Irish owned family business – Free shipping over €50!
Hosting A Baby Shower
We have plenty of useful tips to help hosting a Baby Shower from start to finish and you can find lots of advice on our Baby Shower Party page over at BabyShower.ie. Usually most Baby Showers are held in the last trimester and are organised by the Mum-to-Be’s friends and family. When deciding on a date for the Baby Shower it’s best to consult with the Mum-to-Be to make sure that it doesn’t clash with any prior appointments she may have. Also check that the time of day you plan to hold the Baby Shower is convenient for everyone as some guests may have children at school or work commitments to plan around.
Baby Showers are normally held at the home of the hostess but you could think about other venues such as local restaurants or hotels (see Celebrity Baby Showers). Hosting the Baby Shower at your home has the benefit of a more relaxed atmosphere where guests can play Baby Shower games. Once the venue is decided take care to send out the invitations out well in advance so that guests can attend. If the Baby Shower has a theme you can choose invitations to match or you can include the details about your theme as part of the invite.
If you are hosting the Baby Shower from your home and have quite a few people coming then a buffet or finger foods are the easiest and quickest option. Party food can be bought from most supermarkets but it is simple to make yourself if you want to. There are certain foods that pregnant women are advised to avoid such as soft cheese (brie or mould-ripened cheeses like stilton) and pâté, so it is best to check your menu with the Mum-to-Be. Make sure you have plenty of variety of foods available to cater for all tastes – including a vegetarian option.
Mini pasties, bite sized quiches and vol-au-vents can be made beforehand and frozen until you need them . . . and of course don’t forget a selection of yummy cup cakes! Canapés are a good idea and can be made the day before the Baby Shower – these are small slices of puff pastry, bread, pizza or toast cut into various shapes and topped with savoury pastes or garnishes. Fresh fruit and cruditiés (raw vegetables such as carrot sticks, asparagus or celery served with a dip) are also a good standby.
You can incorporate your Baby Shower theme into your food with themed party supplies such as plates, cups, table cloths, confetti, balloons and banners. A Baby Shower cake decorated to match your theme makes a wonderful centre piece and doubles up as a dessert! Don’t forget that not everyone will be wanting an alcoholic drink so include a fruit punch on your menu. You can serve your Punch hot or cold depending on the season you are holding the Baby Shower. Here are some recipes to help!
Cranberry Punch
4 cups fresh Cranberries
2 cartons Cranberry Juice
2 cups sugar
8 whole cloves
4 star anise
4 cinnamon sticks
2 apples, sliced
Juice of 3 Lemons
Juice of 3 Oranges
1 litre water
Add all the ingredients to a large pan and simmer gently until the sugar is dissolved. Serve hot!
Mushroom and Bacon Vol-au-vents
8 vol-au-vent cases
2 tsp butter
2 slices bacon, diced
1 tbsp minced shallot
6 oz mushrooms, chopped
pinch crushed garlic
pinch of chopped fresh thyme
¼ cup good beef stock
2 cups double cream
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
fresh parsley
Melt the butter in a frying pan, add the bacon and shallots and sauté until the shallots are soft. Add the mushrooms and garlic and sauté for 2 minutes longer. Add the thyme, stock, and cream, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer and cook until the sauce thickens slightly. Season with salt and pepper. Allow to cool slightly before spooning equal amounts of the filling into each vol-au-vent case. Garnish with parsley.
Last but not least . . . have fun!
