Monthly Archives

January 2013

Gift Baskets, Uncategorized

5 Glamorous Appetizer Recipes for Your 2013 Oscar Party

January 30, 2013

Creamy Brie CheeseAnd the award for best Oscar party feast goes to … you! The glitziest night in Hollywood is less than a month away, so now’s the perfect time to start planning your showstopping menu. Just pick your favorite cheese from our gourmet food gift baskets, and pair it up with one of these scrumptious appetizer recipes from the party experts at Celebrations.com. Whether you’re hosting a few gal pals or a full-on cast and crew of friends, everyone will love noshing on these delicious finger foods while they guess the night’s big winners!

Kentucky Hot Brown SandwichOscar Party Snack No. 1: Kentucky Hot Brown Sandwich

An all-American delight with serious flavor, this sammie is the ideal appetizer for all those Zero Dark Thirty fans in your crowd. It’s also a picture-perfect match for our smooth and creamy Baby Swiss Cheese.

Aged Cheddar and Applewood Bacon Potato SkinsOscar Party Snack No. 2: Aged Cheddar and Applewood Bacon Potato Skins

Put some Django Unchained–style zing into your awards night fare: When they’re made with Fiscalini Aged Cheddar Cheese, these tater skins are smoking hot fun.

Brie and Pear BaguetteOscar Party Snack No. 3: Brie and Pear Baguette

Give a nod to your Les Miserables–loving friends with this French hors d’oeuvre. Our delicate Creamy Brie Cheese plays an outstanding supporting role alongside the sweet apricot and pear spreads.

Mac and Cheese BitesOscar Party Snack No. 4: Mac and Cheese Bites

For something rich and comforting—a la Silver Linings Playbook—treat your guests to these bite-sized snacks made with Vella Mezzo Secco Monterey Jack Cheese.

Easy Gourmet Grilled Cheese SandwichOscar Party Snack No. 5: Easy Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Fans of the epic film Lincoln will rave about this White House–worthy delicacy. Sierra Nevada Classic Aged Goat Cheddar is sure to steal the spotlight in this presidential recipe.

Check out Celebrations.com for even more great tips on how to host a 2013 Oscar viewing party!

What main courses will you serve with your awards night appetizers?

Gift Baskets, Uncategorized

Something to Warm up Your Winter: Gourmet Italian Meal in a Basket

January 23, 2013
Cucina Rustica Italian Gift Basket

Cucina Rustica Italian Gift Basket

Brrr! The outdoor temps have hit rock bottom, and nothing can really warm you up like some good, comforting Italian food. But there’s no need for you to pile into your car and brave those icy roads to get to your favorite restaurant. The Cucina Rustica Italian Gift Basket has all the ingredients you need to make a three-course gourmet Italian meal right at home. So roll up your sleeves and get ready to heat things up in your kitchen; even an arctic chill doesn’t stand a chance against this hearty menu!

Appetizers

Start your cold-day feast with some enticing hors d’oeuvres. First, set your appetite in motion by tossing a fresh green salad and topping it with your Colavita Extra Virgin Olive Oil and the Colavita Balsamic Vinegar that’s included in your Cucina Rustica Italian Gift Basket. Add even more depth, texture and flavor to your salad with other toppings, such as olives and tomatoes. Two sensational kinds of Bell’Italia breadsticks are also included, so make sure to serve those alongside your salad for dipping. To wrap up your first course, top the rich and savory sundried tomato crostini and the fragrant rosemary bruschetta—both of which are in abundant supply in your food basket—with freshly chopped tomatoes, classic Italian meats or artisan cheese.

Main Course

Now it’s time for the main event: pasta, the ultimate feel-good food! Whether you’re in the mood for the soothing effect of long Isola Capellini pasta or the bite-sized perfection of Isola Tortigioni pasta, the Cucina Rustica Italian Gift Basket lets you pick how you’ll indulge in your heavenly meal. Feel like spoiling yourself? Make both! Boil it until you’ve achieved the ideal al dente texture, then cascade the warm, mouthwatering and spirit-lifting Isola Traditional Marinara Pasta Sauce on top of your pasta. And there you have it: an authentic Italian entrée in mere minutes. Perfecto!

Dessert

What better way to cap off your toasty meal than with a little bit of sugar? When it comes to the Italians, dessert is their specialty. And with the rustic Italian gift basket, you’ll have enough traditional treats to satisfy your sweet tooth. Pamper yourself with gourmet Chiostro Di Saronno Italian Biscotti (a world-renowned delicacy), light yet delectable Delser Italian cookies, or tart-and-sweet Lazzaroni Limonelli Italian cookies. They’re guaranteed to have your blood pumping with pleasure in no time.

It’s easy to see why the Cucina Rustica Italian Gift Basket is our top pick for a frosty winter day. What other kinds of gift baskets thaw you out when the temperature is low?

Gift Baskets

10 Ways to Make a Sick Friend Feel Better

January 16, 2013
To the Rescue Get Well Dog Lover's Tower

To the Rescue Get Well Dog Lover's TowerWith this cold and flu season being one of the worst yet, chances are that someone you know will catch the bug. And since a thoughtful gift or a helping hand can be the greatest medicine, we’ve gathered a list of 10 ways you can show your friend some TLC when she’s under the weather. Give them a try and we guarantee she’ll be back to her fabulous self in no time!

  1. Let her know how much you care by regularly checking in on her via email. While you’re at it, send her some links to interesting articles, funny YouTube videos, or fun throwback photos of your friendship through the years.
  1. Burn her a few CDs with her favorite songs, rent some cheap DVDs from Redbox, stock up on a bunch of juicy gossip magazines or buy a couple of board games at the local consignment shop. Bring everything to her house and spend some time enjoying them with her.
  2. Instead of focusing on her being sick (that’ll only make her feel worse!), comfort her by doing things that you normally do as friends. Have a good old chat, laugh, share stories and ask each other for advice.
  1. Get Well Fortune CookieMake the most out of your house visit and ask if there’s anything you can help her with, like cleaning, organizing things, doing laundry, walking the dog, going to the doctor or pharmacy, etc. On your next trip to the grocery store, give her a call and ask if there’s anything she’d like you to pick up.
  1. If she has kids, offer to take them to the park, the movies or a museum so she can get some much-needed rest. Even just a couple of hours of total peace and quiet will make her feel like she’s on a Caribbean vacation!
  1. Soothe her tummy by cooking her favorite meal (soup will most likely hit the spot), or team up with a few of your other friends to cook multiple meals and stock up her freezer for the week.
  1. The No. 1 prescription for smiles on a sick day: sugar! Surprise her with some deliciously sweet snacks in a gift basket. Try the To the Rescue Get Well Dog Lover’s Tower or the Get Well Soon! Chocolate Chip Cookies in a Can for your chocolate-loving lady friend; the Get Well Wishes Fruit Tower for your health-conscious amiga; or the Get Well Fortune Cookie for the gal who always knows how to make you laugh.
  1. Get Well Soon! Chocolate Chip Cookies in a CanHelp her keep cozy in style. Give her a cute fuzzy robe, oversized slipper booties and a pair of oh-so-soft pajamas that she can wear around the house.
  1. If she’s up for it, take her out for a mani-pedi, or bring someone to do it in-house. Lying in bed with the sniffles makes you feel anything but beautiful, so a bright, fresh nail polish color will be just the pick-me-up the doctor ordered.
  1. She doesn’t have enough energy for the nail salon, you say? That’s OK. Instead, give her a spa gift basket and a gift certificate for a massage that she can look forward to using when she feels better.

What are some get-well-soon tricks you use when your friends are feeling out of sorts?