I could always go the way of The Amazing Plate Caddy, but something tells me I can balance it all in style.

Plates n’ Glasses

These 2 plates not only balance your tidbits, but they mind your drink as well.

Although this 12 piece set is currently out of stock, it’s worth a mention. This colorful plate and glass set not only makes it easy to wine and dine, but it makes identification easy as well. The plates look to be on the larger side so you can make sure to get a sample of everything on the first trip to the buffet.

These plates work with your own “standard” wine glasses. These plates give a rustic look, perfect for an afternoon of wine and cheese. Pair these plates with this Servingware. They are on the small side (I mean, they are supposed to fit on top of a wine glass) and can only fit a few slivers of cheese, some grapes and olives. To be fair, they are for appetizers, not the meal.

Good Grips

These plates are sans glass, but they make holding on to your grub a bit easier with their smart design. These plates are of ample size for more than a few canapés.

Update
While in the middle of this post, I received my Napa Style catalog and discovered that they had a few different types of plates available. Here is a wooden design in appetizer and dinner sizes. This plate is currently not for sale, but it still worth a mention. The ceramic plates, in creme and orange are available in sets of 4.

Home Wet Bar also has styles that hold you glass in wood and plastic. There are also these plates that sit on top of of your glass for your jungle theme.

It looks like everyone is having shindigs these days. I really can’t blame them, what better way to pass the day/afternoon/evening, than with food and drinks and friends?

Invitations

If you’ve been reading, you know what I used as my regular invitation standby, evite.  As I have said so many times, “One of these days I’ll get my act together.”    Had I had the time, money, and forethought, I would have gotten something along the lines of Lollipop Love by tiny*prints.  They are informal enough for a fete with friends, convey the theme of the night perfectly and don’t have to be reserved for Valentine’s Day.  For something a little less pink and red and a bit more DIY, check out this Print-and-Mail Dessert invitation template from Real Simple.

Menu and Serving

This was another potluck shinding, everyone brought their favorite dessert and we gorged ourselves on sweet treats all night long.  While I like to cook from scratch rather than bake from scratch, I can do some damage to box mixes.   I provided 2 options for the night; brownies and gingerbread.  The Ghirardelli Brownie Mix, Ultimate Fudge was a hit and looked delicious in the heart shaped tin.  The gingerbread was courtesy of Trader Joe’s.  Their Trader Joe’s Deep, Dark Gingerbread Cake & Baking Mix went well with their lemon curd.  The spicy and the sweet went surprisingly well together and looked amazing in the matching heart shaped tin.  If I didn’t wait till the last minute to prepare for my parties I might prepare a couple (or all) of the desserts from Paula Deen’s “The Lady & Sons: Savannah Country Cookbook“.  If I had to pick just two they might be my favorite cookies, Snickerdoodles (pg. 144), and the Gooey Butter Cakes (pg. 125), who can resist gooey butter??

Decorations and Accessories

The decorations were limited, focused on the dining room table, and were pink and red.  The center piece consisted of some festive pink mums and the food and drink filled the table from end to end.  Chocolate candies, red wine, pink wine, sparkling cider, and those great wine tumblers I talk about here.  Seasonal heart paper plates (yes, paper plates.  I’ll get to the cool plates soon enough.) and matching napkins rounded out the decorations.  Simple homemade red and pink construction paper chains can be fun decorations as well, and can get the kids to decorate all on their own.  Additional decorations and accessories can also provide mood lighting.  A candle-scape can be romantic, but for something that can provide the same effect with less flame, try these Green Organza Gems from PartyLights.com.

Be it for Valentines Day or for friends to get together to share sweet secrets, just skip the main course and go straight for the sweet course.

Dark Belgian Chocolate Cordial & Toasting Cups

I have seen these glasses around for some time.  They can be used for mini dessert cups for mousses or fresh fruit.  Of course, nothing goes better with chocolate than a liqueur.  Liqueurs are different from flavored liquor based on how they are made and their alcohol content.   I think that something creamy such as a Baileys Irish Cream or something fruity like Grand Marnier or PAMA (pomegranate) would go well with these chocolate treats.  For those cold winter nights try filling it with a shot of vanilla vodka as it melts in a large mug of hot chocolate!  They could also be used for a different type of wine tasting;  serve wines that pair well with chocolate.

*Suggested Recipe – B-52

• 1 oz. (2Tbsp.) Kahlúa
• 1 oz. (2 Tbsp.) Baileys Irish Cream
• 1 oz. (2 Tbsp.) Grand Marnier

Layer ingredients in a shot glass in the order given being careful not to mix them.

Edible Candy Cane Shot Glasses

These minty delights definitely bring a seasonal feel to mind.  Nothing would warm up guests more than a schnapps or coffee liqueur served in these candy cups while singing carols.  The cups filled up with vanilla ice cream sprinkled with chocolate shavings are an alcohol free alternative so the little ones can join in on the holiday cheer as well.

Suggested Recipe – Peppermint Patty

• 1 shot peppermint schnapps
• 1 squirt chocolate syrup

Keep a shot of peppermint schnapps in your mouth, and squirt chocolate syrup in. Shake head vigorously and swallow.

Edible Rainbow Candy Shot Glasses

From minty to lemony, these glasses are reminiscence of those long rainbow lollipops.  Lemony in flavor, they will go great with a fruity vodka or a tequila.  Fill them with a frozen Cosmo or Margarita mix or a fruity sorbet.  Let the fruit  linger like the last of the remaining summer sun at your next BBQ.

**Suggested Recipe – Hay Fever Remedy

• 1/2 msr vodka
• 1/4 Southern Comfort
• 1/4 amaretto
• 1/2 msr pineapple juice
• 1 teaspoon greandine

Shake and strain.  Shooter.

Chocolate Lined Wafer Shot Glasses

I had never seen these wafer treats before and thought they were very cute.  These mini cake cones lined with chocolate are perfect for that bite-sized ice cream treat.  Enjoy these shot glasses with mousse or fresh fruit topped with whipped cream.  Or, for a hard shell treat both inside and out, fill with your favorite ice cream and top with chocolate Magic Shell topping and enjoy chocolate through and through.

Suggested Recipe – Drunken Affogato (Ice Cream Shots)

• For the chocolate shots:
  • 3 cups chocolate ice cream
  • 3/4 cup coffee-flavored liqueur, such as Kahlúa
  • 24 whole hazelnuts
• For the vanilla shots:
  • 3 cups vanilla ice cream
  • 3/4 cup lemon-flavored liqueur, such as Caravella Limoncello
  • 24 whole macadamia nuts

Place a small scoop of ice cream in each glass. Top with 1 tablespoon liqueur and 2 nuts. Serve immediately.

Cool Shooters Ice Shot Glass Maker

These frozen delights are great not only for their resueability, but for their cool double duty – they are cool to look at and keep your drink ice cold on thoes hot summer days.  Host a vodka tasting party, not need to chill teh glass to make sure you vodka is served ice cold.  For a big show, try a flaming shot, white hot flame and cool as ice fingertips.  For a party of 5 or more, try this shot glass mold by Lush Life  that makes 12 at a time.

*Suggested Recipe – Oyster Shot

• 1 freshly shucked raw oyster
• 1 0z. (2 Tbsp.) tequila
• dash hot pepper sauce
• squeeze of lemon juice

Place oyster in the bottom of a chilled martini glass or shot glass.  Pour tequila, add pepper sauce and lemon juice.  Drink as a shot, allowing oyster to slide down your throat.

*recipe courtesy of  Cocktails – 2000 Desk Calendar

** recipe courtesy of  The Classic 1000 Cocktails