It's Spring again...almost!

Hello, SO Spot fans. It's been a little while, but I'm back with some helpful travel tips. Spring Break is right around the corner and there are a storm of travel "deals" flooding your email boxes. Breathe easy, you don't have to sift through them alone. Contact your travel specialist to ensure you get the best value for your dollar. Why a travel agent? I'm glad you asked. We have the inside track on travel trends and what is really a travel deal.

As you travel during peak seasons, such as Spring Break, summer, and holidays, be aware that rates will fluctuate the closer it is to this peak time. For example, if you what to book a holiday cruise, you'll find that the price is much higher the week of Thanksgiving or Christmas than say a week or two before or after. Also, where  you go factors into price as well. Some places don't necessarily have a peak season. For example, Williamsburg, VA. While most families vacation during the summer, Williamsburg prices don't fluctuate too much, because they have a lot of out of town visitors year round. The same is true with Orlando, FL. The key to getting the accommodations and price you want is to book early. A lot of times the closer you get to your desired travel date, the fewer options you have and the more expensive it may be. The key is to book 30-45 days in advance.

Normally I end with a food or drink recipe, but this time I'm going to end with some recipes for a great vacation. Now until 4/3/2016 save 30% on each guest on any Royal Caribbean cruise. Azul Sensatori Hotel and Azul Beach Hotel by Karisma features all-inclusive family fun with the Nickelodeon Experience where children (and the child in you) can enjoy eating and playing with some of Nick's most popular characters. If you're looking for something for just the two of you, El Dorado Spa Hotels and Resorts specialize in adult only all-inclusive resort entertainment including couple's massages and spa treatments. Visit us online at www.sweetestevent.com and select the Travel page to see featured hotel and resort offers. Also, remember to like Sweet Occasions on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sweetocassionsnc and follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/sweetestevent. I love your feedback, so please, post your comments and share SO Spot with your friends.

Dream Vacation!

​Sweet Occasions is looking for ideas of dream vacations. It is a known fact that when traveling as a group, the cost goes down.  Although we want to vacation with family and friends, not a bunch of strangers, there are several people who are going to the same location at the same time.  You may find that you share the same dream as someone else.  This can give you a saving when traveling separately, but at the same time.

I love a beach!​ My dream vacation is to go to Belize for two weeks. So, I can bask in the sun.  Naturally I'm an explorer and enjoy experiencing different things.  While on vacation, touring the lovely barrier reefs and local delicacies is a must!

What is your dream vacation?

Fall Fun!

It’s almost Fall!  The leaves are changing. It’s getting cool in the morning and evening. And it’s FOOTBALL SEASON!!!!

I’m not a football fan, but the season just makes you want to go to a game or two.  Nothing makes game day funner than spending it with friends and family.  Here are some tips to insuring you have an awesome and safe Game Day Party.

1.        Have a space designated for your party.  Seem pretty simple and self-explanatory, but you have to set boundaries.  I can’t count the number of times that friends have told me about having a small gathering and a guest has ventured off the beaten path.  Set-up your party in a location that is close to the point of entry. 
2.        Be sure that your room is big enough for the snack table.  If you are serving a meal, as opposed to snacks, you may want to consider a room that is beside your dining area.  This way your guests can flow in and out the room without missing vital parts of the game.
3.     .   Provide plenty of seating.  Basic living room or den furniture is a sofa, loveseat, and armchair or recliner.  That’s seating for five to seven people.  A normal game day party includes six to ten people, plus your family.  Add some cushioned folding chairs or dining room chairs for additional seating.  To make your guest more comfortable, without sacrificing your own comfort too much, offer your guests the couches and sit the additional chairs in on either end of the sofas, and beside the arm chair.  This will allow anyone sitting in the additional chairs at least one arm rest.

Tune in next week when I offer some snack, meal, and drink ideas for game day.

Independence Recipe

I haven't posted a recipe in a good while, so I decided to throw this in for Independence Day.  To  me, Independence Day is all about embracing our differences.  Whether you come from a different family, city, state, or country, we all have some differences and similarities.  I've been fortunate enough to have experience a lot of different cultures.  This recipe has a little Caribbean, a little Asian, and a little American.

Recently, I have been seeing a lot of bok choy and plantain. So, I said, "Self, what should we do with this?" I looked in the frig and saw some tilapia and chicken (Because I don't eat fish, but you can pretty  much prepare tilapia & chicken the same way.).  I decided to do some good old fashion herb baked tilapia and chicken.  With some sesame seed oil, I sauteed the bok choy.  I used some vegetable oil and sea salt to "fry" the plantains.  Here's the recipe for this awesomely diverse dinner!

Herb Baked Tilapia or Chicken
4 Tilapia fillets or 2 2oz Boneless skinless chicken breasts
1/2 tsp Sage
1/2 tsp Oregano
1/2 tsp Rosemary
1 tsp Minced garlic
1 tsp Chopped onions
1/4 tsp Sea salt
1/4 tsp Pepper
1/2 c. Water (optional)

Preheat your oven to 350.  Mix all the seasonings together and spread them on a plate.  Rub the seasoning in to the fish or meat.  Be sure to coat it well.  Place the fish or meat in a baking dish and pour the water in.  Be careful not to pour the water over the fish or meat, but in the pan itself.  If you prefer not to use water, wrap fish or meat in aluminum foil greased lightly with margarine.  Bake for 30 minutes.  Tilapia will be white and tender.  Chicken will be white and juicy.

Fried Plantain
2 Plantain
1 tsp Sea salt
2 tbsp Vegetable oil

Peel plantain like a banana.  Cut plantain in 1/4 inch diagonal slices. Turn on stove to medium high.  Pour oil in frying pan just enough to coat the bottom of the pan.  Once the oil is sizzling, place plantain in the pan in one layer.  Cook for about 30-45 seconds, then turn over.  Plantain should be a yellow color.  Place on a paper towel and sprinkle with sea salt.

Sauteed Bok Choy
2 Bok Choy bunches
1/2 tbsp Minced garlic
1 tbsp Chopped ginger
2 tbsp Sesame seed oil

Chop bok choy.  Turn stove on medium high heat.  Pour in sesame seed oil.  When sesame seed oil is hot, put in minced garlic and chopped ginger.  Once they are a golden brown, put in bok choy.  Stir frequently. Cook for about 3 to 5 minutes.

Happy 4th!

Happy Independence Day!

What does Independence Day mean to you?

Happy Summer!

This winter has been brutal in the ENC.  Summer is finally here in full swing.  Sweet Occasions has some cool ideas to bring that WOW factor to any outdoor get-together.

I was at my favorite hangout-Wal-Mart-and I found some great outdoor ideas in the garden section.  Bugs can ruin any outdoor gathering, but you may not have room for a lot of people inside of you house.  Here are some excellent citronella candles that are also decorative.

1. My favorite is the Galvanized Citronella Bucket candle.  This candle is very decorative, inexpensive, and you don't have that strong insect repellent smell.  This candle is strong enough to put on every other table.  The other tables can be decorated with a like bucket that is filled with candy or cutlery.  If you want to get really creative, these bucket candles also come in beautiful summer colors.
2. I love the way this torch looks on tables.  It doesn't come in as many fun colors as the bucket, but it is beautiful for an evening cookout.  The torch itself glows!
3. This lantern is excellent for day or evening.  It's wonderful for receptions and upscale garden parties.  The lantern also has an awesome range!  They're inexpensive and elegant.
4. An outdoor gathering can always use a tiki torch.  This is a new twist on the bamboo tiki torch.  These mini copper torches are refillable, so they can be used for years to come.

June Recipes of the Month

It's officially summer!!! The children are out of school and everyone wants to cook out. Here is a recipe any griller would lo-o-o-o-o-v-v-v-v-v-ve to make. Also, a cool sweet low-cal drink.

Finger-licking Grilled Chicken

 

4lb Chicken

4tsp. Black pepper

2tsp. Season salt

4tsp. Garlic powder

1c Onion

40oz bottle of Sweet Baby Ray's Hickory & Brown Sugar Barbecue Sauce

1c Yellow mustard

2½c Water

 

Clean chicken by double washing it and trimming any excess fat. You may skin the chicken if you would like. Season chicken with black pepper, season salt, and garlic powder. Be sure to coat the chicken well with seasoning. Set chicken aside while the grill gets hot. Line the racks of the grill with non-stick aluminum foil. If you like grill lines, place foil on the side of the rack facing the charcoal. Don't forget to put holes in the foil. Wait until you get the grill warming good before placing the racks on the grill. You may use dry onions or a fresh onion finely chopped. In a separate bowl, mix Sweet Baby Ray's Hickory & Brown Sugar Barbecue Sauce, mustard, onions, and water together. Stir well until a smooth mixture. Once your grill reaches 350°, place chicken on the grill. Don't worry about leaving space between the chicken. Be sure to place the biggest pieces of chicken in the center of the grill. Let chicken cook about 10 minutes. After that, turn chicken every five to seven minutes. Smaller pieces like legs, wings, and skinless chicken only take about 15 to 20 minutes to cook. Larger pieces take about 20-25 minutes to cook. Stab the center of the chicken to make sure it is done. You can determine that by the clear juices that come out of your chicken. Brush on a thin layer of sauce onto both sides of fully cooked chicken. Cook for 5 minutes on each side. Pour barbecue sauce into the pan that you will be putting the chicken in. Just enough to cover the bottom of the pan. As you fill the pan with chicken, pour a layer of barbecue sauce over the chicken. Any excess sauce can be used on hamburgers, hot dogs, or grilled vegetables. 

 

                                       Fresh Strawberry-Lemonade

 

2 cans of frozen lemonade

4 cups of lemon juice

5 lemons

2 10oz bags of frozen strawberries

10lb bag of ice

 

In a big mixing bowl, mix frozen strawberries and lemon juice. Set the bowl aside. Cut lemons in quarter inch rings. Set them aside. Make frozen lemonade in a 5 gallon drink cooler (or individual pitchers that total 5 gallons) according to the directions on the can. Add strawberry and lemon juice mixture to cooler. Stir well. Finally add the sliced lemons and ice. Let sit for 30 minutes before serving. To add extra flavor, you can add fresh strawberries or raspberries and peaches. Lemonade is best served in a punch bowl, so everyone can get a little fruit with their lemonade.