Weekend Way

Weekend Way What is it about the call of the sea? Its colors soothe us, its sounds relax us, and the shells washed from its depths become treasures we gather and claim as our own. It is at the same time rejuvenating and relaxing, calming and inspiring, cool yet warm. To capture this mood at a party is to guarantee your guests a good time. Set on the beach with waves lapping against the sand and a warm breeze ruffling the table linens, the scene is unpretentiously elegant. Make it an intimate gathering—a birthday celebration for a spouse, an engagement party, a milestone anniversary. The palette draws from the spunkier shades of blues—teals, turquoises, and aquamarines—softened with white candles and billowing white sheering draped from bamboo poles to make a grand entrance. Seating is simple—a low folding table set on the sand and covered with a teal cloth, surrounded by tufted floor cushions with seawater stripes. The menu is beautifully beachy. Begin with Blue Cabo Martinis and clams and shrimp served in sand buckets. (It is a celebration, after all.) Dessert is dreamy white meringues with lighter-than-air lime filling. And while the sea is undeniably a scene-stealer, you can always re-create the table setting at home to tide you over until your next weekend away.   Accent Pieces: Mood lighting is a must, and candles keep it soft and inviting. Fill frosted blue glass tumblers halfway with sand—enough to anchor the elegant white tapers. A deep Caribbean blue decanter and large pieces of white coral play up the shimmering color of Blue Cabo Martinis, inspired by the ever-changing colors of the sea. Place Settings: Every element springs from the sea, making coordination effortless. Place mats are faux mother of pearl. The scalloped edges of the white plates mimic waves. Napkins with ocean blue stripes are ensconced in starfish napkin rings. They’re easy to make—just hot-glue a white starfish to a plain white napkin ring. Centerpiece: Simplicity has never been more irresistible. Two glass cylinder vases—one slightly taller than the other —are filled with a hodgepodge of seashells and coral. A few inches of sand in the bottom adds to the ambience and prevents the shells from breaking when you drop them in. You can buy bags of shells at craft stores or pull from your own collection for sentimental value. Place Card Favors: A seashell picture frame announces the gathering. You can include takeaway favors that double as place cards. Simply buy miniature seashell frames, slip a name card in the photo opening, and set one at each place. Or buy miniature mixed shells and make your own by hot-gluing them around the edges of a ready-made frame. Finish with white cording hot-glued around the edges. Serving Idea: Sand pails double as spectacular shellfish grab-and-go servers. Lime-Cream Meringues Meringues

• 3 egg whites
• ½ teaspoon vanilla, McCormick®
• ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 cup sugar

Filling

• 2 cups whipping cream
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon lime-flavor gelatin, Jell-O®

1. Let egg whites stand in a large mixing bowl for 30 minutes. Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil; draw eight 3-inch circles. Add vanilla and the cream of tartar to egg whites. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form (tips curl). Add 1 cup sugar, a tablespoon at a time, beating on high speed until very stiff peaks form (tips stand straight) and sugar is almost dissolved. 2. Spread or pipe meringue over circles on paper and shape into shells. Bake in a 300 degree F oven for 30 minutes. Turn oven off; let meringues dry in oven with door closed for at least 1 hour (do not open door). Peel off paper. Store in an airtight container. 3. In a chilled mixing bowl, beat together the whipping cream, the 1 tablespoon sugar, and lime gelatin. Beat just until stiff peaks form. Spoon into a pastry bag or a resealable plastic bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe filling into shells. Makes 8 servings. Blue Cabo Martini

• Ice cubes
• 2 parts tequila, Jose Cuervo®
• 1 part blue curaçao, DeKuyper®
• 1 tablespoon frozen limeade concentrate, Minute Maid®
• Lemon-lime soda, Sprite®

1. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add tequila, curaço, and frozen limeade concentrate. Shake vigorously. 2. Pour into martini glass and top with lemon-lime soda. Makes 1 drink.