Ok ladies… so plenty of you have tried and succeeded OR tried and failed miserably at planning the perfect afternoon bridal shower. I’m all about the success factor here and making sure you reach it. The last thing you want is a crazy bridezilla in your face screaming about the misery and failure that was her shower. (P.S. BRIDES- REALLY bad form to do this. Don’t. Be grateful. It suits you better.)
Now, I like to cook. I don’t always have time, but I really do enjoy it. In fact one of my resolutions this year was to make something new – from a cookbook presumably – every week. I’ve stuck to this resolution more so than any other I’ve ever made. I wonder why…
So in times of panicked planning I turn to my dear friends at The Humble Gourmand for help. A team of brilliant foodies is behind the gourmet curtain of this D.C. based monthly publication. And trust me… they do not disappoint.
So… today… we talk bridal shower menus that will blow your guests away and won’t keep you holed up in the kitchen for days at a time. Who has time for that?
Keep it light, you don’t want to weigh your guests down in the middle of the day. They will after all… have to leave you and your band of bridesmaids to go prepare dinner for their own family at some point., so avoid the food coma.
AFTERNOON BRIDAL SHOWER MENU:
Starters…
Photo Courtesy of The Humble Gourmand
Gougères (Fancy way of saying French Cheese Puffs)
Entree…
Photo Courtesy of The Humble Gourmand
Dessert…
Photo Courtesy of The Humble Gourmand
Opt for a champagne punch (champagne with a scoop of sherbet) served in champagne glasses to guests. Perfection. If you want to kick it up a notch…
Humble Gourmand has a whole post devoted to Cocktailing 101. My favorite… The Mojito… heavy on the mint.
Serve in oversized pitchers (You can get them cheap at Crate & Barrel or Plum Party) on each table, or in tall glases garnished with what else… mint!
Mojito
(a la The Humble Gourmand)
3 ounces white rum
3 ounces sour mix, as prepared above
8 to 10 spearmint leaves
Splash club soda
Small lime wedge
Sprig of mint
Put the mint leaves and the lime wedge in a shaker. Muddle until the mint is nicely broken up and the lime wedge’s juices are smashed into the bottom of the shaker.
Fill the glass you plan to serve the mojito in with ice as a measuring device. Pour the ice into the shaker. Add the rum and sour mix. Shake vigorously.
Pour into your serving glass and top with a splash of soda. Add the sprig of mint for garnish.
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What’s up ladies, thanks for the HG love! If anyone’s got questions about any of the recipes (or about menu-planning in general), feel free to contact me at alison@humblegourmand.com.
Those mojitos with the homemade sour mix are absolutely divine — and dangerous. Consider yourselves warned. They will make any borderline-tense family shower situation MUCH more fun, I guarantee it.