Studio 5: Haunted Halloween Hunt!

* Video segment will be posted later this afternoon.

Halloween is chill.  Low-stress.  Why let kids have all the fun?  It's a perfect time for an adult party. 

Everyone loves getting out in those crisp, cool evenings, and it doesn't seem quite so strange to be lurking about (possibly in costume) around Halloween.  The unexpected IS expected! 

Having something to 'do' at a party is an ice-breaking, get-to-know-you, boredom-busting way of having people over.  The best parties I ever hosted was Scavenger Hunts, especially when combined with Halloween.

There is also something inherently fun about hunting; think Easter Eggs, ends of rainbows, buried treasure and  'Where's Waldo' books.  Team up, make it a competition with prizes and you have the ingredients for a seriously memorable party! 

By far, my most memorable moment was my first scavenger Hunt.  As I was making the list, I decided to add a few items I knew would be impossible to find, (just for fun) and for 500 points!  I added a dead black cat and a rabid dog.  As the evening progressed, one of the teams come busting through the front door, all giddy smiles, holding a bag in the air.  They told me they found a black cat!

I yelled for them to 'well, let it out'!

They looked at me like I was crazy and said, "but it's dead"!

"Then get it out of here!!" I yelled (yes, there was lots of yelling!)

A little later another group returned with a rabid dog.  Fortunately, this was just a stuffed dog with shaving cream all over its snout.  This was highly contested by the cat team!

I sent my teams all over the place, using photographs, audio tapes (this was back before smart phones and even CDs!) and hand written clues.  I'm not sure who had more fun, me, the creator, or them, the players!

Decorations

Another bonus of doing a scavenger hunt at Halloween is your decorations.   You probably already have your house decorated for Halloween and even if you don't have 'enough', you can always ask a few friends to bring what they have.

Food

All parties must include food, but it does not have to mean days in the kitchen cooking.  This party is all about the hunt, so keep it simple.  People love contributing to parties, help them to feel involved...by doing a potluck!  Otherwise, you could cook a large pot of soup or chili to warm them before heading outside, then, a little something sweet to eat while you're visiting after everyone gets back.

Invitations

Download Invitations HERE, print & cut.

I left some room to add additional information (like dress-code - costumes?)

The least expensive way of doing this bringing the files to your local printer and print on colored cardstock.  You could use my colored versions as well.

You can also print on white paper and mat on colored cardstock.

This is a big party idea.  You'll need at least 4-6 people per team (per vehicle).  Too many people on a team and some might not participate.  Two few and it's not fun enough.

You'll need between 4 and 6 teams. 

That's 16 to 36 people invited.

 If you're doing couples that's 8 to 18 couples. 

This is a great party for getting to know your neighbors!

Scavenger Hunt

Download, print & cut.  Done!

A scavenger hunt is a written list of things teams of people gather.  There are SO many ways to do this, but the basic, simplest way is to have teams 'gather' items (give them a bag(s) or a box).  However, there are lots of creative versions.

This a comprehensive list perfect for any scavenger hunt.  Each item has a point value, so teams can decide if they want to leave the smaller items for last and focus on the harder to find larger point items.

This list includes team name and a start & end time, as well as rules.  You can add those to any of these other version on the back.

You can also print a map with boundaries on the back as well, so people don't stray too far.

You may want to ask guests to bring a head lamp or flashlights as well.

Halloween Photo Hunt

In this version, nothing is collected except what you can capture on your phone with your camera & video recorder. 

Similar list, except some really fun, interactive items that really get everyone involves, like taking a video of everyone standing in a bathtub, or Re-enacting a scene from a movie, or building a human pyramid.

The only tricky part of this version, is doing a quick upload of the photos/videos once they return home.  Looking and watching teams' can be hilarious!

A great after-party favor would be to compile some of the highlights of each team on a CD.

Halloween Costume Hunt

This is a version of a photo hunt, but this time, scavengers are finding things to create the costumes on this list, taking a picture and moving on to the next.

You'll really get some creative costumes and this would be a blast to watch afterwards!

 'Something'  Hunt

Another creative version, where you don't give them specific items to get, but allow teams to create they own!

Treasure Hunt - Advanced Scavenger Play!

A final option is the only one I can't really help you with.  But it really ups the ante and makes the whole hunt more challenging.  At the same time as scavenging, teams are also treasure hunting, following clues from one to the other.

Because the clues would be specific to your area, you'll have to create your own clues.  These can be in the form of a written rhyme, a photo, video, QR reader, Internet, and/or audio. 

Some examples would be taking a picture of a just part of a place (ei: part of landmark), they would then go there once they figure out where it is.

Once I did an audio tape of my dryer at home.  That was hard, and actually was the final clue, which led them back to my home.

So many creative ways of leading your teams on a chase, all the way, trying to gather up items from the scavenger list.  Typically, you'll assign some of your team members to focus on just he scavenger part while you travel from clue to clue.

The only thing to remember is that you, as the host, won't be able to participate as you already know the clues.  You may want to create these with another person, so you don't have to sit at home alone.

Rules

A few rules can help avoid some problems...like:

No speeding!

No buying!

Asking to borrow or go on someone's property

I also recommend giving teams a certain amount of time.  I would recommend 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours at the most. 

You'll need 30-45 minutes for the pre-hunt, for food, instructions etc...

You'll need 30 - 60  minutes post-hunt, for food, calculating points, looking a pictures and socializing.

You can take points away if they are late.

Prizes & Post-hunt

This is when you realize just how successful your party has been.  It will loud.  People will debate  on whether your rabid dog really is a rabid dog, they will tell stories from their adventures, they will be happily tired, ready to eat and find out who won!

The more organized you are about this, the better.  Have someone calculate the points as soon as cards are submitted, then go through their box/bag to make sure it's all there.

You don't have to spend a lot of money on prizes.  Boxes of Count Chocula would be funny and inexpensive.

Take pictures of the winners!

If you use my printables or just decide to do you own scavenger hunt, I would truly LOVE to see pictures of your party...Please join me on my Facebook page, Q's Creative Cards to share!

Studio 5: Pinwheels & Giveaway!

When I plan my Studio 5 segments, if possible, I try to tie into my current class and in this case, it's all about pinwheels.

I had so much fun making this cute pinwheel for my upcoming "Red, White & YOU" class, that I decided to immerse myself into pinwheels... I almost drowned!  So many cute ideas and so little time.

This was right before I left on a long trip and I didn't have enough time to do everything I wanted.

It became clear to me after a lot of research that the We R Memory Keepers Pinwheel punch board was the way to go.

I'm not much of a uni-tasker (a tool that only does one thing), but I have to say, this tool is completely worth purchasing if you're only doing one party.  The time you save is invaluable!  So, today, I'm showcasing pinwheels made from the Pinwheel Punch Board and a great little template (hand-cut or die-cut) I used for my class and that I still really love, as it has a different shape and is good for smaller pinwheels.



But first, let's give a Pinwheel punch board away! 

Just leave a comment on this blog post today and tomorrow morning I'll randomly pick a winner...Good luck!

You'll get the Pinwheel Punch Board and a set of 10 attachments (these are invaluable!) and extra long straws.











Moving this nostalgic child's toy into today's DIY trend is all about size.  Using the simple, charming and playful shape in different sizes can tie a party together and create a custom look quickly and inexpensively.

Go BIG (more on that later) for drama & the WOW factor...these large pinwheels can fill real estate in a flash, perfect for backdrops and hanging decor.  And because these are so light, they are easily attached with pins or thumbtacks.

Go Small for those tiny touches that really leave a big impression!  From food picks to invitations and place settings.

Go traditional size for functioning favors, garlands, treat toppers, hat toppers and more.

Apart from size, you can add your own creative touch to pinwheels by adding a center to your pinwheels.  

Punches, pins, brads, pompoms, printed elements (like my wedding words), buttons etc...

You can also add streamers to the back of your functioning pinwheels for added movement, like in this example, I added cascading ribbons that I tied to the top of the straw.  Just be sure that your streamers don't interfere with the movement of the pinwheel.




To see a step-by-step tutorial on using the Pinwheel Punch board, click on this image to enlarge.

To make a SUPER big pinwheel, I used the large sheets of cardstock I'm starting to see in craft stores, specifically my local Hobby Lobby.  I found the large gold sheets (Strathmore Chromolux 19/5" x 26") in the art department, next to the poster paper and core board.  

We R Memory Keepers also has a line of patterned large sheets (22" x 28"), which I found right next to the Pinwheel Punch board and supplies.

Here are some photo tutorials for making the Extra Large Pinwheel.

If you have any questions, please let me know.  

Studio 5: Gourmet Mashed Potato PARTY!

It's been a really long time since I've had more than 4 friends or my family over for dinner, so it was with trepidation that I invited 14 dear friends/family over a few weeks ago.

Fortunately, I had an idea.  Steve and I went to a fund-raiser at the St. Regis in Deer Valley (giving credit where credit is due!) in October and the chef had prepared a beautiful, but simple buffet: Three gourmet mashed potatoes paired with 3 gourmet dishes.  It was comfort-food and foodie-food all in one!

Gourmet Mashed Potato Bar Tasting Menu

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Garlic Mashed Potatoes paired with Coq au Vin

Horseradish Mashed Potatoes paired with Braised Short Ribs

Wasabi Mashed Potatoes paired with Thai Coconut Chili Shrimp

I realized this could be the perfect party food, as everything could be made in advance.  I happened to have a chaffing dish with three compartments and then picked up another one (slow cooker) from Costco.  Not that you need these necessarily, but it was handy.  I could get everything into their dishes, plug it in an hour in advance and then relax!

No table settings; just bowls, napkins and forks.  Stand-around or sit socializing kind of food.  Mix & Match.  Have the hard task of decided a favorite.  It was a great evening!

Now bear with me, as this will be a long post, but I love including step-by-step pictures.  Mashed potatoes are pretty basic, but there are six steps to ensure perfect mash everytime!

6 Steps to Perfect Mashed Potatoes

Of course, when the potatoes are the star of the show, you have to make sure they are pretty perfect.

1. Use Starchy Potatoes (Russet or Yukon Gold)
2. Cut uniformly and bring to boil in salty water
3. Drain and dry cook on low for 1 minute
4. Use a food mill or ricer to mash
5. Add HOT liquids (Cream etc…) and room temp additions (butter etc…)
6. Salt Liberally

Trouble shooting
• Lumpy: Undercooked Potatoes
• Gummy: Overcooked Potatoes, too much water left on potatoes, used Waxy Potatoes and/or over mixed.

BASIC MASHED POTATO RECIPE

Ingredients:
• 5 lbs starchy potatoes (Russets or Golds)
• 6 Tbsp. Butter, soft.
• 1 to 2 cups milk, hot.
• Kosher Salt to taste 
• White pepper to taste


Directions:
• Cut potatoes to uniform size. The size depends on how long you cook them. If they are big chunks, plan on 15-20 minutes. If they are 2” squares check after 10 minutes. They should be fork tender. Pierce potato with fork, if it enters easily and breaks a bit they are done. Do not overcook, or the potatoes will start to disintegrate.
• Drain well, return to pan and cook over low heat to remove any trace of water.
• Mash. Best way is with a ricer or food mill. They will be fluffy and lump-free.
• Add butter, 1 cup hot milk, salt and pepper. Mix just until combined. Do you want smoother potatoes, add more milk. Taste. Add more salt and pepper if needed.

Options:  If you want a healthier mashed potato, add low-fat milk and cut the butter completely. As long as it’s salted properly, they are wonderful, especially for every-day family meals.


But to really add some ‘zing’ to your potatoes consider adding the following.
• Hot Liquids: Whole milk, Half & Half, Cream, Buttermilk
• In addition to butter: Sour cream, Cream cheese, marscapone cheese, shredded Parmesan or Pecorino cheese, goat cheese, Boursin or any other kind of flavored soft cheese
• Other root vegetables: celery root (my favorite), parsnip, rutabega, turnips, carrot, kohlrabi.
• Flavor: Roasted Garlic, Horse Radish and Wasabi (see recipes below), Red pepper flakes, chopped green chilis, caramelized onions or shallots.
• Herbs: chives, parsley, cilantro, thyme. Go easy with sage or rosemary.

I doubled the recipe for each of the 3 kinds of mashed potato and a group of 24 people ate two thirds of everything.

Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Prepare basic Mashed Potato recipe, but substitute buttermilk for milk. Cut a Garlic Bulb in half (do not peel), drizzle with olive oil on cut sides, wrap in foil and roast in 350 oven for one hour. Squeeze out garlic cloves and mash. Add a quarter of the paste to potatoes and taste, keep adding to your personal taste. Garnish with Cheddar cheese.

Horse Radish Mashed Potatoes: Prepare basic Mashed Potato recipe, but add ½ cup sour cream and only 3 Tbsp of butter. Add 4 Tbsp Prepared Horse Radish, 1 Tbsp at a time to determine your personal taste. Garnish with chopped chives.

Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Prepare basic Mashed Potato recipe. Thaw a small pkg of frozen Spinach. Chop ½ cup of spinach finely and heat in microwave before adding to mashed potatoes. You will not taste the Spinach, but it will give it a green color. Add 3 Tbsp of Wasabi paste, 1 Tbsp at a time to determine your personal taste. Garnish with chopped Cilantro.

Any dish you serve with mashed potatoes would work for this concept,

but there are a few things you should think about before you start.

Make sure the food is fork-friendly. No knives! This is walk-about,

socializing food. I’ve altered some of my favorite dishes to accommodate

this idea by removing bones and cutting small bite-size morsels.

Thai Coconut Chili Shrimp

An unusual pairing, but really good if you like the taste of sweet & spicy Thai food. This came in first.

Ingredients:

• 2 lb. large shrimp, shelled, deveined and butterflied)
• 2/3 cup sweet chili sauce
• 1 lemon (juice and zest)
• 2 Tbsp Chili sauce
• 2 Tbsp Fish Sauce
• 4 cloves Garlic, minced
• 2 tsp brown sugar
• 1 red pepper, sliced thinly
• 1 onion, sliced thinly
• 1 cup coconut milk (reg. or light)
• ½ cup cream
• Corn starch and water slurry
• ½ cup chopped cilantro

Directions:

Mix sweet chili sauce, lemon juice and zest, fish sauce, chili sauce, garlic and brown sugar. Toss the sauce with shrimp and let marinate for 1 hour.


Heat 2 Tbsps. of canola oil in a large pan. Sauté the red peppers and onions until soft (approx. 5 min.) Add the shrimp and marinade and continue to cook at high heat for 2-3 minutes until shrimp are cooked through (do not overcook, as shrimp will be tough).


Add coconut milk and cream. Taste. If the flavor is too spicy, add a little more cream. If necessary to create a thicker sauce, mix a little cornstarch with water in a cup and add it to the dish. Mix in Cilantro and use some for garnish
.
Timewise: You can make the marinade, prepare the shrimp and slice the vegetables early in the day. Marinate the shrimp 1 ½ hours before the party and then finish cooking shortly before the dinner starts. Keep warm in a chafing dish.

Braised Short Ribs

The tang of sour cream and horse radish in the mashed potatoes plays off nicely with this warm & hearty dish. This came in a close second.

Ingredients:

• 2 lb. boneless short ribs
• 2-3 Tbsp. canola oil
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• Smoked paprika
• 1 large onion, chopped roughly
• 4 large carrots, sliced into chunks
• 4 ribs celery, sliced into chunks
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 4 ripe tomatoes, chopped
• ½ can tomato paste
• ½ cup red wine vinegar
• 2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 3 bay leaves
• 6 sprigs Thyme tied in a bundle with cotton twine
• 1 32 oz. container of beef broth
• ¼ chopped chives or scallions

Directions:
Heat oil in large Dutch oven or large heavy covered pot. Pat ribs with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. Cut ribs into 2” x 3” chunks. Season liberally with kosher salt, pepper and paprika. Cook 1/3 of the meat at a time, making sure it is browned on all sides before removing.

After all the meat has been searing and removed to plate, add onions, carrots and celery and cook for 10 minutes, pulling up the fond (brown bits) from bottom of pan.  Add garlic and cook for another 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add tomatoes, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, all the meat, tomato paste and enough beef broth to almost cover the ribs.  Bring to a boil and let simmer for 2-3 hours or until the meat is very tender.

Sprinkle a little Wondra (super fine flour used for thickening sauces) to thicken the sauce. Garnish with chopped chives.

Timewise: make the day ahead, slowly reheat in oven 300 F. for 30 - 45 minutes.

Coq au Vin (Chicken in wine)

One of our all-time favorite dishes. I used chicken thighs and carefully de-boned the meat after it cooked. Stir as little as possible after adding the meat back into the dish so you have nice chunks of chicken.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. bacon, diced
• 2 lb. chicken thighs
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 3 cups pearl onions (frozen or fresh)
• 3 cups whole cremini mushrooms
• 3 Tbsp. olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 6 sprigs Thyme tied in a bundle with cotton twine
• 3 bay leaves
• ½ Cognac or Brandy (substitute ½ cup peach or apricot juice/syrup)
• 2 cups red wine (substitute 1 cup cranberry or grape juice and 1 cup water)
• 2 cups chicken broth

Directions:

Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in Dutch oven or large heavy pot. Cook bacon until rendered and crisp. Remove bacon and reserve for garnish. Pat chicken thighs with paper towel to remove excess moisture. Season with Kosher salt and pepper. Brown chicken in batches in hot bacon fat. Remove and set aside.

Cook onions (if using fresh. If frozen, add later) and mushrooms in fat in pan for 10 minutes or until onions and mushrooms are slightly browned. Add garlic and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Add chicken back to the pan. Add pearl onions now if using frozen. Add Thyme, bay leaves, Cognac and wine. Add enough chicken brown to just cover the chicken. Bring to boil and simmer for 1 ½ hours.


To prepare for Gourmet Mashed Potato bar, carefully remove chicken thighs from pan. Let cool to make it easier to handle. Carefully pull the bone and any cartilage from thighs, leaving only chunks of meat. Carefully return to pan, stirring as little as possible to avoid shredding of the meat. (meat was cooked with bone in for added flavor, but you could use boneless chicken thighs for ease in preparation). Thicken with Wondra if necessary.

Timewise: make the day ahead, slowly reheat in oven 300 F. for 30 - 45 minutes.

Studio 5: Utah Football Frenzy Printable Party

The car-flags are fluttering in the wind, the red U's and blue Y's are shining from the rooftops and the BYU-U banter can be heard just about anywhere. Here in Utah, it's football frenzy and I'm here to help!

Please visit this link for all the free printable party/downloads and read the article at the Studio 5 website.

And for a added bonus, I'm giving away the two cookbooks we talked about today. Jenny Stanger's UTE and COUGARS cookbook. Just leave your SCHOOL SPIRIT as a comment and I'll pick two winners by the end of the week!

P.S. One of my Studio 5 peeps, Michelle Lunt, kindly let me know that both books can be purchased at Parcels & Paper in Sandy, UT...in case you don't win!

Cinco de Mayo Celebration!

This may be a first...Studio 5 just replayed my Cinco de Mayo segment from last year. Probably one of the most stressful, but fun segments I've done.

Stressful because I had just returned from vacation the day before and I just wasn't properly prepared...fun because everything about Cinco de Mayo is colorful and celebratory. Mexicans sure know how to party!
I love it because after a long winter and a long wait for a decent holiday, I have an excuse to party-it-up! All these ideas are quick, easy and inexpensive. Please visit the Studio 5 website to visit the article: Great Mexican food recipes, ideas and Free downloads! Have a party THIS weekend!

Ole!

Studio 5: Aebleskivers & Vintage Game Party

When I first moved to Utah 13 years ago, my new neighbor, Sharon Budge, graciously shared a meal of Aebleskivers with our family.

I think I ran to the store to get a pan.

They have become a tradition in our family and are eagerly anticipated for breakfast, dessert and yes, even dinner.

These puffy, pan fried cakes are a winter tradition in Denmark and are generally served with a dusting of sugar and some jam. But in our house, its Sharon’s sister recipe of Butterscotch syrup that rules.

Surprisingly, for something so delectable, the ingredients are basic. Although,Buttermilk is the key to a rich, tasty batter and syrup.

What you do have to have, however, is an Aebleskiver pan.

Now, I’m not big on uni-task kitchen items, but this is worth it! The popularity of aebleskivers in recent years means finding a pan is easier than it used to be. I would, however recommend you buy a cast iron pan. It’s take a few uses, but eventually you get that perfect non-stick patina.

Aebleskivers

2 Cups Buttermilk

2 eggs, separated

2 C. Flour

1 tsp. soda

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. sugar

• Sift together flour, baking soda and baking powder. Add sugar and salt and stir.

• Beat egg yolks and buttermilk in large bowl. Add to dry ingredients and mix well.

• Beat egg whites until stiff.

• Fold in stiffly beaten egg whites and fold into batter. Batter will be quite thick.

Spoon into aebleskiver pan (only to top, otherwise it will overflow) and cook until brown on both sides. You have to have the temperature just right. If it’s too hot, the middle won’t get cooked through when the outside is brown. If it’s too low, then by the time it’s brown on one side, the top will almost be cooked. You want the batter to still be runny when you turn it over, so it runs into the base of the pan and create a nice ball shape.

Topping Suggestions

• Butterscotch syrup

• Powdered sugar

• Jam & sour cream

Butterscotch Syrup

1 ½ c. sugar

1 ½ cubes butter

2 Tbsp white corn syrup

¾ C. buttermilk

1 tsp. soda

2 tsp. vanilla

Combine all ingredients but vanilla in saucepan. Cook 7 minutes, stirring every so often, barely boiling. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Store in fridge. Reheat to serve.

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I had so much fun creating these custom cards with Vintage Uncle Money Bucks! Don't forget to download them for free HERE to make paper crafting this party super quick & easy!

Please watch my Studio 5 segment to catch the vision, but also remember to visit the Studio 5 website for the complete article with photos and instructions.

Of course, you have to have something to eat, so why not try your hand at Aebleskivers! You will have to find a pan (cast iron preferred), but the recipes are inexpensive and easy to do. It's truly party food...everyone will gather around to watch your aebleskiver skills and argue over the best way to eat them.

Please visit the Studio 5 website to get the recipe, see step by step instructions and don't forget the online extra; Coconut and Almond Syrup recipes.

Sneak-peek results: Ok ladies, I agree...that was hard, but FUN! I love reading all your guesses. No one guessed vintage games which kind of surprised me because Password is an OLD game! Though I did love the passover guess!

I didn't want to give too much away and frankly wasn't sure how many of you have heard of aebleskivers before...but obviously KWgirl has! She guessed it right on, so she is our winner this month. Congrats and thanks ladies for playing my silly little game with me!

P.S. Endless thanks to Sharon, my friend and neighbor, for starting this wonderful tradition in our home by sharing Aebleskivers and butterscotch syrup with us all those many years ago!