THE MENU | The Party Bluprints Blog - Party Tips, Ideas, and Recipes for Budget-Friendly Home Entertaining

Easy Shrimp Recipe And Tips For Serving Seafood From Brian Malarkey!

By Dawn on May 23, 2013 / Appetizer recipe, THE MENU / Leave a comment

One of the hottest chefs today (quite literally) is Brian Marlarkey. Brian is an award-winning chef, author of Come Early, Stay Late, Executive Chef of some of San Diego’s most popular restaurants, and judge/mentor on ABC’s new hit reality cooking competition, “The Taste,” sitting alongside culinary masters Anthony Bourdain, Nigella Lawson and Ludo Lefebvre. I love Brian’s simple and fun approach to food and entertaining. I have had the pleasure of enjoying meals at his bustling San Diego

Great Grilling Menu with 5 Recipes and Free Download!

By Dawn on May 21, 2013 / BBQ, THE MENU / Leave a comment

May is National Barbecue Month and Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start of summer. So here’s a fired up party menu that puts your BBQ to work, and gets you out of the kitchen! Get out of the kitchen and away from the stove this season. We have come up with an easy, affordable and delicious Outdoor Party Menu: including appetizer, main, side, dessert and cocktail! Each recipe features grilled ingredients and stars

Rhubarb Crisps

By Dawn on May 18, 2013 / Dessert / Leave a comment

Memorial Day Weekend is just 1 week away. The holiday is the official start of the summer BBQ party season, so we thought we would give you a delicious and budget-friendly dessert recipe to keep your guests coming back all season! … and so you don’t break the bank entertaining, this recipe, plus over a dozen more below can be made for under $1 per serving! Rhubarb Crisps (single servings) Recipe credit: Ryan Benyi for

The Best Burger Recipe – Super Sliders!

By Dawn on May 17, 2013 / Friday Night Bites, Main, THE MENU / 1 Comment

It’s time for Friday Night Bites and tonight we are ready for a BBQ. Feed a crowd with this easy to prepare recipe for mini burgers. This recipe allows you to prepare a tray of sliders ahead of time, so all you have to do is lift them out of the dish, pop them on the grill, slide them in a roll, and serve them up. Perfect for Friday night parties! Print The Best Burger

Padma Lakshmi Interview, Party Tips and Recipe!

By Dawn on May 14, 2013 / PARTY IDEAS, Sides, Uncategorized / Leave a comment

Dishing with Padma was like discovering a kindred spirit. She, like us, truly believes the most important quality in a host is the mood they set, not the food on their table. Although, the food and wine enhance a party, it’s the host that give it life and energy. We had Padma’s undivided attention, during our private 30 minute interview, and by the end, we were simply three hosts who love entertaining in their homes

Graduation Cap Cupcake Party Dessert!

By Dawn on May 13, 2013 / Dessert, PARTY IDEAS / 12 Comments

reposting for GRADUATION TIME! Add some fun sweets to your graduation celebration with these simple and special Graduation Cap inspired cupcakes. They’ll be the hit of your party and they are so easy to make. Simply turn your cupcakes on their heads and dress them up for graduation day with a mortarboard. Ingredients 1 box chocolate cake mix (+ ingredients listed on box for preparation) 1 can prepared vanilla frosting 1 bag Pull ‘n’ Peel

Amazing Apple Pie Recipe!

By Dawn on May 13, 2013 / Dessert / 1 Comment

image from BettyCrocker.com It’s National Apple Pie Day so we wanted to share a best of the bunch recipe from Betty! Apple pie is always a welcome addition to a dessert table, no matter what the reason or season. It’s my favorite, although blueberry is a very close second. In searching for a simple yet special recipe, I found it on another favorite of mine, the Betty Crocker website, and have posted it below for

Eggs Benedict with Ham and Asparagus – Brunch Recipe

By Dawn on May 11, 2013 / Main, Mother's Day / Leave a comment

Eggs Benedict is one of my favorite things to eat for breakfast. I don’t treat myself often, but since tomorrow is Mother’s Day, I’m posting the recipe with high hopes that I get to indulge - wink, wink Sandomeno men! Eggs Benedict with Ham and Asparagus – adapted from Egg-land’s Best recipe Prep Time: 10 min Cook Time: 15 Ingredients 4 Eggland’s Best Eggs 1 tsp white vinegar 4 slices ham A dozen baby asparagus

Grilled Corn Couscous Salad – Friday Night Bites

By Dawn on May 10, 2013 / Sides / 1 Comment

It’s time for Friday Night Bites and tonight we have a super side for BBQ’ing. This side salad is the perfect cool complement to hot grilled meats, poultry and fish. The fresh flavors from the produce brighten up this wholesome grain resulting in a refreshing and tasty salad. It’s an easy and affordable salad to make – a little couscous goes a long way! Print Grilled Corn Couscous Salad Author: Elizabeth Mascali Recipe type: Side Cuisine: American Serves: 6

Breakfast Pizza by Giada De Laurentiis

By Dawn on May 7, 2013 / Dessert, Main / Leave a comment

Here’s a berry delicious recipe by Giada De Laurentiis and A Bullseye View in honor of Mother’s Day. The gorgeous and talented, Italian chef (and mom to daughter Jade) trades in tomato sauce, basil and mozzarella for mascarpone cheese, cinnamon sugar and mixed berries. It’s a perfect way to bring Mom breakfast in bed this Sunday! Check out more ideas from Giada and A Bullseye View> Breakfast Pizza by Giada De Laurentiis Makes 4 to 6 servings

Diet Coke Chocolate Cake Recipe!

By Dawn on May 6, 2013 / Dessert / Leave a comment

In celebration of Diet Coke’s 30th Anniversary, the cooks at Coke crafted a decadent chocolate cake with a Diet Coke twist. We thought it was so cool, we had to share it with you. So thanks to our friends at Coke and a Bullseye View we can do so today. Be sure to check out A Bullseye View and the hot new Diet Coke commercial! Diet Coke Chocolate Cake By Coca-Cola Journey Makes 12 slices What

Easy Shrimp & Veggies On The Grill Recipe – Friday Night Bites

By Dawn on May 3, 2013 / Friday Night Bites, Main / Leave a comment

Photo by: Alexandra Mascali It’s time for Friday Night Bites and tonight we are sparking up the grill. Warmer weather is here and we can’t wait for some shrimp on the barbie! This Shrimp and Veggies recipe is easy and delicious. Pair it with your favorite chardonnay and some fresh baked bread and you’ll have a meal that’s worthy of guests. Print Shrimp & Veggies on the grill Author: Elizabeth Mascali Recipe type: Main Cuisine: American Ingredients

Amazing Cinco De Mayo Menu!

By Dawn on May 1, 2013 / PARTY IDEAS, THE MENU / 3 Comments

Celebrity caterer, Andrea Correale, president and owner of Elegant Affairs Catering, is sharing her Cinco De Mayo menu with us today. In honor of the holiday, Andrea has created several fun, easy and beyond delicious recipes inspired by traditional Mexican dishes. Hope you enjoy! Spanish Rice Stuffed Bell Peppers Ingredients 1 – 6 oz. package Spanish Rice 1 – 14 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained 1 – 1/2 cups water 6 – red bell peppers

Sausage Nachos – Friday Night Bites!

By Dawn on April 26, 2013 / Appetizer recipe, Friday Night Bites / Leave a comment

photo credit: Alexandra Mascali It’s time for Friday Night Bites and tonight we are taking nachos to a new level! You can serve these Sausage Nachos as an entree or appetizer – it will bring you rave reviews either way. Top with our recipe for homemade Fresh Guacamole here> and you have just made Friday night special! Print Sausage Nachos Author: Elizabeth Mascali Recipe type: Appetizer Cuisine: American Ingredients 9 oz. bag restaurant style corn tortilla chips

Roasted Corn In A Glass Recipe from the authors of Muy Bueno!

By Dawn on April 25, 2013 / Appetizer recipe / Leave a comment

Photo credit: Jeanine Thurston I love this recipe for Roasted Corn in a Glass from the authors of Muy Bueno: Three Generations of Authentic Mexican Flavor and the Muy Bueno blog. With their permission I’m sharing it below. If you like it too, make sure to check out more delicious recipes from Yvette Marquez-Sharpnack and Veronica Gonzalez-Smith in their book here> Corn in a Cup - (Elote en Vaso) 12 Servings This is Mexico’s finest street dish,

Monogrammed Red Velvet Birthday Cake Recipe!

By Dawn on April 25, 2013 / Dessert, PARTY IDEAS / 1 Comment

Red Velvet cake is a favorite in our house – there’s something about it that just says “special”. So when I was whipping up a cake for my mom’s birthday, Red Velvet was a natural choice and she LOVES chocolate so I decided to “incorporate” oreos into my cake. It was fun and she loved it, so did the kids! Print Monagrammed Birthday Cake Author: Elizabeth Mascali Recipe type: Dessert Ingredients 2 – 8” or 9”

Peanut Butter Marshmallow Crunch Brownies – Friday Night Bites

By Dawn on April 19, 2013 / Dessert, Friday Night Bites / Leave a comment

Photo Credit: Alexandra Mascali The weekend just got a whole lot sweeter – enjoy this week’s Friday Night Bites recipe! The different textures in this mile-high sweet are guaranteed to send your taste buds soaring. This dessert has a fudgy brownie-goodness with a layer of gooey marshmallow topped with a chocolaty peanut butter crunch. Print Peanut Butter Marshmallow Crunch Brownies Author: Alexandra Mascali Recipe type: Dessert Cuisine: American Ingredients 1 batch of brownies 1½ cups toasted

Simple Peas and Pasta Recipe

By Dawn on April 15, 2013 / Main / Leave a comment

Image credit http://www.bbcgoodfood.com Here’s a recipe that feels like spring, and is simple to make and special to serve. After looking my cook books, recipe clippings from magazines and performing an exhaustive google search – I found it! I hope you love it as much as I do; and that it makes you feel excited about the warmer weather and buds blooming. Not many foods make me feel like spring more then peas, add mint

25 Amazing Grilled Cheese Recipes!

By Dawn on April 12, 2013 / Main / Leave a comment

No matter how you slice it, grilled cheese is an all-American favorite! Below are links to recipes from across the web – everything from classics to creative. Enjoy. Classic Grilled Cheese Grilled Cheese with Grainy Mustard Grilled Mac N Cheese with BBQ Pulled Pork Jalapeno Popper Grilled Cheese Sandwich Grilled Cheese with Spinach and Pancetta Jarlsberg Grilled Cheese with Arugula and Truffle Oil Grilled Goat Cheese Sandwiches with Fig and Honey Apple Cinnamon Swirl Grilled

Cheeseburger Hand Pies – Friday Night Bites

By Dawn on April 12, 2013 / Friday Night Bites / 1 Comment

Photo Credit: Alexandra Mascali It’s time for Friday Night Bites, and tonight you can forget all about the forks and knives. Just don’t forget the napkins because these hand pies are juicy. A delicious cheeseburger inside a light, golden crust that’s perfect for eating with your hands. Make up a batch, and then hand them off and start enjoying the weekend! Print Cheeseburger Hand Pies Author: Elizabeth Mascali Recipe type: Main Cuisine: American Serves: 8 Ingredients 1

Chicken & Rice Soup -Friday Night Bites

By Dawn on April 5, 2013 / Friday Night Bites, Soups and Salads / Leave a comment

It’s time for Friday Night Bites and tonight we have some soup for the soul! We love serving a one-pot meal on Friday night, it makes clean-up easy, so we can start enjoying the weekend, as soon as dinner’s done. Add some fresh bread and Vino (lightly oaked Chardonnay is a great match) if you like, and you have a meal that’s just right for inviting guests to join. Print Chicken & Rice

Multigrain French Toast with Almonds and Light Guava Maple Syrup – by Ana Quincoces

By Dawn on April 3, 2013 / Main / Leave a comment

We are in Miami this week, so we thought we share a great recipe from Ana Quincoces, one of the stars from “The Real Housewives of Miami”. In Ana’s second cookbook, “Sabor! A Passion for Cuban Cuisine,” the celeb chef shares her family’s mouthwatering recipes—all with a Cuban twist. Below is one of Ana’s delicious recipes for Brunch, as shared by a A Bullseye View Multigrain French Toast with Almonds and Light Guava Maple Syrup

Roasted Asparagus

By Dawn on April 1, 2013 / Main, THE MENU / 1 Comment

Asparagus season is here! We wait all year for the glorious arrival of asparagus season. If you’re intimidated by this green goddess of a vegetable, don’t be. Here’s a no fail method to quickly and easily prepare the most mouth watering delectable asparagus you’ve ever had and it only takes 15 minutes, start to fork! How to Roast Asparagus: Upon purchasing your asparagus, place the bunch stem down in a glass/container of water and refrigerate,

Vegetable Appetizer Shots – Friday Night Bites!

By Dawn on March 29, 2013 / Appetizer recipe, Friday Night Bites / Leave a comment

Picture Credit: Alexandra Mascali It’s time for Friday Night Bites and tonight we’re toasting to a special Easter weekend! Cheers to this fun, healthy, and meatless (it’s Good Friday) Veggie Shot. Enjoy and happy Easter. These Veggie Shots are a fun twist on serving traditional veggies and dip on a platter. These single serve portions can either be served en masse on a buffet table at a brunch or cocktail party or arranged at each

Asparagus, Tomato and Fontina Frittata

By Dawn on March 27, 2013 / DIY Video, Main / 4 Comments

Here’s a great recipe by Giada De Laurentiis just in time for Easter Brunch. It’s a light and fluffy Asparagus, Tomato and Fontina Frittata. This one is going to be great with my leftover Easter ham! Photos didn’t do the recipe justice, so our friends at a A Bullseye View whipped out their video camera to film the frittata in action just for you. Follow along with the video cooking tutorial below and be

DIY Holi Celebration Guide from Tandoor Chef

By Dawn on March 24, 2013 / Spring, THE MENU / Leave a comment

I don’t celebrate Holi {but wow I wish I did}, so I turned to my friends at Tandoor Chef for some great recipes, tips and ideas for this colorful holiday. Holi looks like such a special celebration for kids, mine would love it. Below please enjoy Tandoor Chef’s Guide to Holi: Follow the DIY guide to create a fun Holi Celebration at home for your kiddos and you. THE STORY OF HOLI: A story

Spinach and Strawberry Salad – Simple and Special Recipe!

By Dawn on March 24, 2013 / Soups and Salads / 1 Comment

This salad recipe from Whole Foods is the perfect compliment to an Easter ham. I’m serving it holiday, minus the nuts because my son Jake has an allergy. Spring is when baby spinach is in season so chances are good you can buy it fresh locally. I recommend replacing almonds for pine nuts, but it’s really a matter of taste. For those that do not like goat cheese, Ricotta Salata is a great alternative – it

Pasta Primavera – Friday Night Bites

By Dawn on March 22, 2013 / Friday Night Bites, Main / Leave a comment

Photo Credit: Alexandra Mascali It’s time for Friday Night Bites, and tonight is a meatless meal that will make you feel like spring! Our version of Pasta Primavera is fresh and oh so tasty! This “cream-less” Pasta Primavera recipe is a “light” yet satisfying the family or guests if you are entertaining. We love this dish because it’s so versatile – in addition to a quick Friday Night Bite, it’s a great meatless dish to

Easter Basket Cupcakes from Betty!

By Dawn on March 19, 2013 / Dessert, Holiday, Spring / 2 Comments

Here is a “BEST” from Betty Crocker for the kids table. These Easter cupcakes are simple to make yet special to serve and certainly have a WOW FACTOR! Plus make sure to check out the Betty Crocker Site for more wonderful recipes at BettyCrocker.com> Easter Basket Cupcakes Ingredients 1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® yellow cake mix Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box 1 container (12 oz) Betty Crocker® Whipped fluffy

Deviled Egg Chicks For Easter and Spring Celebrations!

By Dawn on March 15, 2013 / Appetizer recipe, PARTY IDEAS, Spring / 1 Comment

Photo Credit: Alexandra Mascali Try these simple, yet special Deviled Egg Chicks for Easter this year. They will be the stars of the table! Chick Deviled Eggs Ingredients 6 large eggs, hardboiled and cooled 2 tbsp. mayonnaise 1 tsp. Dijon mustard salt and pepper, to taste 12 small Raisinetes (or raisins) 1 candied orange slice grated lemon peel 12 Cheez-Its Instructions Peel eggs. Slice bottom off each egg so it will sit flat. Slice top

Potato Soup ‘Light and Right Recipe’ – Friday Night Bites

By Dawn on March 15, 2013 / Friday Night Bites / Leave a comment

It’s time for Friday Night Bites, and what better way to kick off Saint Patrick’s Day weekend than with Potato Soup! (note this is a flashback Friday Night Bites) Elizabeth is sharing her amazing potato soup recipe with you - I tried a bowl just the other day in her kitchen and can tell you it’s a real treat. It tasted amazing and I couldn’t believe it was a light version. My friend is amazing,

Perfect Passover Matzah Balls!

By Dawn on March 14, 2013 / Main, THE MENU / Leave a comment

My favorite dish at the Seder Dinner is the Matzah Balls! They’re delicious and I have enjoyed them as a stand alone dish and in soup (my fave!) I don’t celebrate Passover, but I have been fortunate to have been invited to a few Seder dinners with my neighbors and friends. I was always so struck by the care and meaning that went into every aspect of this holiday meal. All the special foods that

Special Saint Patrick’s Day Side Dishes!

By Dawn on March 13, 2013 / Sides / Leave a comment

Saint Patrick’s Day sides that are nutricious and delicious from RecipeRehab.com! Who doesn’t love a good St. Patrick’s Day party? For many of us, St. Patty’s Day means a fun-filled weekend with lots of beer, whiskey, and good eats. Unfortunately, many of the good eats served at St. Patty’s parties aren’t exactly on the healthy side. With that in mind, I wanted to share with you two healthy St. Patrick’s Day inspired recipes from RecipeRehab.com (formerly BetterEats.com).

Easter Breakfast Casserole!

By Dawn on March 13, 2013 / Main, THE MENU / 2 Comments

If you are hosting an Easter Brunch this year, here’s a perfect recipe to feature at your holiday table. It’s also a great idea for turning Easter leftovers into a delicious meal! Enjoy. Emeril Lagasse’s Breakfast Casserole with Broccoli, Ham, and Cheese Serves 6 – 8 Ingredients Nonstick cooking spray 1 ¼ teaspoons salt, plus more to season 6 cups broccoli florets (from about 2 pounds broccoli heads) 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 ½ cups

Knish Recipe for Passover and Parties!

By Dawn on March 12, 2013 / Sides / 2 Comments

Have you ever had a Knish? If you haven’t you need to and if you don’t have a Jewish Grandma like me, then you have to try your hand at making your own. Knish are delish (sorry, couldn’t resist) and although they are perfect for Passover, these treats make great party food anytime of year! There are a variety of ways to stuff a knish, so I have included several recipes for you to try.