Hosting a Budget Friendly Organic Party

My sister is getting married in a month!!! I am so excited. She is marrying one of my husband's best friends. This coming Sunday my cousin and I are hosting a household/kitchen shower. Eating healthy and organic have become such a part of me that it doesn't even occur to me to "skimp" on the organics at a party. So how do you host a party for 30 people on a budget and serve healthy organic homemade food?

1. First take an inventory of your pantry staples. For the shower we noted I have an abundance of quinoa, brown rice pasta, coffee, garbanzo beans, tea and fresh veggies every week. This had a huge influence on our menu of choice.
2. Second use china dishes, real napkins, real cups, mugs and tea cups. I have been collecting enough china and silverware for parties since we got married.
3. Third  instead of separate gifts and decorations for the party game winners, the decorations are the gifts! I won't say what or I will be giving away too much of the upcoming party!
4. Fourth make practically everything from scratch (as you can see I am buying the cake and my mom is bringing cupcakes)

Here is the menu Elizabeth and I have planned:

•  Chicken brown rice pasta dish
•  quinoa tabouli salad ( a PCC recipe)
•  organic coffee and tea
• a veggie platter with homemade hummus
• pea salad (peas bought at Costco in the frozen section)
• Strawberry Lemon Soda Punch (ingredients will be purchased at Trader Joe's)
• Splurge is an organic coconut cake from PCC and Cupcakes from Bite me in Snohomish

We are looking forward to a lovely day celebrating my little sister. I can't wait to see everyone there!

Flowers done by Bloom Bridal Designs

Quick Summer black bean and corn salad

I had this great salad at PCC when I was out with my mom the other day. Today I decided to try and recreate it. Here is my result. Not quite the same but pretty close and good!

Ingredients:

• 1 can of black beans (organic eden brand bought on line at vitacost, bpa free)
• 2 cups of organic frozen corn (Costco)
• 1/2 a red onion, minced (Fred Meyer, organic section)
• juice from 1 lemon (trader joes)
• 1/2 organic green bell pepper (Fred Meyer, organic section)
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro (from my garden)
• 4 TBLS of Olive Oil (Costco, organic)
• 1 tsp of cumin
• 1/4 tsp of crushed red pepper
• 1 and a half tsp of black pepper, ground
• 1/2 tsp of sea salt (trader joes)
• 6 cloves of garlic, crushed

Rinse Black Beans in colander

In a large Bowl combine black beans, corn (defrosted or cooked either works. I just leave mine sit out on counter for 15 minutes to defrost), minced red onion, cilantro and green or red bell pepper

In a seperate bowl mix olive oil, lemon juice, cumin black pepper, curshed red pepper, sea salt and crushed garlic. Mix together

Add dressing mixture to salad. Mix together and serve!

" Mom I want some!!!"

Summer Quinoa Salad

This is a great salad for a picnic, pot luck or side at a party. It's easy to do and great in hot weather. I made it yesterday to take to my in-laws. It takes about 30 minutes to make and serves 6-8 people.

Ingredient List:

Dressing:
Juice of 2 small lemons
8 Tbls of Olive Oil
1/2 cup of cilantro, minced
Sea salt to taste (1 tsp in my salad)
Ground black pepper to taste. (3 tsp in my salad)

Salad:
3 cups of frozen or fresh organic corn (I used organic frozen from Costco)
2 cups of uncooked quinoa (bought organic large bag at Costco)
1/2 tsp of cumin powder
2 cups (15 ounce can) of cooked black beans
2 medium tomatos, diced (I used roma)
1/2 of a red onion, minced

First Cook Quinoa. I put mine in my rice cooker, 2 cups of dry quinoa with four cups of water and pressed start. If you are using the stove top use the same ratio and stir to keep off bottom of pot. Takes about 15 minutes on the stove top.

When quinoa is cooked place in a large mixing bowl and add corn

Then add black beans and mix together

Dice tomatoes

Add tomatoes to salad and mix

       Dice onions and add to salad. Mix it altogether.

Next in a small bowl whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, cilantro, salt, pepper and cumin.

kind of looks like an egg...but it's not.

Finally mix dressing with quinoa salad and then serve.

Enjoy!