven't been able to utilize my new gadgets as much as I wanted to.

Welcome to my first installment of The Hungry Bride. Let me begin by saying that this column is by no means a column portraying a hungry bride that's on a diet -- trying to fit into the dream wedding dress. It's the exploration of moments, stresses, food discoveries and lessons learned while being an engaged foodie. I plan on sharing and asking readers for opinions. For example, I plan on completing my registry in the near future. I hope that readers will give me tips on what I absolutely need to register for or let me in on the items you have that don't work as well as you would like them to.

I hate to start the column off on a negative note, but I am perturbed. This past September, I had a beautiful engagement party (my Bellini Bar pictured above) in which I received many gifts. As a foodie, receiving items for your kitchen is like a dream come true. I'll never forget the day I got engaged. After proposing, my fiance took me to dinner and in the middle of my Shrimp Gumbo, I blurted out in excitement "Oh my God! I get to register now!" For some brides, compiling a registry is a hassle and nightmare, for others, it's an outer-body experience. The sales clerk hands you the gun to scan bar codes and a glimpse of heaven shines through your eyes. Ok, so maybe this sounds extreme, but this was the way I felt when I was asked to put together a light registry for my engagement party.

Fast forward three months later, I live in my new home with a dream kitchen. I have a center island the size of my old kitchen and appliances that make me smile. Yet, I never get to use my kitchen and new gadgets as much as I want to. Family events, work, parties and wedding appointments have filled up my weeknights, as well as my weekends.

More after the jump.

Filed under: The Hungry Bride