Quesadillas make great finger food for casual parties, and football gatherings. This Herb Portobello Quesadillo has a little flavor twist to make it extra delicious.

Grilled Herb Portobello Quesadilla

Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients

4 Mission® Zesty Garlic Herb Wraps or Mission® 10″ Burrito Flour Tortillas
1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1 tablespoons Fresh Rosemary minced
2 tablespoons Thyme, fresh
1/3 cup Onion finely chopped
1/2 teaspoon Salt iodized
1 teaspoon Black Pepper freshly ground
1/2 cup Olive Oil
4 large Portabello Mushrooms whole, cleaned, stems removed
3 cups Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
3 cups Gouda Cheese finely grated
1/4 cup Sun-Dried Tomatoes in oil
1 small Red Onion sliced, circles
1 bunch Fresh Basil whole leaves

Instructions

1. For marinade, combine garlic, rosemary, thyme, onion, salt, black pepper and olive oil, mix well. Pour over mushrooms and set aside for about 15 minutes.
2. Grill whole on barbeque until tender, about 4 minutes per side. Once cooked through and cool to touch, slice.
3. Top each wrap with equal amount of cheeses, sun-dried tomatoes, red onion, and basil leaves (about 4 leaves per quesadilla) and mushrooms – layering ingredients on just half of the wrap.
4. Fold the wrap over, creating a half circle, and grill on barbecue for about 2 minutes per side until golden brown and cheese is melted.
5. Slice each cooked wrap into 3 wedges. Serve.

Image and recipe courtesy of Mission Menus

Post from: She Knows Parties

I also have a fun interview with someone from The Food Network, more Thanksgiving recipes, and a giveaway, so stay tuned!

You can tell your guests your Thanksgiving signature drink is a Mayflower Martini, or a Pilgrim Toddy. How fun is that?

The Mayflower Martini

• 1.5 oz. of Rhum Clément Première Canne
• .5 oz. of Rhum Clément Créole Shrubb
• 1 oz. of Cranberry juice
• Purée of half of a golden pear
• Powdered cinnamon

Method: In mixing glass filled with ice, stir Rhum Clément Première Canne and Rhum Clément Créole Shrubb with cranberry juice and allow to sit for 30 seconds. Rim the cocktail glass with the powdered cinnamon and pour the purée of the pear in the bottom of the glass. Slowly pour the cocktail over the back of a spoon onto the purée of the pear.

photo/recipe Rhum Clement

The Pilgrim Toddy

• 2 oz. of Rhum Clément V.S.O.P. Rum
• .75 oz. of Rhum Clément Créole Shrubb
• 1 cup apple cider
• A Cinnamon Stick
• 4 whole cloves
• A piece of lemon peel
• A small pat of butter

Method: Warm the cider until it almost reached the boiling point and pour just a 12oz cup of the cider into the mug or glass. Add Rhum Clément Créole Shrubb, the cloves and stir with the cinnamon stick. Fill the rest of the mug or glass with Rhum Clément V.S.O.P. Rum and top off the rest with cider. Garnish with a pat of butter and some freshly grated nutmeg.

Fall Breeze:
From Courvoisier Exclusif

• 1.5 oz Courvoisier Exclusif
• 2 Fresh Strawberries
• .5 oz Simple Syrup
• .5 oz DeKuper Pomegranate
• 1 oz Cranberry Juice
• 1 oz Apple Cider

Method: Muddle strawberries and simple syrup in a shaker. Fill shaker with ice. Add remaining ingredients and shake vigorously to incorporate. Strain into chilled cocktail glass and Garnish with an apple slice.

Maple Fig
From Tuthilltown Spirits

• 1.5 oz Hudson 4 Grain Bourbon
• 1 oz Fig Puree
• .75 oz Maple Syrup
• .25 oz Balsamic vinegar

Method: Combine all ingredients in a glass-mixing pint. Stir well. Strain into a chilled Garnish: fig wedge

Red Apple

• 1.5 oz Spirit of the Hudson Vodka
• 1 oz Apple Juice
• .5 oz fresh lemon juice
• .5 oz grenadine
• 1 dash orange bitters

Method: Combine all ingredients in a shaker. Shake well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with an apple slice.

Proper Martini
From G’Vine Gin

• 2.5 oz G’Vine Nouaison Gin
• .5 oz Dry Vermouth

Method: Combine all ingredients in a glass mixing pint. Stir well. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Always remind your guests to drink responsibly.

Post from: She Knows Parties

Chips and dip are great, but why kick the standard chips and dip up a notch or two by making your own, and giving it a twist? Today I have a yummy mango dip recipe for you from Mission Menus.

It won’t take you long to throw together, and you can even keep the ingredients on hand in your cupboards for last minute entertaining.

Mango Tango Dip
Cooking Time: 0 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients:

• Mission® Extra Thin Chips
• 1 cup Black Beans can, drained
• 1/2 cup Mangoes jar, small chop
• 2 tablespoons Mango juice from jar
• 2 tablespoons Red Onion finely chopped
• 2 teaspoons Cumin ground
• 1 tablespoon Fresh Cilantro chopped
• 2 teaspoons Lime Juice

Instructions:

• Mash black beans, to a smaller size/paste, with a potato masher or use tines of a fork. • Add mangoes, mango juice, onion, cumin, cilantro and lime juice; combine evenly. • Serve cold with Mission® chips.

Image Mission Menus

Post from: She Knows Parties

sxc.hu

Here are Susan’s tips to help you get through the holidays, even if you are ever the holiday hostess.

Pick your battle. Which is more fun—fatty foods, or a fit body? At parties, avoid the waist-expanding fried hors d’oeuvre and bowls of nuts. Make weight control second nature by gravitating toward filling, lower calorie foods such as shrimp and crudités, and feel good not just in the moment, but also over the long haul. A bonus: by skirting calorie-laden and hard-to-digest foods, you’ll automatically feel “lighter,” more attractive, and in control.

Prepare to party…by eating! Eat a snack before you go out, such as a container of nonfat yogurt and a banana. By taking the edge off your appetite before a party, you’ll be much less likely to overeat or to go against your better judgment. There’s no need to be anxious about staying in control at a party since you’ll have taken proactive steps to avoid being excessively hungry.

Say “no” in creative ways. If you’re committed to avoid those waistline-busting party foods, you’ll need strategies. Good hosts want their guests to have a good time and partake in the fare. When offered a high-fat or calorie option, instead of saying “no thanks” say “thanks! But, gee, I’m really thirsty right now, maybe I’ll try one later.” Then head straight to the bar and grab a low-cal cocktail such as a wine spritzer or lite beer, or grab a plate of fresh fruit and veggies to fill you up and help you avoid temptation.

Dance! You can burn many excess calories and have a great time while you’re doing it! Don’t be a wallflower … get up and boogie!

Keep a glass in your hand. If you’re holding a glass, it’s more difficult to hold a plate and eat! Make a plate of “good choice” foods to begin with, enjoy it, and then keep a glass of water or club soda in your hand for the rest of the evening.

And finally…eat that piece of cake! It’s perfectly natural to enjoy a “reasonably” sized treat once in a while, particularly in a celebratory fashion. The goal should not be to deprive yourself forever or stick to a “diet,” but rather learn to live and eat to stay thin, naturally. A piece of cake every now and then, in the context of a healthy overall lifestyle filled with good choices, is your reward for a job well done.

Thank you Susan for sharing those great tips! You can find Susan’s book “Making Weight Control Second Nature: Living Thin Naturally” at most major bookstores, and at Amazon.com. You can find more information about Susan at SusanBurkeMarch.com.

Post from: She Knows Parties

I got some coupons for some Nasoya Wonton Wrappers, and they make the perfect crust for this easy taco appetizer.

Wonton Taco Tartlet Appetizer Recipe

• 1 lb of gound beef
  1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon garlic
• 36 Nasoya Wonton wrappers
• 2 cups of cheddar cheese
• salsa or taco sauce
• sour cream

1. Brown your ground beef and mix in the chili powder, cumin, and garlic to taste. If it’s not spicy enough for your taste you can add another teaspoon of chili powder or cumin.

2. Preheat your oven to 350`F.

3. Place one wonton wrapper in each cup of a mini muffin pan, and pat them down in carefully, with the edges sticking up over the side.

4. Put a heaping teaspoon of the beef mixture into each wonton wrapper, then top with a pinch of cheddar cheese.

5. Place the taco tartlets in the oven and bake them for about 8 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the wonton wrappers start to brown a little around the edges.

6. Serve warm with a garnish of salsa and sour cream. You can also serve with sliced black olives, guacamole, or cilantro.

Images (c) L Gerlach

Post from: She Knows Parties

These cocktail recipes have all the flavors of the season. I’m a big fan of egg nog and of gingerbread this time of year, so I can’t wait to give a couple of these a try. Add in the cranberry and nutmeg flavors, and I’m sure these will be a big hit for any holiday party.

Maple Cinnamon Nog:

A combination of Bourbon, clove & cinnamon infused maple syrup, spiced rum, egg white, and a dash of cream for a smooth and creamy, yet light, cocktail nog

• 1 oz Bourbon
• 1/2 oz Spiced rum
• about 3/4 tbsp clove & cinnamon infused maple syrup
• 1/2 egg white
• cream to taste

In a shaker combine the bourbon, infused maple syrup, spiced rum, egg white and cream with ice. Shake until frothy. Strain into a snifter and top with grated nutmeg and a cinnamon stick

To infuse maple syrup add 6 fresh cinnamon sticks and a palmful of cloves to a fresh maple syrup. Refrigerate. Syrup will be ready to use in 24 hours.

Ginger Spice:

Cranberry vodka, poured over fresh muddled ginger and sugar, shaken with ice and topped with cranberry juice. A tantalizing, tongue tingling treat

• 4 thin slices of fresh ginger
• 5 fresh cranberries (optional)
• 1 bar spoon raw sugar
• 1.5 oz cranberry or orange vodka
• about 5 oz cranberry juice

Muddle the fresh ginger and cranberries with the raw sugar in a shaker. Add ice, vodka and cranberry juice. Shake and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with paper thin slice of fresh ginger

Pumpkin Pie:

Pumpkin butter, spiced rum, cinnamon, powdered sugar and an egg white, shaken and served up with a chestnut and a dollop of whipped cream.

• 3 heaping spoons of Pumpkin butter
• 3 oz spiced rum
• 1/2 egg white
• ground cinnamon
• powdered sugar
• chestnut
• whipped cream

Combine the pumpkin butter, rum, egg white, and a pinch of cinnamon & powdered sugar in a shaker with ice. Shake and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with the chestnut and a dollop of whipped cream.

As always pleas make sure you remind your guests to drink responsibly.

Images Harbour Restaurant

Post from: She Knows Parties

Today Jes is accepting the challenge to plan a party for under $100, and to share her favorite tips with She Knows Parties readers. I hope you enjoy her tips as much as I have. These are great tips to help you plan your holiday party on a budget, or any other party throughout the year.

A fabulous house party – décor, food, etc… all for under $100?
(I accept your challenge!)

By Jes Gordon
Creative Director jesGORDON/properFUN and author of “Party Like a Rock Star”

So you’re having a house party with 20 to 40 of your closest friends, and you want to rock it out and make it look like a million bucks… but you are on a ghetto shoestring budget. The key is: Less is More! And concentrate on the wow factors that will get your guests through the evening.

1. Streamline. First, clean your house top to bottom and get rid of all of the knick-knacks and chotchkies so you can make your home look streamlined and clean. This also frees up surface areas for food, dishes, empty cups etc. so you don’t need to rent extra furniture.

2. Use What You Have. Add in some comfort items and accessories such as pillows, throws and cushions you already have, and arrange them on sofas, chairs and even the floor to create a cool, lounge-y feeling.

3. Decor Can Go A Long Way. Take a look outside and see if you can clip any natural growing beauties already growing in your yard such as roses, leaves, pinecones or even oranges on the branch! Fill whatever empty jars, bowls or vases or even drinking cups you have and place them all around your home so the organic decor goes a long way. Use single buds of flowers or vines – you’re not making full-blown arrangements, just adding some nice organic touches to the event.

4. The Dollar Store Is Your Best Friend. Raid your nearest dollar or discount store for inexpensive Christmas lights and colored light bulbs. Lighting is one of the easiest (and cheapest) ways to dramatically change the look and feel of a space. Hang the Christmas lights in masses to keep the look cool and streamlined, and not college-dorm-room. Use empty drinking glasses to house cheapy dollar store votive candles and place them all around the house too for cool, unexpected touch. (Just make sure to add a little water at the bottom beforehand so the melted wax pulls out and doesn’t ruin the glass.) I suggest sticking to one color like an amber or white to create that “soap opera lighting” we all know and love… too much multi-colored mish-mash will make your place look like a bordello threw up – and that does *not* sound like a very fun party to be at.

5. Stretch Your Alcohol Budget. This doesn’t have to be BYOB! Tell your friends to leave the 6-packs at home and go with a much classier choice like Sangria to help stretch your wine dollar. Hit up Costco for their surprisingly decent Kirkland house brand wine in bulk – it’ll do the job, I promise. Offer the necessities like water and a limited selection of soft drinks (one diet, one regular) and juice you mixed pre-party from cost-cutting frozen concentrate. Even silly things like fun ice cubes (made from novelty silicone trays) can add a little something. It’s all about the (cheap) details…

6. Create a Concept Menu. Limit the types of foods you are serving with a cool concept/theme that will keep costs down by streamlining the choices, but also look like it took more effort than just putting out a bowl of pretzels. Try a Mexican Night theme with platters of chips, salsa and nachos, and inexpensive ingredients like beans and rice for a make-your-own-taco buffet, a nostalgic Comfort Food concept, with Mac & Cheese, Tater Tots, French Fries and lots of Heinz, or serve frittatas, quiche and other dishes utilizing eggs and other super cheap ingredients for a cool Brunch concept.

For munchies, add a grown-up twist to air popped popcorn with garlic salt or chili pepper for fabulous snack that costs only pennies!

7. Use what you have part 2. Pre-mix your ultimate playlist from iTunes and play it through Air Tunes throughout your home or use an iPod dock and get that party pumping. Use a deep red, orange or pink colored lightbulb you found at the discount store to create a cool, dance club vibe.

8. Save Money By Going Electronic. For the ultimate house fête, take advantage of a party website like MyPunchbowl.com. Cool email invitations, easy ways to organize your to-do and shopping lists, and thank-you cards, of course!

There you have it Jes Gordon’s tips to help plan your holiday bash for under $100. If you would like to check out more of Jes Gordon’s party planning tips, check out her new book Party Like a Rockstar. The book is available at most major bookstores, and at Amazon.com. I’m checking it out right now, so I’ll be back in a few days with a book review. I can tell you right now, so far I’m lovin’ it!

Image (c) L Gerlach

Post from: She Knows Parties

If you’re in charge of the turkey for your Thanksgiving dinner feast, here are a few ideas to cook it to perfection.

1. One of our favorite ways to cook our Thanksgiving turkey is on the grill, yep grilled turkey is loaded with flavor, and delicious.
2. Along the same idea, here is a recipe for a charcoal grilled turkey.
3. You can get very non traditional for your Thanksgiving dinner, and make some BBQ turkey skewers.
4. My uncle likes to deep fry the Thanksgiving turkey. He infuses the turkey with herbs and spices then lets it sit for a few hours in the refrigerator before he lowers it into the fryer. I must say the turkey does come out juicy and delicious. Just make sure you do your deep frying outside where you can’t splash the grease on something and catch it on fire. And use caution to not burn yourself around the hot grease.
5. The other day I posted a recipe for a champagne turkey that sounds delicious.
6. If you want to go traditional, here’s a great turkey baking tutorial.

Okay, now I’m hungry for turkey!

Image (c) L Gerlach

Post from: She Knows Parties

Tillan Farms wants to offer 5 She Knows Parties readers a chance to try out a jar of Merry Maraschino Cherries for themselves. The price of a 14oz jar of Merry Maraschino Cherries is $6.99.

Tillen Farms also offers nine other types of pickled vegetables including snap peas, peppers and asparagus. Jars are sold individually and gift baskets are available for purchase. Tillen Farms products are available in specialty supermarkets and on the Tillen Farms website.

So how can you win a jar of Tillen Farms Merry Maraschino Cherries to try them out for yourself in holiday recipes? Here are the rules:

• To be entered to win just leave a comment letting us know how you’ll use your Merry Maraschino Cherries. A favorite recipe? Garnish for a favorite cocktail? Dip them in chocolate? Add them to cookies? Or you can visit the Tillen Farms website then stop back and let us know your favorite product or recipe there.
• You can get bonus entries by posting about the contest on your own blog, tweeting about the giveaway (tweet it to @Linetteg), but you need to leave an additional comment to let us know which bonus entries you did to get credit for them.
• The contest is open to US residents only.
• The contest will end at midnight EST on November 30th.
• The winner will be selected from a random draw at the end of the contest, and will be notified by email, they winner will also be posted here at She Knows Parties after the contest ends.

Good luck!

I’ll be back with recipes!

Image Tillen Farms

Post from: She Knows Parties

Even if you’re not the party hostess, you can offer to pitch in with the cocktails for your contribution to the party. These recipes can be great conversation starters, and your friends will be impressed that you came up with recipes so perfect for the holiday.
Blue Ice Pumpkin Pie Martini

• 4 parts Blue Ice Vodka
• 1 part DaVinci Pumpkin Pie Syrup
• Cinnamon Sugar

Add Blue Ice and Pumpkin Pie Syrup to a cocktail shaker, shake well and strain. Garnish with an orange slice and pour into a cocktail glass rimmed with cinnamon sugar

Chilled Pumpkin Latte

• 1 ounce Blue Ice Vodka
• ¾ ounce coffee liqueur
• ¾ ounce DaVinci Pumpkin Pie Syrup

Build over cubed ice in a 12- to 14-ounce Collins-style glass

All-American Chilled Apple Pie

• 1 1/4 oz Blue Ice Vodka
• 3/4 oz Tuaca Liqueur
• 1/2 oz Sweet & Sour
• Fill with Chilled Apple Cider

Build in order over ice in a 12 oz glass, garnish with a lemon slice, a long cinnamon stick, and a straw.

Don’t forget to remind your guests to always drink responsibly!

Images and recipes courtesy of  Blue Ice Vodka

Post from: She Knows Parties