How to Shuck Oysters – DIY Oyster Platter

December 8, 2014 4 Comments A Well Crafted Pantry

This post is the eighth in my series of the 12 Days of Christmas DIYs for A Well Crafted Party. Check in each day for the next 12 Days for new DIY posts. There will be LOTS of free printables to boot! (Check out yesterday’s post: “Free Holiday Potluck Facebook Invites & Printable Recipe Cards“)

This DIY is brought to you by an awesome recent Oyster and Wine tasting at Whole Foods Market in Portland, Oregon. I learned SO much about oysters…. and, I’ll be sharing little bits between now and New Years because I think Oysters make a fabulous party appetizer. It is decadent, tasty and so out of the everyday that they will make any celebration instantly feel like a fancy party. I was always intimidated by oysters until earlier this year when I found out that they are not only EASY, but also not nearly as expensive as you might think! I recently stopped by to grab 6 oysters and they only cost me $7.80!

How to Shuck an Oyster

Watch this video of how to shuck an oyster from a super awesome Sean from Whole Foods Market and learn how you can DIY your very own Oyster appetizer platter!

DIY Oyster Platter

Directions:

Buy your choice of oysters. (See my tips below.)
Either have the store shuck them for you or follow the DIY oyster shucking video to shuck your oysters. I highly recommend buying them shucked! Sean from Whole Foods Market said that they will last approximately 18 hours (properly iced) so you can order some up and pick them up on a day of your party.
To serve put on a platter with crushed ice (throw some ice in a food processor and you’re good to go!)
Serve with toppings or simply with lemons and hot sauce.

Need some ideas for topping your oysters?

Check out this blog post from Whole Foods Market for fresh oyster toppings. Also, check back in over the next few weeks… I’ve got a couple of fun toppings to share!

This post is not a sponsored post. I was invited to a tasting at Whole Foods Market in Portland, Oregon. I had a fantastic time and wanted to share the fun!

Christmas

Free Holiday Potluck Facebook Invites & Recipe Card Printables

December 7, 2014 2 Comments Christmas

This post is the seventh in my series of the 12 Days of Christmas DIYs for A Well Crafted Party. Check in each day for the next 12 Days for new DIY posts. There will be LOTS of free printables to boot! (Check out yesterday’s post: “Saturday Spirits: Chocolate Peppermint Martini & DIY Candycane Rimming Sugar“

I love, love, love a good paper invitation. However, I’m just like every other busy person out there and sometimes don’t get around to sending the invitations in time and need to get out an evite or Facebook invitation instead. I’d even say that a Facebook inviation is a handy way to enage with guests prior to a party even if you DO send a paper inviation. Gather RSVPs, post sneak peeks, inform guests about parking… you get the idea!

I created a few different versions of holiday potluck invitations and printable recipe cards.

For the Facebook invite cover photo you simply need to download the image of choice by clicking the link of choice. Then upload it into the invite cover photo area following the steps through Facebook.

The printable recipe cards are great for having at your potluck party for guests to share their recipes on or to give out as favors at the end of the party. You may even want to print off a set of 12 cards and wrapped them in baker’s twine for a cute and inexpensive hostess gift! Simply download the printable of your choice by selecting a link below and saving to your computer. Print in full color on white cardstock and cut out!

Free Downloads:

These printables and downloads are created for personal use only at no cost to you. If you like these downloads I’d appreciate you sharing with friends via Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter!

A Well Crafted Pantry

Saturday Spirits: Chocolate Peppermint Martini

December 6, 2014 5 Comments A Well Crafted Pantry

This post is the sixth in my series of the 12 Days of Christmas DIYs for A Well Crafted Party. Check in each day for the next 12 Days for new DIY posts. There will be LOTS of free printables to boot! (Check out yesterday’s post: “DIY Branch Holiday Card Display“)

Chocolate Peppermint Cocktail

Anyone else a little obsessed with the chocolate-peppermint combo during the holiday season? No, just me? Well, I’ll take two of these then…

Last week I was wondering around the Clackamas Town Center (aka The Mall) and ran across the most amazing thing in the whole world. There is a East Side Distilling storefront IN THE MALL. Can I tell you how much better holiday shopping is after tasting some Burnside Bourbon? SO much better. One of my discoveries while there was a delicious Holiday Peppermint Bark Liqueur. Chocolate. Peppermint. Liqueur.

As soon as I bought it I thought of re-doing a nice chocolate martini to make this tasty rendition. But, first… my DIY for today!

DIY Peppermint Cocktail Rimmer

I love a good rimmer. Bud um dum.

This candycane sugar rimmer is super easy to make. You can rim your martini glasses or hot cocoa mugs by simply dipping the glass into chocolate sauce and then dipping it into the sugar. If you don’t want the glass to have the chocolate on the rim (it does look a little messy) then you can dip it into simple syrup and then into the rimming sugar.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 Candy Canes

Directions (with a food processor):

Put all into a food processor and process until similar sized grains.
Put onto a plate for rimming!

Directions (without food processor):

Put candy canes and sugar into a ziplock bag. Double bag it. Hit with a hammer or meat mallet until all of the candy canes are broken into small bits. Mix well.
Put onto a plate for rimming!

Note: I used organic candy canes and they stuck together quite a lot… it still worked wonderfully, but need to be broken up with a fork if you store it at all. Store in an airtight container or baggy.

Chocolate Peppermint Martini

Ingredients:

1 oz of Holiday Peppermint Bark Liqueur by Eastside Distilling
1 3/4 oz of Vodka
2 oz of Half & Half
Dark Chocolate Syrup
Shaker with ice
Peppermint Cocktail Rimmer

Directions:

Take your martini glass and rim with chocolate syrup and peppermint cocktail rimmer.
Swirl chocolate syrup around the inside of your glass.
In a shaker pour the Peppermint Bark Liqueur, Vodka, and Half & Half over ice. Shake well.
Strain into the martini glass.

You can garnish with a little candy cane and enjoy!

This post was not sponsored. I really did find this stuff in a MALL. And, I will be going back… soon!