Set Up

A folding table can be moved and stored easily and is easy to dress up with a nice tablecloth. Position items strategically, so people don't have to return for forgotten items. For example, place extra napkins, cutlery, and salt and pepper shakers on both ends of the table and set up a couple of bread baskets. Keeping decorations to a minimum saves space for essential items, so consider wall hangings and cute napkins that add color and flair.

If you have a Keurig machine, set up a coffee station away from the main buffet area. You can include canned and bottled beverages to minimize cleanup or ask everyone to reuse their glasses. Ideally, you could set this up in the kitchen since there are bound to be some spills.

What to Serve

• Fruits and raw vegetables are easy to prepare and eat, making them perfect buffet food. Place unsliced peaches or apples in a bowl for a colorful, no-fuss dish. You can buy veggie trays that come in a ready-to-serve container for another instant offering.
• Bread is a buffet staple. Precut flavorful loaves from the bakery or serve hot croissants with butter, jam, and other yummy spreads. For board game parties or movie nights, lay out the fixings for sandwiches that guests can construct quickly before getting back to the fun. If it's a sports gathering, hang up team pennants and paraphernalia to set the mood.
• Salads hold up well on buffets, and you can include different versions such as Caesar's and tossed greens. 
• Baked ziti, lasagna, and other baked pasta plates are big hits and hold up well if there are leftovers.
• Serving chilled or smoked meats take off some of the pressure of trying to keep food hot.
• Cooked carrots, green beans, baskets of baked potatoes, and grilled asparagus are easy to keep warm in a chafing dish or with a can of Sterno to supply the heat.
• Consider a dessert bar where your family and friends can frost and decorate their own cupcakes. Add some pies and a cake for finicky guests who aren't interested in designing their own sweets.

Buffets are convenient for guests and help you maximize space in our apartments in Flagstaff. If you'd like to learn about our open floor plans, give us a call today!

The post Setting Up a Buffet for Easy Apartment Entertaining appeared first on Woodlands Village Apartments Blog.

Holiday Punch Drinks 

Grog

Grog, sometimes called Pirate’s Grog, is a hearty, rich punch that your holiday guests will love. Be prepared to give out the recipe because you’ll surely be asked for it!

Ingredients:

• 2 ounces dark rum
• 1 teaspoon of brown sugar
• ½ ounce lime juice
• ½ ounce orange juice
• cinnamon stick (for garnish)

Directions:

In a tall, tempered glass or mug, add all the ingredients except the cinnamon stick. Fill to the brim with hot water and stir. Garnish with the cinnamon stick.

Pomegranate and Apricot Brandy Punch

This recipe is good if you want to use a large punch bowl at your holiday party. It makes 12 servings.

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cups water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon powdered ginger
• 6 cups pomegranate juice
• 1 cup apricot brandy
• 2-1/2 cups seltzer water
• 2-1/2 cups fresh mint leaves

Directions:

1. In a pot, simmer the water, sugar, and ginger until the sugar dissolves completely.
2. Remove from the heat and add the mint leaves (save a few for the garnish).
3. Let steep for half an hour.
4. Strain out the mint leaves.
5. Add the mixture to the punch bowl and stir in the apricot brandy.
6. Stir in the seltzer water.
7. Sprinkle a few mint leaves on top for garnish.

Mulled White Wine Sangria

Try this recipe for a lighter, more elegant holiday punch drink. Serve in brandy glasses. Serves 12.

Ingredients:

• 2 bottles of dry white wine (chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, etc.)
• 1 cup water
• ½ cup honey
• ¼ cup lemon juice (save the skins for garnish)
• 4 whole star anise
• 12 whole cloves
• 1 medium orange
• 1 pear, peeled, cored and sliced
• 1 apple, peeled, cored, sliced
• 2 whole lemons, sliced
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 12 tangerines, peeled and sliced

Directions:

1. In a pot, simmer the water, honey, lemon juice, star anise, cinnamon sticks and cloves. Let simmer for 15 minutes.
2. Add everything to the punch bowl, including all the rest of the ingredients.
3. Provide ice cubes to chill individual servings.

These holiday punch ideas will surely liven up any holiday gathering! To see how enjoyable it is to host parties in your Flagstaff apartments, please contact us today!

The post 3 Holiday Punch Drinks to Serve This Season appeared first on Woodlands Village Apartments Blog.

1. Scrabble

Scrabble is the quintessential board game that anyone can play. Young or old, there is room at the board game table for every guest at your Woodlands Village apartment in West Flagstaff. The game is simple. Players pull seven tiles that have letters on them. They line them up on a private wooden docket and attempt to make words out of them that will fit onto the playing board. Scores are earned by the number and kind of letters used. A game can be played with two or more players.

2. Scythe

Scythe has been called the best board game of 2016. In it, players compete for territory on a hexagonal board. It’s a re-imagining of ancient Europe, and the game can be compared to the traditional game of Risk, but with far better graphics and a lot more complex. This is a board game that is more appropriate for adults due to its complicated play and strategy requirements.

3. Grand Austria Hotel

This new take on the old game of Clue is a masterful and strategic board game that will delight young and old. Up to four players can join in the fun of taking care of “guests” and serving up food and beverages. You have to play it to really appreciate the strategy involved, but it’s a game that will entertain for hours on end.

These lazy night board games are sure to amuse you and your guests. For more entertainment ideas in the Woodland Village apartments and beyond, contact us today!

The post 3 Board Games for a Lazy Night In appeared first on Woodlands Village Apartments Blog.

Throw a Dessert Party

Dessert parties are elegant and fun. Good-quality vanilla ice cream topped with fresh summer fruit that is served with a cold glass of Pinot Gris is ideal on a warm summer evening, and you can't beat a freshly baked fruit pie any time of year. 

Serve a Vegetarian Feast

Meat is the costliest item on the shopping list of those planning dinner parties. With a well-crafted white sauce over pasta Primavera, no one is going to notice the lack of meat.

Host a Wine and Cheese Bash

Inviting friends to your apartment complex for a wine and cheese party is a classy way to entertain that won't reduce your discretionary household funds to ground zero. You do not have to purchase the most expensive wines from France or Italy. South African vineyards produce wines that are both delicious and affordable.

Choose a Less Pricey Cut of Meat

If you must have meat on the menu, consider cooking a low-cost pork shoulder roast. Cooking it low and slow will result in savory, tender meat that falls off the fork. For beef eaters, nothing beats an expertly cooked brisket, and it comes with an attractively low price tag

Above all, keep in mind that even the most humble feast will be a perfect fit for the gods if it is served with love by gracious hosts. Please contact our office at your convenience to learn more about apartment options near NAU in West Flagstaff. 

The post 4 Sweet Cheats for Entertaining on a Budget appeared first on Woodlands Village Apartments Blog.