Party Food - How to Look Glamorous While Munching

We've all been there - trying to balance our Old Fashioned and a plate of lasagna while doing our best to look chic and soignée so that cute guy we're talking to won't think we're socially challenged. Cocktail parties have their perils and one of them is unwieldy food. With cocktail party season upon us I thought it would be a good idea to discuss the issue of what to serve from the standpoint of it's convenience to interact with. (Disclaimer: This is in no way because I've just released an e-cookbook of recipes in the convenient ball shape... well, maybe just a little bit.)

Party food should, by its very nature be festive. It should call to you from the buffet table, make you want to reach out and taste it. If that were the only consideration, many dishes would fit that bill. But party food should also be easy to manage. There are a number of ways to achieve this. Here are some of my favorites:

- Keep food bite sized. If you pre-portion the food in this way your guests don't have to carry around an entire meal on a plate. Two or three bite sized pieces will fit nicely on a cocktail napkin. These can include the aforementioned balls, things like pigs in a blanket or the ever popular rumaki.

- Eschew the flatware for toothpicks. Though it may seem obvious, many people don't consider the use of toothpicks for serving party meals. They're the perfect delivery method - easy to come by, can be found festively decorated and are expediently discarded.

- Dry coatings. Food that can be picked up with your fingers without leaving them sticky or greasy will be much more popular (and leave your glassware much cleaner) than more messy finger food. Roll tidbits in nuts or crushed cornflakes, bake them in dough or wrap them in rice paper. If you must make gooey food, try presenting it in cupcake wrappers.

Some recipes that fit the bill from my repertoire follow:

Cucumber Sandwiches

Camembert Cheese Balls, from the Myra Breckenridge Cookbook

Butterfly Shrimp from the ABC of Canapés 

Cheese Straws from Ruth Chier Rosen's The Big Spread

Deviled Eggs

Cocktail Biscuits (for cocktail size, use a shot glass to cut them)

Cheddar Cheese Wafers

Swedish Meatballs

And explore my new book, Have a Ball with Brini for more great conveniently shaped party food recipes!

Ask Brini: Lamentable Laminate? Try the Self Adhesive Face Lift!

This week, David in San Antonio writes: "Brini, I recently moved into a new space. The office area has built-ins (which are great) and a desk area. The desk is a very unattractive 'white' formica. Besides replacing the whole piece of formica, is there anything I can do to jazz it up? Something to make it more Brini? David in San Antonio"

Sprucing up our new home with temporary fixes until we can afford to go whole hog is as American as apple pie. Many an old laminate surface has mucked up an otherwise charming room. Until you can get to replacing the top completely, why not try contact paper? This self adhesive wonder is available in many different styles and colors. If you can't find any you like, search eBay and Etsy for vintage varieties.

Careful application is important to achieve a clean look and avoid bubbles. This may not be the desktop you want to live with forever, but it will certainly do until you can replace the surface!

AskBrini.com: Banish Hard Water Stains for a Sparkling Spigot

This week, Timothy from Ontario asks: "Hello Brini, I can't seem to get my bathroom plumbing as clean and sparkling as I would like. Do you have any clever tips for cleaning taps and faucets?"

Keeping your faucets festive shouldn't be a problem. Mine wipe clean with just a touch of foaming bathroom cleaner and a few passes of a sponge. This may not be the case if you have hard water stains. These pesky white spots cling to your chrome and brass like nobody's business. They can be polished away, however, with a little toothpaste. Keep them sparkling by drying them after use or applying a little automobile wax.

Here's to a shine you can see your face in!

Ask Brini - Adored Aural Adornments - What To Do About Lost Earring Backs

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THIS WEEK! ...

Brini from the Vault! ... Welcome to Ask Brini!

In this mail segment from the vault, Brini shares a tip about lost earring backs. There are several things you can do to retain an earring from which you've lost the back.

So... What's Your Problem?!

Ask Brini Anything at http://AskBrini.com ...

Problems with soap dish jelly? Recalcitrant egg-whites? Cranky spouse? Should your carpet match your drapes? Proper etiquette while eating a corn-dog with Republicans? What else can you do with that stripper pole in your bedroom? When is an ice-cube in your mouth a good thing? Whatever it may be, Brini is here for your every need and ready to serve you.

MORE ABOUT BRINI! ►

Described as part Donna Reed, part Mary Tyler Moore, Maxwell makes kitsch feel classy through her unparalleled personal flair for home design, entertaining and savvy household tips. Inspired by a divine thrift shop purchase of 1950's nesting bowls, she first began sharing her vintage/classic know-how with other Manhattanites in 1998 through her self-titled cable access television show. With an emphasis on uncompromising fabulousness, Brini quickly garnered a devoted fan base and established herself as the go-to-girl on vintage fashion and mid-century modern treasures. After five years on the local airwaves her show was picked up by the Style Network. The subsequent series has been called a delightful success and has attracted a diverse audience thorough its national platform.

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Ask Brini: Don't Let the Turkeys Get You Down - Dealing with Negative Friends

This week, Carol writes in about friends who react negatively to her dreams. Sharing your plans and schemes with friends can feel empowering, but unless you're discriminating about who you're sharing with you can be hit with a wall of negativity and resistance. Sometimes it's a good idea to hold your dreams close, keeping them to yourself can conserve their power and help them manifest. When you share, be sure the ones you share with will support you. 

The Maxwell Moment: Tips for Sliced Bread and Wet Watches

This week we delve into the archives for another pair of tips for your kitchen. Spreading butter on sliced bread can lead to torn slices and tears of frustration. Prevent that tsouris by buttering the slice before you cut it!

Your watch is a delicate piece of machinery, even if it is just a cheapo dollar store purchase. Keep it running well by taking it off while doing the dishes and hanging it on a cup hook you install in a handy spot by the sink!

Wrap Session - Gift Wrapping Tips and Ideas

Gift wrapping can be fun! Personally I like to use unexpected materials for my presents. One of them that always makes a statement is wallpaper. In the video below I show you how it can make your gifts stand out. Another favorite idea is to use fashion accessories as gift trims. It makes the gift so chic! I'll also give you a tip for what to do if you have too little paper to wrap that gift!

This video is from my original cable show here in New York. It originally aired in the late 1990's. I hope everyone has a lovely holiday!

Oh! And see Mary Ellen open that gift here: http://youtu.be/6EyxQjqT97c

Creative Decorating the Craigslist Way - Treasures for Tuppence

Hi people! Sorry for the long silence. I've been so busy helping Ben launch The Obscurity Factor that I haven't had a lot of time to post. I've also been doing a lot of Craigslist shopping lately. It's been a very fruitful period of acquisitions from the site. I've been shopping for my apartment and my mother's place. The results have been quite impressive.

The time has come to set up my dining room. I've become convinced that the big, beautiful Windsor chairs I wanted to use are just too large for my apartment, so I've banished them in favor of these little ballroom chairs. They're ubiquitous at weddings and the like, but are rarely used in the home. I plan to give them a makeover to resemble the hutch they're posed in front of - ivory base coat and green detailing with aged affectations. I got quite a bargain on these. They came from two different sellers, but were only $10 a piece.

Now most of you know how much I love to entertain, so a good bar cabinet is a must. I spent some time looking for one and came across this from the 1970's. It has a caned front and plenty of room for libations and their accouterments.

It also has a flip up top with a bin for your bottles and a laminate work surface with an inset ice bucket. Very chic! This one was $100.

My mother recently moved into a new apartment and is gradually replacing old pieces with new. The apartment is much more modern than their last place so I've been helping her find pieces that harmonize. I came across this dresser was lucky enough to snag it for her. She's so pleased with it and it makes quite the statement in the bedroom! The body of it is walnut, but the facade is actually molded plastic. It's really beautifully done and very solid. You can't tell even examining it closely or touching it. This was also a bargain at $500.

Finding deals on Craigslist is time consuming, but it can be done.

- Keep your search terms broad but narrow down the search platform - for example, say you're looking for a vintage refrigerator, search for the term "vintage" only in appliances. That will weed out all the non-vintage refrigerators, but will not weed out the listing with "fridge" or refrigerator misspelled in them. If you're searching for vintage also use the term "retro".

- You have to make it a mission. I search for the items I need every night and email or call the ones I like right away.

- Persistence is the key. Sometimes the sellers aren't that motivated, so you may need to email them several times.

- It really helps to have a car. If you can look at the item and take it away the same day you can usually strike a deal. I enlist the help of friends and family. You can also join one of those rental companies like Zipcar.

- Don't be shy about bargaining, but do it in person. If you have the ready cash the seller is usually willing to give a little - a bird in the hand...

Your results will depend on the market you live in, of course, but I've done some regional searches and found that there are interesting pieces to be had in small markets as well as large. The key is to keep looking.

Here are some of the great Craigslist items that are up right now in the New York area:

This looks like an Adrian Pearsall couch. (Thanks to Pam at RetroRenovation.com for the heads up on Pearsall)

This all-in-one kitchenette is really unique. It's the perfect solution for loft living or for an office that doesn't have a kitchen.

These great Geneva metal cabinets are also up for grabs here in NY. The price is good too.

When you're on a budget, or just looking for something unusual, Craigslist can offer great opportunities. I've also been so delighted with the pleasant human interactions the transactions sometimes provide.

What have you found on Craigslist?

Drown the Dirt Doldrums - Lick Limescale where it Lives

Dingy glassware, dull aluminum, scummy bathtubs... These things are homemaking nightmares that can depress even the most cheerful Suzy Sunshine. Banish their gloomy clouds of dirt and limescale with a simple solution made from common household ingredients!

I had a few things to clean up, so I put them all in plastic bin and filled it with a solution of hot tap water, half a bottle of white vinegar and a couple of tablespoons of cream of tarter. I let the bin sit until the water had cooled to room temperature, then pulled the items out and washed them with dish soap and a nylon scrubbie and all the offending detritus just rinsed away.

It's the perfect solution for aluminum, which can't be cleaned with ammonia because it pits. While it won't remove burnishing, it will eat through all that accumulated, dulling residue.

Crystal vases, when used regularly, can develop limescale and hard to remove bits of plant matter that cloud their clarity. This treatment will soak through all that unpleasantness and leave a crystal clear shine.

This method also works on bathtubs and other plumbing fixtures. Just fill the tub with hot water, pour in a bottle of white vinegar and some cream of tarter and let sit over night. The next morning all that hard to remove scunge will just wipe away! My friend Mike from California, who's more of a clean freak than I am suggested this to me. It's especially effective on fiberglass tubs which can't be scrubbed with abrasives. Give it a try!

To Sleep, Perchance to Dream Part 3 - Resting on a Cloud

With three previous posts on my sofa bed you might think I'm a trifle obsessed with it - and you'd be right. Here is number 4! The reason for my obsession is that when you live in a studio apartment, it's a very important piece of furniture. It must perform three functions, and they must be performed flawlessly. It's taken some work, but I've now gotten two of the three perfected - comfortable seating and comfortable sleeping. The latter is what I'll address today with a great product that has turned what is normally an unpleasant, lumpy sleep experience into a dream - an Air Dream, in fact.

When I was deciding what sort of sleeping situation I wanted in my new apartment I considered a day bed, but was worried about the room looking like a bedroom all the time and a murphy bed, but that would have required some major demolition and construction with the current layout of my place. A sofa bed seemed like the best option to make the place work for entertaining and still provide me a real bed. If Mary could do it, so could I.

My one concern with the whole sofa bed oeuvre was the notoriously uncomfortable sleeping experience. I set out to see if there had been any advances in sofa bed sleep technology and was pleasantly surprised to find the Air Dream mattress. Its air over coil technology easily eliminates the bar across your back that is the hallmark of a sofa bed mechanism. Simply inflate the mattress with the included air pump...

...and it becomes an 11" thick mattress that feels like a regular bed. Here it is dressed out in some of my vintage sheets.

The next morning just flip up the cap on the air chamber and it deflates quickly.

After making sure all the air is out of the ends and corners it folds up like a normal sofa bed mattress.

I had a few concerns before ordering, so I called the company to ask some questions. I spoke with Sean and he was very helpful. I was worried about what to do if there was a power failure. I couldn't inflate the mattress without power. Sean said that I could sleep on the mattress without inflating it, just like sleeping on a regular sofa bed mattress because under the air bladder is a standard flexible coil mattress. My sleep experience wouldn't be as comfortable as with the bladder inflated, but it would do in a pinch. My second question had to do with longevity. This mattress is really designed to be a guest room replacement. I wanted to know how well it would hold up to daily use. Sean told me that as long as I took care of it (making sure the air had all been expelled before folding it up, not letting the bladder get pinched in the mechanism, etc.) it would be just fine - plus, there is a three year warranty on the mattress, air chamber and valve. So I was sold, I ordered it and haven't looked back. It's been a wonderful solution for me.

You can find them on their website. They're a great solution for guests and daily use alike. Just so you know this isn't a biased review, I did pay full price for my mattress, and I do feel that it was worth it.

No more sofa bed posts. I promise! At least not until I address the third important aspect - how it looks, and get it reupholstered...

Alcohol - It's Not Just for Cocktails Anymore

As most of you know, I can be a bit obsessive. I like things nice and neat. While moving, I removed some beautiful lucite shelves from my old bedroom and found that they had taken some of the paint off the wall with them.

I tried carefully chipping it away with my nail, but it didn't do the trick. If the pieces had been anything other than plastic, I might have used acetone - my go to solvent for removing gunky build up, sticker residue and paint from most surfaces. But acetone dissolves plastic, so I would have had a frosted, marred mess on my hands. I chose rubbing alcohol. It's every bit as good as acetone, and doesn't mar the finish of Lucite, acrylic and other plastics.

It takes a bit of elbow grease, but a touch of rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball will remove all sorts of detritus. I had to use several cotton balls, and it was a messy process.

But the results are stunning. Just look how clean and clear that corner is now! If you'd like to try it yourself, here are a few tips: Be sure and test the alcohol on a small, hidden corner to be sure it doesn't mar the finish. Depending on how much paint or build-up you're trying to remove, it may take some time, and patience. Never smoke while doing this - alcohol is flamable. It's so satisfying to see things all nice and clean again!

I've just listed these shelves on eBay. Have a look!

I'll have some holiday posts up soon - I promise!

Out, Out Damn Spot - The Fine Art of Oven Cleaning

This post comes a little late in the day because it's content took longer to create than I expected. I've been slowly cleaning up my new vintage Frigidaire Flair range.

Bit by bit, I've been stripping away the grime to reveal a little gem. Today, I tackled the oven cavity.

Having come from a home that had been rented to multiple tenants (none of whom seemed to have the slightest interest in domestic cleanliness) and, well, being almost 50 years old, it was quite a mess, as you can see - and this was after the initial attempt at cleaning it out with hot water and bleach cleaner, which picked up the majority of the crusty drips and spills.

I have a great way to make cleaning an electric oven quite a bit easier and I was excited to implement it on my new baby. I made sure I had everything I needed for the job on hand before I picked a day to start. This method entails filling a bowl with household ammonia and putting it on the top rack, over a pot of water that has just come off a rolling boil.

You then close the oven door and let it stand over night - or in my case, all afternoon (don't try this method on a gas oven - the fumes are flammable). After about 7 or 8 hours, I opened up the oven to begin the real work. In most cases you can just wipe away the spots and stains with a damp sponge. The ammonia fumes are very good at softening grime. In my case it wasn't quite so easy. I had to resort to a nylon scrubber dipped in the ammonia, mixed with dish washing detergent and water to remove the baked on splatters of melted hard candy or exploded batch of crystal meth or whatever it was that had so tenaciously adhered itself to the walls and floor of the oven. It took several hours of scrubbing, letting the ammonia mixture sit on the spots, then scrubbing again. In between times I worked on the racks in the sink. I eventually had to put the racks in a black plastic bag, pour undiluted ammonia over them, tie the bag and put it on the fire escape for several hours to soak off the crusty residue. It was quite an afternoon. My back and shoulders are sore - not to mention my hands. And my fingers are dry, even after being sheathed in fetching orange rubber gloves. However, it was worth it. I can now step back and admire a clean oven.

It's not perfect, but it's decidedly better than it was, and, once it's installed, I believe I'll feel comfortable making a roast or my coconut brownies in there now. Next, the stove top!

The High Cost of Moving - Cutting it Down to Size

I've been madly packing, getting ready for my move. Being the frugal lass that I am, I'm appalled by the cost of packing material! Boxes, wrapping paper, tape, it all costs an arm and a leg. I have some solutions that I'd like to share with you, though.

When it comes to boxes you don't need to contribute to the deforestation of the earth. Repurposing boxes is a great way to save the earth and save a buck at the same time. Finding boxes is as simple as asking for them. Liquor stores are more than happy to get rid of their boxes and the ones they give you are perfect for packing books! Supermarkets, big box stores, even your building super are great sources for boxes. Just ask!

A move is always a good time to purge yourself of unnecessary belongings. One of the things you can get rid of is financial records older than 7 years (according to my accountant). Keep your actual tax documents, but all the support documents - bank statements, cancelled checks, old bills, receipts, etc - can be gotten rid of. Don't just throw these documents away. They need to be shredded, preferably by a cross-cut shredder.

I had documents dating back to 1986! I spent evenings for a few weeks sitting in front of the television running these documents through my shredder. After shredding them, I put them in big bags and set them aside in anticipation of my upcoming move. I've been using the shreds to pack my breakables!

It's a great, free source of packing material for me and works perfectly to fill out the boxes and pad the china and glass. I wouldn't use them to ship your eBay sales for fear of identity theft, but they're perfect for moving and storage.

Moral of the story? Don't let the cost of moving deplete your renovation and redecorating budgets! A little creativity will cut those expenses in half.

04-09 Neat and Nifty - Iron your Fringe

Hello people! This week we have an episode for those of you that are particularly anal retentive. I’m showing you how to iron fringe. Keeping all our strands going in the right direction is important!It's a simple three step process - you'll need a wide toothed comb that doesn't have any burrs on the teeth, so as to not snag the delicate fibers of the fringe. Start by taking a small section of fringe and combing it out on your ironing board. Then run the iron over it. Repeat the process 3 or 4 times, then lay the fringe flat, put the iron down on it near the "roots" and, applying medium pressure, pull the fringe out from under it. You'll be amazed at the results!

In addition to that, we have lots of things to talk about. I was recently featured on the cover of the online crafting magazine “Snippets”, which is a part of the delightful UK site Cut out and Keep. The article is a lot of fun. Be sure and have a look! The aprons featured in the article are available on Felix Populi and we’ve just reduced the price from $32 to $25. They make great hostess gifts and are fun and practical in the kitchen. Be sure and have a look!

#03-24 A Word to the Wise - Tips for a Better Life

Hi people! Brini here with some fun tips. This week we're featuring a couple of tips from the last season of the original show. It's about tooth brushes - use them to clean your grout - and folding fitted sheets. It's not as hard as it looks. Watch and see!

#03-22 Bright and Clean, Always Under Foot - The Care and Cleaning of Carpets

Hi people, Brini here, and this week on the show we’re taking care of your carpet! It’s important to keep your wall to wall looking fresh. It’s a big investment, and a shabby floor makes for a shabby home.

A clipper comb is perfect for shaving the pills off your low pile Berber carpet. You can also find a little electric razor designed for the purpose that’s better for high or loose looped pile carpets. Simply run the clipper along the surface of the carpet with the blade tilted just above the surface and the pills come right off!

Carpet dents can be removed with a spritz of water. The dents will relax with the water and a little fidgeting.

I was pleased to find that the spots on my carpet almost all came up with Kaboom, that product from late night television. Although Orange Glo no longer makes the stain remover (they’ve migrated the Kaboom brand over to bathroom cleaners) I’m pleased to recommend Spot Shot Carpet Stain Remover. Though I haven’t used it myself, I’ve had positive reports from other’s about the effectiveness of it. Of course, be sure and test any spot remover on a hidden area of your carpet before using it on an exposed area.

For more useful tips on home maintenance have a look at the tips section of the part of my website devoted to my Style Network show.

#03-06 Come Out of the Closet - Or at Least Make it Pretty!

This week on the show we’re beginning our renovation in the closet. We’re making the closet a joy to open and a delight for your clothes. Most people paint their closets white and there is a practical consideration for that – white closets make it easier to find what you’re looking for, but if your home is nice and bright you can indulge in a flight of fancy and make a statement with your closet. I used colorful paint that was left over from other projects so, for me, it was a thrifty project as well. But you can brighten your closets with pretty paper or other paint schemes as well. Make your closet pretty enough and you may never want to leave it!

#03-04 Afternoons Alfresco - Frolicsome Fun

Hello people, and welcome back to my blog. This week on the show we’re putting that picnic together. Yes, it’s finally time to collect our food and go out into the wilderness – or at least one of New York’s beautiful parks and enjoy alfresco dining.

Successful picnics are all about planning. Here’s what you need to help make your picnic go smoothly:

A hamper to carry your food and supplies

A ground cover

Plates (I like melmac)

Cups (collapsible ones are great for small hampers)

Flatware and napkins (for these I use disposable. Less to wash and carry home)

Handiwipes (for cleaning fingers after eating messy finger foods)

A cold pack (for keeping food cool from kitchen to picnic grounds)

Ant stakes (to anchor your ground cover and repel those hungry little critters)

And of course your food!

When packing your hamper, be sure not to pack the ant stakes with the food – we don’t want to contaminate our meal! Put them in a plastic bag and attach them to the handle with a twist tie. Then they won’t be forgotten but will be kept a safe distance from lunch.

If you’re packing a picnic for a crowd you’ll probably need at least two hampers – one for the food and one for the supplies. This is a wonderful opportunity to flirt! Get one of the big strong men from the party to help you carry everything.

Picnics are wonderful for children. They don’t have to mind their manners so much and spills aren’t such a tragedy. Make it a nature appreciation picnic and explore what the out-of-doors has to offer with your kids. Who knows, you may learn something too! 

Another fun recipe for picnics is my potato salad. You can find it in my book, Brini Maxwell’s Guide to Gracious Living. It’s available right here on my site!

#17 Butter Fingers

Hello people, time for another episode! This week it's all about keeping your rubber gloves from getting holey, (just put cotton balls in the finger tips), and making sure your butter doesn't burn (add a drop of olive oil to the pan). Be sure and watch!

Next week we'll resume featuring longer episodes, though I'm still on hiatus so you won't see new intro and wrap up segments, I'm afraid. You'll have to wait until fall for that. 

Until next time!

#16 Itching for Summer

Hello people, this week on the show I'm talking about medicine chests.

I sunk mine into a spot to one side of the sink because of a pesky drainage pipe and instead of facing it with a mirror I covered it with a painting. Clever, no? Why not try it yourself. Even if you have the standard medicine cabinet over your sink a second one can be a big boon for storage! 

Now that summer is here we're much more prone to little skin irritations. I've found that a small dose of vitamin A helps clear up the itches of summer. Be sure not to take too take more than directed, however, too much over too long a period can cause problems with your liver. Consult your physician before beginning any vitamin regimen.