Q: I have several friends planning to spend the night after a party. Can you give me some ideas for dishes to make for breakfast?A: Well, for starters -- let your guests sleep in a bit ... then serve brunch instead of breakfast. This will give you more options. To start with, try frittatas, scones, muffins and fresh breads; Devonshire cream is always a great special touch. Next, put out some fresh berries with homemade whipped cream, and offer coffee with flavorings that your guests can add themselves. And don't forget the fresh-squeezed orange juice!
Q: I have three round tables I often use for parties. They're getting kind of boring and I'm looking for ideas to help make them more interesting.
A: Using differently shaped tables requires a bit more planning, but it's a neat look that will be a huge hit at your next get-together. And it's easy to do -- just cut out different shapes of tabletops from a piece of plywood, making the sizes a close fit for the round surfaces. Instead of using a standard table cloth, use some extra-wide fabric to drape over the sides, and tuck the puddles of fabric beneath the table.
Q: A co-worker is turning 50 and everyone is supposed to bring a gag gift to the party. I just think they're so tacky. What do you think?
A: This is a valid point: gag gifts are rarely as funny to the recipients as the givers seem to think they'll be. (And who created that line of "over the hill" party items, anyway?) It's often much nicer to give gifts that encourage someone to keep living their best life -- like a meaningful book or a workout tape you know they'd like. And if you simply have to bring "age" into it ... how about a nicely aging bottle of wine?
Q: I'm hosting a champagne brunch and want to dress up the champagne a little bit. Can you tell me how?
A: Champagne is really coming back to entertaining in a big way, and the nice thing about this is the elegant touch the beverage imparts to any gathering. One option for giving it some flair: add a little peach schnapps, then garnish each glass with a peach slice. "Beautiful Blue" is another great drink -- just add a splash of Envy Liqueur to your champagne glass and garnish it with a skewer of fresh blueberries . (The name "Beautiful Blue" comes from the incredible shade the champagne turns when the mixer is added.)
