going for the vin

What is this ruby-colored potion? Homemade vinegar. That's right, wine fans: Homemade vinegar is as flavorful and nuanced as the wine it's made from, and it keeps you from ever having to pour out the last remnants from an open wine bottle.

To make vinegar, all you need is water and wine, a container and a vinegar starter, creepily called a mother. You can buy these items in kits or individually online or at beer- and wine-making stores.

Once you pour the liquids into the container and put cheesecloth on top (so air gets in but bugs stay out), you just leave in a dark place and let mom work her magic. The first batch can take up to three months, but after that you just strain out what you need and pour in more wine and water as necessary, so the process goes more quickly.

Bottle your ruby goodness in clear jars for a unique gift, make a bold marinade, or mix with good olive oil, freshly ground pepper and sea salt for a simple, sensational salad dressing.

halloween beats

To some people, the music played at their party is just as important as the decorations or food. A friend of mine who is a throwing a Halloween party (and is someone who'd always take tunes over tablescapes) asked me if he's obligated to play "classic" songs like Monster Mash. (If it were up to me, I'd cue up a couple Nine Inch Nails CDs and let them play.) But it’s an interesting point: Are those classic Halloween songs now passé? Or does it not feel like a Halloween party without them?

Whatever your musical taste may be, iTunes is a perfect resource to get inspiration for your party playlist. Just search “Halloween” and check out the mix they’ve selected in the iTunes Essentials category. You’ll find more than 70 Halloween-themed tracks in a range of crowd-pleasing genres, from The Purple People Eater to People are Strange. (I am, however, shocked at the absence of Nine Inch Nails on the list.)

twiigs.com

intro to wine snobbery

When I first made the switch from college beer to grown-up-lady wine, I swirled, sniffed and spit but had no idea why. People would say things like “I taste quinine” or “Oooh, viscous,” and I would sip and pause like I was really thinking about it and then slowly nod in agreement. All I actually tasted was wine. Which was fine by me.

But now, many bottles and wine classes later, I’m getting the hang of it. And it’s really not as confusing as it seemed back then. Here’s all you need to know to drink with the wine snobs.

Why swirl?
Bringing oxygen into the wine enhances the aroma. Swirl the glass before you smell it to see if you like it; then look at the streaks of wine (known as “legs”) on the glass to see how quickly they evaporate. Some people think the legs reflect wine quality, but it’s more an indicator of alcohol content. Regardless, it’s an occasion to say “nice legs” without being accused of sexual harassment.

Read on for why to sniff, spit and sip...

the grand skeem

Candles seem to have gotten a bad rap as cliché gifts, relegating them into a group with ties for Father’s Day. Perhaps it’s the fact that they’re fleeting — burn them for a couple months, and then you have nothing left. (Unless you’re like me who refuses to alter the candle’s perfect state of newness.)

I came across Skeem's candles recently and have decided that they are my new go-to gift (friends of mine, consider yourselves warned). The wax is poured into a glass that is screened with beautiful patterns in an array of colors, and each candle burns for a whopping 90 hours. The company has several collections with prints and scents that coordinate to each collection’s theme. I gifted myself with White Tea and Thyme from the Arboretum collection (pictured above, right). And very untrue to form, I’ve been burning it constantly, trying to decide how to use the lovely glass once the wax is gone.

poll results: happy autumn -- let's eat

With the weather cooling down, our tastes turn from ice cream and watermelon to richer foods.

In a recent Evite poll (don't worry; we'll make more), we asked people about their favorite autumn treat. Nearly half voted for pumpkin pie. Apples fared well, too, with 23% craving them caramel covered and another 20% wanting them baked in a pie. Corn bread came in last with just under 10% of the vote.

Hungry now? What seasonal foods are you craving?

cupcakes and cocktails party

Cupcakes are still all the rage, so I was glad to see this clever twist on the treat from The Insomniac Chef: mini cupcakes served with mini cocktails. They created a five-course cupcake tasting menu (note: insomniacs), but you can be far less ambitious and still throw a swanky party.

Just make or buy your favorite cupcakes, and choose a drink with complementary flavors, so these two great tastes taste great together. Some flavor basics to get you started: berries and sparkling wine are a classic combination; chocolate goes well with coffee-flavored liqueurs; and carrot cake just begs for bourbon. I even like to spike my carrot cake cream cheese frosting with bourbon to bring out the vanilla flavor.

Top each cupcake with a cocktail parasol. Fancy.

Try this menu for a bridal shower, cocktail party or a really good Tuesday. And be sure to invite me.

q: how do I ask my friends to pay?

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I'm hosting my own 30th birthday party, and I'm reserving a room at a lounge that requires a minimum to be spent on food and drinks. How do I let my friends know that they’ll have to pay their own way? — Ellen

The best way to go about having your guests chip in is to be up front with them. Add a gentle, tactful message to your Evite invitation such as, “Separate checks will be provided.” This gets the point across that they have to pay, but only for what they ordered. You can also note that this contribution should be in lieu of gifts to keep people from feeling like they need to pony up lots of dough for your big day. But if the minimum is not met at the end of the evening, as the host, you should be ready to cover the difference.

Some restaurants will work with you on arranging a set menu for large parties. This option lets your guests know exactly how much money they’ll need for the evening and what that money gets them.

If you’re opposed to asking your guests to pay at all, then consider hosting your birthday party at home. Whipping up some hors d’oeuvres — or even buying them from pre-made from the market — is more economical than footing an entire restaurant bill.

It’s great to keep all your friends in mind as you’re planning your event, but in the end, it’s your party. We think your friends will be happy to chip in for your big 30th.

the plot thickens...

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The new fall season is upon us. I polled my coworkers, and this is what we want to do at our premiere parties:

Heroes (premieres 9/24)
eat: hero sandwiches washed down by Mohinder mojitos
bet on it: Will Peter's perfectly swoopy hair be damaged by his nearly exploding and shooting off into space?
drink when: Mohinder says “my father’s research” or Claire rocks her cheerleading outfit.

The Office (premieres 9/27)
eat: vending machine snacks and take-out from Chili’s
bet on it: Will Jim and Pam actually go on that date?
drink when: Someone looks directly into the camera. (Designated driver mandatory.)

Ugly Betty (premieres 9/27)
eat: Mexican food and brownies a la Mode
bet on it: Guess which complication will get in Betty and Henry’s way this time.
drink when: Somebody says something snarky to Betty.

Check out our movie / TV night ideas for more premiere party suggestions.

What shows are you most excited about? And what are you doing for the premieres?

end-of-summer bash: drunken watermelon on tap

I know what you're thinking: "What if I attached a faucet to a watermelon and filled it with spiked watermelon juice so party guests could serve themselves right from the melon?" Well, my husband finally turned that dream into a reality.

After testing three different types of faucets and spending the entire afternoon of our housewarming party creating his masterpiece — only to have it clog just hours before guests arrived, resulting in a mad dash to Home Depot and the supermarket so he could do it all over again — he's now perfected the model so all you have to do is build it. Want to impress guests with a DIY watermelon keg of your own?

Read on to find out how...

sunday, bloody sunday

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Isn’t it lucky that Sunday football gets going about the same time as Sunday brunch? Shelve the beer and soda at your next football party, and serve up the ultimate brunch beverage: the Bloody Mary.

Since the Bloody Mary can be stirred up a hundred different ways, we love the idea of having a Bloody Mary bar where your guests can make their drink to taste. Those who are into hot sauce can dash away, while others can go sans vodka if they like. Here’s what you’ll need:

• If you’re going for ease, start with a standard Bloody Mary mix. Then guests can add in their own vodka, hot sauce and cracked pepper. For even more customization, mix chilled tomato juice, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, celery salt and sea salt. (Nigella Lawson has a great recipe for exact measurements.)
• For those who like a little extra heat, opt for peppery vodka like Abolut Peppar
• Impress any foodies in your group with a fancy selection of hot sauces. Gourmet food stores have a wide variety from around the globe.
• Be creative with your garnishes. In addition to the standard celery stalks, put out bowls of blue-cheese-stuffed green olives, lemon wedges or wheels, cherry tomatoes, chili peppers and cocktail onions, and let guests skewer their own garnish.