Neighborhood Block Parties

** UPDATE! The segment will be posted separately from my post. Every time I try and post the segment with my text ... it deletes everything! Not sure why this is the case. If you have any answers for me and want to help ... please email me! To see the Television segment click HERE

First off, I need to give a huge shout out to my next door neighbor Brett Crowther who is not only an incredibly talented Block Party host, but helped me execute my segment today! He was the source of information on what every block party needs (see below), as well as the construction design manager of the rocket launcher! Enjoy watching my segment from today, and please email me with any questions!

Neighborhood Block Parties

Neighborhood block parties are a great way to enjoy this Summer heat. But there is a difference between a “Block Party” and a “BBQ”. Here are a few tips from the experts!

1. Always have a theme! It will make the difference and allow your guests to get excited about something other than just a standard BBQ!
2. Make sure each guest has a purpose to come. It could be
1. To help out with something
2. To come dressed up
3. To bring food
4. To execute an activity
3. Always have music. It could be on a simple stereo, but can also be big with a DJ. Everyone always enjoys a tune that makes them tap their toes.
4. Allow everyone to be involved. This includes kids, teens, and adults.

Cul-de-Skate

What do you need to throw a Cul-de-skate Party?

-       Free printable invite (simple to print on bright paper and pass around the neighborhood)

click HERE to download 

-       A cul-de-sac in the neighborhood – preferably with smooth pavement.

-       Loud popular music

-       Camp chairs – On flier for guests to bring, but a few extras are always nice for those that forget!

-       Glow necklaces

-       A Dessert that will wow the guests!

Mandy’s Go-To Favorite treat to bring!

Mini Deep Dish Fruit Pizza:

1 small package Pillsbury sugar cookie dough

1 8 oz package cream cheese, softened

1 large container cool whip

½ cup powdered sugar

4 cups of any kind of fruit

Roll ¾ inch balls of sugar cookie dough and place in a greased mini muffin pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 6-7 minutes. When you take them out of the oven, simply hold the pan about 2 inches above your stove and drop the pan, (this will make the centers drop).  Whip softened cream cheese, then add in cool whip until nice and smooth. Add powdered sugar to sweeten just a tad.  Place frosting in a Ziploc bag or pastry bag, cut off tip, pipe frosting onto cookies.  Decorate with fruit.

Yields about 48 small mini fruit pizza’s.

recipe adapted from bannerboutique.blogspot.com

 Click HERE for free printable toppers

Rock the Block

This party idea is another great one to bring the whole family to. With a Rock theme, you can’t go wrong! Here are a few ideas that you could add to your party

First lets give you another invite that you can make all your own in Microsoft word! To download click here

-       “Rock the Block” Banner printed by Pioneer Party in Lehi! Get yours printed for 50% off now through August 31! See in store for details! (154 West Main Street, Lehi Utah)

Click here to download the banner 

-       Bring picnic for family to share (could be KFC, Pizza, a real picnic food … your choice)

-       DJ Playing all types of Rock music (young and old … for all generations)

-       Set up a big screen on a garage in the neighborhood and have the kids play Just Dance … or even watch “School of Rock” for a movie night!

-       Kids can paint rocks for contest. Coolest most creative rock wins a prize.

-       Dress or big hair contest

-       Rent a Rock Climbing Wall for the neighborhood

-       Check out this website to build your own 2 liter bottle “Rock”ets

      http://craftyourself.com/2012/05/bottle-rocket-launcher-using-pvc-pipe/

UPDATE : Here is another website with information on how to create a string pull for the launching of the bottle! http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/step/0,,20258045_20577142,00.html

-       Dessert Table that Rocks – Ice Cream Bar with toppings

       Oreo’s

       Rock Candy Jelly Beans

       Rock Candy Suckers

       Pop Rocks

How about Rocky Road Brownies??

1 cup soft butter or margarine

2 cups sugar

1/3 cup cocoa

1 3/4 cup flour

4 eggs (one at a time)

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup walnuts (or chocolate chips!)

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 bag of miniature marshmallows

Preheat oven to 350 Degrees. Mix all ingredients together. Place in a 9 x 13 pan leaving about 1/2 inch gap on each side of pan (Helps edges from burning or becoming crunchy). Cook for 22 minutes. 5 minutes before finished, spread marshmallows on top for Rocky Road effect.

Block Party for the Grownups!

Send an email telling your guests the date and that they will need to bring an ingredient to the party. After your have been given an RSVP, then send out a formal invite (download yours here) with the information each couple will need, include their ingredient to bring.

Have each couple bring an assigned ingredient. When they arrive at the party, they will be assigned a table to put together a given recipe for dinner, using the ingredient they brought. While cooking, couples can get to know each other while they put the recipe together, then visit while eating the dinner.

Recipes & setup for a party with 10 couples – Can be done outside, or inside. This meal would be best for outside during the late summer months!

Drink

FRESH STRAWBERRY LEMONADE

Host to prepare in advance –

Combine 3 quarts water 6 cups sugar heated to 165 (sugar dissolved). Place in fridge. Needs to be done in advance, to give time for the syrup to cool to cold drink temperature.

On table provide

-       large drink pitcher

-       blender

-       cutting board

-       lemon squeezer

-       Strainer for lemons

-       Spoon for mixing lemonade

Food assignments:

Couple 1

2 quarts Strawberries (pre-washed and ready to cut)

Couple 2

3 Lemons

1 - 2 Liter bottles of Ginger Ale

RECIPE Instructions

Cut stems off Strawberries and place in blender.

Squeeze all lemons and strain into given pitcher

Place given sugar syrup into Pitcher

Add Strawberries

Add Ginger-Ale slowly

Click HERE to Download Recipe Card

Appetizer

VEGETABLE TRAY

Host to prepare in advance

 Pre measure spices for dip!

2 TBSP of Minced onion

1 tsp Dill weed

2 tsp Bon Appetite Seasoning

On table provide

-       Veggie Tray

-       Back up cutting boards and knives

-       Can opener

-       Bowl for dip to be mixed in

-       Spoon

Food assignments:

Couple 1 (pre-wash all veggies)

1 Cucumber

1 bag baby Carrots

1 pint Cherry Tomatoes

1 Cup Sour Cream (pre measured)

1 knife

1 cutting boards

Couple 2 (pre-wash all veggies)

2 Colorful Peppers

1 Can Black Olives

4 stalks of Celery

1 Cup Mayonnaise (pre measured)

1 knife

1 cutting board

RECIPE instructions:

Cut up all vegetables and place in tray

Make Dip by combining Sour Cream, Mayo, and given spices.

Click HERE to Download Recipe Card

Main Dish

CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICHES

Host to prepare in advance

Measure out 4 slices of onion minced

1 Lemon

4 TBSP sugar

1 tsp salt

½ tsp pepper

1 bag Red Grapes (or dried cranberries) Washed and ready to go.

On table provide

-       1 Large Bowl

-       1 small bowl

-       onion

-       lemon

-       grapes

-       spices

-       Cutting board

-       2 knives

-       Basket for rolls

-       1 serving spoon for chicken

Food assignments:

Couple 1

4 Cups Cooked Chicken (Boiled and put into a ziplock bag). Preferred if cold and refrigerated.

Couple 2

1 Bag steak Rolls from Walmart (24 rolls)

6 Stalks Celery (prewashed)

2 Cups Mayo (premeasured)

RECIPE instructions

Shred chicken and place in large Bowl. Chop Celery and set aside. Slice grapes in half and set aside. In smaller bowl, combine Mayo, Onion, Lemon Juice from Lemon, and spices provided. Mix together and add Chicken and celery. Slice all of rolls open (ready for guests to place chicken inside themselves), and place in given basket.

Click HERE to Download Recipe Card

Salad

PASTA SALAD

Host to prepare in advance

Provide 1 bottle of Italian dressing

salt & pepper

Parmesan Cheese (Fresh)

On table provide:

-       Extra Cutting Board

-       Extra knife

-       Potato peeler

-       1 Large bowl

-       1 Serving spoon

Couple 1 (pick someone responsible)

1 bag of mixed colored pasta, precooked strained, a little olive oil to keep it from not sticking and refrigerated.

1 Cucumber

1 Can Artichoke hearts

1 cutting board

1 knife

Couple 2

1 small block of cheese (Monterey jack, or cheddar)

2 Cans of sliced olives

1 pint of grape tomatoes

1 cutting board

1 knife

RECIPE instructions

Place pasta in large bowl. Use potato peeler to peel off skin on cucumber. Slice in half and in half again. Remove seeds. Cut into small chunks. Cut grape tomatoes in half. Cut cheese into ¾” cubes (just eye it … not need to measure!) Add all vegetables, & fruit to pasta. Add dressing, salt, peper, and parmesan cheese to taste.

Click HERE to Download Recipe Card

Dessert

BERRY TRIFLE

Host to prepare in advance

Make place in fridge for pudding to be chilled and trifle to chill when put together.

           

            On table provide

-       Back up knives and cutting board

-       Trifle dish

-       Spoons for cool whip

-       Spoons for pudding

-       Wisk

-       2 Bowls

-       Serving spoon

           

Couple 1

2 Quart fresh berries (washed and ready)

1 Box Jello Pudding Mix 5.1 oz (Vanilla or Banana Cream)

3 cups cold milk

1 knife & cutting board

Couple 2

2 Sara Lee pound cakes (freezer section)

1 large container of cool whip

1 knife and cutting board

RECIPE instructions

Make instant pudding to instructions on package. Ask host to place in fridge to set up. While pudding is setting up, cut pound cake into 1 ½ - 2” squares. Cut stems off strawberries and into slices.

Start stacking trifle by starting with pound cake on the bottom, topped with pudding, then strawberries. Repeat until you have used ingredients to the top. Crumble extra cake (if any) and put strawberries on top. Have host place in fridge until ready to serve.

Click HERE to Download Recipe Card