A spritzer

For the whole of May 2011 Just Miniatures are taking 50 pence off  each bottle of Blossom Hill single serve wine.  These wines are made with a specific named grape e.g. Cabernet Sauvignon or White Zinfandel.  So why not try a spritzer by adding lemonade or soda, along with some crushed ice and a slice to make a really refreshing drink?

As an alternative why not try a Summer Sparkle cocktail: take a bottle of  Cava, such as Freixnet Cava Cordon Negro pour yourself a glass and add a generous measure of Monin Strawberry or Cassis (Blackcurrant) syrup.  Don’t forget to stir or shake well!

Flambe

1. Gently heat the alcohol in a frying pan or saucepan on a low heat until it just begins to bubble.  Don’t allow it to boil.

2. Keeping a metal lid close by, ignite the pan.  In an emergency, you can place the lid over the top to extinguish the flames.

3. Allow the flambe to go out on its own or cover with the lid a few seconds later to contain more flavour in your recipe.

(Thanks to Morrisons magazine for the tips)

Glass: Martini

Garnish: Ginger slice on rim

Ingredients: 1 shot plain vodka, 1 shot ginger tam’s ginger and honey whisky liqueur, 2 shots cranberry juice.

Method: Shake all ingredients with ice and fine strain into a chilled glass.

Ingredients

6 tbsp single malt whisky

Zest and juice of 1 orange

450 grams/1lb raspberries

5 trifle sponges

110 grams / 4 ounces grated white chocolate

A carton of decent fresh custard

400 millilitres  / 13 fluid ounces double cream

A tub of mascarpone cheese

55 grams / 2 ounces flaked almonds, toasted

To prepare

1. In a shallow bowl, mix the orange juice and the whisky.

2. Halve the trifle sponges horizontally.  Dunk each of the pieces into the whisky and orange mixture, then place them into the bottom of a trifle bowl.

3. Scatter the grated chocolate and the raspberries over the top of the trifle sponges.

4. Pour the custard over the top.

5. Half whip the double cream, add the mascarpone then spoon over the trifle.  Before serving scatter the toasted almonds over the top.

Burns supper

A Burns supper is usually held on or near Burns night (25th January). This is traditionally when the life and works of the famous poet and philanthropist Robert Burns are celebrated.

Robert Burns

So that you can have a great Burns night here are a few of the things that you might want to do.

The host welcomes the guests with a specially prepared speech and says grace, for example:

The Selkirk Grace

Some hae meat and canna eat,

And some wad eat that want it;

But we hae meat, and we can eat,

And sae let the Lord be thankit.

This is a grace as was recited by Robert Burns at Selkirk.

Then the first course is served, often a soup along the lines of Cock-a-leekie, Scotch broth or potato soup.

The Entrance of the haggis

The haggis is brought in on a dish and everyone is upstanding.  If you can get hold of a piper it is even better!

It is then that the poem Address to a Haggis is recited by the host or a talented guest.

The supper

Once the poem is completed a whisky toast will be proposed to the haggis.  The guests may then be seated and tuck into the meal.  The haggis forms the main course, along with mashed neeps (diced or mashed swede) and potatoes (tatties).

The remainder of the meal often consists of traditional Scottish recipes, such as Lamb hot pot or Potato, cheese and bacon pie.   For desert there could be oatcakes and cheese along with cranachan (mixture of whisky , whipped cream, honey, and fresh raspberries topped with toasted oatmeal) or Tipsy Laird (whisky trifle).  This would all be washed down with uisge beatha – the “water of life” – Scotch whisky.

Usually at this point various speeches and toast can be made and given.

The host will proclaim a toast to the health of the ruling monarch “A toast tae the Queen!”

Immortal memory

One of the guests can give a short speech about an aspect of Burns’ poetry or life.  It is up to the speaker to decide whether to be serious or light-hearted but the ultimate aim is provide entertainment.

Then all present would drink a toast to Robert Burns.

Usually the host will thank the previous speaker and may comment on some aspects of the speech.

There is then a “toast to the Lassies” and a reciprocal “toast to the Laddies” with short speeches complete with appropriate toasts to each others health. Stylistically it can be very effective if the two speakers collaborate with each other so the toasts complement each other.

Once the speeches have concluded there may be singing of songs and reciting of poems by Burns — Ae Fond Kiss, Tam O’Shanter etc.

To close the evening the host can call for a vote of thanks for those who prepared the food, after which everyone is invited to stand, join hands and sing Auld Lang Syne.

A Hot Toddy

Preparation:

• Coat the bottom of a mug or an Irish coffee glass with honey.
• Add the liquor and the juice of the lemon quarter.
• On the side, heat water in a tea kettle and add the tea bag to make hot tea (if using).
• Pour the steaming tea or hot water into the glass and stir.

This festive drink recipe makes 14 servings.

Egg nog

• 6 eggs
• 2 extra egg yolks
• 1 litre whole milk
• 185ml heavy (double) cream
• 4 oz  (~110g) sugar plus 2 tablespoons
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg
• 250ml Jack Daniels

Whether the rich of all rich are celebrating a wedding complete with wedding favours, a birthday, a grand opening or a party just to celebrate their existence; they like to spend literally millions of pounds. Imagine attending a party whereby you are literally laced in gold, sounds heaven. We have trawled through every single lavish party, become slight green-eyed monsters, and found the ultimate lavish parties in the world. Ladies and gentlemen, feast your eyes on this…

Expo-how much?

Officially the most ridiculously priced party in the history of the world is known as Expo, based in Shaghai, the 2010 between May and October (some party). The theme of the exposition is ‘Better City – Better life’, signifying Shanghai’s new status as the ‘next great world city’. With more than 190 countries and 50 organisations registered to take part, it is the largest in the world. Attendees are expected to reach between 70 and 100 million people, making it the most popular exposition ever. It is indeed the biggest and oddest party you would have ever have had the privilege to be invited to. You may witness a mermaid show, robots who serenade you with robots and buildings shaped like apples and a rabbit, no this is not a scene from last night’s dream; this is real. How much is the estimated cost of this ridiculously long event, around £2.3 billion, the price to fulfil millions of people’s dreams. Shanghai underwent a makeover which cost more than the Beijing pre – Olympics makeover. With a new subway line, revamped waterfront and a new airline terminal, there is little wonder the cost is so high. Although the question why the cost is so high is an interesting one and something which many may not have really noticed. Shanghai is attempting to resurrect the tradition of international gatherings, which started in London in the 1800s and is even the reason for the Eiffel Tower. The once event of the year slowly began to die down.

Off with a bang (and a whole lot of cash)

Think of one place which oozes expense, style, luxury and class, there is only really one place in the whole world which can give off such a persona, whilst truly making a name for itself over the past two decades: Dubai.

Therefore it is only fair to assume that Dubai would be on the list of the most luxury parties in the world. The Atlantis resort, based in Dubai celebrated the most expensive launch party, ever. While the rest of the world has been picking themselves up from the recession, Dubai has been going from strength to strength in terms of wealth and popularity. Costing £15 million, one may be a little disappointed if the party itself was anything but completely out of this world. If, like us, you are thinking where your invite was, then we are afraid to say that unless you earned the mega dough, you would not have even got a look in. More than 2,000 guests were invited including Janet Jackson, Sir Richard Branson, Lindsay Lohan and Robert De Niro. Feasting the night away on lobster and drinking only the best champagne they had to offer: Veuve Clicquot, the guests were certainly treated like royalty. Although we can all feel a little less envious, as being held in an Islamic country, the drinking bill was kept to an absolute minimum. Kylie Minogue was one of the entertainers, being paid a reported £1.5 million to release her vocal chords. Fireworks also provided part of the entertainment, or rather one million fireworks. Dubai is known to splash the cash, but this launch was huge, even for their standards. Meaning the next ridiculously big hotel launch will have to top Atlantis, a challenge some are more than willing to accept.

More than just a Birthday cake

Take the average adult birthday party: a few drinks (usually ending up with the lucky birthday person very drunk on the floor somewhere), a few mates, a nice meal and ending up at a club, costing about £200. Imagine celebrating your 50th birthday which will cost you $16 million…ouch. Even if we had that amount of money, the likelihood of throwing it away on an indulgent party may be a step too far. Not for the Sultan of Brunei, who spent millions on champagne and caviar and even flew the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson to perform three performances. He had 10,000 guests attend (who can have that many friends?), with the Prince of Wales turning up for the party.

Wedding wonderland

Weddings can be seen as the ultimate celebration of love for the couple, whilst in reality a massive drinking session for the rest of the friend’s of families.  The average wedding in the UK costs about £15,000; with many couples saving up for years to achieve their dream wedding.  If however you just so happen to be rich beyond your wildest dreams, £15,000 would barely make a dent in the cost of the cake let alone anything else.

The most expensive wedding of all time catered for all that Vanisha Mittal, daughter of the steel tycoon Laxmi Mittal could have ever wanted.  Topping Forbe’s Billionaire Weddings, this wedding proved to be entirely magnificent.  Costing £30 million, the wedding was luxury from the beginning to the end.  The invitations alone were 20 pages packed in a silver box; whilst the accommodation was no other than a five-star hotel in Paris for 1,000 guests; the wedding itself lasted five days, with yet another incredible performance from Kylie Minogue.

Lagging behind are the Rooneys themselves, who may be rich and wonderful to the rest of the world, but are mere peasants to the Mittals, who, one can imagine, swim in luxury.  Childhood sweetheats Wayne Rooney and Coleen Mcloughlin celebrated their special day on board a luxury ship, before staying in the five-star Bentley Hotel in Genoa.  What could have possibly runined the couple’s big day? Rain.  Torrential rain poured throughout their £5 million wedding; still it didn’t dampen their spirits, staying up until the early hours celebrating and spending lots of money.

Next time you arrange an ultimate celebration, you can think twice about re-mortgaging your home.  You may not have millions in the bank, but that shouldn’t deter you partying like a star.