Labor Day with the Ladies

Happy Labor Day! I'm finally getting around to posting our Labor Day with the Ladies party I hosted in September of 2009. I don't have very many photos to show you for this party (it was before my blogging days), but some of the details are here.  I also will admit, this was not my best party in terms of the creativity side...but it was a fun one, so I wanted to post anyway.

Decor:  I set the table with a red, white, and blue theme -- blue tablecloth with red and white napkins.  I made a time clock as the centerpiece wrapping a box in wrapping paper, adhering a clock to the front, cutting a slit, and placing a time card with the theme for the evening on it.  Next to the clock I put a chef's hat a pilot's hat simply because I already owned these pieces.  Anything you have that is work-related would do.

As a place card, I created time cards with each guest's name on them.  I found an image on Google and then added a text box with the guest's name as well as added the date of our party to the dates already on the image. Simple.

Attire:  I asked guest's to dress up in career attire for this party, and it was so fun.  The creativity was super cute!  I dressed as a Zoo Keeper.  The girls dressed in everything from Miss Universe to doctors, coaches, waitresses, etc.

Menu:  I stayed with a typical dinner menu for this theme, but tied in the Labor Day theme through picket signs I stuck in each entree.

Grilled Chicken with Honeydew Salsa

1 1/3 cups finely diced peeled seeded honeydew or other melon

¼ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro plus ¼ cup cilantro leaves

¼ cup finely diced red onion

2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 teaspoons finely grated lime peel

1 teaspoon finely chopped seeded Serrano chile (I left this out)

4 boneless chicken breast halves with skin

Combine diced melon, ¼ cup chopped cilantro, red onion, lime juice, olive oil, grated lime peel, and chopped Serrano chile in medium bowl.  Toss to blend flavors.  Season melon salsa to taste with salt and pepper.

Spray grill with nonstick vegetable oil spray; prepare barbeque (medium heat).  Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper.  Grill breasts until skin is crisp and brown and chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes per side.  Slice chicken breasts and arrange on plates.  Top with melon salsa and cilantro leaves.

Zucchini and Tomato

Sliced Zucchini

Cherry Tomatoes

Season with salt and pepper.  Cook zucchini in small about of olive oil on stove.  Add tomatoes at the last minute & only cook briefly.

Fruit Salad

A normal fruit salad.  This one included watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, green grapes, and banana.

Cream Puffs with Vanilla Pudding

Heat to a rolling boil in saucepan…

1 cup water

½ cup butter

Stir in all at once…

1 cup sifted flour

Stir vigorously over low heat until mixture leaves the pan and forms into a ball (about 1 minute).  Remove from heat.

Beat in (one at a time) thoroughly…

4 eggs

Beat mixture until smooth and velvety.  Drop from spoon onto ungreased baking sheet into mounds 3 inches apart.  Bake in 400 degree oven for 45-50 minutes until puffed, golden brown, and dry.  Allow to cool slowly.

Cut off tops with sharp knife.  Scoop out any filaments of soft dough.  Fill with vanilla pudding mixed with whipped cream.  Replace tops and glaze with chocolate.

The great part about this theme was the dressing up.  It is so easy for guests to find something to dress in related to work...the possibilities are endless. If you are throwing a Labor Day party today or in the future, consider adding just this aspect to your party.  It definitely adds a little bit of fun to the party!

Also...if you want the Word document of the time cards just comment below.