5 Easy, Crowd-Pleasing Dessert Recipes

There is nothing – absolutely nothing – that resembles the sense of sheer panic caused by the words: “I’m having a little impromptu holiday get-together. Could you cook something…say, dessert?”

Symptoms of the ensuing panic include: stammering for an answer, saying “Yes” without thinking, and kicking yourself about it later.

So, to save yourself the trouble, it pays to have some quick and easy, crowd pleasing, prefect for any holiday, go-to recipes on hand. Shift, then, from panic mode to the role of cool and collected super chef…and add these scrumptious creations to your recipe box.


Oreo Ice Cream Cake

3 squares Baker’s Semi-Sweet Baking Squares

1 cup Sugar

1 (5oz) can Evaporated Milk

2 tbs. Margarine

1 (16oz) bag Oreo Cookies

1 ½ sticks Melted Margarine

½ gallon Vanilla Ice Cream, softened

1 (12oz) carton Cool Whip

1 jar Maraschino Cherries

½ cup Nuts (optional)

Crumble Oreo cookies. Pour 1 ½ sticks melted margarine over the cookies, and mix until the cookies are well coated. Press gently into bottom of a 13x9x2 inch, freezer-proof pan. Spoon softened vanilla ice cream over cookie layer. Place in freezer while you make the chocolate sauce.

Mix chocolate squares, sugar, evaporated milk, and two tablespoons of margarine together in saucepan until melted. Let chocolate sauce cool, then pour over ice cream layer. Place pan back in freezer, and allow the chocolate sauce to freeze.

Then spoon on thawed Cool Whip and top with Maraschino cherries and nuts. Place back in freezer until ready to serve.

 Peanut Butter Bars

Peanut Butter Layer:

1 (18oz) jar Jif Creamy Peanut Butter

1 Stick Melted Butter

2 ½ cups Confectioner’s Sugar

½ cup Dark Brown Sugar

½ tsp. Vanilla

Mix all ingredients and press in pan. (Almost any size casserole dish or pan will do. Just choose the size that will allow you to make the peanut butter layer as thick or thin as you please.)

Chocolate Layer:

1 (12oz) bag Milk Chocolate Chips

1 Stick Melted Butter

Mix the chocolate chips into the melted butter until smooth. Spread over the peanut butter layer and refrigerate. Later, cut into squares and store in refrigerator.


Blueberry Pies (2 Regular Pies or 1 Deep Dish)

1 (12 oz.) carton Cool Whip
1 (8 oz.) package Cream Cheese
1 cup Powdered Sugar
1 tablespoon Almond Flavoring
1 can Blueberry Pie Filling

Allow Cream Cheese to come to room temperature. Take softened Cream Cheese and stir in one cup Powdered Sugar. Add the tablespoon of Almond Flavoring. Fold Cool Whip into Cream Cheese mixture until mixed well. Spoon mixture into baked pie shells. Top with one can Blueberry Pie Filling. Refrigerate.

(Option: you may add a layer of sliced bananas and chopped pecans on the bottom of the already baked and cooled pie shell before you spoon in the Cream Cheese and Cool Whip mixture).

Chocolate Éclair Dessert

Filling

2 (3.5oz.) boxes Vanilla Instant Pudding

3 cups Milk

1 (12oz.) carton Cool Whip

Graham Crackers

Combine vanilla pudding with milk and beat together. Stir in Cool Whip. Place a layer of Graham crackers in the bottom of a 13x9x2 inch baking dish. Spread half of the pudding mixture over the Graham crackers. Repeat with a second layer of Graham crackers and pudding. Top with final layer of Graham crackers.

Topping

1/3 cup Cocoa

1 cup Sugar

1/4 cup Milk

1 stick Butter (or Margarine)

1 teaspoon Vanilla

Bring cocoa, milk, and sugar to a full rolling boil. Boil for about 1 minute, stirring frequently. Remove from heat. Cool for 1 minute. Add butter and vanilla. Stir until butter is melted. Pour chocolate layer over the top layer of Graham crackers. Refrigerate overnight.

Chewy No-Bake Cookies & Cream Bars

1 (16oz) bag Oreos

5 cups (1 bag) Large Marshmallows

4 tablespoons Butter

Line an 8x8 inch baking dish with aluminum foil, allowing the foil to hang over the edges, and set it aside. Crush Oreos until crumbly, but not ground. (Either pulse the cookies in a food processor or crush them in a large Ziploc bag with a rolling pin). Melt marshmallows and butter in a large microwave-safe bowl until puffy (about 1½ to 2 minutes). Remove mixture from microwave and pour in ground Oreos. Quickly stir to combine. Transfer to baking dish. Allow to set for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove bars from pan by the foil edges. Cut and serve.

Kinds of Bounce Houses

A unique way to bring excitement to any event involving kids are bounce houses. Bounce houses are appealing to all ages from infants to adolescents. They are a good way to burn energy from eating all the sweets. If you are considering leasing or purchasing an inflatable toy, there are some elements you should include in this decision. You will find you have an assortment of options to select from and your kids will also have their own thoughts on the matter. First, let's examine the types of bounce houses available.

The first type of bounce house are those with inflatable slides which can be purchased in numerous styles. Two types of slides are dry and water. Children commonly prefer the inflatable water slides. These slides come in an assortment of shapes and sizes. Most children get a thrill from sliding down into a pool of water especially in the warmer months. You don't have to be a kid to enjoy them. They are fun for the whole family. If the weather is cooler on your child's birthday, the dry slide is a better option.

Another excellent means of providing colorful, invigorating entertainment at parties and exercise without seeming like exercise is inflatable obstacle courses. Inflatable obstacle courses have been designed to abide by safety rules and regulations. These inflatable items are available for different age groups so don't forget the one you choose is suited to your child's age. You do not want one that is too difficult. Your child will have fun pretending to be an athlete and it gets them active in a creative way. They can have fun seeing who finishes the course the fastest. The possibilities are limitless.

If you really want to give your child an exciting experience, consider inflatable basketball courts. Inflatable basketball courts enables them to make a score. These toys give a whole new concept to basketball. 

Another products kids will adore is the inflatable castle. Inflatable castles will be breathtaking to look at and the bigger they are, the more exciting they are. The castles are ideal for parties with boys and girls. They will have fun pretending to be kings and queens. Boys and girls can act as though they are defending their castle. This is sure to spark imaginative play.

Bounce houses also come in assorted themes like burgers or other types of food and sports houses. To really add enjoyment, furnish a bounce house in the form of their favorite cartoon character. You will be able to find anything you want in this area and one your child will remember the rest of their lives.

Inflatable houses represent balloons in a number of ways. Though they can provide endless entertainment, it is a purchase that should be planned carefully. Safety factors an age of the child must be taken into account. Don't hesitate to ask questions if you are thinking about purchasing a bounce house. Bounce houses are usually safe for all ages if the rules are followed and common sense applied.

Outdoor Corporate Party

If you happen to work in a corporate environment, you will definitely attest to the fact that it is quite a serious and high pressure environment. People rarely have the chance to get to know each other past their work life. They are all focused on hitting the targets and making profits. When you get a chance to organize a corporate party, you need to set it up in a good environment for people to relax and interact. Corporate parties provide the ideal environment people need to interact. One idea you should think of exploring is an outdoor corporate party. This is a good idea especially during the summer and spring time. Here are a few tips you can work with when planning an outdoor corporate party:

1. Concerts and Live Bands

Most people listen to music when they are relaxing. You can factor in this when planning a corporate party. Look for a way to include music in your corporate event. You can choose to hold an outdoor concert or even invite a live band to keep your guests entertained during the party. You can start by consulting your colleagues to find out what kind of music they like. Go ahead and get a band that is likely to meet their taste. You also need to cater for their sitting arrangements since the party is being held outside in the sun. You will need to acquire tents, table and chairs to accommodate the guests. You can get these from companies which specialize in renting them out.

2. Company Picnic

If you are looking to come up with an outdoor event to break away from the normal routine, what better way to do it than through a picnic? It is actually a great way to enjoy the outdoors and experience the great weather. Whenever you get a chance to plan a corporate party in an outdoor environment, a picnic is an idea you can work with. It allows your workmates to dress down and relax. You can ensure you give them the whole outdoor experience by renting cotton candy machines, popcorn machines and snow cone machines. These machines are a great idea since your guests are likely to feel the need to cool off or bite on some snacks when out there.

3. Bounce House Rental For The Kids

There are some staff members who may want to come with their families. In such instances, the kids also need to be entertained. Bounce house rentals are a great way to ensure your kids do not get bored at a corporate party. Kids are very energetic and they are always looking to spend this energy jumping and running around. The great thing about bounce house rentals is that you do not have to worry about the safety of your kids. They are made out of materials which allow the kids to jump around without getting hurt. You do not have to worry a lot about what your kids are up to and this allows you to go ahead and have fun with the rest of the adults.

The next time you need to plan an outdoor corporate party, go ahead and be creative! Think about trying the ideas above.

Summertime is Party-time!

Summer is the season for fun and frolic. Schools and colleges shut their doors, days are hot and long and the afternoons are perfect for lazing around. Summer is the ideal time to be with family and friends, take trips, go to the beach and generally let your hair down and put your feet up.

Summertime: Outdoor party time?

Summer days are characterized with wonderful weather and it is indeed a shame to spend such a day cooped up inside the house. Summertime is great for having outdoor events.  It's the perfect time for organizing outdoor parties for just about any occasion, or to simply get everyone together by the pool or in the garden and have a great time.

Outdoors versus Indoors

Organizing an outdoor party requires slightly more effort than organizing a party indoors. A party inside the house generally has a sober atmosphere, where people sit and chat and children play board games. A party in the garden on the other hand is relatively livelier with a lot more space for children to run around and for adults to enjoy their time under the sun. However, proper arrangement of appropriate activities is necessary to ensure that your summer outdoor party is a resounding success.

Using Rentals Effectively

One of the biggest concerns about organizing an outdoor party is the furniture issue. Using furniture meant for the house is not desirable. A better option is Atlanta GA table rental, chairs and even tents for an outdoor party. This not only takes care of any shortfall that might happen, but also, ensures that you have proper garden furniture for your party. A tent can be used as a play area, the dining area or as a place to sit if the sun gets too strong.

Summer is the best time of the year for children. Free from the daily drudgery of school and homework, summers signify ice creams and lots of outdoor playtime. A major portion of the success of your outdoor party depends on how child friendly you make it. Renting fun and safe activities for children is a good way to keep them busy. You can opt for bounce house rentals or inflatable water slides, among others. Bounce house rentals are a great activity for children as they can keep them busy and entertained for hours. Also, renting bounce houses, water slides and other amusements lend a fair ground air to your party.

Food: The Deciding Factor

The most important part of any party is the food. If the menu does not complement the theme, the party swiftly becomes a disaster. More than the main course, snacks hold the key to a party's success. These can be something which everyone enjoys. So how about some potato chips and dip, sandwiches, lemonade and other chilled drinks. Another good choice is opting for concession rentals such as popcorn machines, cotton candy, snow cone machines etc. to lend variety to your party food. These machines have the potential to keep children busy and are popular with adults as well.

Conclusion

Summer is a great time for hosting an outdoor party as days are long and nights are warm. It is ideal to spend quality time with friends and family. The best way to do so is by choosing Jumptastic to help you make your party a great success!

Wedding, Birthday, or Any Party: Concession Rentals

Whether you are hosting a fun wedding reception, a graduation party, or a birthday party, your guests will love the many different options you make available to them with the variety of treats.

Concession rentals are fun, affordable, and exactly what you need to make your event one to remember.

Bring the classic treats to the party such as flavor filled cotton candy, abundance of butter in freshly popped popcorn, and have everyone cool down with a classic snow cone.

Snow Cone Machine Rentals - Snow cones are perfect for outdoor parties or special events. You can offer your guests many different flavors in many different sizes. You can create your own snow cone treats or offer traditional flavors such as strawberry or bubble gum. Most snow cone machines will produce over 500 pounds of ice in just an hour. This is such a short period of time and your guest will never wait to cool off.

Cotton Candy Machine Rentals - If you don't love cotton candy, then you are definitely missing out on a touch of tradition. This is the perfect treat for all guests, adults and children alike. The smell of cotton candy is so sweet and the fresh, light, and fluffy sugar you will offer to your guest will keep their energy just right to have the time of their life.

Popcorn Machine Rentals - Imagine your guests driving up to the party and all they can smell is freshly popped popcorn. If you want to direct your guests to a certain area of the party without making an announcement, begin to pop the popcorn. The popcorn will come out hot, fresh, and full of flavor.

You will be the perfect party host by adding concession food favorites to your event.  Party rentals Rockford IL are a great option to give your guests small and effective treats to make sure they have a good time.