Bella Ink Blog

A Bourbon Slush from Bella Ink's Kentuckian

If you'll be watching the Kentucky Derby from home, tomorrow, we suggest running out to the store, today, and purchasing the ingredients for our resident Kentuckian's favorite warm weather beverage of choice, The Bourbon Slush Punch.

Bourbon Slush Punch

2 sm. cans frozen orange juice
2 sm. cans frozen lemonade
4 tea bags
2 cups water
1 & 1/2 cups sugar
2 cups bourbon
7 cups boiling water
7-Up (to top off)

Prepare punch ahead of time. Mix all ingredients together, except for 7-Up. (Makes 1 gallon) Pour punch into sturdy, plastic containers and freeze. Remove each container from the freezer 30 minutes before serving. Break into chunks and fill glasses almost to the top, then add 7-Up. Stir until slushy.

The Bourbon Slush Punch is a bit off tradition since many people tend to sip on Mint Juleps at the derby, so we also suggest donning the beautiful hair clip or fascinator you wore in honor of the recent royal wedding at your party, too. (And you thought you'd only wear it once.)  The hair clip pictured, below, is from BHLDN.

Bella Ink Designs' Spooky Team Meeting

Once a month the team at Bella Ink Designs gathers to discuss everything from new products to general business operations and when we do, we like to eat.  This month we went with a Halloween/Fall food theme.  Pictured above are the delicious desserts that team member Kristin "whipped" up.  We swear she has more hours in her day than the rest of us! 

The glittery witch is hitching a ride on a bag of pretzels with a melted Rollo in the center, topped with a pecan.  The cupcakes... they're pumpkin with a homemade cream cheese frosting.  Each cupcake is sporting a black wrap that we found out doubles quite nicely as a tiara. 

As for the rest of the menu, we overindulged on butternut squash soup from Trader Joe's, a quinoa salad from Whole Foods, cranberry turkey sandwiches and homemade ranch flavored pretzels.  (We had no idea everybody was harboring all these fabulous, easy recipes!)

So, what was discussed?  You'll just have to wait and see come December.  We can guarantee that the Spring 2011 line is beautiful and diverse, though.

Ingredients for Cranberry Turkey Sandwiches

Shaved Turkey (1 lb made 7 sandwiches), Cranberry Sauce (Whole), Multi-Grain Bread, Cream Cheese, Mayo, Apple Slices (Or Cucumber Slices), Alfalfa Sprouts, Red Onion (Thinly Sliced). 

Cinco de Mayo Beeritas

HAPPY CINCO de MAYO FROM BELLA INK DESIGNS!!!

You can't have a Cinco de Mayo celebration without Margaritas. If you don't have time to run out between work and your at home soiree for margarita mix, don't worry because you probably already have a key substitute in your fridge... Light Beer!

I wish I could say I had been skeptical of this mix, but I never had the chance.  At a small gathering last weekend I was handed a regular looking, yummy margarita.  When I complimented the chef she let me in on her little secret.  A few summers ago she was craving margaritas but didn't have any margarita mix.  She had the tequila and a good friend there, who happened to be a bartender, and he remembered a recipe that included light beer.  

Below is Rachel Ray's version of a Beerita, courtesy of her February 2007 issue of Every Day with Rachel Ray:

Four 12-ounce bottles of cold, light beer, like Corona

1 Cup (8 ounces) Tequila

One 12-Ounce can of frozen limeade concentrate

Lime Wedges

Kosher salt

In a large pitcher, combine the beer, tequila and limeade.  Rub a lime wedge around the rim of each glass and dip them in the salt.  Pour the margaritas into the glasses and garnish with a lime wedge.

Give it a try tonight and you'll probably be a convert.  And, as always, enjoy responsibly!  

That's Amore

Christina, our resident shipping pro and all around fabulous studio assistant, is gifting all of you with one of her mom's homemade marinara recipes this holiday season.  Being Italian, Christina and her family know a thing or two about this classic sauce. You'll find that a hearty & lovingly homemade meal doesn't have to involve a lot of ingredients you've never heard of before. 

Mom's Marinara Sauce

1 Cup Olive Oil (or less, if desired)

1/2 Cup Parsley

3 Basil Leaves

2 to 3 Garlic Cloves, Salt & Pepper (to taste)

2 Large Cans of Crushed Tomatoes

Saute garlic, parsley, and basil.  Stir in tomatoes.  Cook for one half hour.  Add 1/2 cup olive oil and cook for 15 minutes, slowly (simmer).  Add in more olive oil, if desired.

Slow cook this simple sauce, and then pour over any pasta dish for a flavorful Italian dinner staple.  Remember to sop up any leftover sauce on your plate with some toasted garlic bread! 

Christina has become an indispensable addition to the Bella Ink team, giving us so much of her time and energy while simultaneously planning her 2009 wedding and working on a Masters Degree.  Melissa, Bella Ink's owner, recently decided to thank Christina by printing out her engagement party invitations using WT-23 "Forever" (pictured).

Memorable Menus

Bella Ink Designs serves those who like to celebrate life's greatest moments. Whether you choose to have a small gathering or a big blowout, what you serve your guests is completely up to you. We have just one suggestion, though. Help the meal you've put so much effort and thought into take center stage by printing memorable menus on extra or coordinating invitations.

Lay one menu on each place setting or frame a couple and incorporate them into your tablescape for an elegant and informative touch that lends cohesion to the event's theme. If you choose invitations with space near the top to print each guest's name, then you've got a menu and a place card all in one!

This holiday season, whether you're hosting Thanksgiving dinner, a cookie exchange or a New Year's Eve bash, take a moment to have the shop where you purchased your invitations print up a few as menus. When the night is over, stick a couple in your scrapbook with the evening's photos. Now get cookin'!

(Bell Ink cards Line 1: WT-14 & CT-34; Line 2: PH-21 & PH-26)

BELLA BBQ

Believe it or not, in one short month the last party of the summer will be upon us—Labor Day weekend! The first weekend in September can be quite toasty in Chicago, so many of our Labor Day celebrations are held outdoors. Whether we’re on the lake, at the beach or in somebody’s backyard it’s always about the food!

Kim, one of the original Bella Ink Girls, and her family, takes the art of BBQ seriously. She’s the proud owner of a big traditional smoker, which she loads up with anything seasoned in her family’s favorite Kansas City Rib Rub recipe. You can find that recipe, below, and many more in the Smoke & Spice cookbook by Cheryl Alters Jamison and Bill Jamison.

Kansas City Rib Rub—Serves 6
1 Cup Brown Sugar
½ Cup Paprika
2 ½ Tablespoons Ground Black Pepper
2½ Tablespoons Salt
1 ½ Tablespoons Chili Powder
1 ½ Tablespoons Garlic Powder
1 ½ Tablespoons Onion Powder
1 to 2 Teaspoons Cayenne

You'll also need a sweet, tomato-based BBQ Sauce and 3 Full Slabs of Pork Spareribs, “St. Louis Cut” (Trimmed of the chine bone and brisket flap), preferably 3 pounds each or less.

The night before your big BBQ bash, combine the rub ingredients in a bowl. (This does not include the BBQ sauce!) Apply 1/3 of the rub to the slabs, evenly. Reserve the rest of the spice mixture. Place the slabs into a plastic bag and refrigerate overnight.

On the day of the cook-out, take the ribs from the refrigerator and sprinkle lightly with the rub, reserving the rest of the mixture for later. Let the slabs sit at room temperature for 30-40 minutes.

Preheat your smoker to 200-220 degrees. Transfer meat to the smoker and cook about 4 hours, turning and sprinkling with dry-rub about halfway through. In the last 45 minutes of cooking, slather ribs once or twice with BBQ sauce.

When ready, the meat will bend easily between the ribs. The sauce should be gooey and sticky. Allow the slabs to sit for 10 minutes before slicing into individual ribs. Serve with more sauce on top or on the side. Dig in!

Don't forget to rev-up party goers with a fun invitation that sets the tone for the day’s events. Our PT-34, fittingly named “Bar-B-Q,” has a Kim-inspired BBQ hostess enticing guests to your party with a platter of burgers and corn on the cob. Try to send your invites out at least 3 weeks before your event to give guests time to check their calendars and RSVP.

(Kim comes into the Bella Ink Designs’ studio three times a week to hand-glitter and pack orders. When her loyal lab, Lily, isn't busy burying leftover bones in the backyard, she'll occasionally join us in the studio, too!)

Signature Summer Cocktail: Limoncello Punch

Every party planner, from the intimate in-house hostess to the backyard bash barista can save money when they choose to serve a signature drink rather than stock a full bar at their next summer soiree. Our Studio and Marketing Director, Heather, has a refreshing family recipe that won't weigh you down in the humidity!

Limoncello Punch
(Recipe courtesy of: J. Derango)

1 Bottle (750 ml) Limoncello
1 Bottle (750 ml) Asti
1-Liter Lemon-Lime Soda

Pour all ingredients into a medium to large pitcher or punch bowl, add ice to chill and serve.

Print the recipe on colorful invitations, such as our PT-71 (Fruit Cocktail), and leave a stack near the punch as a fun souvenir for your guests! And always remember to offer non-alcoholic beverages for underage guests and for those who prefer not to drink. Enjoy!

(Heather works on collections, customer service & marketing projects at Bella Ink Designs. She traveled with 18 of her closest relatives to Italy this summer where the Limoncello flowed freely)

Visit www.bellaink.com to order (retailers) or to find a boutique card & gift shop near you!