Mother’s Day: Create a fun, craft-cocktail party for mom
Mother’s Day, like most of the national holidays, could always use a shake-up.
Whether your mom is a baby boomer or a millennial, a traditional gal or a thoroughly modern women, she will appreciate a spirited twist to her celebration, and we’re not talking about a Bloody Mary with brunch.
Muddle up a refreshing, seasonal elixir and serve it with an array of big-flavored small bites during a festive cocktail party, and she will forgive you almost anything. Plus, she won’t have to take a nap in the middle of the day.
Chef Julie ?Steinfeld, a mother and kitchen manager for Ramekins Culinary School in Sonoma, loves to throw casual cocktail parties for her friends. During a Spring Cocktail Party class last month, Steinfeld shared a few timeless tips and provided ?an array of appetizer recipes that could be prepared in advance for a spring party.
“It’s the season to entertain as the weather warms up,” Steionfeld said. “Cocktails are a great way to entertain casually. You’ll just need some glasses, some fun cocktail napkins and a few platters in different shapes, sizes and colors.”
The class drew both couples and groups of BFFs, who mashed together a Spicy Margarita Punch and a Strawberry Balsamic Smashed Cocktail while creating a decadent array of small bites, from Smoked Salmon and Herbed Crepe Pinwheels to Hickory Bacon and Roasted Corn Gougeres.
“I consider myself an expert on margaritas because of how many I drink,” quipped Jana Fiorito of Sonoma. “Maya (restaurant in Sonoma) makes the best margarita in California. It’s fresh, with just four ingredients, and they serve it up in a martini glass.”
Steinfeld’s Spicy Margarita gets its punch from resh lime and orange juice, plus a thinly sliced jalapeno and cucumber. She makes the Strawberry Balsamic Smash Cocktail with lime, cucumber rounds, strawberries, simple syrup and balsamic vinegar, muddled together, then mixed with a splash of vodka or gin.
Some of the students, such as Inger Latreille of Napa, had already asked their spouses to throw them a cocktail party for Mother’s Day. Others were planning ahead for other holidays.
“We host an annual Christmas party for 100,” said Amy Goleno of Napa. “And we make all the appetizers and bite-sized desserts ourselves.”
No matter what time of year you throw your party, Steinfeld suggested including a mix of seafood, meat and vegetables, to please all palates.
“I love to have a variety of tasty little bites,” she said. “It’s the same reason I love tapas and dim sum ... and it’s nice to have a balance of hot and cold.”
If you want to enjoy your own party, it’s also wise to prepare some of the bites in advance, then store in the fridge or freezer before slicing and heating at the last minute.
Steinfeld likes to pass the hors d’oeuvre on platters that are lined with grape leaves so they do not slip around.
“You can do plates, but picks and napkins will suffice much of the time,” she said. “I always have a stationary table for a dip with fresh vegetables too, plus olives and nuts.”
As an bonus, Steinfeld shared her recipe for Chile-Lime ?Cashews, a dangerously addictive nibble that pairs perfect with the Spicy Margarita.
It’s also a good idea to serve some kind of non-alcoholic drink, for kids and those moms who may want to rehydrate between sips.
The following recipes are from Julie Steinfeld, kitchen manager of Ramekins Culinary School.
Strawberry Balsamic ?Smash Cocktail
Makes 2 servings
For simple syrup:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup cold water
For cocktail:
4 1/2 -inch lime wedges (from 1 lime)
4 1/2 -inch cucumber rounds, plus more for garnish (from ?1 English cucumber)
2 fresh hulled strawberries
2 tablespoons simple syrup
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup gin (or vodka)
For simple syrup: Combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 cup cold water in a jar with a lid. Shake the jar vigorously until the sugar is dissolved (about 1 minute.) Will keep refrigerated for up to 6 months.
For the cocktail: In a 16-ounce cocktail shaker, mash together all of the above ingredients with the exception of the alcohol using either a muddler or the back of a wooden spoon, then shake 4-5 times to release the oils and juices.
(If you dont’t have a cocktail shaker, you may use a jar with a top.)
Add 1/2 cup of gin to the mixture, then using a fine mesh sieve strain the gin mixture into a large measuring cup.
Fill desired cocktail glasses (traditionally an old-fashioned glass) three-quarters full with crushed ice and pour gin mixture over the top. Garnish edge of glass with a cucumber wheel.
Spicy Margarita Punch
Makes 10 servings
1 English cucumber, thinly sliced
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