When you’re planning and hosting a party, figuring out what to serve can be a dilemma. Whether it’s an all-out dinner or not, snack foods of some kind are usually expected.

It’s important to plan this in advance and have a reference of hostess snack ideas to keep on hand. If you have a list of snack foods, you won’t have as much of a problem deciding what to get for your next gathering.

Just remember to store your list in the same place you keep all your other recipes. That way, you won’t lose it and find yourself desperate for ideas.

Hot Artichoke Spinach Dip - Serve this at your party and it will go fast! It goes best with either crackers, tortilla chips, French bread, or even carrot sticks or some other dipping veggies. Please note that although some variations of this snack call for nuts, you’ll be safest to avoid nuts; you never know who much have an allergic reaction.

- 2 jars of artichoke hearts (marinated), chopped and drained - 2 cups of mozzarella cheese, shredded (low-fat works OK, but avoid nonfat since it won’t melt as good) - 1 cup of parmesan cheese, grated - 1 clove of garlic (minced) - 1 cup of mayonnaise

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a decorative baking dish. Bake for 45 minutes, until hot and bubbly. Be sure to warn your guests that it’s hot!

Sandwich Loaf: Although this hostess snack goes back to the seventies, this is one main dish that never fails to impress people at luncheon gatherings.

- 1 big loaf of fresh white bread - 3 sandwich fillings, your choice — you might prefer egg salad, ham salad, etc. You can also use thin slices of deli meats. - 1/4 cup of margarine, softened - 2 packages of cream cheese, softened - 1/2 cup of half and half

Cut the crusts off the loaf of bread so that they are rectangular shaped. Cut it into four large slices horizontally.

Butter a slice of bread and lay it butter-side up on the serving platter. Spread the sandwich filling on top.

Continue layering buttered bread and sandwich fillings. Combine the cream cheese and half and half to create a frosting, and frost the loaf thickly.

Garnish with parsley. Slice vertically for individual servings.

Enjoy your gathering, and good luck with the perfect hostess snack!

Popularity: 1% [?]

Bookmark to:
         

If you're new here, you may first want to get a copy of my information and resources jam packed handbook on your right. Thanks for visiting!

Every cat owner has been there - you need to get your cat into their carrier so that you can take them to the vet, or the boarding cattery, or to be cared for by a friend or simply because you are moving home - and guess what? Your highly affectionate and super-clingy cat is nowhere to be seen!

And what’s worse, when you do finally track down your bewhiskered friend after spending time you can ill-afford to waste, you are greeted by claws, teeth and rudely hissed words as you attempt to force a rigid and unco-operative cat into their carrier.

So why does your normal, affectionate and co-operative pet immediately turn into a feral wildcat at the very sight of their carrier?

Well, there’s no kind way of saying this - it’s your fault - and you won’t even be aware that you are guilty of making The Big Mistake.

And the mistake is..

You put your cat’s carrier away when it’s not being used.

We’re all guilty of it. Directly the stress of transporting your cat from A to B is over, the carrier gets stored in the garage, shed or cupboard out of sight and out of mind. And that is where you make the mistake. The odious carrier is hidden from view.

So, as the guilty party, how can you correct your error? Can you change the situation for the better? Is it possible for your cat to ever accept their carrier and remain calm and serene around it? Without doubt they can - and you can start to correct your mistake the very second you’ve finished reading this!

Bring the carrier out of storage and place it in a cat-friendly place.

Place it where it is warm and can remain undisturbed.

Make it comfortable inside with a blanket or cushion.

Make it attractive by placing a favourite toy or some catnip inside

Place a tasty cat-snack inside.

Always leave the door open for permanent access.

Make it a fixture within your cat’s everyday world.

And that’s just about it. By following the above steps, you will be able to tackle changing your cat’s negative associations with their carrier. Every time it comes into view, it triggers strong emotions in your cat as they will always connect the carrier with being forcefully subjected to unpleasant procedures. No wonder your cat runs off when they see it! Your task, as an owner, is to work towards changing the associations your cat has with their carrier, replacing the negative ones with good ones.

If your cat slowly comes to accept that their carrier is a normal part of everyday life, they will gradually relax when confronted with it and their resistance to being put in it will melt away. By making the carrier an attractive and comfortable place to snuggle down in, with a toy and snack to hand, your cat will soon get the idea that good things can chase away the bad memories.

Naturally, a trip to the vet’s surgery will always cause some bad feelings to re-surface. However, to overcome that particular problem you would have to make your vet part of your cat’s everyday, normal experience too. And that’s just not likely to happen, is it?

Popularity: 1% [?]

Bookmark to:
         

Of all the occasions to send flowers, Mother’s day is one of the most meaningful. What a wonderful way to express your love for your mother or to tell your wife you think she is a great mother to your children. You can choose from beautiful, quality flowers that are not very expensive.

Mother’s Day is just around the corner. To let your mother know how much you appreciate her consider sending her a bouquet of flowers. You can eliminate the hassle of shopping for an arrangement by shopping with online florists. By previewing their websites you can order flowers online without even leaving your home.

When you use an Internet florist, you will see how simple ordering flowers can be. You can pay with your credit card or debit card. Some florists even take online checks or payment from an online payment system like Visa. These florists offer a secure site, so it is safe to use your credit card.

You might be able to locate a bargain florist online too. Locating a good buy should be easy to do using a major search engine and entering the search terms \”discount\” and \”florist\” or even \”flowers\”. Most florists are associated with each other so it probably won’t matter if you’re not located in the same place as the florist or the mother who will be receiving the floral present.

If you do a bit of additional research, there might be a web-enabled florist down the street from the intended recipient. Eliminating the middle man might just get you a better deal on your order. However, a professional down the street may not be much more likely to deliver your choice in the best possible condition, and at the hour you specify.

When looking for a trustworthy florist, utilizing the search engines on the internet is a wonderful place to begin. A good online florist may suggest a specific type of flower or plant to give for Mothers Day. If you would like for a floral arrangement to be delivered, a online florist could also arrange for local deliveries to make it easier for you. For Mothers Day or any other day, utilizing the internet for a large selection of flowers is a wonderful way to show you care.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Bookmark to: