TRADITIONAL POLISH WIGILIA COMPOTE

Polish traditions run strong on holidays (have you seen my post about Easter baskets?) and Christmas Eve is no exception! Our family sits down to a large dinner consisting of 12 separate dishes (yes 12!) and they are all served one by one so you can properly taste and enjoy each item. The 12 dishes originally stem from the 12 disciples but as kids we were more excited for all the food than the reason behind the meal.

One item that always ended up on the table (above and beyond the 12 dishes) was a fruit compote that was so delicious we would drink it before the third dish even came around. My mom varies this compote drink up every year to keep things interesting – some times its made from dried fruit but other times from fresh/frozen fruit. There are so many variations and it always turns out beyond Delicious! Check out the recipe below for all the details!

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DIY COCKTAIL DRINK STIR STICKS

Throwing a party is always fun but adding in your own special diy touches really makes the difference for me. Today’s post has a fun diy that can be done three different ways and helps solve a problem that occurs quite often at parties!

One recurring issue I do see happening during parties often is guests forgetting what glass is theirs and moving on to another one. Now I don’t want to seem like a Grinch when it comes to cups (you want three…go ahead!) but I am trying to avoid the a) extra cleanup when it comes to things leftover – how does 8 guests equal 23 glasses??) and b) the waste. There are numerous times where I have dumped glasses still filled to the brim of alcohol and other liquid delights. I have definitely also been at events where I have placed my cup down for a moment on a busy table and lost track of it as well.

There is an easy fix for this! Individual cocktail drink stir sticks – see below for all the fun customizable details. Your guests can choose their favourite colours and never forget what drink is theirs in the future!

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CHRISTMAS HOT CHOCOLATE BAR

If you read my Entertaining Bucket List post a few weeks back you may recognize the drink idea below. One of my points for the Christmas season was to “host an epic hot chocolate bar with toppings galore” which is exactly what I am doing. As you may already know I love a good “diy” and this one is no exception. Whether serving just for two people as shown below or creating for a whole group – I absolutely love getting creative with the toppings and seeing what people put together.

Nothing beats a cozy winter day inside cuddling up with a blanket and some hot chocolate. I have been dreaming of having a Christmas hot chocolate in my hands and finally tis the season! Plan your perfect cozy night in with the setup below!

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AUTUMN SANGRIA

I am absolutely obsessed with sangria and cannot turn down a glass when it is offered! Personally, the sweeter the better from my perspective but all of them are equally delicious (red, white and rose). Whenever I go to a new restaurant/bar I enjoy trying out their version of the sangria that they offer. I am always surprised by the different flavour combinations one simple drink can provide.

Although typically the sangria cocktail is a summer drink (patio season is bliss), I wanted to bring it into the season with some additional fall flavours. Who wants to let go of a good thing just because the leaves are turning colour !? With the holiday season approaching, it is always a nice option to have on hand for drinks and sometimes even needed after all those family dinners (I kid – well maybe a little!) Bring on the autumn sangria I say! The more the better!

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TIPS FOR WORKING WITH FOOD ALLERGIES & FOOD PREFERENCES

Today we are chatting about allergies and food preferences coming into play when you are hosting an event! As an Event Coordinator I have definitely seen the increase of food preferences and allergies over the past few years. Overall people have shifted their outlook on eating and health which has become more prevalent when planning meals for groups at event.

After receiving everyone’s food requirements it can get overwhelming very fast. This can definitely make things a little more difficult when planning a meal for a group of people but I find it a fun challenge to try to incorporate everyone’s needs and still have an amazing spread for everyone! I’ve gathered some tips below that have helped me over the years to to help with the process and make things as easy as possible for you.

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