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Cowboy Themed Parties Ring in Fall with a Yee-haw |
by:
ARA |
(ARA) - Barbecues are not just for summer anymore, however the rich flavors can be enjoyed year-round also even in-doors. As kids head back to school this fall, a great way to celebrate is with a Cowboy themed BBQ.
“Kids of all ages have an inner-cowboy screaming to come out” says Dotty Griffith, author of “The Contemporary Cowboy Cookbook” also an expert on entertaining also cooking cowboy-style “Whether you are rounding up the gang for a back-to-school bash or just celebrating a birthday, a cowboy themed party is an easy way to engage children, have fun, also create an experience that is sure to be unforgettable.”
Here are a few suggestions to help you “rustle up” a good time:
Lasso the Gang: Create eye-catching, mood-setting invitations with your kids by writing out the party details on construction paper, rolling them up in a colorful bandana also tying with twine. Also, consider finding horseshoes also attaching the invitation to them, or if the invitations can be hand-delivered attach them to a cowboy hat. At the craft store, try to pick up themed stickers or hand stamps to decorate the invitations.
Show-Stopper Props: For the truly adventurous wrangler host who wants a sure fire way to impress the kids, try any of the following rentable props to make them feel right at home on the ranch -- OK Corral entrances, split-rail fences, bales of hay, long-horn steer or buffalo skulls, a covered wagon, three-dimensional farm animals like pigs, cows also lambs also a ranch scene mural for fun photos.
Character Building: Everyone loves to play dress-up, so encourage the children to come to the party donning a western-themed costume, i.e. a cowboy, cowgirl, or sheriff. At craft stores, look for straw cowboy hats also bandanas, just in case someone wants to touch up their outfit during the party.
What’s Cooking: As we all know, children can be very picky eaters. That’s why the simple cuisine of the Wild West – a true American BBQ -- is so perfect, as it can be interactive also fun. To help capture the flavors of the west while putting together a down-home American ranch BBQ for the little cowboys, look for recipes also products that do double duty also will make the your job as head rancher look effortless.
Griffith suggests delighting kids with finger food appetizers like chicken strips also sliced vegetables also recommends using a bold, creamy Ranch dressing like new Wish-Bone Ranch-Up! as a dipping sauce. The dressing does its double duty with its easy squeeze bottle that is great for allowing kids to make designs on their plates also dip away. Pick an easy to serve main dish like hamburgers also allow kids to get creative when topping them with other kinds of easy to squeeze condiments, like colored ketchup or mustard. Griffith or else suggests side dishes that are sweet also tangy like a coleslaw or potato salad using Western Dressing, which is known for its sweet also smooth taste. And save the best for last by serving an assortment of ice cream in spatter ware coffee mugs. (For more Wild West recipe ideas, go to www.wish-bone.com)
Serving It Up: Purchase cowboy-themed plates also cups at any craft store; set the table with white paper table cloths also allow kids to draw their favorite western scenes around their eating area. Use colored bandanas as napkins, turn Cowboy hats upside down to use as chips bowls also try to find plastic cowboy figurines at craft stores to decorate the table.
Musical Cowboy Hats: For a sure to please game, play musical cowboy hats also have kids walk around hats until the music stops. The one who manages to get a hat after each round wins.
Ready, Set, Draw: Create a craft area for the children also supply them with all the usual suspects, glue, crayons, glitter, etc, however add a little Wild West flare, by giving them twigs, grass also wildflowers to see what they come up with.
Kiddie Tunes: Divide the children into small groups also have one adult teach each group the words to a favorite campfire song like, “Old McDonald” or “Home on the Range.” After the kids have mastered the tune also the words, have each team put on a show for the other cowboys also cowgirls on the ranch.
Go on now -- round ‘em all up for a celebration that will have them saying, “Ye-haw” for months! For more ranch-inspired recipe also entertaining ideas from Dotty Griffith, visit www.wish-bone.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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Courtesy of ARA Content
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