Cinco de Mayo is almost here! What better way to celebrate than with a margarita? This year, switch up your margarita game. Try our Grapefruit Basil Margarita for Cinco de Mayo and put a sweet and tart spin on a Cinco cocktail staple!
Ingredients:
1.5 oz Silver Tequila – (We used Milagro… Feel free to use Patron or whatever YOU like!)
0.5 oz Triple Sec
0.5 oz Agave
3 oz Fresh Grapefruit Juice
1/2 Fresh Lime Juiced
5 Fresh Basil Leaves?
Recipe:
Start by filling up your tin with ice. Next, pour 1.5oz of [Milagro] Silver Tequila inside. Add 0.5oz of Triple Sec. Pour 3oz of Fresh Grapefruit Juice. Add 0.5oz of Agave (to taste). Next, take your fresh basil leaves in your hand and SLAP them! It warms them up, wakes up the essential oils in the herb, and adds herbaceous aroma and flavor to your cocktail! Put the basil leaves inside the tin. Now you shake, shake, shake! Strain the mixture over ice. Garnish with a lime slice and a basil sprig.
Happy Cinco de Mayo!
¡Salud!
View our Grapefruit Basil Margarita recipe video below, and check out our blog for more recipes and inspiration!
Looking for more information and recipes? Visit our YouTube channel to stay up to date with our latest video content!
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The warm weather is here and we have the perfect cocktails to pair with sunshine, good times, and great company (yes, virtual company included). This year gin is making a huge comeback. It is light, easy to drink, and has a distinct botanical flavor. The best part? There are SO many different ways to serve and enjoy it. You can cater to your entire friend group with these different takes on a classic spirit. For your next party (or FaceTime bonanza), think about sipping something new and different! Here are 5 different gin cocktails to suit your diverse friend group.
Gin and Tonic
Friend Profile: Your friend who loves gin. They have tried everything and always fall back to their favorite (that is also a classic). They don’t measure. They pour and go. Their measurements are probably 3/4 of the way gin, 1/4 tonic. And we are okay with that.
Recipe: *Doesn’t matter*…making it for someone else?
Here is the recipe so you can make it:
2oz Gin
4oz-5oz of tonic
Garnish with lime wedge
Cucumber Lime Breeze (ShortStaf Recipe) ?
Friend Profile:Peppy, bubbly, and wholesome. They say they are simple, but seek complex conversations, relationships, and cocktails. They always ask for a drink menu when you go out, scouring over each option- making sure the cocktail matches their mood. They rarely order the same thing twice. You can never order a drink for them because their preferences are always changing.
Recipe:
3 slices cucumber
2oz Gin
Whole lime (cut in half and juiced)
This cocktail is shaken in a tin and strained over ice
Top the mixture with sparkling water
Garnish with a cucumber slice
Want to see how it is done? Watch our video and get more detailed instructions here!
Bees Knees ?
Friend profile: They are an optimist, love parties, and go for anything yellow. The pale, lovely color of this beverage matches their dazzling personality. The bees knees cocktail is little sweet, with the perfect amount of sour (just like your friend). They probably mention how this a prohibition era cocktail. (because they enjoy fun facts, and so do we).
Recipe:
2oz gin
3/4 oz fresh lemon juice
1oz honey syrup (what is honey syrup? Equal parts honey and hot water, stirred)
This cocktail is served up (shaken to perfection and strained into a martini glass…or solo cup. We don’t judge).
Negroni ??
Friend profile: Straightforward, strong, and to the point, just like this classic Italian cocktail. It only has 3 ingredients (that are all alcohol). The Negroni is a cocktail that grows on you. In the same way your friend approaches friendship, by the end of the conversation (or cocktail), you can tell that you guys will be BFFL.
Recipe:
Equal parts (1oz)Campari, Sweet Vermouth, and Gin
Served on the rocks
Gin and Juice ?
Friend profile: Probably hasn’t had gin before, but is totally up to give it a try. Has a great attitude when it comes to trying new things. Even if they don’t like it, they say something along the lines of “it is good! but maybe it just isn’t for me”. When it comes to gin and juice, they LOVE it. The ambiguity of the mixture entices them. Let them pick the juice of their choice and they are sure to be sipping their new favorite all night.
Recipe:
1oz-2oz gin
4oz-5oz juice
(based on personal taste)
Served on the rocks
Now, you have a gin cocktail to match the taste of ALL your friends! Enjoy one (or all) (responsibly) of these cocktails for your next party, virtual hangout, or in the comfort of your home. Cheers to that.
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I have been to my fair share of baby showers where I was eating unidentified baby food as a “game”. While I learned that I am definitely not a fan of mashed peas and cold mashed butternut squash was more appealing than expected, my days of guessing that food are over. Recently, I went to a baby shower that put a fun spin on bingo and got all the guests involved. In this blog we will tell you how to play baby shower bingo – so you can have fun too!
The actual game takes place while the mommy-to-be starts opening presents. Right before, the host of the party passes out blank bingo cards. To make it easier, you can have a cup of pens available at each table. Before the presents are to be opened, everyone fills out their bingo card with presents they think will be opened. You can have a free space in the middle that says “Your Present” and have them fill it in. Or you can use the more traditional approach and have the middle be automatically free, and let them fill in their own present somewhere else on the board. This game is a lot of fun and gets everyone involved in the present opening process.
Once someone gets bingo, they win! For winners, you can have first, second, and third place prizes. The best part? You can make the prizes whatever you want! At the party I went to, the prizes were gift cards. If that isn’t your style; you can make cute crafts, floral arrangements, or something as simple as a candle. To take it a step further, you can create prize goody bags. Typically these include one larger prize and a few smaller prizes like chocolates, candy, and/or bath and body products to name a few.
Boom! You just learned how to play baby shower bingo! Use this game as a fun way to include your guests during the present opening portion of the shower. Plus, everyone loves the chance to win a cute and thoughtful prize! Don’t forget to tag @ShortStafApp on Instagram if you play this fun game of bingo! As always, post on the ShortStaf App for set up, servers, bartenders, clean up, and more!
Thinking of doing a secret Santa gift exchange among family or friends this year? Great idea! It is truly one of the simplest ways to exchange gifts and have fun at the same time! How do you host a fantastic (& easy) secret Santa gift exchange? We have some tips for you below! 😉
Planning a Secret Santa
Get together with a group of your friends or family and make a list of participants. You can then write down their names on little strips of paper and have everyone pick out of a hat. Need to do things electronically because you can’t all seem to meet up? Don’t worry! There is a way to do that too!
Electronic Selection Secret Santa (iPhone)
In the group chat, the host of the secret Santa (probably you), has a list of all the names. First, assign a number to each person on the list. Send this first in the group chat so everyone knows their assigned number. Next, send each name with invisible ink. (Don’t know how? It is super easy. Type out the message you want to send, then right before you send it, hold down the send arrow until options pop up. Select invisible ink and send). If you really don’t want to know who has who, have a friend send each name for you jumbled with invisible ink!
Now, everyone has their assigned number. The invisible ink message that corresponds with that number will reveal who is to be their secret Santa giftee! (Fun and easy, right? Thanks technology).
2. Hosting the reveal party
Secret santas, it is time to come forward! Before the celebration and reveal, a decision needs to be made about what type of party would be best. There are a couple of different options:
-Cocktail and appetizer party
-Full sit down dinner
-Buffet style dinner
-Potluck
-Dessert and after dinner drinks only
Once an option is decided, you can start planning! Organizing the spaces (eating, sitting, unwrapping presents, mingling) and setting up decorations can be quite the task. This is where ShortStaf comes in! Post on the app to find any type of party help you need. ShortStaf can…
Set up the table (or tables)
Decorate
Set up food platters
Organize food stations
Bartend
Clean as you and your guests enjoy
Clean up after the party is done
Cook the food (if you don’t feel like it)
Greet guests at the door
And SO much more!
Don’t see something listed? Well, we can probably do that too. Any questions, you can always open up your ShortStaf App and message us through the Intercom messenger button on the Account tab 🙂
When it finally comes time to open up the gifts (yay!), there are two different ways you and your group can do it. First way- have the host pass out the gifts one by one, and each person opens it before the next is handed out. This gives the secret santa a chance to watch their giftee’s reaction and reveal who they are! The second way is to pass out all the gifts at once and have everyone open at the same time. Some people prefer this method because it doesn’t make any one person the center of attention. Which is perfectly fine! Come to a consensus with you guests so no one feels uncomfortable while opening up their gifts.
So, secret santa gift exchange. The recipe for success is right here-
Start planning ahead! Use the old fashioned way of pen, paper, and a hat, or use the iPhone invisible ink method if it works better for your group. Next, plan a party to exchange the awesome gifts you have selected for each other! Pick what type of event you would like to have and set your house or party space up accordingly. With the help of ShortStaf, you can enjoy the secret santa fun with your guests. No more worrying about setting up, cleaning, decorating, serving food, making drinks, or breaking everything down! Enjoy this holiday season! You created a secret santa to have fun right? So don’t let last minute details dull your holiday spirit. Time to enjoy 🙂
https://shortstaf.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/christmas-logo.png5121024https://shortstaf.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/logo.png2019-12-20 11:35:392020-05-14 11:40:09Tips for how to throw the BEST Secret Santa
A big party isn’t the scene for everyone. If you are the type who enjoys a more intimate gathering, then a holiday dinner party is just what you need to get in the holiday spirit! How do you organize, decorate, and execute the perfect dinner party? We’ll tell you how in 3 easy steps!
Know your guests.
Since a dinner party will have less guests, that means everyone’s tastes need to be brought into consideration. Sharon doesn’t eat cheese, Mike hates fruit, and Denise is a vegetarian. When creating your menu, keep these personal preferences in mind. You don’t want to alienate your guests by serving food they can’t eat or won’t enjoy.
2. Decorate to your heart’s desire
A dinner party has a more intimate and relaxed feel. This means you don’t have to go absolutely nutty with the decorations. A beautiful tablescape, string lights, and a couple of lit candles will do the trick. Need tablescape inspiration? Visit our Pinterest board for all things holiday related!
3. Spend quality time with your guests
The one thing that can bring down a holiday dinner party is the clean up. From personal experience, my guests are always trying to help me clean up- and it drives me insane! They are my guests. I want them to sit back, relax, and enjoy the beautiful evening I have planned. To avoid this problem, I started using ShortStaf to clean up after dinner service. They collect all the plates, break down the food stations, do the dishes, and take care of all the trash. Now, there is no excuse for my guests to try and lift a finger.
For a perfectly executed dinner party:
Know your guests- serve food that will wow and everyone will enjoy. Decorate a lot or a little. It is YOUR dinner party. Do what makes you happy 🙂 And finally, use ShortStaf! So this year, you and your guests can enjoy together. (No more trying to do the dishes, Sharon!).
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…A Shake Through One of History’s Most Emblematic Cocktails…
Today we are shaking things up and offering some tips on how to make classic martini’s at home! Today we’re talking about a Classic Martini : How To: 2 Ways! Dry with a twist, and Dirty!
Check out our Classic Martini: How To Video!
Traditionally, the Martini was a cocktail composed of just two ingredients: gin and vermouth. The drink was typically garnished with a twist of lemon or olives. However, since its inception – the Martini has become one of the most iconic, well-known alcoholic beverages in the world. They’ve come a long way from the start. Let’s take a quick look at the Martini’s transformation through the decades…
The name Martini came from the brand name used by an Italian producer of vermouth in Italy, Alessandro Martini. Still today, arguably the most well-known brand of vermouth.
The Martini reached its height just in time for the roaring 20’s! At this time the Martini was comprised of London Dry Gin and Dry Vermouth in a 2:1 ratio, stirred over ice, and served strained into a cocktail glass. At the time of the United States’ prohibition legislation, the illegal manufacturing of gin was relatively easy. This led to the predominance of this cocktail during this time. After Prohibition ended, the availability of quality gin led the drink to become progressively drier – that is, over time, the amount of vermouth in a Martini became less and less.
It even became the norm to rub a finger with vermouth on it around the rim of the glass for just the “essence” of the botanical aroma. Or as Winston Churchill did – chilled his gin and “bowed in the direction of France” (another large producer of Vermouth). As the Martini evolved, it moved further and further from its roots and became anything but.
By the 1970’s and 1980’s, the Martini was considered antiquated. The 1980’s brought about more complex and elaborate cocktails like Sex on the Beach, Long Island Iced Teas, Tequila Sunrises, and Mudslides.
But in the mid-90’s, drinks served in a Martini cocktail glass gave the word “-tini” a whole new meaning. A new wave of cocktails like the Espresso Martini, Appletini, Chocolate Martini took on the catchy suffix – but were made with vodka and other ingredients – not including dry vermouth – and therefore lacked any commonality with a true Martini.
Today, Martini’s are enjoyed in many fashions. Perhaps one of today’s most common orders for a Martini often implies folks are just asking for straight vodka chilled over ice – which isn’t really a Martini at all…
Nonetheless, bartenders everywhere have their own unique twist on, and favorite variation of, one of the most symbolic cocktails in history.
Here’s our recipes from the Classic Martini : 2 Ways video… and a bonus Appletini Recipe!
Traditional Martini
3 oz Ketel One Vodka
½ oz Martini & Rossi Dry Vermouth
Shaken over ice, Strained and served in a chilled Martini cocktail glass
Twist a lemon rind (with twist-tool or a pairing knife – CAREFULLY!)
Rub twist around rim of glass to release the essential oils and aroma
Drop twisted rind into Martini
Classic Dirty Martini
3 oz Ketel One Vodka
½ oz Olive Juice/Brine
Shaken over ice, Strained and served in a chilled Martini cocktail glass
Spear 3 Bleu-cheese stuffed (or regular) Olives
Drop olives into Martini
—–
BONUS : Appletini
2.5 oz Ketel One Vodka
1.5 oz Sour Apple Schnapps
Splash of Sweet-n-Sour drink mix
Shaken over ice, Strained and served in a chilled Martini cocktail glass
Garnish with 1 Maraschino cherry
What is YOUR favorite Martini? Tell us what recipes you’d like to see!
For more information, and tips on throwing the best dinner party : visit our blog or check out our Pinterest Page!
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Hosting a party should give you that warm fuzzy feeling. You are bringing friends and family together to celebrate! Whether it is a birthday, holiday, announcement, or just because, you deserve to enjoy with your guests.
This Fall season, we want you to ‘Fall’ in love with hosting. At times, it can be stressful and overwhelming. Thanks to ShortStaf, it simply doesn’t have to be that way anymore.
How can you ‘Fall’ in love with hosting? We’ll tell you how in 3 easy steps.
Start planning ahead
Think about everything you need, people you need to invite, and how you’re going to do it. The best way to do this is to make lists! Yes, it sounds basic, but even the best of us forget this small detail. Ever been to the grocery store with a list and still forget something? Yeah, us too. Double check your lists to make sure you don’t forget anyone or anything 🙂
2. Make yourself a priority
When planning a party, we all seem to lose ourselves in the details. The host naturally thinks of the guests’ needs first. What are they going to want and need when they arrive? How much food and drinks will need to be prepared..and where will it go? Remember, it is your party too! You deserve to enjoy it.
3. Post to find extra help on the ShortStaf App
All hosts have different needs when it comes to partying. For myself, I would post for set up help because I love decorations (and I have a lot of them). You may want to post for a server to help you prepare appetizer platters, food stations, and clean up as you go! Bartenders are very popular on ShortStaf as well. This allows you and your guests to have full glasses while you sit back, relax, and enjoy each other’s company.
‘Fall’ in love with hosting by planning ahead, making yourself a priority, and posting on the ShortStaf App to make it all happen. This season, spend quality time with your family and friends. How can you make memories when you are constantly cooking, serving, cleaning, and playing bartender? Another season of happy hosting ahead, this time, with some extra help. #ThanksShortStaf
Looking for party inspo? Find it all on our Pinterest page Here 🙂
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It’s so much fun to get together with the family in the summer. With a little bit of planning, you can host an event that will make great memories. Here are a few tips that will help to cut down on your stress and make your event a success at the same time.
Low-Maintenance Buffet
Grilled burgers and dogs are a classic standby for summer affairs, but they can put a lot of pressure on the person doing the cooking and they are usually stuck behind the grill for the whole party.
Instead of grilling, try preparing a batch of pulled pork in advance and reheat it in a slow cooker for the party. Offer a choice of slider buns or corn tortillas on the side with plenty of choices in toppings, such as coleslaw, salsa, crispy onions and barbecue sauce. If you want to go all-out, try smoking a whole pork shoulder—this takes the flavor to a whole new level.
Bounce House
If you expect a lot of young children to attend, using inflatables removes a lot of the stress for parents trying to plan the party. These structures are eye-catching, a ton of fun and sure to be a big hit with the toddler-to-tween crowd. You can find daily rentals for as little as $100 per day in some places.
Throwback Games
To prevent the party from hitting a slump, make sure you have plenty of games and outdoor toys on hand. Cornhole or “Bags” is a great game for older children and adults. You can buy a set at your local bigbox store, order them online or if you’re feelin crafty, you can DIY it and build your own! If you have a Ping-Pong table, set it up on the patio or another shaded outdoor area. Another great idea is to keep a pile of Frisbees and Nerf footballs stacked up or in a bin in the backyard. If you have time, organize a scavenger hunt beforehand and offer a prize to the winner.
Family Playlist
Music provides a lively way to bring everyone together. A month or so before the event, ask every invitee to send you the name of a song that holds special family memories for them. Create a playlist that includes everyone’s selection and crank it up during the party. Have the guests try to guess who picked which song for a fun game.
The opportunities for family fun at summer get-togethers are limitless. With enough advanced preparation, the hosts can kick back, relax and enjoy the fruits of their efforts.
Is hosting your event alone too much work for you to handle?Contact Us.
https://shortstaf.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Summer-Barbecue.png643974https://shortstaf.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/logo.png2019-06-09 21:39:282020-01-28 11:50:104 Fun Ideas for a Summer Family Get-Together
https://shortstaf.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/pablo-18.png10241024https://shortstaf.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/logo.png2019-02-11 23:30:002019-07-18 07:54:313 Reasons Why To Treat Your Valentine to a Private Chef
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