November 2011
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Changing Your Hot Tub Water in 4 Simple Steps
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How to Choose the Right In-ground Pool for You
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Having a sophisticated party for your friends and family doesn’t require fancy furnishings or pricey planning. Summer is the perfect time to have an outdoor gathering—day or evening. Luckily, your pool can serve as the perfect backdrop for an upscale get-together. All you need to do is add a few extra elements to really set the mood.
Here are some tips on how to entertain with a “sense” of style both in and out of your pool:
Engage your sense of smell with flowery scents
Out of the pool: The complementary site to your pool is usually your garden. So why not utilize it for your posh party with nature’s perfume? Flowers such as lilac, jasmine or gardenia give off wonderful fragrances that will immediately set a summer tone. If you don’t have a garden, these flowers make wonderful centerpieces. For extra visual appeal, choose white or lightly colored flowers because they have an iridescent glow, even at night.
In the pool: Who says a pool’s use is only for swimming? Get the most aesthetic value out of your personal oasis by placing floating flowers like gerbera daisies, gardenias or garden roses on the surface.
Brighten your sense of sight with luminous lighting
Out of the pool: Christmas is not the only time to decorate trees with lights. Adorn the trees in your landscape with energy-efficient LED lights for a festive feel. You can also add lights to other structures in your yard, such as a pergola or arbor. Not only do they serve a functional purpose by providing illumination at your outdoor evening party, but they are also a nice decorative touch because the lights will reflect in your pool giving it a glimmering effect.
In the pool: Double your pool’s sparkle by placing floating candles in the water. It’s a great embellishment that perfectly sets a romantic atmosphere that can only be achieved during the warm weather
Delight your audible senses with tranquil fountains
Out of the pool: There’s not a more relaxing sound than trickling water. If your pool doesn’t have a waterfall, you can still create a sophisticated calm at your party by placing small fountains around your patio. Your guests will feel the aquatic serenity with the peaceful sound.
In the pool: In some cases if you can decorate with it, you can float it too. You can buy floating fountains that will spray onto your pool’s surface adding to the tranquil ambiance.
Serve tasty eats
Complete your lavish affair with a menu that will please even the finest palate. Serve up these dishes at your next posh pool party:
Betty Crocker’s Cucumber Slices Provençal (makes 32 appetizers)
Ingredients:
- 1 large English or burpless cucumber, chilled
- 1/3 cup sun-dried tomato spread
- 3 tablespoons crumbled chèvre (goat) cheese
- Fresh basil leaves
Directions:
- Make lines or indentations lengthwise down cucumber at 1/4-inch intervals, using vegetable peeler or tines of fork. Cut cucumber into 32 slices, 1/2 inch each. Place on paper towels to drain.
- Spread each slice with about one teaspoon tomato spread. Sprinkle each with about 1/2 teaspoon cheese.
- Serve immediately, or refrigerate up to one hour. Top each slice with basil leaf just before serving.
Martha Stewart’s Bacon-Wrapped Dates (makes 32 servings)
Ingredients:
- 32 pitted dates (about 10 ounces)
- 2 ounces shelled, salted whole pistachios
- 2 ounces dried apricots, cut into 32 strips
- 1 pound lean best-quality bacon, thinly sliced and then halved crosswise
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Stuff each date with three or four pistachios. Lay a stuffed date and apricot strip on top of each bacon slice; wrap to enclose. If not using immediately, freeze up to one month.
- Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until bacon is crisp, about 10 minutes, flipping each wrapped date after 8 minutes. If frozen, bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes; flip, and bake 10 minutes more.
- Transfer wrapped dates to paper towels to drain. Serve with toothpicks.
Betty Crocker’s Ginger Lemonade (makes 20 servings, 1 cup each)
Ingredients:
- 3 cups sugar
- 16 cups (4 quarts) water
- 12 to 14 slices gingerroot, (about 2-inch pieces)
- 4 cups fresh lemon juice (24 lemons)
- 2 lemons, sliced
Directions:
- Mix sugar, water and gingerroot in 8-quart Dutch oven. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally
- Remove from heat. Cool 15 minutes. Remove gingerroot.
- Pour sugar mixture into pitcher or large glass or plastic container. Stir in lemon juice. Refrigerate at least one hour until chilled.
- Serve lemonade over ice with lemon slices.
