A Summer Gift For A Summer Party

Party or dinner invites usually mean bringing some kind of gift to the hosts.This is easy in the winter.Colder weather means you can buy a nice cake or even brandy to the table.Candy is also welcome during the winter season. problem is you really can't bring any of these to a summer gathering.What to do? Chill.Literally.Bring gifts that are cool and refreshing. One of the best host gifts is fruit.It travels well and unlike cake, won't become warm and gooey.Many supermarkets sell fruit trays with prettily cut melon, watermelon, strawberry and even pineapple.Some supermarkets such as Stop & Shop and The A&P also include a vanilla cream or yogurt dip.This is one of my favorites to bring to any warm weather backyard party.There is such a variety that everyone gets to have their favorite.The pieces are cut the same so they're perfect for kids to nibble on.I also bring cookies, usually just the plain butter kind for added oomph.Of course, even a small watermelon is welcome.It can be easily sliced and always refreshing after a spicy barbecue.If you're bent on bringing something homemade, then stick with easy crumbles or crisps.These are great way of taking advantage of summer harvests along with being easy to prepare and bake.Another idea is making a Jello no bake or an easy cream pie using instant pudding and ready made crusts.Make the pies the night before so they're perfectly chilled for the gathering. No one can go wrong with wine.or even champagne at a summer bash.Remember to pick one that goes with the main course, whether it be fancy or plain.Try a Merlot or a Pinot Noir if the fare being served is chicken or chops?for fish or shellfish gift your hosts with a nice Sparkling Chardonney.Sauvignon Blanc makes an excellent accompaniment For lighter fare such as lemon grilled chicken or vegetables.This white also is good with salads.Just a thought, the wine also depends on if there's a barbecue sauce on the meat too.Choose accordingly with this because the last thing you want is the wine warring with the sauce's sweetness or heat.Surprisingly even hot dogs can be paired with wine(although if you want ,some good ale or hard apple cider would maybe more appreciated)Even more startling Asti Spumente would be an excellent choice with wieners and even burgers.The bubbly sweetness plays off the unami flavors of the grilled food, sort of like the way Coke or Pepsi does.You could also try a Rose ,not only with these but with nachos and dip. Go chill with summer party gifts for your host.A fruit tray or a good bottle of iced wine is always a nice way of saying thank you for the invite.They're not too fussy , only simple and good ,the way a summer gathering is.

Puddings That Pop

With the new year comes new trends. The sweet that's literally flavor of the month is pudding. This old fashioned comfort food is making a comeback as people clamor for its' classic creaminess. There are even pudding restaurants that are popping up, featuring different pudding based dishes along with new and old flavors.

Go to Manhattan and you can find trendsetters slurping up a well homemade pudding alongside cupcakes and macarons. The East Village has just welcomed Puddin by Clio,a small dessert bar that features what else -  customized homemade puddings. According to the creator, Clio, Puddin whips up high quality puddings with top notch ingredients. There is dark chocolate with the chocolate coming from Iceland and butterscotch with real scotch thrown in. There is the rare coffee along with lemon too. The puddings are layered with whipped cream and fresh baked cakes and cookies.This create a homestyle parfait that keeps bringing in and satisfying customers.

Anyone , though, can create an exquisite pudding dish. There are some good recipes on the web. I found one site that offers the classics such as chocolate and vanilla as well as as the eggier custards. However it also offers a blackberry - perfect for the summer and a peanut butter one - great poured into a chocolate crumb pie crust. This last is made with only three ingredients - peanut butter ,bananas and yogurt.There is also a burnt sugar one that sounds  like flan. Of course there is the famed banana pudding which really isn't a pudding  - more of a refrigerator cake.

Puddings are going to be hot this year and maybe it's no surprise. As we become more techno, we crave the simplicity of the past. An easily made dessert is what we need. It's unfussy and comforting.