Occasion: Of Course... a Michigan Game, which in my house is somewhat a kin to a large mideveal religious festival. I am sure one day my kids will get in trouble at school when asked what their favorite holiday is and they reply, "Big Ten Opener."
Number of people: 12 or so, we had some stragglers and some early leavers
Menu:
Roast beef and turkey mini sandwiches with garden lettuce and heirloom tomatoes
Pretzel Rods with homemade dijon honey mustard dipping sauce
Tortilla chips and salsa
Chocolate chip cookies some with ice-cream some without
Signature drink: Maize-ito Blue Shooters
Total budget: about $100 bucks not including beer, the guests mostly brought their own
What worked: It was super casual, which was nice. I kept all the food down stairs which helped with the flow of the party as well as clean-up. Usually it would take all sunday to recover from one of our parties and here I am up at 4am and the house is clean. Mostly cleaned by Dave but I did the kitchen bit this morning in about two hours with only one load of dishes in the dishwasher and one simple cleaning of serving trays. The plastic plates, finger food, and no silver ware was also a plus and certainly alleviated clean-up requirements.
Of everything that I was most surprised with was the amazing cost savings provided by Costco. I got everything I needed for the party for less than $60. Which in Sandy's world of partying is like getting a new car for a dollar.
What I can learn from this party and what I can improve on for the next one:
I learned a couple of things: one is that people really do prefer homemade small batch food. The cold cuts were not really a smash hit. I mean they were fine and in a pinch I would do them again. But I think the next game we host we will have to do... maybe a chili bar set up downstairs or a mexican fiesta taco bar. It took me less than 20 minutes to set up everything for downstairs, but I think I would have been better served to set up a make your own sandwhich station and let people make their own.
I think a food table downstairs besides the coffee table would also help, so people can serve themselves without getting in the way of the people watching the game.
I hate throwing vast amounts of stale tortilla chips. Especially when you buy in bulk I have in a plastic bag by the door enough tortilla chips to keep a mexican restaurant in the black for weeks. I think putting the chips in a air tight container and only serving out small bowls might be a better alternative.
The pretzels and the mustard sauce were good, but next time, I think a grainy mustard would have been better.
I made the cookies during the party, which, in retrospect, I totally could have done the night before and that way they could have been down stairs.
The maize-ito jello shots were a big hit, but for some reason I always forget to spray the cups, but they were delicious, and the little condiment cups with the covers worked like a dream.
All in all it was great party, mostly because Michigan won. (Thank you Lord, it is not pretty in my house when Michigan loses. Think invasion of France grown men crying in the streets.)
MVP (Most Valuable Party-helper): Costco, for ease of shopping, amounts, and getting everything done in 30 minutes for $60.
Paper plates and finger foods: for significant reduction in cleanup
Condiment cups with covers: for keeping the party going in a oh so cute mini way
Recipe of the Party: Mustard Dipping Sauce
Ingredients:
1/4 cup of honey
1/2 cup of grainy mustard
1/2 cup of condensed milk
Method:
1. Mix all ingredients into a bowl
2. Enjoy with pretzels
Drink of the Party Recipe Maize-ito Blue Jello Shooters (makes 40)
2 cups of sugar
2 sprigs of mint
2 limes
1 cup of boiling water
1 cup of light rum
2 cups of cold water
4 packets of flavor-less gelatin
Non-stick spray
Method:
1. Set up the little mini cups on a large sheet pan with a rim, spray with flavorless non-stick spray
2. In a large pitcher pour the rum, cold water, and the juice of two limes.
2. Empty the packets of gelatin over the cold liquid and allow to sit for 5 minutes, stir
3. In a small sauce pan add the sugar, boiling water, mint, and the rinds of the limes you just squeezed over medium high heat until it boils and the sugar dissolves.
4. Through a strainer, pour the hot liquid into the cold gelatin mixture.
5. Decant into the mini little cups and cover. Now you know why I told you to put it in the pitcher...
6. Let cool for about 2 hours until firm... cheers!
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