Throw a London Street Party to Celebrate William & Kate, for Pennies on the Pound (£)!

If you haven’t received your invitation to the royal wedding, and can’t afford to host a blue blood event, don’t let this momentous occasion pass you by.  You can still make monarchy magic and commemorate the special union of William & Kate as you
party like a CRAZY BRITISH ROCK STAR with the
TRASH LASSIES ROYAL RAGE PARTY!

Don’t go bust buying every item in London’s Union Jack logo.  Purchase essentials in solid colors, and then augment with a few choice selections in the traditional British style.  Choose plates, cups, and napkins in plain colors of red and deep blue, use white and Union Jack as your accents.  Go for the least expensive signature pieces, like napkins or food picks, in the British theme.  By keeping solid shades as your base and you won’t be left with specific motif items you may never use again.

Always have on hand printable stickers, (adhesive pages) in various sizes.  It’s a great way to kick up the creativity.  Print whatever logo or picture you desire, and stick it right on mugs, platters, tablecloths and poster board.  This is a fast, and pocket friendly way to make theme decorations that are temporary and affordable!

You can create a beautiful London style party by using serving pieces you already have on hand.  Start with white tableware, use any blue glasses, platters or trays you have hiding in your cupboards.  Don’t be afraid to include patterns that play well with the color theme!  Dig out those rich red Christmas plates and Valentine’s Day specialty pieces.  It’s a wedding fit for a king… celebrate the love!

 

No need to worry about purchasing too many items in solid shades for your London Street Party.  Everything in RED, WHITE & BLUE will roll right in to your July 4^th celebration!

Use every decoration on hand in blue and red, then up the party WOW factor by purchasing specific Union Jack decorations that will make the biggest London street party statement.  Run a string of  small UK flags over your food service table, place a few Windsor balloons among red, white and blue clusters, provide Union Jack hats for your guests, let one big  British flag fly high above the party, or give the table a classic Yorkshire edge with lucky London placemats.

 

 

If you want to splurge on a couple of United Kingdom specialty items, MAKE THEM COUNT!  Buy that adorable little London club dress, get the biggest British hat you can find, or dress up Fido in his monarchy best!

 

Mix classic European simplicity with funky flea market finds to create that eclectic look that is oh’ so London.  Choose dainty flowers placed in simple vases.  Use solid color table runners with thin ribbon in the opposite shade running down the center.  Then mix-in those unique 1960’s groovy pieces.   Place lava lamps center table, use stylized candle holders or serving dishes, and incorporate anything with that retro British Invasion feel!

High heals & high tops make great table decorations!  Use clean, fresh shoes with fresh cut flowers to make a uniquely European statement.  Go bold and marry opposite styles.  Fill high tops with beautiful roses, or arrange an array of British theme candy.  Blend crazy hot clubbing heals with dainty daisies or wild flowers.  Tie into this momentous occasion by combining white ballerina flats, or formal high heels with classic wedding flowers.  Step up the FAB factor with a design style with attitude!

Think bright and festive food and drink.  Let your dinning choices do double duty as decorations.  Reduce your work load by selecting food and drink that speaks Old English.  Choose vibrant colors of fruits and vegetables to add visual intensity to your table, and select cocktails that convey a tasteful blue blood celebration.  Make a dessert that will adorn your table until the last bite is gone, or treat your guest to an authentic taste of Jolly Olde England!

Serve up this tasty selection of cocktails as regal as they are delicious.  Themed in honor of this momentous occasion, these luscious concoctions will lift your spirits, making you feel like you’re an honored guest at the wedding of the century.

½ oz dry vermouth
1 ½ oz gin
1 teaspoon Blue Curacao
Dash of bitters

Add all ingredients and several cubes of ice shake well, strain and pour

1 ½ shots of Gin
½ shot of Sweet Vermouth
½ shot of Dry Vermouth
1 shot of Orange Juice

Add all ingredients, add lots of ice, shake thoroughly and strain

 

2 parts vodka
1 part peach schnapps
2 parts orange juice
2 parts cranberry juice

VERY ENGLISH APPS

Let the celebration begin!  If you don’t have a staff of 600 to make elaborate hors d’oeuvre for your guests, try these fast and fancy alternatives that reflect the savory flavor of the royal wedding starters.  With prepared puffed pastry sheets you can present an upper crust presentation in no time flat!

Sophisticated and delicious, these bite-sized, cheesy puffs are both sweet and savory.  Minced fresh rosemary is the ingredient that gives these appetizers exquisite flavor.
1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary leaves
1 package (17.3 ounces) Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry Sheets, thawed
2 ounces Camembert cheese, cut into 32 (1/2-inch) cubes

Heat the oven to 400°F.  Stir walnuts, brown sugar and rosemary in a small bowl.

Unfold the pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface.  Roll the pastry sheet into a 12-inch square.  Cut into 16 (3-inch) squares.  Repeat with the remaining pastry sheet, making 32 in all.

Spoon1 teaspoon walnut mixture in the center of eachpastry square, and top each with 1 cheese cube.  Brush the edges of the pastry squares with water.  Fold the corners to the center over the filling and twist tightly to seal, fanning out the corners.  Place the filled pastries into 32 (1 1/2-inch) mini muffin-pan cups.

Bake for 15 minutes or until the pastries are golden brown and let cool in the pans on wire racks for 10 minutes.

*You can substitute Brie cheese for the Camembert in this recipe.

These savory “lollipuffs” feature a bite of salmon, flavored with orange marmalade, baked in a golden puff pastry and served on skewers.  They’re sure to be a hit of royal proportions.

1 pound thawed frozen or fresh salmon fillet cut into 1-inch cubes
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons teriyaki sauce
All-purpose flour
1 package (17.3 ounces) Pepperidge Farm® Puff Pastry Sheets, thawed
1/3 cup orange marmalade
Directions
Heat the oven to 400°F. Place the salmon into a medium bowl.  Add the lemon juice and 2 tablespoons teriyaki sauce and toss to coat.

Sprinkle flour on the work surface.  Unfold the pastry sheets on the work surface.  Cut each pastry sheet into 16 (1/2-inch wide) strips, making 32.  Cut each strip in half crosswise, making 64.  Place 2 strips together to form a crisscross shape.  Repeat with the remaining strips.  Place 1 piece salmon in the center of each pastry cross.  Fold the ends of the pastry cross over the filling and press to seal.  Place the pastries seam-side down onto 2 baking sheets.

Bake for 20 minutes or until the pastries are golden brown.  Stir the marmalade and remaining teriyaki sauce in a small bowl.  Serve the pastries on 3-inch wooden skewers with the marmalade mixture for dipping.

For a fun serving idea,fill a small vase with salt.  Stand the ends of the skewers in the salt to make an edible arrangement, or cut oranges or lemons in half and place them cut-side down onto a platter.  Stick several lollipuff skewers into each half.

For these appetizers and other great puffed pastry ideas visit,
http://www.puffpastry.com/recipecollection.aspx?rc=1

 

To honor our blue blooded prince, serve your guests his childhood favorite, Cottage Pie.  Made in the traditional way this is a hearty and satisfying comfort food, filled with a rich meat mixture and toped with mashed potatoes.

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 carrots, diced
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 1 1/2 cups beef broth
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• salt and pepper to taste
• 4 potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup milk
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 pound shredded Cheddar cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400
2. Place a large skillet over medium heat. Crumble in ground beef and sauté 1 minute. Add onion and carrot, continue to sauté until meat is no longer pink and onion begins to brown, about 5 minutes. Mix in flour, cinnamon, mixed herbs, and parsley.
3. In a small bowl, combine beef broth and tomato paste. Mix together and add to beef mixture. Add salt and pepper to taste. Lower heat and simmer mixture for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until almost all of liquid has been absorbed. Spoon mixture into a 9 inch pie plate.
4. Potato Topping: Place diced potatoes in a medium saucepan. Cover with water and place over high heat. Allow to come to a boil. Boil for 15 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Drain.
5. Mash potatoes until smooth; add butter or margarine and milk. Whip until fluffy. Add salt and pepper to taste. Spread potatoes over beef filling. Sprinkle with grated Cheddar cheese.
6. Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes, until top is browned and cheese is bubbly.

 

No time to make Royal Rage recipes?  Stay in theme by serving up some store bought beef pot pies in place of cottage pie.  Pick up fish & chips from your local British pub.  Purchase cupcakes from your grocery market and dress them up in royal blue, or with Union Jack flag picks.  Lift a glass to William and Kate with authentic English cabernet, or great London ale.  Don’t allow time restraints to keep you from celebrating grand occasions with family and friends, PLUS, they’ll be plenty of British fare available the week of the big day!

 

As beautiful as it is delicious, this yummy Yorkshire version of an all American favorite will have your guests raving!  A fresh and fruity way to end a day worthy of celebration.

1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz Betty Crocker sugar cookies
½ cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg

FILLING
1 package 8 oz cream cheese
1/3 cup sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla

TOPPING
4 cups sliced fresh strawberries
3 cups fresh blueberries
1 cup fresh raspberries
Heat oven to 350°F. Line 15x10x1-inch or 13×9-inch pan with foil. Spray bottom only of foil with cooking spray. In large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter and egg until soft dough forms. Press evenly in bottom of pan. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
In small bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla with electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Spread mixture over cooled crust. Arrange fruit over cream cheese. Refrigerate at least 1 hour until chilled. To serve, cut into 5 rows by 4 rows. Cover and refrigerate any remaining fruit pizza.

Deep blue, rich and beautiful this stunning dessert will have your guests raving… “LONG LIVE THE HOST!” Treat them like kings and queens by infusing a little TRUE BLUE running through their veins with a royal dessert they will never forget!

• 2 cups sugar
• ½ pound (2 sticks) butter, at room temperature
• 2 eggs
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
• 1 Tbsp Wilton royal blue gel food coloring
• 1 small dab of violet gel food coloring
• 2 ½ cups cake flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 tablespoon vinegar
• Preheat oven to 350 F  line cupcake pans with liners
• Cream sugar and butter in mixing bowl till light and fluffy, add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each egg
• Mix cocoa and food coloring together to make paste — mix thoroughly with all gel, add this paste to sugar mixture and mix well again
• Sift flour and salt, and add to creamed mixture a bit at a time, alternating with buttermilk, then mix in vanilla
• Combine baking soda and vinegar in a small bowl and add to cake batter; mix just to combine
• Scoop thick batter into cupcake liners, filling about 2/3 full, and bake for probably 25-30 minutes, start checking at 20 min – insert toothpick in center to check for doneness
• Remove cupcakes from oven and allow cool completely on a wire rack

FROSTING

• 1 pound cream cheese, softened
• 2 sticks butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
• Beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla with electric mixer till smooth
• Add sugar gradually and beat on low till combined, then on high until very light and very fluffy

For these and other excellent Royal Wedding recipe ideas visit
http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes

A toast to you both a most royal pair
As this day seals the bond of your deep love affair
Here’s to Prince William and Catherine his wife
To remain true friends and lovers for the rest of your life
May God pour down his favor from heaven above
And you live each new day as a testament to love