Labor Day Party – How to Throw an All White Party

[ad#co-1]

 

White is a crisp color that can create an elegant yet soothing, homey vibe at the same time. So, an all-white party will be a great occasion to pay tribute a holiday like Labor Day without ruining the fun.

White-Themed Invitations to Set the Mood for an All White Party

The invitation for a white-party should be white too, right? A white themed invitation card will place your party on the right track. Different types of invitation cards are available and you can pick one that will suit your needs. In the case of online invitation, you will have the options to customize the cards according to your needs. Plus, request the guests to wear white to keep up with the spirit of the party.

Image via: Etsy Shop: Sweet Berry Land Shop – All White Invitation Ideas

Looking for Creative All White Party Invitations?

We love the ideas on Etsy! The invitation above is featured on ‘Sweet Berry Land Shop’s’ Shop. Search through a variety of All White Party ideas on Etsy here.

Coordinate the Decorations for a Labor Day All White Party

Coordination of décor items for a white party is not a tough task like arranging for other parties. White flowers like lilies, white roses, daisies, mums, and stargazers are available this time. So, you will basically have no problem in making centerpieces and flower arrangements with these fresh flowers. Finish the table decoration by arranging for white linen, napkins, platters, cups, and cutlery.

Decorate with Outdoor Lighting

If you are throwing the party at the evening, you should think about the lighting arrangements too. Use floating water candles and white pillar candles for the tables. They will fill your evening party with a soft romance. Place white hurricanes on the ground to line a walkway or on the tables as centerpieces to create a plantation-like atmosphere. Make regular and Chinese lanterns with white paper and hang them on your patio and backyard. Light up the shrubbery and fences with strings of tiny white lights. It will bring a Christmas-like festive mood in your party!

Outdoor lighting tips

Double the Fun with Mixed-Colored Foods

Entertaining your guests with delicious white food items is not a problem but you can serve foods of different colors in case everything white seems a bit monochromatic. Serve them mouthwatering items like pasta with white sauce, seafood salad, chicken kabobs, scallops, mushrooms in cream sauce, white cheese, sour cream, etc. For desserts, you can serve marshmallows, bananas, or angel food cake dipped in white chocolate. However, two or three colorful items and colorful beverages will look great amidst all white.

See Brit & Co. All white dessert ideas for a yummy treat during your festivities.

Need more creative All White Party Ideas – take a look at Kara’s ideas on her blog.

Arranging the party at the evening will best catch the warm, sultry vibe of summer nights. These ideas will give you head start and help you put your creative ideas on how to arrange a not-so-typical party during the Labor Day weekend. Wow, your friends and guests with this all-white Labor Day party and welcome the fall in a cool way.

Looking for yummy desserts to serve at your party? Take a look at our dessert recipes here.

How to Make a Delicious Berry Red Sangria Recipe

If you prefer, you can easily turn this drink into a mocktail.  Simply swap out the alcohol for ginger ale, flavored seltzer water or fruit juice for a bubbly and family-friendly substitute. We also love this sangria recipe made with watermelon and cucumber!

Don’t be afraid to play with the liquid ratios, this is an easy drink to customize with different amounts or types of alcohol, or even using different fruits completely!  This sangria will be a crowd pleaser that never gets old with all of the possible tweaks.

Berry Red Sangria Recipe

[ad#co-1]

Berry Red Sangria Ingredients:

1 bottle of your favorite dry white wine or red wine

1 cup light rum

1-2 cups real pomegranate or cranberry juice (to taste)

1-2 cups orange juice (to taste)

2 cups ginger ale

1 cup sliced strawberries and/or watermelon

½ cup blueberries

Sangria Directions:

1.  Using an ice cube tray, fill each section halfway with water and add blueberries to each cube.  Place in the freezer until solid.

2. In a large pitcher, combine the white wine, rum, and fruit juices.  Feel free to adjust the ratios to your preference.  Add the sliced fruit and chill the pitcher in the freezer for at least 2 hours so the fruit can infuse the sangria.

3. For serving once the ice cubes are solid and the sangria is chilled, add the ginger ale just before pouring to keep it bubbly.  Then pour the sangria into glasses and add the blueberry ice cubes.  Garnish with a sliced strawberry and sip away!  Refrigerate any leftovers… and enjoy on another occasion.

For more drinks and cocktails for your party, take a look through our archives on Stagetecture.

Memorial Day Appetizer: Grilled Potato Skins

[ad#co-3]

 

Total time: 25-30 minutes

Yields: 4 servings

Ingredients

2 baking potatoes – white or sweet potatoes

2 tablespoon melted butter

½ teaspoon dried rosemary

Pinch of salt and pepper

1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

2 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled

2 chopped, green onions

Sour cream

Directions:

1. Cut potatoes into 4 wedges. Hollow out the center of each wedge. Microwave potatoes, uncovered, on high for 6-8 minutes or until tender.

2. In a small bowl, combine rosemary, butter, salt, and pepper. Remove potatoes from microwave and brush over both sides of potato.

3. Put potatoes with skin-side up on the grill rack. Grill for 2-3 minutes, turn and grill again. Add cheese to potato wedges and cook for another 2-3 minutes.

4. Top off with bacon and onion. Serve with sour cream.

Just about everyone will love this delicious Memorial Day appetizer. You can also substitute low-fat cheese or add broccoli and other vegetables for a healthier option.

For more easy appetizers on Stagetecture, click here.

Fun Memorial Day Kids Crafts for the Memorial Day Weekend

Patriotic Pebble

Image via: SNS Designs

[ad#co-1]

Kids Crafts Materials

Pencil

Smooth, flat pebble or large rock

White, blue, and red tempera paint

Acrylic varnish or shiny varnish

Paintbrushes

Instructions

1. Mark off the upper-left corner of the pebble where the stars will be. Color the area with blue paint.
2. Paint the other part of the pebble white and leave it to dry.
3. Once the color has dried, paint red stripes on the white area and white stars on the blue area.
4. Put a coat of acrylic varnish for a shiny finish.
5. Firecracker Photo Album

Kids Crafts Materials

Chipboard album

Red paper – we like getting a construction paper pack

White paper

Glue stick

Ribbons

Star stickers

Adhesive letters

Patriotic Photo Crafts

1. Apply glue stick to the red paper and use the paper to cover the base of the album.
2. Cut out two thick stripes from the white paper. You can make lovely patterns on the borders of each paper.
3. Use glue stick to overlay the white pieces for the stripes.
4. Trace a triangle on the blue paper and cut it to use as a firecracker tip.
5. Add the ribbons, star stickers, and adhesive letters.
6. Fill the album with your photos or patriotic photos.

Patriotic Plant Pot

Image via – Etsy – Pots and Stuff Store – Patriotic Crafts

Materials

A terra cotta plant pot

Paintbrushes

White acrylic paint, blue acrylic paint, and red acrylic paint

Patriotic Crafts Directions:

1. Paint the flowerpot’s rim blue and the lower part white or vise versa.
2. Apply the white paint again for added depth.
3. Add red stripes to the white part and white stars to the blue part.

These Memorial Day kids’ crafts can be done by children in preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school. They are a great way to show off your American pride as you grill some barbecue and enjoy the hot weather. Make them with your kids and create wonderful memories together.

For more patriotic kids’ crafts on Stagetecture, click here.

Take a look at 23 of our favorite patriotic desserts:

1. Patriotic Desserts: Summer Berries Popsicles

See this yummy popsicle recipe here.

Image via: HGTV

[ad#co-3]

2. Fourth of July Dessert: American Flag Cake

4th of July Cake Ingredients:

Cake:

6 large eggs
3 cups of sugar
18 tablespoons of unsalted butter
1 cup of sour cream
3 cups of flour
1 ½ teaspoons of  pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 teaspoon of kosher salt
⅓ cup cornstarch
1 ½ pounds of cream cheese
1 pound of unsalted butter
1 ½ teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
1 pound of confectioners’ sugar (sifted)
3 half-pints of raspberries
2 half-pints of blueberries

Icing:

1 ½ pounds of cream cheese
1 pound of unsalted butter
1 ½ teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
1 pound of confectioners’ sugar (sifted)

Flag decorations

3 half-pints of raspberries
2 half-pints of blueberries

Patriotic Desserts Cake Directions:

Cake:

1)      Heat oven to 375ᵒ F or 350ᵒ F if you’re using a nonstick pan. Butter and flour a rectangular pan. Mix the butter and sugar in an electric mixer and turn the paddle attachment to high speed. Once the mixture is fluffy, turn the mixer to medium speed and add the eggs, sour cream, and vanilla. Stir the mixture until it is smooth.

2)      Sift the flour, salt, baking soda, and cornstarch in a bowl. Turn the mixer to low speed and add the flour mixture. Combine the mixture well.

3)      Pour the mixture into your rectangular pan and smoothen the top. Bake for 20 – 30 minutes and test with a toothpick. Remove the cake when the toothpick comes out clean.

Icing

Mix the sugar, butter, vanilla, and cream cheese in an electric mixer until the mixture is smooth.

How to Decorate your Patriotic Cake:

1. Spread ¾ of the icing on the top side of the cake. Draw a sketch of the flag on top using a toothpick. Add blueberries to the upper-left corner and make red rows with the raspberries. Leave some space between the rows.
2. Put the leftover icing in a pastry bag and make white rows between the red stripes. Pipe white stars over the blueberries.

This American flag cake is a perfect Fourth of July dessert to bring to a picnic, bbq or to serve as a centerpiece at your family gathering. It is tasty and beautifully shows off your patriotic side. Make it for your guests and see if they won’t be asking you for the recipe.

3. Patriotic Berry Pie Recipe

Try this yummy patriotic berry pie recipe here.

20 Blogger Friends share their favorite patriotic dessert recipes:

1. Red, White And Blue No-Bake Cheesecake Parfaits
2. Strawberry Blueberry Cloud Cake
3. Skinny Ice Cream Sandwiches
4. White Chocolate Berry Parfaits
5. Coconut Water And Fresh Berry Popsicles For 4th Of July
6. Berries & Cream Tart With Cookie Crust
7. Berry Patriotic Poke Cake
8. Patriotic Dipped Oreo Cookies
9. Brownie Flag Recipe
10. Try These Easy Patriotic Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries
11. Patriotic Layered Jello Dessert
12. Patriotic Parfait
13. 4th Of July Ice Cream Cone Cookies
14. Patriotic Red White And Blue Pastries
15. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Flag Dip
16. Fireworks Sugar Cookie Cake
17. How To Make Mini Cheesecakes (video)
18. 4th Of July Berry Dessert Pizza
19. American Cheesecake Popsicles
20. Red, White And Blue Oreo Cookie Pops

Do you love Grilled Fruit Recipes?

Take a look at our Strawberry Shortcake Grilled Fruit Kabobs recipe here.

For more Patriotic Dessert Recipes ideas, click here.

Labor Day weekend is finally here and no party can be complete without delicious and nutritious appetizers, right? Even if your family and friends bring the fattening fried and greasy foods, you can serve healthy dips alongside them! I’m excited to pair with Chobani who’s mostly known for their delicious individual Greek yogurts. They’ve now made 4 delicious Greek yogurt based Chobani Meze Dips. Take a look at how these yummy dips pair up beautifully with your favorite veggies and crackers for your Labor Day party.

Delicious and Nutritious Appetizers with Chobani Meze Dips

Party dip is always at the center of the party!

This Labor Day are you tailgating, going on a picnic or hosting the gang around the bbq grill? Wherever you decide to party these Chobani Meze dips will accompany your vegetables, chips, and pita crackers. The dips are made with Greek yogurt, vegetables, herbs, and spices to make your party a hit with all picky-eaters.

I decided to use my favorite snacking vegetables for my party:

• Baby carrots
• Celery
• Radishes
• Cherry Tomatoes
• Green Peppers
• Broccoli

Try all 4 Chobani Meze Dip Flavors at your local store:

• Roasted Red Pepper
• Three Pepper Salsa
• Chili Lime
• Smoked Onion and Parmesan

Only 3 flavors were in stock at my local Walmart, but they are also sold at Target and Meijer stores. I see everyone else must be trying the Chobani Meze Dips as well

Delicious and nutritious appetizers pair better with yummy dips

For those of you that are huge hummus fans (raising my hand), you will be happy to note these Meze dips have 80% less fat and 65% fewer calories! They’re also made with only natural, non-GMO ingredients, and no preservatives or artificial flavors. We often forget that just because we are eating delicious and nutritious vegetables, the dip that you use for them is just as important. No different than the healthy salad and fattening salad dressing premise.

Set your party table with appetizer recipes to enjoy the dips

While I served vegetables and crackers for yummy munchies at my Labor Day party, don’t be afraid to experiment! I would substitute the Meze Dips for ranch dressing for chicken wings and drumettes to serve for tailgating. I can also see dipping breadsticks, potato chips, and other bite-sized appetizers into the dips.

Chobani wants you to try out the Meze Dips with a coupon:

What are your plans for Labor Day partying? How about using a coupon to get a discount off your purchase of Chobani Meze Dips? Use this party dip coupon and save at your local Walmart, Target or Meijer stores. Don’t forget to share with us what you pair your yummy dips with as the options are endless!

This Labor Day get excited about ending the summer with family and friends and enjoying delicious food with Chobani’s new Meze Dips. After all, the summer is coming to an end but you still want to keep your healthy lifestyle at the same time.

Have a great Labor Day holiday!

How to Make Delicious Grilled Vegetables

[ad#co-1]

Many people stay traditional and others try new things in the menu of their Labor Day party. Whatever you try, a veggie menu will be a great choice given that the abundance of summer produces at this time. Check out some recipes for vegetables for your Labor Day party or dinner.

Grilled Vegetables Main Dishes:

Roasted vegetables are both mouthwatering and good for health. Grilled green beans, peppers, and other garden produce can be served beside the main dish. Alongside this grilled recipe, you can opt for grilled eggplant Panini for your party. This end-of-summer yummy treat is simple to make. You will need sliced eggplant, mayonnaise, bread, mozzarella cheese, roasted red peppers, red onion, basil olive oil, and garlic salt to make this rich and creamy delicacy

If you are not too strict with the word ‘veggie’, you can make a mix of vegetables and delicious shrimps for a relishing main dish. Make kebabs with juicy plums, shrimps, fresh jalapenos, lime juice, chopped cilantro, lime zest, sesame oil, and salt. You will be happy to know that this deluxe meal will not take more than 35-40 minutes to be prepared.

Need tips for grilling your vegetables perfectly? Take a look at these 5 tips from Eating Well.

Roasted Vegetables Side Dishes:

At this time of the year, you will have a number of options for healthy veggie side dishes. Corn is probably the most available option for a party or dinner menu. Grilled sweet corn with smoky chipotles and fresh lime will make a juicy, mouth-watering, and wonderful side dish. Pesto-tossed roasted zucchini or a grilled salad made of a mix of grilled bell peppers, sweet tomatoes, and salty olives can make its place to your table too. The great thing about the grilled salad is that you can easily turn this dish into an appetizer by topping it with crostini mixed with goat cheese.

We love these Top 10 grilled vegetable recipes from Taste of Home

Accompany your Vegetables with a Dessert

A fruit pie, especially a raspberry-peach pie, will be the best choice to complement a Labor Day meal. A sweet and sour combination of raspberries and peaches coupled with a lightened piecrust will make a healthy, winning dessert. The same raspberries can be used to make delicious drinks. Use frozen raspberries, raspberry-flavored syrup, fresh mint, seltzer, and ice cubes to make this super easy and refreshing drinks. It will serve as a low-calorie alternative to sugar-laden sodas normally served in parties.

These delicious but easy end-of-summer recipes served on a casual table decorated with flags and red, blue, and white colors will rock your party and take care of your health at the same time.

For more healthy grilled vegetables recipes on Stagetecture, click here.

How to Make BBQ Grill Spicy Shrimp Skewers Recipe

[ad#co-3]

Outdoor Grill Spicy Shrimp Ingredients:

Vegetable oil

Kosher salt

6 lemons

1 stalk of finely chopped lemongrass

3 tbsp of Sriracha (Asian chili sauce)

2 tbsp of chopped fresh mint

1 tbsp of fish sauce

2 tsp of light brown sugar

3 tbsp of extra-virgin olive oil

2 cloves of minced garlic

30 large shrimp (unpeeled)

Bacon – if desired to wrap around shrimp

Shrimp Grilling Directions:

1. Grate the zest from 4 lemons and mix it with 3 teaspoons of salt in a mini food processor. Squeeze the juice from two lemons into a large bowl and add the olive oil, garlic, Sriracha, brown sugar, fish sauce, lemongrass, and one teaspoon of the lemon salt mixture. Slice the 2 remaining lemons and put them in the bowl.
2.  Cut the shrimp shells on their outer curves using kitchen shears. Leave the shells on. Take the veins out then rinse the shrimp. Put them in the bowl with the marinade and shake, cover, and refrigerate for an hour. In the meantime, soak 12-15 skewers in water.
3. Preheat your grill to medium-high. Brush some vegetable oil on the grill. Put the shrimp on the skewers. Place the lemon slices on the grill and cook them until they begin to cook. Turn them to the other side then put them on a platter when done. Wrap each piece of shrimp in bacon if desired. Add the mint to the marinade. Place the shrimp skewers on the grill and brush them with the marinade.
4. Cook until the shells begin to turn light brown – approximately 2-3 minutes per side. Transfer them to the platter and dust them with the lemon-salt for flavor.

A bbq grill recipe this holiday commemorates the end of summer. You get to spend time with your neighbors, family, and friends and eat tasty food. If you’re entertaining this year, try this spicy shrimp skewers recipe courtesy of Food Network. Choose the right size of shrimp for the perfect outcome. Large or extra large shrimp are advisable as they stay on the grill and don’t fall through the grates. They also hold onto the skewer better. You’ll have fun grilling the shrimp and be pleased with your outcome. Your family will also commend you on your good job.

Need more yummy grilling recipes? Try these:

Betty Crocker has delicious salmon recipes made with a honey-soy marinade.

Consider adding grilled vegetables on the bbq grill as well. We love this recipe from All Recipes.

Don’t forget to clean your grill before getting started! Our post on cleaning your grill the green way can help.

This Labor Day enjoy the last few days of summer with family and friends. For more Labor Day recipes on Stagetecture, click here.

How to Find Labor Day Staycation Ideas

[ad#co-1]

Take a short vacation to the beach:

If you live in close proximity to the beach, it’s time for some fun in the sun. Post Labor Day weekend, life will start getting more hectic, the temperature will start changing and the beach days will become a fond memory. So, soak in the warmth, relax in the sand, and enjoy the beach one last time before autumn.

Take a weekend getaway to a local attraction:

A weekend getaway is perfect if you have a city that you don’t explore much! If crowded beaches or lakes are not the way you want to spend your Labor Day weekend, create your own water park in the backyard. Get your kids involved to set it up. Think water balloons, water guns, kiddie pools, and slip-n-slides. The best part about setting up a water park in your own backyard is that it’s safe and you can let your kids stay as long as they want.

Travel around your own city:

With busy schedules, we tend to get caught up with the same routine and habit of visiting same places and restaurants. This Labor Day weekend, take the time to explore areas of your city you don’t normally visit. Find new spots to shop and dine. For added adventure, consider public transportation.

Need more staycation ideas? Look at these resources:

Real Simple has a good article on how to enjoy a staycation at home

Here’re some creative staycation ideas on a budget

By taking a staycation, not only will you save money and avoid traffic, you will also get a chance to truly appreciate what your home and city have to offer. Whatever you choose, make sure to get away from it all by staying away from your laptop and unplugging your phone.

For more travel ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Labor Day Snack: Patriotic Popcorn Recipe

[ad#co-3]

Patriotic Popcorn Ingredients:

• 12 cups popped popcorn (choose a white variety), divided into 3 parts
• 3 cups chocolate candy melts (blue, red, white) or white chocolate which you can dye it with gel paste colors (the water based food colorings are not suitable for this use)+

Directions:

1. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with wax paper.
2. Melt one color of the chocolate melts in a double broiler or in a microwave. If you’re using white chocolate melt 1/3 of it, choose some good quality one and heat it very carefully, since white chocolate can get clumpy really fast, especially if melting it in a double broiler. Add the desired color and stir quickly.
3. Pour the melted chocolate over 1/3 of the popped popcorn and stir until everything is covered well.
4. Spread the popcorn on the baking sheet. You can now choose to either form popcorn balls (as soon as the mixture is cold enough to handle but still formable) or leave it as it is. If making the popcorn balls, you can even try to insert a lollipop or ice-cream stick to make serving it easier and more fun.
5. Let the mixture cool down. If you decided to spread the popcorn, just break it apart.
6. Repeat the procedure with the remaining colors.

Serve the popcorn in a bowl by mixing all the colors together or arrange them on a serving plate by color. Filling small cellophane bags with it for individual serving is another cute idea, especially if you want to give them away as a Labor Day Snack gift. Making popcorn balls on a stick and wrapping them individually or arranging them to display them would make a perfect snack for a Labor Day Party Buffet. Just let your imagination guide you on how to serve this easy but at the same time impressive Labor Day Snack and it’s sure that you will delight anyone who tries it.

For more patriotic recipes on Stagetecture, click here.

Save

Save

Save