| Dessert Party |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-212 |
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Q: I'd like to have friends over after a night at the theater. What can I serve that will make it a special night? A: (Jeanne Benedict, Ask DIY Entertaining Expert) The final act can be a dessert party. Here's how to throw one: - Convert the cooking island in your kitchen (or bar) into a dessert buffet. Don't let the range top stop you from making use of the space. Simply cover the eyes with the leaves (figure A) from your tabletop or use any type of flat-surface wood. Be Smart: Make sure the range is turned OFF!
- Give some height to the centerpiece by using a large pot, covered with a garbage bag (figure B) that will be covered by fabric. Note: This catering trick is utilized to add buoyancy to the fabric. Benedict suggests using a washable stretch velour fabric as a base for the dessert display.
- A great centerpiece can be created by stuffing a large glass bubble bowl with another garbage bag wrapped in more of the same fabric (velour in this case) that's being used for the buffet. Add color by using peacock feathers -- simply arrange them in a bunch in the bowl.
- What to serve? Benedict says store-bought cakes are fine. In fact, she says to buy frozen cheesecakes and add your own toppings. Here are several ideas:
- Caramel with slivered almonds.
- Strawberries with sauce.
- Raspberries with sauce.
- Chocolate fudge (melted) with crushed cashews.
- Blueberries with sauce.
- Cherries with sauce.
- Peach pie filling with whipped cream.
- Apple pie filling drizzled with caramel ice-cream topping and crushed pecans.
- Brownies are always a dessert teat, however, why not display them on a beautiful silver tray. Benedict says to garnish the tray with flowers, then display the goodies, which will stick on the tray, on a slight tilt (figure C).
- The piece de resistance of the evening could be a lemon garnish cheesecake (figure D). Try this lemon garnish tip from Benedict: Slice a lemon into nice and thin pieces and give a half slice right in the center and twist (figure E) and top the cheesecake. Note: If you don't want to overkill with cheesecake, this lemon garnish works beautifully with key lime pie as well.
- Chocolate chip cookies are always popular, but spruce them up by serving on a silver tray decorated with peacock feathers.
- You cant' have a dessert party without coffee. Be sure to take out all your silver, give it a good polish, and display on the buffet. And why not top off the coffee with chocolate covered sugar cubes. Simply dip store-bought sugar cubes in melted chocolate (semi-sweet, white or dark) of your choice.
Be creative and have fun! More Questions for Jeanne:
Q: If you were going to make one dessert from scratch for a party, what would you make?
A: I always make brownies. Everybody loves brownies -- you can put a lot of different toppings on them. Cookies are great, too. Leave the cakes to the host of the party.
Q: Do you recommend serving wine with dessert?
A: There are plenty of great dessert wines out there, but sometimes the sweetness of the dessert wine is a little too much when you pair it with all these fabulous sweets. A dry champagne is terrific and, of course, coffee. And if it's a late-night event, decaffeinated coffee. Your guests will really appreciate it in the morning. Gourmet coffee, too. If you spend so much time on these great desserts, spend some time on the coffee and a little bit of money.
Q: I entertain a lot. Are there some versatile fabrics you recommend keeping on hand?
A: I certainly do. I have boxes of fabric in my house. You want a nice base cloth: a black or a cream, and you want to keep a lot of accent fabrics around. The fabric that was used today (on air) was perfect. It has a great sheen and is a velour so it can go in the washing machine. It's elegant and looks like velvet. And some cottons are also great. You can throw those into a washing machine, too. Use a bunch of different colors, and keep them monochromatic. You want to do your accents with flowers, peacock feathers or whatever you have lying around. Web site resources for Dessert Party: Easy Desserts From HGTV.com How To Plan An Elegant Dessert Party From All Sands.com Holiday Dessert Party From Thrive Online.com Books: Sophisticated Entertaining: Spirited Food for Grown-Up Parties
By Jeanne Benedict
ISBN: 1557883459
Penguin-Putnam Inc.
Hardcover, 320 pages (October, 2000) Complete Idiots Guide To Throwing A Great Party
by Phyllis Cambria
ISBN: 002863974X
The Alpha Publishing Group
1101 Enterprise Dr.
P.O. Box 255
Royersford, PA 19468-0255
Phone: 800-992-9124
Fax: 610-495-4002
Simply Sensational Desserts: 140 Classics For The Home Baker From New York's Famous Patisserie And Bistro
by Francois Payard
ISBN: 0767903587
Doubleday Broadway Publishing Group (1999)
1540 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
Phone: 800-223-6834
Fax: 212-782-9411
Web site: www.broadwaybooks.com
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