RECIPE: MINT SWEET TEA

Martie Duncan June 12, 2014

I am not sure I can say anything about sweet tea that has not already been said... but on the chance you have no idea what it is... it is our life's blood in the South.

Well, just about. If you go to a restaurant here and order "tea" the waitress will respond: "sweet or unsweet" .... that meaning sweet tea or unsweetened tea. The "iced" part goes without saying. Everyone in the South has their favorite sweet tea. It might be your mama's, your aunt's, your Nana's, or a restaurant down the street. No matter who makes your favorite sweet tea, you will never forget it and on a hot summer day, you will just about do anything for it. I grew up making the tea at our house. Mom would tell me to put the water and sugar on to boil and then add the tea bags.

These days, I make my sweet tea a little differently, opting to make a simple syrup so guests can add a little or a lot to their own taste. In the Spring and Summer, when I have wild mint growing on the side of the yard, I always add mint to the simple syrup to make mint tea. Anyone who has tried it says it is their favorite and it is just so refreshing. Here's how I do it....

MINT SWEET TEA

For a quart of tea you need a 1-quart tea bag and 4 cups cold water. Put the water in a pot or large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Drop in the tea bag. Let steep for 7 minutes. Discard the tea bag and let the tea cool completely.

For a "Double Mint" version- my niece Sarah likes this one- we add a few sprigs of mint to the hot tea so we flavor the tea and have mint in the syrup, too.

MINT SIMPLE SYRUP
(simple syrup is equal parts sugar and water)
1 cup sugar
1 cup cold water
25-30 mint leaves

DIRECTIONS:
Put the sugar and water in a saucepan over high heat. Stir it once and bring to a boil. Remove from heat. Stir again, making sure the sugar is totally dissolved. Add the mint leaves. Allow to cool completely. Strain the simple syrup into a mason jar. Discard the leaves.

To make the tea, pour 1 quart of tea into a pitcher with 1/2 cup mint simple syrup. Stir. Serve over ice with a sprig of fresh mint.
FYI: I don't dilute the tea with water because it will be too weak when you serve it over ice.

The ratio is 8 parts tea :1 part simple syrup or to your own taste.
For 1 gallon of tea, add 2 cups simple syrup.

TIPS ON HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON YOUR PARTY, EVENT OR WEDDING

Martie Duncan June 11, 2014

A good rule of thumb to follow when setting a budget for your party is to estimate what you think you’re going to spend, double that number and you’ll have a more realistic figure.

Parties always cost more than you think they will. As you begin to budget, decide what you can’t live without—your “must-have” items. Put those items at the top of your budget knowing you may have to compromise on other things. You need a party plan and a shopping list to keep you from going over budget. You know how it goes—you head to the store and think to yourself--- “I think I have the right tablecloth, but I should get this one just in case. I can always take it back later.” Then you don’t use it or take it back. In fact, I’ll bet it is in the closet with the price tag still on it. So the best tip for saving money on your next party is to stick to a list when shopping for your party. Don’t pick up any “I might need this” items that aren’t on your list and you’ll keep your budget intact. You can also shave a little off the top with these tips.

1. GET SOME HELP

Many people don’t hire planners because they think it adds to the bottom line. In fact, a planner can make suggestions and recommendations that will actually save money, time, and mistakes so they are well worth the cost. My good friend Lori Stephenson at LOLA Event Productions in Chicago always comes up with clever, unique ideas that are extremely cost effective. It’s her job. If it’s not your job, get someone like her (or me) to help you and you’ll save yourself money and headaches.

2, PLAN AHEAD

The more time you have to plan, the more time you can take to source the items you need. If you allow time to compare prices and quality, you’ll be less likely to make impulsive decisions which could add to the bottom line.

3. CUT DOWN ON THE NUMBERS

Think about it this way, for every guest you have to eliminate, you save money. Suddenly, the chore of cutting down the guests list just got easier. Cut ten guests at $25 per person and you’ve saved $250.

4. THE RIGHT PLACE

No matter if you are renting a venue or have the party at home, you need to think about what you’ll need to pull off the party in terms of space, kitchen, and cooking facilities. If you have to bring in tents, ovens, refrigeration units, etc., the costs can explode and kill your budget. Check with the caterer before booking a venue to determine the additional rental supplies required.

5. TAKE THE DAY OFF

Book your party on an “off day” for caterers, venues, florists, etc. You’ll be able to negotiate better if you book your party on any day other than Saturday.

6. BAR NONE

Serving a signature cocktail rather than having an open bar looks festive and will save some dollars. You can squeeze 20+ drinks (depending on recipe and serving size) from one large bottle of premium vodka. This is also a an easy way to monitor and control the amount of alcohol served.

7, START THINGS OFF RIGHT

Guests are always hungry when they arrive at a party or event. By serving several inexpensive appetizers as guests arrive, you’ll curb their appetite and can lighten up on the main menu.

8. DON'T DO ME ANY FAVORS

Every magazine shows pictures of celebrity parties with loads of swag. Your guests don’t expect to go home with favors. It’s a nice touch, but certainly something you can eliminate if your budget is already strained.

9. MAKE SOME MUSIC

If you have a good selection of tunes on your MP3, make a mix to last the length of your party and pass on hiring a DJ or band. You’ll never get the impact you would have with live entertainment, but if your budget is tight it is a viable alternative.

10. USE WHAT YOU HAVE

If you look at my various party profiles, you’ll see that I often use both food and beverages as décor. Brightly colored and filled glasses stacked on trays are not only welcoming to a party guest, they are pretty, too. Use lemons, limes, apples, or other food items like tiers of cupcakes as decorations. Just about any type of food or beverage can be creatively presented using unique vessels and lighting so that your food doubles as your décor. All of the top caterers use food to make a statement. You can easily accomplish the same thing by thinking creatively about presentation and display of your food and beverages.

PARTY PLANNING TIMELINE FOR LARGE PARTIES OR EVENTS

Martie Duncan June 11, 2014

While I am known for pulling a party together in record time, don’t make the mistake of “winging it” like I sometimes do. Advance planning really is the key to a successful party. In order to keep from rushing around frantically at the last minute, follow my 80-20 party rule. Spend 80% of your effort planning the party and you’ll only need 20% of your effort implementing your plan.

Know exactly what you’re going to need and keep a list. From decorations to serving pieces to bathroom tissue, make sure you cross off every item as you go. If you don’t, you’ll find yourself placing a panic-stricken call to a friend to pick up ice or grab the candles you forgot. With a good plan, all you need is one or two strong backs and a really comfortable pair of heels and you’re set!

Getting started

Determine your budget—what do you plan to spend?
Decide on the date, place, time, and type of party you’re going to host.
Plan your guest list. The number of guests greatly influences your overall cost.
Your invitation should give guests details of the party with insight into what to expect and how to dress. For very casual parties, a phone call or email invitation is okay instead of a printed invitation. Personally, I love getting a printed invitation. A printed invitation helps build excitement and sets the tone for the event before the guests ever walk in the door. A printed invitation is also a great reminder because people typically post them in a prominent location.
If you plan on using professional help, hire your planner, caterer, florist, and other vendors. If not, ask your most reliable friends to help with serving and clearing duties. I absolutely recommend hiring help if you can afford it, especially if your guest list totals more than twelve. If nothing else, hire a responsible neighborhood teen you know to clear and wash dishes. This will allow you to spend more time with your guests and make the party more fun for you.
Think about the menu and where you will prep, stage, and serve the food and beverages. Try to keep serving and bar areas separate to prevent congestion.
Consider place settings, serving pieces, linens, decorations, or favors. Inventory what you have and source supplies you have to buy, rent, or borrow.
Begin a to-do list and a shopping list.
Decide on entertainment or music. Make sure you can accommodate space, electricity, and other needs a band may require. Test capacity for electricity before party day. You may need to rent a generator or hire an electrician.
Think about parking. Consider a valet or shuttle if parking is remote or if there is a chance of bad weather.
Have a game plan for over-served guests.

Next Steps (3-4 weeks ‘til party)

Mail, email, or call in your invitation. Give guests at least four weeks notice, if possible.
Finalize your menu. Make arrangements with your caterer or special order items you may need from your grocer, deli, or seafood counter, etc.
Schedule pick-up or delivery for items you are renting or borrowing.
If your party is at home, start those de-cluttering projects you’ve been putting off.

One-Week Countdown

Call guests who have not responded so you have an accurate headcount.
If you're grilling, add charcoal to your shopping list (or fill the gas canister) and get your grill tools ready to go. Do a trial with the grill to make sure it works property several days prior.
You’ll need at least two ice chests; one for clean ice to use in beverages and another to keep beer, wine, and other beverages cold.
Complete your shopping list. Check supplies like matches, candles, Ziploc bags, foil, plastic wrap, toilet paper, paper towels, and garbage bags.
Confirm all vendors and orders you’ve placed and discuss pick-up, set-up, or delivery times.
If you are making your own decorations, organize supplies and pre-assemble as much as you can. Add fresh flowers or greenery on party day.
Clean and polish any silver you plan to use.
Make all of the “make-ahead” foods you can.

The Big Push (2-3 days out)

Press linens. Put them directly on table(s). If that isn’t possible, go ahead and check them to make sure they fit properly, fold them carefully, layering white tissue paper between the folds to keep creases to a minimum.
Check your recipes to make sure you have the required items in your pantry or on your shopping list.
Start shopping for everything but last minute items.
Thoroughly clean your house.

The Day Before

Shop for last-minute perishable items.
Clear out all prep and staging areas. A garage or laundry room works well if it is close to the kitchen.
Set up tables and bars.
Begin to decorate and place serving pieces to judge the overall table design. Place sticky note markers to indicate where dishes will go as you remove them up to assemble the food or decorations. This will make it easy for any friends or help to know where to put them back.
Prep your recipes. Wash, cut, and chop ingredients so you only have to assemble and cook on party day.
Clear a closet for coats if the weather dictates.
Make sure all garbage cans are empty with plenty of extra garbage bags close by.

Party Day

Run last minute errands and get final items on your list except ice unless you have a large freezer.
Do a final cleaning. Check supplies of tissue, toilet paper, and hand towels in all bathrooms. Run the dishwasher so it will be empty for the party dishes.
Start on your menu and get everything ready to go.
Have a friend pick up ice 2-3 hours before guests arrive. Get lots of extra ice. Ice down beverages at least one hour before guests arrive. Put towels under ice chests to help keep the surrounding floor dry.
Insure all food served cold will be well chilled by party time.
Finalize decorations; add flowers, etc.
Adjust air-conditioning, fans, or heat. If you are expecting a large crowd, you will need to lower the thermostat to keep it comfortable.
Run a sound check with the entertainment as soon as they set up. Make sure you know where the fuse box is! Testing… one-two-three—oh no!
Grab a shower and dress for the party. .

Last-Minute Details