Daily Party Dish

Calculating the Perfect Amount of Punch for Your Party

image: flickr

Jolene asked the Party Girl:

How do you calculate how much punch to fix for your party? We’re having a party for our mother who will be turning 90 soon. There may be 50-100 guests for an open house, probably 60-75 is more likely. How much punch should we get?

Jolene, you’re talking to the right girl because I LOVE PUNCH.  No kidding. Love punch. Love punch.  I could drink 15-20 glasses of punch at one go. But for those of your guests who partake of their punch in moderation, there is a much easier way to calculate the amount you will need to serve them all.

1. An average guest will drink about two glasses of punch in the first hour of your party and one glass for every subsequent hour.  So if your party is four hours long, expect the average guest to have about five glasses of punch.

2. A glass of punch ranges from 4-8 ounces depending on the size of your punch glass.  You will want to determine what amount your particular glasses will hold, but for the purposes of this example, let’s say my glasses will hold 4 ounces. So if a guest drinks five 4 ounce glasses of punch, they will drink 20 ounces of liquid over the course of the party.

3. (Let’s keep going with the math here…) If I have between 50-100 guests at a four hour party, now all I need to do is multiply the number of guests times the number each of them will drink times the amount of ounces in each drink.  Here are the calculations for 50, 75, or 100 guests:

            50 guests x 5 drinks x 4 ounces = 1000 ounces of punch

            75 guests x 5 drinks x 4 ounces =1500 ounces of punch

            100 guests x 5 drinks x 4 ounces = 2000 ounces of punch

4. Now, there is no way I’m measuring the number of ounces of punch, so I need to divide my total number of ounces by 128 (which is the number of ounces in one gallon of punch. Much easier!

            1000 ounces of punch/128 ounces = 7.8 gallons (so round to 8 gallons of punch)

            1500 ounces of punch/128 ounces = 11.7 gallons (so round to 12 gallons of punch)

            2000 ounces of punch/128 ounces = 15.6 gallons (so round to 15.5 gallons of punch)

Tips to keep in mind…

1. If you have other drinks available, like an open bar or a cooler full of pops and brewskies, some of your guests may choose not to drink the punch, or they will drink less because they may choose to drink other beverages.  Make sure to adjust your total punch amount, reducing by 1-2 glasses per guest.

2.  If your punch is alcoholic, expect your guests to have 1-2 fewer glasses over the course of the party.

3. If you are serving a lot of food at your party (like appetizers or a full dinner), expect your guests to drink more.  Increase the punch amount by 1-2 drinks per guest.

4.  I always over prepare, so I buy more than I need.  Who knows? There may be 10 people who drink punch like I do, 20 glasses at a time! So buy extra, and make batches separately as the party progresses. This is also a good idea if you’re having an open house over the course of the day because the punch stays fresh. After the party, just return leftover fixins you don’t use.

Related articles

Unique Summer Beers for Backyard Barbeques

Hard Lemonade with Fruit Ice Cubes for a Backyard Barbeque

Christmas in July Party Centerpiece

The key to great Christmas in July party ideas is mixing Christmas with summer. When planning the décor for my Christmas in July party, I kept thinking of ways to add summer touches.  These centerpieces use Christmas decorations that you should already have at home along with seashells and sand.  This turns out to be an easy and cheap centerpiece to create that says, “This isn’t just a Christmas party, it’s a Christmas in July party.”

 

Tips for this Project

1. Choose the most unique among your ornaments for a personal touch to your centerpieces.
2. Add a 1 inch border of red or green velvet Christmas ribbon to the bottom of each vase.
3. If your party will stretch into the night, add a tea light candle to each centerpiece.
4. Dollar stores carry bags of seashells for cheap, and you can oftentimes find inexpensive glassware there as well.
5. Limit the cost of this project by picking up a few bags full of sand from your favorite beach.

Materials

• Clear vases (the ones pictured here I got from the craft store on sale for $2 apiece)
• An assortment of ornaments
• Seashells
• Sand

Cost Per Centerpiece: about $3

Check out some of these other great Christmas in July Party Ideas, too.

• Christmas in July Invitations and Party Favors
• Christmas in July Strawberry Santa Dessert
• Chocolate Peppermint Patty Brownies

Unique Summer Beers for Backyard Barbeques

A barbeque is not a barbeque without great summer beers!  When I sit down and brainstorm Backyard BBQ Party Ideas, I start with a great menu.  Whether it’s my dad’s famous ribs, steaks on the grill, or barbeque chicken and pizza, there is always that perfect summer beer to pair with my favorite summer food.  Just remember, don’t overlook choosing beers for your event; alcohol often makes or breaks the perfect party.  I listed my favorite beers and then polled my family (who all fancy themselves beer connoisseurs) and came up with a list of delicious brews for your summer bash. After choosing your drink menu, make sure to display your beers in an eye-catching inflatable cooler - a perfect decorations for a summer get-together!

 

1. Leinenkugel Summer Shandy: An all-purpose, lemonade-infused beer, Summer Shandy breaks away from more conventional beers.  This beer has broken out in the past few years and seems to be very popular with those who are tired of Bud Light. Taking that into account, Summer Shandy will appeal to most beer drinkers and, when served cold, can be paired with almost any barbeque food. It also comes in either bottles or cans, and because it has become more popular in recent years, it can be found in most grocery stores.

 

2. Sam Adams Summer Ale: This wheat ale has sharp citrus flavors that pair well with other tangy summer foods like potato or Caesar salads, seasoned steaks, and key lime pie. Also noted for its gold color, this summer ale will go well with a more formal, sit-down barbeque.

 

3. Guinness: What what what?! Guinness in the summer? Absolutely.  Despite its dark flavors, it is actually a lighter beer in calories than other regular beers.  Guinness pairs well with smoky grilled meats like beef brisket, barbeque pork ribs, and steaks. Want to impress your guests?  Check out this video on how to pour the perfect Guinness from a can.

 

4. Land Shark Lager: This widely available lager will be easy to find in any grocery store and is a great choice for those who are just beginning to explore beyond their boring, safe light beer.  It goes great with burgers and hotdogs for the classic American cookout.  Don’t be surprised if you’re making many trips to restock the cooler with this thirst quencher!

 

5. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale: A summer must have. This is my husband’s summer beer choice, which is always in our fridge.  This stronger beer has a hoppier taste than more commercial beers. While my husband finds it pairs well with many things, its versatility goes well with burgers.  Feel free to pile them high with all of sorts of toppings, like grilled onions and pepper jack cheese. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale out of the can is pure summer time, but just a heads up; like many pale ales and IPAs, this beer is “can conditioned,” meaning there will be a fine dusting of yeast that is added to the beer after it is canned. True connoisseurs appreciate the extra boost of yeast, but if you are serving to the more timid party guest, you may want to poor slowly from the can, leaving the bottom half an inch of beer in the can.

 

6. Bell Oberon: This Michigan favorite is a great choice for a summer time picnic when it is just too hot to fire up the grill. If you are serving your guests cold cut sandwiches and salads on a hot day, this beer will compliment both nicely with its smooth, slightly sweet finish. Since this is a wheat ale, it will appear a bit “cloudy” because of the mixture of yeast suspended in the beer. Definitely a thirst quencher!

 

7. Fat Head’s Head Hunter IPA: As its name suggests, this beer is not for the faint of heart! IPA fans will appreciate the sharp and refreshing zing of this Cleveland, Ohio powerhouse. Its strong hoppiness will make it a match worthy of spicy Mexican food like grilled flank steak fajitas and pork carnitas tacos. While it may be a difficult to “hunt” down outside the Midwest, Head Hunter will not disappoint those who like their beer with a kick. As with all IPAs, a fine dusting of yeast is added to the bottle to give it that final oomph.

 

8. Kona Longboard Island Lager: Recommended by my mother-in-law, this beer, like many island lagers, goes well with pizza.  Given that this surfer’s refreshment is brewed in (you guessed it) Hawaii, pairing this with a Hawaiian pizza (ham and pineapple) is a definite winner.

 

9. Great Lakes Wright Pilsner: A Cleveland, Ohio area classic, this beer is a big-time upgrade on your average mass-marketed pilsner. Crisp and refined, this beer goes well with pizza, or for the more daring, grilled pizza! Go ahead and add your favorite toppings; this beer can handle it.

 

Enjoy your summer brews!

• Summer Party Ideas from Party411.com
• Hard Lemonade with Fruit Ice Cubes for a Backyard Barbeque
• Jean Pocket Place Settings for a Western Backyard Barbeque

Hard Lemonade with Fruit Ice Cubes for a Backyard Barbeque

Want a sweet way to cool down at your backyard barbecue? Try making this easy twist on ice cubes for your next party, and check out our other Backyard BBQ Party Ideas to make your event planning simple. 

Materials

• 1 pt blueberries
• 1 pt raspberries
• 3 ice cube trays
• Hard lemonade (make your own with lemonade and vodka)

All you have to do is fill an ice cube tray with raspberries and blueberries, and then add water until the cups are filled. Freeze, then before serving, pop the cubes into a glass of hard lemonade. The fruit cubes look great in the glass, and as they melt, they add flavor and color to the drink.  Also, try serving the lemonade in ball jars to create a laid-back feel.

Christmas in July Strawberry Santa Dessert

Just about this time of year, I get the Christmas itch.  Carols ring in my head, my hands long for a red and green craft, and I dig out my ornaments and lament the fact they won’t be on a tree for another six months.  But, wait! All is not lost!  A Christmas in July party will surely scratch the Christmas itch! So pull out the ornaments, dust off your Christmas cds, and crack open the cookbook for your best cookie recipes, cause it’s on!

Use what is the best of summer for your Christmas in July Party Ideas, and when it come to your menu that means recipes that utilize in-season fruits and vegetables.  These strawberry Santas are adorable, cheap, and easy to make using summer flavors with a Christmas twist.  Make these Santas for your Christmas in July party, and your guests won’t be able to keep their hands off of them!

Materials

• 1 package of strawberries
• 8 oz. of heavy whipping cream or a can of white frosting
• Powdered sugar
• Assortment of sprinkles
• Quart-sized Ziploc bag
• Scissors
• White plate/display tray

Total Time: About 45 minutes for one tray

Cost: $4

1. Wash and cut strawberries, making sure to cut the tip of the strawberry off to leave a nice fat Santa body and a little hat.

2. With a Kitchen Aid or hand mixer, beat the heavy whipping cream until peaks form.  Then, add 1 tbs of powdered sugar at a time until the whipped cream is to your taste. (You can substitute the whipped cream for canned frosting if you prefer, but the whipped cream makes the dessert much lighter.  The upside to frosting is that it won’t melt in the heat.)

3.  Fill a quart-sized Ziploc bag with whipped cream, and cut off one of the corners of the bag. Then, pipe the whipped cream on the strawberry to make a head, buttons, and hat poof-ball.

4. Add sprinkles to make eyes and a nose.

5.  Arrange the Santas on a white tray to make the red of the strawberries POP! Also, make sure to keep the strawberries in the refrigerator until serving, especially if it’s warm outside.

 

More recipes for your Christmas in July Party:

• Chocolate Peppermint Patty Brownies
• Snickers Milkshake
• Antipasto Appetizer

Jean Pocket Place Settings for a Western Backyard Barbeque

Having an outdoor barbeque and want to jazz up an otherwise bland picnic or patio table?  Try these recycled menu and silverware holders that take no time to make made from old (and otherwise thrift store bound) jeans.  Whether your party is just an informal get-together or a western-themed celebration, these denim pocket place settings are a trendy addition to any gathering.

 

Materials

• Several old pairs of jeans
• Paper towels
• Fabric scraps
• Brown cardstock
•  “Cowboys” and “Bleeding Cowboy” fonts downloaded from dafonts.com

Cost: $0 – I used all upcycled materials to create this cute project.

 

1.  Cut out the pockets from some old jeans, making sure the pockets are large enough to hold your menu. Don’t worry if your collection of jean pockets is mismatched. This just adds to your overall look!

2. Print and cutout your menus, making sure they are thin enough to fit in your pocket place settings.  To add a western flair to my menu, I downloaded some free cowboy-themed fonts from dafonts.com (“Cowboys” and “Bleeding Cowboy”).

3. Roll up your silverware in a paper towel and secure the bundle using leftover scrap fabric. I used paper towels because they’re more durable and able to withstand the sauce from my dad’s Memphis-Style Ribs.  I also saved some money by using the fabric that was leftover from my Backyard Barbecue Fourth of July Bunting.

4. Put a menu and silverware bundle into each pocket, and place a bundle on each place setting, and you are done!

Check out Party411.com for more easy Western Party Ideas and Western Barbeque Party Ideas!

DIY Bunting Party Decoration Tutorial

Make your own Backyard Barbecue Fourth of July Bunting!

This Fourth of July add a stylish, handmade touch to your barbeque. This bunting I made, just in time for our annual cookout, plays on the red/white/blue color scheme while mixing some of my favorite fabrics, adding an element of class to my backyard bash.

The bunting also has the added benefit of being weather proof and reusable.  I plan on showing it off at the rest of my summer get-togethers and then hanging it in our playroom.  For $11, this project is well worth the effort.

Materials

• Variety of Coordinating Fabrics (1/2 yard each)
• Thread
• ½-inch Double Fold Binding Tape
• Sewing Machine
• Fabric Weight
• Straight Pins
• Iron and Ironing Board
• Sewing Scissors
• Template from whitneysews.com

Cost: $11 (I had some materials at home already, like the straight pins and thread.)

Time Spent:About 1 ½ hours

 

1. Download and cut out the flag template from whitneysews.com.

2. Fold your fabric so the right sides are facing each other, and place the template on the fabric, securing it with straight pins or a fabric weight. (My fabric weight is a cute, googly-eyed sock squishy from Zoklings on Etsy.) Make sure the edge of the template marked “fold” is along the fold of the fabric. I cut out six flag pieces per 1/2-yard of fabric, but you might be able to cut more if you’re tighter on your spacing.

3. After you’ve cut out all of the flag pieces, use your sewing machine to sew along the longest edge of the flag, allowing for a ¼” seam allowance. What’s great about this project is that each flag requires only one seam, and that seam will run along the back of the flag, so you won’t even see it on the final banner once it is displayed. 

 

4. At the tip of the flag, cut close to the point, so when you turn the flag right side out, the tip will be sharp.

5.  Once you have all your flag pieces, turn them right side out.  Use a pencil to point out the tip of the flag.  Iron each flag piece flat so that the seam runs along the back side of the flag. Cut any extra fabric along the top, so the top is even.

6. Unroll your binding, and iron it flat.  The binding I purchased came in a 9’ roll, so to make things easier, I made the banner 9’ long.  Each flag piece is about 7” along the top, so I left six inches on either end of the banner and placed 1 inch in between each flag piece. 

7. After measuring the spacing for the banner, place your flag pieces in the double fold binding (mine is blue to match my red/white/blue color scheme), and secure each with two straight pins.

8. Then, sew along the binding, allowing a ¼” seam allowance and removing your straight pins along the way. You can iron your bunting again if it’s wrinkly, and voila! You’re done!

 

I put my bunting on the patio and attached it using thumbtacks.  I love this project because it’s simple and reusable.  Out of all my 4th of July Party Ideas, I love the ones with a sweet handmade touch. Plus, I’ll be able to use this bunting for future parties and in the kids’ room as decoration.

Happy crafting!

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• Summer Party Games
• July 4th Party Ideas