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Here are 5 great gifts that will have you invited back year after year:

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What’s your go-to hostess gift?

(From Countryliving/Shine.com)

If you’re hosting a Superbowl party this Sunday, here are some quick tips to make your day stress free and allow you to enjoy the game.

* Make food satisfying and yet easy to prepare, serve, and eat. That means lots of finger foods, simple to nibble between rolls of the die, and a hearty main course to provide sustenance as game goes on. With a few pantry staples, party food can be prepared quickly and easily.

* Assemble snacks on a tray for easy shuttling between the kitchen and the game-viewing area and then back again. Appetizers arranged and presented on trays with raised edges minimizes messes.

* Is your party potluck? Ask those guests who like to cook to bring offerings that can be dispensed directly from the serving dish. Have non-cooks bring snacks or drinks.

* Snacks such as celery and carrots can be prepared ahead. Store them submerged in ice water to keep them crunchy; blot with a paper towel before serving.

Check out our 2010 Superbowl Eye Candy

* No time to bake? Visit the bakery at your supermarket for fresh cookies or cake. Most will accommodate a special order even the morning before the big game.

* For an even easier dessert bar, set out the ingredients for banana splits so guests can make their own during commercial breaks.

Need Superbowl Cocktail ideas?  Click here for great drink recipes!

Quick Superbowl Party Snacks,click here.

For more snack ideas click here

Want to see some more NFL eye candy? Click here.

Recently we posted tips for simplifying your summer party, however we neglected a very major part of the summer party season, the food! Here are some easy and healthy hors d’oeuvres recipes that should be a hit at your summer party.

Simplify Your Summer Party Planning!

Sun-Dried Tomato Tapenade with Crostini

Ingredients

2  cups  boiling water

1  cup  sun-dried tomatoes, packed without oil (about 3 ounces)

1/2  cup  kalamata olives, pitted

2  tablespoons  dried basil

2  tablespoons  fresh lemon juice

1  garlic clove, minced

2  teaspoons  olive oil

72  (1/2-inch-thick) slices diagonally cut French bread baguette (about 2 loaves)

Cooking spray

Chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Preparation

Combine boiling water and sun-dried tomatoes; cover and let stand 15 minutes or until soft. Drain tomatoes in a colander over a bowl, reserving 3/4 cup liquid. Combine tomatoes, reserved liquid, olives, basil, lemon juice, and garlic in a blender or food processor; process until smooth. Place tomato mixture in a small bowl; stir in oil. Cover and chill.

Preheat oven to 350°.

Place half of bread slices on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Lightly coat bread slices with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 4 minutes. Turn bread slices over; lightly coat with cooking spray. Bake an additional 4 minutes. Repeat with remaining bread slices. Cool completely.

Garnish tapenade with parsley, if desired; serve with crostini.

Mini Caprese Bites

Ingredients

1  pt. grape tomatoes, halved

10  to 14 fresh small mozzarella cheese balls, cut into thirds*

32  (4-inch) wooden skewers**

1/4  cup  extra virgin olive oil

2  tablespoons  balsamic vinegar

1/4  teaspoon  kosher salt

1/4  teaspoon  pepper

6  thinly sliced fresh basil leaves

Kosher salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

1. Thread 1 tomato half, 1 piece of cheese, and another tomato half onto each skewer. Place skewers in a shallow serving dish.

2. Whisk together oil and next 3 ingredients. Drizzle oil mixture over skewers; sprinkle with basil and salt and pepper to taste.

*1 (8-oz.) package fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/2-inch cubes, may be substituted.

**Wooden picks may be substituted.

Roasted Garlic, Poblano, and Red Pepper Guacamole

Ingredients

GUACAMOLE:

6  garlic cloves, unpeeled

1  medium red bell pepper

1  medium poblano pepper

1/4  cup  finely chopped green onions

2  tablespoons  chopped fresh cilantro

2  teaspoons  fresh lime juice

1/4  teaspoon  kosher salt

1  ripe peeled avocado, seeded and coarsely mashed

CHIPS:

6  (6-inch) corn tortillas, each cut into 8 wedges

2  teaspoons  fresh lime juice

1/4  teaspoon  kosher salt

Cooking spray

Preparation

Preheat oven to 450°.

To prepare guacamole, wrap garlic cloves in foil; bake at 450° for 15 minutes or until soft. Let cool slightly; remove skins. Place garlic in a medium bowl; mash with a fork.

Preheat broiler.

Cut peppers in half lengthwise; discard seeds and membranes. Place pepper halves, skin sides up, on a foil-lined baking sheet; flatten with hand. Broil 15 minutes or until blackened, turning frequently. Place in a zip-top plastic bag; seal. Let stand 10 minutes. Peel and finely chop. Add peppers, onions, and next 4 ingredients (through avocado) to mashed garlic; stir well.

Reduce heat to 425°.

To prepare chips, combine tortilla wedges, 2 teaspoons juice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl, tossing to coat. Arrange the tortillas in a single layer on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake at 425° for 10 minutes or until crisp and lightly browned, turning once. Cool 5 minutes. Serve with guacamole.

Thai Chicken Pizza

Ingredients

20 ounces prepared whole-wheat pizza dough (see Shopping Tip)

1/4 cup smooth natural peanut butter

3 tablespoons water

2 teaspoons reduced-sodium soy sauce

2 teaspoons rice vinegar

2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger

1 clove garlic, minced

1 teaspoon canola oil

8 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breast, trimmed and diced

1 red bell pepper, diced

4 scallions, thinly sliced

2/3 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Directions

Place oven rack in the lowest position; preheat to 450°F. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.

Roll out or stretch dough on a lightly floured surface into a rough 16-inch oval. Transfer to the baking sheet. Bake on the bottom rack until puffed and lightly crisped on the bottom, 8 to 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, whisk peanut butter, water, soy sauce, vinegar, ginger and garlic in a small bowl until well combined.

Heat oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook, stirring, until cooked through, 2 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl. Add bell pepper, scallions and 1 tablespoon of the peanut sauce to the chicken; toss to combine.

Remove the crust from the oven; spread evenly with the remaining peanut sauce. Top with the chicken mixture, then sprinkle with cheese. Return the pizza to the oven and bake on the bottom rack until the crust is crispy and golden and the cheese is melted, 11 to 13 minutes.

Look for balls of whole-wheat pizza dough, fresh or frozen, at your supermarket. Choose a brand without hydrogenated oils.

Chocolate-Hazelnut Mousse

Ingredients

1/4  cup  sugar

1/4  cup  unsweetened cocoa

2 1/2  tablespoons  cornstarch

1/4  teaspoon  salt

2  large eggs

2  cups  2% reduced-fat milk

1/4  cup  Frangelico (hazelnut-flavored liqueur)

1/2  teaspoon  vanilla extract

3  ounces  bittersweet chocolate, chopped

2  cups  frozen fat-free whipped topping, thawed

2  tablespoons  chopped hazelnuts, toasted

Preparation

Combine the sugar, cocoa, cornstarch, salt, and eggs in a medium bowl, stirring well with a whisk.

Heat milk over medium-high heat in a small, heavy saucepan to 180° or until tiny bubbles form around edge (do not boil). Gradually add hot milk to sugar mixture, stirring constantly with a whisk. Place the milk mixture in pan, and cook over medium heat until very thick and bubbly (about 5 minutes), stirring constantly. Spoon mixture into a medium bowl, and add liqueur, vanilla, and chocolate, stirring until chocolate melts. Place bowl in a large ice-filled bowl for 15 minutes or until mixture is cool, stirring occasionally.

Remove bowl from ice. Gently fold in one-third of whipped topping. Fold in remaining topping. Cover and chill at least 3 hours. Sprinkle with hazelnuts.

Enjoy these recipes and tell us what you think!

More summer snack treats you may like!

Some more recipes, but for your skin!

There are a few things you have to consider before even proceeding, which are the big five questions: who, what, where, when, why? Answering these will make it easier for you to get an understanding of the party and better idea of the mood you are aiming for. It seems kind of obvious that you would need to answer these questions, but some people don’t take the time to. That is how the guest list gets to 50 people when you were hoping for an intimate gathering.

Answering these questions also helps with decorating. Don’t be scared of theme parties, they are not just for kids. Yes, a circus party may be out of your range (unless you are thinking Cirque du soleil or if it is for a nephews birthday), but there are plenty of mature and classy themes that you could choose. An outdoor party with a beach theme can be chic, make sure to keep the pink plastic pails at home, though. Otherwise, if the weather isn’t cooperating, think of a Vegas themed party, which can combine entertainment and good company. There is almost no theme that you could not make into an adult affair, you just have to use the right food and decor.

Look at our party ideas and cheap ways to decorate!

Now that you have the theme and decorating ideas are running through your head, I am sure little dollar signs are, too. Food, drink, and decorations can get to be pricey, but we want to help you keep costs to a minimum. Decorating can actually be quite easy and inexpensive if you use your resources. Those white lights you have for winter are great to provide light and class for the summer party. If you are looking for table cloths and don’t have any and can’t seem to find any for cheap look no further than your bed. The flat sheet is very similar to a table cloth and also can add some color to your table. If you want to dress it up a little more and keep the extra fabric out of the way, scrunch the sheet up and tie it with a decorative ribbon. Now that the table is ready for decorating, the centerpieces become the source of concern.

Centerpieces are great, though they have had more than a few people pulling their hair out. A favorite of ours is to use candles and candle holders. You can use them in a variety of ways, such as with water in them, with sand in them, with trinkets in them, at different heights with candles in them, and more, which makes them great! Otherwise, taking a trip to the local craft store can also provide some cheap finds. Sand sprinkled over the table with shells can be a pretty cheap centerpiece. Another cheap idea is to make paper bag lanterns and flowers around them. Using the food as a centerpiece is a way to save room and money while still providing function. Putting candles of varying heights on a plate with fruit, flowers, shells, or rocks around them are a simple and elegant centerpiece idea. For those that are crafty, you could also create a centerpiece, such as a sandcastle using cardboard tubes.

By being resourceful and creative it is easy to save yourself money and the addition of stress lines. It is important when planning the party that you have a goal from the start, imagine your perfect party and stick to the plan. Things do come up, of course, but by knowing what you want you can hopefully avoid some of the hassles later on. Now start dreaming and thinking of all the great parties you can host this summer and get to it!