BACKING UP THE THEME

Souvenir Menus
Basic: Print the menu shown above. 
Ornamental: For a cool start, present the menu as a snowman.

For each menu, you’ll need one piece of 8½x11-inch blue card stock for the background, one piece of white printer paper, black and orange scraps of construction paper for eyes, hat and “carrot” nose and an appropriate piece of cloth, about 8-10 inches in length and about ¾ inch wide, to serve as the snowman’s scarf.
 

First, print the menu on the white paper. Draw the outline of the snowman on this paper. Draw the snowman’s midsection. It is an oval, about 3½ inches wide and 2 inches tall that encompasses the title and subtitle of the menu. Above, and slightly overlapping, draw a circle with about a 2-inch diameter for the snowman’s head. Now, draw the bottom part of the snowman – an oval that is about 6 inches wide and 5 inches tall. Make sure that it contains all the menu items and that it slightly overlaps the midsection. Cut out the snowman shape and position it on the center of the blue card about ¼ inch above the bottom. 
 

Make the scarf. Cut a ½-inch fringe on both short ends. Wrap the scarf behind the snowman’s neck and cross the ends in front. Glue or tape the snowman to the blue card. Using the black construction paper, cut two “coal-shaped” pieces for eyes and glue them in place.  Now, draw a small hat on the black construction paper. Cut and glue on the side of the snowman’s head. Use the orange construction paper to add a “carrot-shaped” nose.  

Symbols. Winter brings to mind cold, snow and ice, evergreen trees, snowballs and snowmen, skiing and ice-skating.  

Color. A wintry theme calls for white in abundance. As well, the lively and cooling sparkle of silver works well, as will accents of green or red. “Cool” colors, especially bright, light blues, also work.  
 

Table decor. Emphasize white. Use shiny flatware, crystal or glass stemware, crystal or glass serving pieces and, if possible, glass plates, or white ones. Placemats of silver would be ideal. Napkins could be white, silver, green, red or blue. If you prefer a tablecloth, you might use one made of manufactured “snow,” one printed with pine boughs or a plain one in red, green or blue.

For an absolutely splendid centerpiece, make a sparkling ice bowl containing colorful emblems of winter. Because it is frozen, you can make it well in advance. Here’s how: 

1 You will need two stainless steel, aluminum or freezer-safe glass bowls, one slightly larger than the other. At least five days before the dinner, fill the larger bowl with one inch of water. Place in freezer, making sure the bottom is flat. 

2. When frozen solid, place the smaller bowl on top of the ice. Tape the two bowls together so that they stay in place. Fill the space between with water, a quarter of the way to the top. Freeze. 

3. Drop in sprigs of holly, pinecones, the ends of pine boughs, red berries or any other reminder of winter. Add cold water to fill the space between bowls halfway to the top.  Freeze until solid. 

4. Add more winter reminders. Fill the space three-quarters full with cold water. Freeze solid. 

5. Add more reminders, fill space to top with cold water and freeze solid. 

6. Next, remove the bowls, using tepid water if necessary. Keep the ice bowl in the freezer for at least 24 hours before using. Place the ice bowl on top of a shallow bowl or platter (to catch the drips) in the center of the table. Even on a hot night, the ice bowl will last for many hours if frozen solid.

Alternatively, you can use styrofoam “snow” balls, pine boughs, or a few Christmas ornaments and scatter silver or snow-flake confetti around the table.

​

Other decor. Set the scene with a large vase of freshly cut pine boughs or other evergreen branches near the door so that guests catch the scent as they enter. Buy some large white foam balls in different sizes and make a “snowman” to greet your guests at the door. Use a small ball for the head and a larger one for the body. Use a thin bamboo skewer to hold the two balls together; insert the bottom of the head onto one end of the skewer and the top of the body ball into the other. We like the “classic” snowman with carrot nose, button eyes and stick arms.  
 

Prop ice skates or skis or snow shoes in a corner of the living room or dining room.  Obtain artificial “snow,” the kind used underneath a Christmas tree, and fix it to the bottoms and up the corners of windows to resemble snow piling up on a windowsill.
 

Use any “snow globes,” carvings or figurines of arctic animals such as polar bears or penguins, miniature evergreen trees, etc. Place them as appropriate to your living and dining areas.  Prepare a bowl of small white foam “snow” balls. If inclined, invite your guests to have a snowball battle. 
 

Music. Prepare a collection of songs such as Let It Snow; Frosty, the Snowman; Winter Wonderland; etc.  

Favor. Make a batch of “dirty snowballs” with the recipe supplied. These luscious little treats covered in powdered sugar look like snowballs and melt in the mouth like snowballs. Put a little surprise inside, a crunchy, chocolate covered coffee bean. Give about 3 “snowballs” to each guest. Wrap in plastic and then make a sachet of silver or white tissue paper. Tie with silver or blue ribbon.
Note for favor:  Remember the snowball battles? The ones when the kids used dirty snow and sometimes put little stones in the center? Toss these “dirty snowballs” into your mouth and bring back the thrill.