Category: news

A Frozen Birthday Party

“Let it gooooo, let it gooooooooooo!” you sing loudly, in unison with your children for the 95,843,265 time hoping that maybe, just maybe, this will be your last chorus; but alas, it is not. Kids don’t care that they’ve seen this movie a gazillion times, they don’t care that it’s played out, and they won’t care if it’s 105 degrees outside, no. They still love their Frozen, and what could be a more perfect theme for a child’s birthday than this one?

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Tailgating Ideas For Kids and Adults

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Although we normally think of tailgating as an adult event, it can be a perfect party for kiddos too! Big kids, little kids, teens, and tweens can all have a good time tailgating, if it’s done the right way!
Food and Drink
The staples are always required: burgers, hot dogs, chips and dip! Don’t forget the snacks and desserts too! These foods are inexpensive, easy to make, and easy to serve! If you want to get a little more crafty, here are some cool foods you can make for your tailgaters!
Football Sandwiches – Use a football shaped cookie cutter to cut out any type of sandwich you make into football shapes. Anything from peanut butter and jelly to a ham sandwich can be used!
Football Helmet Cookies – Use a football helmet shaped cookie cutter to make sugar cookies. Ice them with your team’s colors and detail the helmet with decorator icing.
Football Cookies – Again, use your cookie cutter to cut out football shaped cookies. Use brown and white icing to add any details, or just leave them as is.
Football Cupcakes – You can either make these yourself, or pick them up from your local grocery store.
Football Chocolate Lollipops – Make your own football-shaped chocolate lollipops and surprise the kids with a sweet ending to the tailgate.
Get some sporty decorations to really spruce up your tailgating party!
Tailgating Décor
Your standard folding bench chairs are a great idea for seating! If you want to turn the fun up a notch, go get bean bag chairs for your guests to lounge in while they’re eating and enjoying themselves.
Use your streamers , table cloths, napkins, plates, and silverware in your team’s colors! We have all of these items available at the Party Place in every color you can imagine!
Goody Bags- Every kid’s party needs to end with a little something for them to bring home, no matter what age you are catering to. Stuff items like pom-poms, noise makers, candy, and even some left over cookies into a color coordinated bag for your guests to take with them!
These are just a few ideas that you can incorporate into your next get together! All of these can be used for an adult party as well—just add beer to your list! J
 

The Party Place

1200 S. Waldron Road, Fort Smith, AR 479-782-9494

4202 W. Green Acres Road, Rogers, Arkansas 479-230-9494

Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/partyplacefortsmith

Twitter @partyplace_fs

Instagram @yourpartyplace

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A Few Easy Tips to Help You Have a Stress Free Thanksgiving

A Few Easy Tips to Help You Have a Stress Free Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving: a day of joy, a day of thanks, and unfortunately sometimes–a day of stress! In addition to the pressure of having to prepare the world’s greatest turkey, entertaining a large group of family and friends can really get to even the best of us. So, unless you’re taking the family to the local Sizzler this year, it might be helpful to read a few of our tips on how to stay stress free this Thanksgiving!
 
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Supplies, Supplies, Supplies — “Just in case, I keep a plethora of back up supplies and ingredients in my pantry just for holiday parties! You never know when you will have an emergency, and the stores are normally closed on these days” says local Fort Smithian Amanda Blake. “All of them serve as a back-up plan in the event one of my dishes takes a turn for the worse!” What a perfect idea! Picture yourself distracted by a phone call and burning the Green Bean Casserole—what would you do then? Well, with a few things in your arsenal ready and waiting for you to whip up in a hurry, Thanksgiving dinner can be saved.
 
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B.Y.O.F. Bring Your Own Food – While we’re on the subject of food, why not ask your guests to bring their own dishes! Go a little further with this idea just for some ridiculously perfect flair, and make it a themed party. Maybe this Thanksgiving, instead of just traditional courses only, tell your guests to make a recipe from another culture; encourage a melting pot of food! Not only will you and your party be able to try the different delectables, it will take the stress off of you from having to prepare it all alone.
 
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Take it Easy – Don’t overwhelm yourself, stick to recipes you are familiar with. Don’t make 4:30 am on Thanksgiving morning the first time you decide to try out a special soufflé or complicated bread–no no.; save that stress for another day. You’ve already got enough on your plate, no pun intended, so just take it easy.
 
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Stay Away From Stuffy – Why not this year trying something a little different with your get together? Crazy as it may sound, some families have given up the traditional dinner party, and spiced it up by adding fun games, including Beer Pong. A good laugh always alleviates stress!   Find bonding games that complement your family and values and bring them into the fun. Having a photo booth is another great idea that you could incorporate into your dinner. Imagine all of the memories that will be created, and everyone can take a piece of the experience home with them!
 
 
The holidays are about family, fun, and warmth, and this should always be your main focus. We hope these tips help you get closer to achieving that goal, so this season you can give thanks for having a stress free get together. 
 

The Party Place

1200 S. Waldron Road, Fort Smith, AR 479-782-9494

4202 W. Green Acres Road, Rogers, Arkansas 479-230-9494

Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/partyplacefortsmith

Twitter @partyplace_fs

Instagram @yourpartyplace

Pinterest athttps://www.pinterest.com/thepartyplace/

 

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Updates On Traditional Recipes

Why not change it up this holiday? The following are some updated versions of your favorite Thanksgiving recipes!

Simon & Garfunkel Stuffing

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Makes: 8 servings

Prep: 30 mins

Bake: 1 hr 10 mins

ADD TO MY RECIPES

ingredients

  • 1 1 pound loaf  country white bread, torn into 3/4-inch pieces (about 10 cups)
  • 1 stick (4 oz.) butter
  • 2 onions, chopped
  • 4 ribs celery, chopped
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/3 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme

directions

  1. Place racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 300 degrees . Divide the bread between 2 rimmed baking sheets. Bake, stirring bread and switching sheets halfway through baking, until bread is toasted, about 20 minutes. Let cool; transfer to a large bowl. Increase the oven temperature to 375 degrees .
  2. In a skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the onions, celery, 1 1/2 tsp. salt and 1 tsp. pepper. Cook, stirring, until the vegetables are soft, about 8 minutes.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the broth and the eggs. Pour over the bread. Add the vegetables and herbs; toss to combine.
  4. Transfer the stuffing to a greased shallow 3-qt. baking dish. Bake until the top is browned, about 45 minutes.

Spicy Cornbread & Sausage Stuffing

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Makes: 8 servings

Prep: 35 mins

Bake: 1 hr

ADD TO MY RECIPES

ingredients

  • 1 1/3 pounds cornbread, coarsely crumbled (about 10 cups)
  • 3 large poblano chiles
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 12 ounces andouille or kielbasa sausage, sliced 1/3 inch thick
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 ribs celery, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, sliced
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 eggs
  • Salt and pepper

directions

  1. Place a rack in the upper third of the oven; preheat to 300 degrees . Scatter the cornbread on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake 25 minutes. Let cool; transfer to a large bowl.
  2. Working over a gas flame or under the broiler, char the poblanos. Transfer to a paper bag, close it and let the poblanos steam for 15 minutes. Peel and discard the skins, then chop. Set the oven temperature to 375 degrees .
  3. In a large skillet, melt 2 tbsp. butter over medium-high. Add the sausage; cook until browned, 5 minutes. Transfer to the bowl of cornbread. In the same skillet, melt the remaining 2 tbsp. butter, then add the poblanos, onion, celery and garlic. Reduce the heat to medium; cook, stirring, until the onion is soft, 5 minutes. Add to the cornbread.
  4. In a bowl, whisk together the broth and the eggs; season. Pour over the cornbread mixture; toss. Transfer to a greased 3-qt. baking dish. Bake until the top is browned, 35 minutes.

Everything Bagel & Bacon Stuffing

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Makes: 8 servings

Prep: 30 mins

Bake: 1 hr 15 mins

ADD TO MY RECIPES

ingredients

  • 3 – 4 large everything bagels, thinly sliced, then cut into 2-inch-long pieces (about 6 cups)
  • 12 slices bacon (12 oz.) , chopped
  • 1 red onion, chopped
  • 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 eggs
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

directions

  1. Place a rack in the upper third of the oven; preheat to 300 degrees . Spread the bagel pieces on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake, stirring once, until toasted, about 30 minutes; let cool. Increase the oven temperature to 375 degrees .
  2. In a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat, stirring often, until crisp, about 7 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Add the onion to the bacon drippings and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the broth and the eggs; season. Add the bagel pieces, bacon, onion and parsley; toss to combine. Let stand, tossing occasionally, for 15 minutes. Transfer to a greased shallow 2 1/2-qt. baking dish. Bake until the top is browned, about 45 minutes.

Twice-Baked Sweet Potatoes, Three Ways

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Makes: 8 servings

Prep: 10 mins

Bake: 1 hr

ADD TO MY RECIPES

ingredients

Sweet Potatoes

  • 6 large sweet potatoes (3 lbs.), scrubbed and dried
  • EVOO
  • 4 tablespoons butter, at room temperature, cut into small pieces
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 pinch cayenne
  • Salt

Topping Options:

  • 2/3 cup raw pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
  • EVOO, for tossing
  • 2/3 cup pecans, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 2/3 cup mini marshmallows

directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees . Rub the potatoes with EVOO and place on a rimmed baking sheet; bake until tender, 40 to 50 minutes. Let cool slightly. Increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees .
  2. Halve the potatoes lengthwise. Scoop the flesh from 8 halves into a large bowl, leaving a 1/4-inch-thick shell. Scoop the flesh from the remaining 4 halves, add to the bowl; discard the skins. Mix the butter, cinnamon, ginger, cayenne and 1 tsp. salt with the potatoes. Mound 6 heaping tbsp. of the potato mixture into each potato skin.
  3. Choose and prepare your toppings. For pepitas, toss the seeds with EVOO and salt in a bowl. For pecans, using your hands, mix the nuts with the butter and sugar in another bowl. Sprinkle the pepitas, pecans or marshmallows over the potatoes; bake 10 minutes.

Rosemary Mashed Potatoes

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Makes: 8 servings

Prep: 20 mins

Cook: 30 mins

ADD TO MY RECIPES

ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds baking potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 1 1/2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
  • 6 rosemary sprigs, plus 1 tsp. finely chopped fresh rosemary
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1/2 cup EVOO
  • 2 teaspoons lemon zest

directions

  1. In a large pot, combine the potatoes and rosemary sprigs. Add enough water to cover by 1 inch. Season with salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Discard the rosemary. Drain the potatoes, reserving 3/4 cup of the cooking water. Reduce the heat to low. Return the potatoes to the pot and toss 1 to 2 minutes to thoroughly dry.
  2. In a small skillet, heat 1 tsp. chopped rosemary and 1 tbsp. EVOO over medium, swirling the skillet occasionally, until the rosemary is crispy, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
  3. In a large bowl, mash the potatoes. Stir in the remaining 1/2 cup EVOO and enough reserved cooking water to make the mixture smooth. Mix in the lemon zest; season. Transfer to a serving bowl. Drizzle with the rosemary oil.

Recipes taken from Rachel Ray 🙂

The Party Place

1200 S. Waldron Road, Fort Smith, AR 479-782-9494

4202 W. Green Acres Road, Rogers, Arkansas 479-230-9494

Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/partyplacefortsmith

Twitter @partyplace_fs

Instagram @yourpartyplace

Pinterest athttps://www.pinterest.com/thepartyplace/

 

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