Here at the Partybluprints Blog, we have done some polling of friends and family online and off and have discovered that a large majority of you participate in activities ( parades, fairs, races…) on Memorial Day and then head home or to a family member or friend’s house to celebrate.  With that in mind, we have come up with a Marvelous “Make-Ahead” Menu that will be perfect for your party!  This one can pretty much be done the day before, leaving you FREE to have FUN all day and still be able to  host a memorable Memorial Day bash!

So here’s the line up of recipes, we hope you enjoy!  Be sure to check out Memorial Day Party Activities with Meaning>

Lazy Man’s Barbecue Pork Sandwiches

(Recipe Serves 10-12)

Ingredients:

• 4-5 pound boneless pork butt (shoulder)
• 1 14 1/2-oz can beef broth
• 1/3 cup hot pepper sauce
• 1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce

Sauce:

• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup molasses
• 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 cup yellow mustard
• 2 tablespoons hot pepper sauce
• 10-12 sandwich buns

Preparation:

• Place pork butt in bottom of large slow cooker. Combine broth, hot pepper sauce and Worcestershire sauce, and pour over pork. Cover and cook on high setting for 5 hours (or 8-10 hours on low setting) until pork is very tender. Meanwhile, for sauce, combine all ingredients in large saucepan; set aside.

• Place pork on cutting board; reserve 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Coarsely chop pork; combine with reserved cooking liquid and sauce in saucepan; heat over medium heat until warm. Spoon pork onto sandwich buns to serve.

Napa Cold Slaw

(Recipe Serves 10-12)

Here is a light and refreshing version of cold slaw.  This slaw is the perfect picnic side dish.  It’s also the ultimate condiment for BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches.

Ingredients:

Salad:

• 1 head napa cabbage – washed, dried, shredded
• 1 small carrot – grated

Dressing:

• ½ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
• ½ cup olive oil
• salt & pepper to taste

Preparation:

• Combine shredded cabbage and carrots.  Cover and refrigerate until ready to dress and serve.  Combine all dressing ingredients in a jar or blender.  Shake/blend well.  Cover and set aside until ready to dress salad and serve.  Dress salad lightly, toss to fully coat and serve.  You want to serve it nice and crunchy, so don’t let it sit too long with dressing before serving.

Hot Dog Kebabs (for the kids)

Ingredients:

• Hot Dogs – sliced into 1 ½” pieces
• Tater Tots – frozen
• Kosher Dill Pickles – sliced into 1 ½” pieces
• Cherry Tomatoes – washed and dried
• Red Onion – cut into wedges
• Optional: Biscuits (recipe for a light version here>)

Preparation:

• Soak skewers in water (this will keep them from burning on the grill).  Prepare kebabs ahead of time.  Cook hot dogs and tater tots according to directions on package, set aside to cool.  When cool, slice hot dogs into 1 ½” pieces.  Cut other items and set aside.  When ready to assemble simply start skewering hot dogs, tater tots, pickles, cherry tomatoes and onion.  Grill to warm through and serve.

• A good rule is 1 kebab per child, 2 kebabs for children over 12.

Optional: Serve biscuits (whether you make these from scratch, box mix or refrigerated canisters, they’ll be a hot ticket item) with the kebabs.

Corn and Black Bean Salad

(Recipe serves 4)

Ingredients:

• 1 can, 14 ounces, black beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 cups frozen corn kernels
• 1 small red bell pepper, chopped in small uniform pieces
• 1/2 red onion, chopped chopped in small uniform pieces
• 1 lime, juiced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and pepper and chopped cilantro to taste

Preparation:

Below we have listed a few Memorial Day party activities for the kids that are fun and meaningful.  Without the sacrifice of our brave soldiers, we would not have an opportunity to celebrate this holiday as freely as we wish. With that in mind try out these fun ideas and let your red, white and blue spirit shine…

How happy are you when you arrive at a party and there’s an activity all set up and ready for the kids to dive into?  Depending on the age of the children, you may need to walk them over and introduce them to the activity and other children.  This instant icebreaker allows the children to get comfortable and make some “party friends” – once they connect they’ll play all party long.

Package some patriotic love and gratitude and send it overseas.

• Cover the kids’ tables (or activity table) with white butcher paper.  Create centerpieces using galvanized buckets filled with crayons, markers and stickers.  Put out other fun craft supplies along with red, white and blue construction paper.  Ask everyone, even the adults to write a letter or make a card for a soldier.  The following day, pack up the letters and cards in a large envelope and send them overseas.  Here are some tips on how to send:

• Go> http://www.penpalsforsoldiers.org

Express your patriotism with a parade

• Prepare an area filled with props and instruments for a parade.  Gather the kids and make sure all select a prop (pinwheels, flags, hats) and/or instrument (drums, kazoos, plastic flutes and bells).  Have a patriotic playlist ready to go, organize your parade (plan a parade route around the yard), hit the play button and let them march.  You may need a Grand Marshall to lead the parade, so get an older child or adult who likes to have some fun and give them their marching orders – make sure to give them a great hat and instrument.

• Flags for Parade – http://www.americanflags.com/sahafl.html Looking for a little more safety when distributing handheld flags? Then try the Saf-T-Ball flags, which come with a red ball topper rather than a traditional speartop.
  

Pick Patriotic Tunes

• Patriotic Fathers Album: 4^th of July Go to > (enter Patriotic Fathers in the search field)- Perfect for a parade!
• Born in the USA – Bruce Springsteen
• American Girl – Tom Petty
• All American Man – Kiss
• R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. -  John Mellencamp
• All American Girl – Carrie Underwood
• American Baby – Dave Mathews
• God Bless the U.S.A. – Lee Greenwood
• Surfin’ USA – The Beach Boys
• Back in the U.S.A. – Chuck Berry
• American Pie – Don McLean
• America – Simon & Garfunkel
• Living in the U.S.A. – Steve Miller Band
• We’re an American Band – Grand Funk Railroad
• American Land – Bruce Springsteen
• Bon Jovi – Miss Fourth of July
• American Made – George Thorogood
• Freedom – The Isley Brothers
• America the Beautiful – Ray Charles

You can enter any of these songs in the search field on iTunes to buy and create your own playlist.  Go to >

Other Great Picnic Activities

• Potato Sack Races – where to buy  go>
• Kick Croquet where to buy  go>

IMAGE ABOVE: COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Bo Iacobbo, age 5, of Colorado Springs, proudly waves his flag in a parade  (U.S. Air Force photo/Lorna Gutierrez) http://www.brookhillchurch.com/vets/

Tea Parties are the perfect way for girls and women of all ages to connect. Whether celebrating Mother’s Day, a baby shower, a teenage birthday or women’s club get-together, be inspired by the feminine spirit of the Tea Party we all loved as young girls.

Tips For A “Simple and Surprising” Tea Party Tablescape :

Mix and match modern and traditional elements to fit the celebration. Below is your guide for how to host this Par-Tea: featuring links you’ll love for menu ideas, a signature tea cocktail recipe and many other fun elements to allow you to put your own twist on a traditional tea party, not only on Mother’s Day, but all year long.

TEA PARTY GUIDE

• Tips for creating A Mother’s Day Tea Party Floral Arrangement>
• How to Create a Tea Bar>
• Tea Cocktail Recipe>
• Teacup Cake Recipe>
• Modern Menu Idea: Asian Potsticker Recipe>
• Tea Sandwich Recipes at CHOW.com>

Plus see our featured tips at Clorox’s Simple and Surprising.com>

For centuries, May Day, May 1st, has been celebrated by many cultures around the world through many different traditions. You may have heard of a Maypole, well, its’ big day was May Day. People would gather on May Day and dance around the Maypole, which was decorated with long ribbons.

Since I’m not about to erect a Maypole to celebrate May Day, I chose another beautiful and equally festive tradition to honor the day which celebrates the beauty and excitement of spring. Our tradition is to make May Day Baskets/Tussie Mussies that can be hung on a door knob. The idea is to create a sweet bouquet of spring flowers, place them in a basket or decorated paper cone (Tussie Mussie), and leave them for a neighbor to say “Happy Spring”. Tradition requires good ole fashioned “ringing and running” so your beautiful gesture is anonymous. Maybe the recipient will be inspired to pass it on. Regardless, you will undoubtedly brighten someone’s day. Make sure to tie a tag on the basket wishing the recipient “Happy May Day”!

If you don’t have any small baskets, it’s fun to make paper cones, decorate and fill with a few flowers and ta-da, you have yourself a modern day Tussie Mussie. You can use scrapbook paper, wallpaper, or card stock to construct your paper cone. Then decorate it with ribbons, bling, pom poms, whatever fun decorations you have in stock. One essential component before filling the cone with flowers is to punch 2 holes on either side at the mouth of the cone. Use these holes to tie the ends of your ribbon, providing a means to hang your May Day Tussie Mussie on the doorknob. Make a “Happy May Day” tag and tie it on the basket/cone, but don’t sign it, remember this gift is anonymous! Have fun.

Spring is such a wonderful time to entertain.  The weather is nice, it’s light for longer and in general people’s spirits seem lighter too.  Here is a great menu I found at Williams Sonoma, that really got me excited to host a dinner party.   This party will be all about the food, sitting at the table for a few hours and enjoying conversation over a delightful meal. The menu highlights several seasonal spring foods and is sure to wow even the most discriminating guests.   My suggestion for a wine to serve with dinner would be a Pinot Grigio.  Most wine experts agree this is a good pairing for asparagus, “wine-challenged” food.

My Pick: Alois Lageder Pinot Grigio Benefizium Porer 2006

MENU

Amuse Bouche

• Radishes with Chervil Butter

Appetizer

• Green Goddess Dip with Crudite>

Salad Course

• Cherry Tomato and Fava Bean Salad>

Main Course

• Individual Lasagnas with Asparagus & Prosciutto>

Dessert

• Classic Strawberry Shortcakes>

Try this fun table setting from re-nest.com , it’s perfect for this dinner party!

And they’re off! Together these words start what has come to be known as the most exciting two minutes in sports. Saturday, May 1st, 2010 will mark the 136th “run for the roses”. The Kentucky Derby is the perfect time to gather family and friends for some fun. Host a party but keep it simple by inviting guests over to enjoy the race and a cocktail, 2 hours is perfect. Make it special by serving Mint Juleps, the mandatory Derby cocktail and some traditional Derby snacks. Encourage your guests to don a hat, it will add to the fun and festivity. Check out our tips below and this one is a no-brainer for an exciting and enjoyable afternoon!

When to Watch:
Coverage of the race begins on Saturday, May 1, 2010 on NBC Television at 4 PM EST starting with Red Carpet Coverage!

1. Cocktail

Early Times Mint Julep

• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups water
• Sprigs of fresh mint
• Crushed ice
• Early Times Kentucky Whisky
• Silver Julep Cups

Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes. Cool and place in a covered container with six or eight sprigs of fresh mint, then refrigerate overnight. Make one julep at a time by filling a julep cup with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon mint syrup and two ounces of Early Times Kentucky Whisky. Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

2. Derby Snack

Serve up traditional Benedictine Sandwiches on a pretty tray and visit KentuckyDerbyParty.com for more Derby party recipes.

Benedictine Sandwich Yield: 50 servings.

• 2 pkg. cream cheese (3 oz. size)
• Grated pulp of 1 med. peeled cucumber
• 1 sm. grated onion
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• Mayonnaise
• 2-3 drops green food coloring
• Dash of Tabasco
• 1 loaf Pepperidge Farm thin white bread

Directions

• Mash the cheese with a fork. Work into them the cucumber pulp, first extracting the juice by placing the pulp in a napkin and squeezing it fairly dry.
• Add the onion, Tabasco, salt and enough mayonnaise to make a smooth filling, easily spread. Last of all, add the green food coloring – just enough to give a faint green tinge, for too much will look unappetizing.
• Cut the crusts off bread and cut each slice into fourths. Spread with Benedictine Spread.

Recipe Credit: http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1744,149173-237203,00.html

3. Derby Dessert

Order up a Derby Pie to be delivered to your party. A True Kentucky favorite. Derby-Pie® has been a southern tradition for more than 40 years and is made from a secret family recipe. Learn more>

4. Flowers

The Kentucky Derby is also known as the “run for the roses”, therefore roses will make a perfect choice for a small arrangement for your party. If you buy a dozen you can make up a few small arrangements. Use a silver cup or vase if you have it.

Invitations

Create your own online invitaiton: Go

Derby Napkins, Cups, Plates and more at Plum Party>

Now here is a great idea for dying original and beautiful Easter Eggs and quite literally, it’s tie dyed. It comes from OurBestBites.com and is a keeper! Use the link to go to the site for more pictures and instructions on how to create these amazing eggs. It’s not as hard as it looks, as long as you are willing to part with a few old ties.

Use this link for printable instructions > Tie Dyed Eggs

WOW! Check out what our readers did.  Hats off to

Jackie (aka: @WritRams) see full story at her blog Writer Ramblings>

and Suzie ( a.k.a. @unschool ) see full story at her blog Unschool Plus>

Remember and celebrate what Easter is all about and gift your guests a symbolic favor. The Sand Dollar is ideal! Print this poem on pretty paper and attach it to the sand dollar with a delicate ribbon.

You can find Sand dollars in most craft stores. If not, print the poem on pretty paper from this link (sand dollar poem) it contains a picture of a sand dollar with the poem. Here is another link you can use to print out Sand dollar coloring pages for the kids: ColoringPage. Invite the children at your Easter celebration to create colorful Sand dollar art!

The Sand dollar
Here’s a pretty little legend
That I would like to tell
Of the birth and death of Jesus
Found in this lowly shell

If you examine closely,
You’ll see that you find here
Four nail holes and a fifth one
Made by a Roman’s Spear.

On one side the Easter Lily,
Its center is the star
That appeared unto the shepherds
And led them from afar.

The Christmas poinsettia
Etched on the other side
Reminds us of His birthday
Our Happy Christmastide.

Now break the centre open
And here you will release
The five white doves awaiting
To spread Good Will and Peace.

This simple little symbol,
Christ left for you and me
To help us spread his Gospel
Through all eternity.

Anonymous

Although it’s “technically” not your husband’s responsibility to make your day on Mother’s Day, because you’re not his mother…this duty falls to him as the children need an adult to lead the charge. As many of you may or may not agree, some Dads are not natural born mind readers or “sensitive” as to what a mother needs or wants on her special day. I believe all fathers are truly in awe of the woman who gave birth to his child(ren) and whose dedication and love of mothering is endless. Although he feels this, sometimes the expression falls short and the last minute reservations at the local diner or box of doughnuts for breakfast falls short of the tribute a mother deserves.

In the best interest of your husband and yourself, don’t place this huge responsibility on his shoulders. Set him up for success and save yourself from disappointment. There’s nothing wrong with sharing with your man some direction on how you would like to be treated like a Queen on Mother’s Day, and, yes, he may need a detailed plan. Of course, if you plan it yourself, that takes a bit of pleasure out of the day.

Download Plan>

So on this Mother’s Day, Partybluprints.com is giving all Mothers a gift, a game plan to pass on to Dad – all he needs to do is follow the step-by-step guide for a day fit for a Queen. He’ll feel great about treating you to a day you truly deserve and as the Queen Bee, you’ll feel honored. So all you have to do is slip this plan to your man with a not so subtle message that this is what you want for Mother’s Day. Spell it out ladies – men will readily admit that not only aren’t they mind readers, but subtlely is lost on them – just tell them what you want, we’re here to help you. Simply download our FREE Eguide and give it to good old Dad. Trust us, what man doesn’t appreciate executing a plan.

And they’re off! Together these words start what has come to be known as the most exciting two minutes in sports. Saturday, May 2nd, 2009 will mark the 135th “run for the roses”. The Kentucky Derby is the perfect time to gather family and friends for some fun. Host a party but keep it simple by inviting guests over to enjoy the race and a cocktail, 2 hours is perfect. Make it special by serving Mint Juleps, the mandatory Derby cocktail and some traditional Derby snacks. Encourage your guests to don a hat, it will add to the fun and festivity. Check out our tips below and this one is a no-brainer for an exciting and enjoyable afternoon!

When to Watch:
Coverage of the race begins on Saturday, May 2, 2009 on NBC Television at 5 PM ET with post time approx. 6:04 PM. ET.

The race itself will be part of a three-hour show from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. EST Saturday, May 2 airing on the NBC network, but Derby segments can be seen on the Today show. The show will air live from Churchill Downs Friday, May 1, and on Derby Day. Also, the network’s Access Hollywood show will air Kentucky Derby-related segments in the week leading up to the race.

The NBC-owned Bravo network checks in with promos for the race featuring personalities from its Real Housewives and Top Chef shows all week as well. In addition, CNBC will air its documentary “Run for the Roses: The Kentucky Derby and the Business of Horse Racing” Thursday, April 30 at 9 p.m. EST with a repeat at 1 a.m. and additional airings Saturday, May 2–Monday, May 4. Bravo will televise the Kentucky Oaks from 5 p.m.-6 p.m. EST.

Cocktail:

Early Times Mint Julep
2 cups sugar
2 cups water
Sprigs of fresh mint
Crushed ice
Early Times Kentucky Whisky
Silver Julep Cups

Make a simple syrup by boiling sugar and water together for five minutes. Cool and place in a covered container with six or eight sprigs of fresh mint, then refrigerate overnight. Make one julep at a time by filling a julep cup with crushed ice, adding one tablespoon mint syrup and two ounces of Early Times Kentucky Whisky. Stir rapidly with a spoon to frost the outside of the cup. Garnish with a sprig of fresh mint.

Derby Snack:

Benedictine Sandwich

• 2 pkg. cream cheese (3 oz. size)
• Grated pulp of 1 med. peeled cucumber
• 1 sm. grated onion
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• Mayonnaise
• 2-3 drops green food coloring
• Dash of Tabasco
• 1 loaf Pepperidge Farm thin white bread

Mash the cheese with a fork. Work into them the cucumber pulp, first extracting the juice by placing the pulp in a napkin and squeezing it fairly dry.

Add the onion, Tabasco, salt and enough mayonnaise to make a smooth filling, easily spread. Last of all, add the green food coloring – just enough to give a faint green tinge, for too much will look unappetizing.

Cut the crusts off bread and cut each slice into fourths. Spread with Benedictine Spread. Yield: 50 servings.

Recipe Credit: http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1744,149173-237203,00.html

Derby Dessert:

Order up a Derby Pie to be delivered to your party. A True Kentucky favorite. Derby-Pie® has been a southern tradition for more than 40 years and is made from a secret family recipe. Learn more>

Flowers:

The Kentucky Derby is also known as the “run for the roses”, therefore roses will make a perfect choice for a small arrangement for your party. If you buy a dozen you can make up a few small arrangements. Use a silver cup or vase if you have it.

Invitations:
Create your own online invitaiton: Go

Music:
Official Derby Party Playlist CD