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Pesto Orecchiette with Chicken Sausage

Posted by Milena Kukurekovic ·

Pesto Orecchiette with Chicken Sausage

I love pasta salad ANY time of the year, but it is especially a spring BBQ side dish favorite. Here is a new one - Pesto Orecchiette with Chicken Sausage - for you to test out that could even include sausage cooked on the grill! It is an easy pasta dish, ready in under twenty minutes, and always a crowd-pleaser!

 

Ingredients you need:

  • 12 ounces orecchiette or similar pasta (we used shells)
  • 1/2 pound green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 8 ounces fully cooked Italian-style chicken sausage links, thinly sliced
  • 1/3 cup pesto
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan (2 ounces)

Directions:

Step 1: Cook the pasta following the instructions on the package, adding the green beans and peas during the last 3 minutes of cooking.

Step 2: Save 1 cup of the cooking water for later before draining the pasta and vegetables. 

Step 3: Put them back in the pot.

Step 4: While the pasta is cooking, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. 

Step 5: Cook the sausage, turning occasionally until browned, 6 to 8 minutes - or, if you so choose, fire up the grill instead! Just be sure to slice the sausage AFTER they are grilled if that's the route you go.

Step 6: Mix the sausage, pesto, Parmesan, and 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking water to the pasta and vegetables and toss together. Add more cooking water if the pasta seems dry.

Step 7: Serve with one of our sustainably produced, biodegradable palm leaf plates and bowls.

 

  

This recipe is a keeper! Simple and delicious! I hope you will love this recipe as much as we do! It's hearty and just so good.

 

Featured Smarty Products:

Square Palm Leaf Eco Friendly Disposable Bowls  Natural Birch Eco Friendly Disposable Wooden Cutlery Set Square Palm Leaf Eco Friendly Disposable Plates

 

Complementary Smarty Disposable Party Plasticware:  

 

Trend Alert: Miniature Foods

Posted by Milena Kukurekovic ·

Trend Alert: Miniature Foods

Move over bacon - there is a new trend in town. Miniature versions of your favorite foods will be hitting party tables across America this year. No more indecision about which entree to pick - with these bite-sized delights, you can try one of each! Of course, the key to this delectable display is a presentation with each bite looking like a fully-prepared miniature gourmet meal. Give each guest a little something special by serving each food option in its own signature miniature dish.
mini-dish-miniature-food
The best part about this trend is that it gives your guests a variety of foods to whet their pallet without breaking your wallet. Miniature foods are often just as cost-friendly as serving appetizers and hors d'oeuvres and still gives an air of "full meal."
miniature-food-display-Ellipse-Black-Sample-Plates

The fun aspect of miniature foods is that it gives the creative caterer a lot of leeway for presentation and styling. Displaying the miniature dishes on top of tiered stands presents an opportunity for a colorful and pleasing view, ensuring the adorable dessert tables we are all so fond of.

plastic-shooters-food-dessert
Another cost-cutting benefit of small servings is that event hosts may be able to forgo the use of china entirely - instead, they can opting for tiny plastic dinnerware that is conducive to proper portions. On the Smarty Had A Party website, you can found a fabulous range of miniware, including bowls, plates, trays, forks, spoons, cups, wine glasses, and more in different sizes, shapes, colors, and designs to suit any theme of your party. Plus, our mini plastic party supplies are conveniently disposable to allow you to speed up your end-of-day cleanup process.

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To add to the experience of sample-sized fare, consider having the chef in an open area where all the guests can watch as the cuisine is created. The chef doubles as entertainment for your guests and creates a conversation piece all at the same time. And if you're really into mini - consider serving two or three signature miniature cocktails at your soiree to add to your arsenal. You know what they say 'dynamite comes in small packages!' 
 
 
 

Complementary Smarty Disposable Party Plasticware:  

The Best Easter Tablescape Ideas

Posted by Milena Kukurekovic ·

The Best Easter Tablescape Ideas

Finally, winters have bid adieu to us, and we are all set to welcome the most glorious time of the year. Yes - it is springtime, which comes along with Easter. A celebratory time that ushers a sense of positivity, joy, and much-needed cheer. It is finally time to celebrate spring's bounty, cherish, and all the wonderful things this lovely season has to offer. Among all the ways you can celebrate this exciting holiday, we think setting up a lavish Easter table and gathering your loved ones is definitely the best way to make your party eggs-tra special!
Tablescapes are one of Smarty's favorite hobbies, so you have come to the right place - we have assembled a sp-egg-tacular Easter tablescape that will even get the bunny hop with joy! And to create this beautiful tablescape or tablescapes for your guests, you don't even need to spend a large sum of money. Smarty Had A Party will give you good reason to call off your Easter table settings hunt for good.
Instead of paying a big fortune and waste a lot of time setting the perfect table, with Smarty's fabulous disposable plastic tableware and gorgeous tablescape ideas, you will be able to host a festive and memorable Easter party. Just purchase everything you need at smartyhadaparty.com and keep on scrolling to find out what we used to create a whimsical-looking Easter table that will surely impress everyone!
Easter is a time to celebrate spring, new life, and nature renewals, so take advantage of nature's awakening by hosting a springtime Easter feast outdoors. The holiday falls on the most pleasant part of the spring season, so having the lovely springtime feast outdoors will make your celebration even more special.

Tablecovers

There is something vintage about blush pink tablecloth, and along with a light green floral placemat, it makes a perfect foundation for an easter-inspired setup. Besides pink, you can also experiment with ivory, light blue, and other pastel hues.

Place Settings

After you dressed up the table, your next step should be to accommodate each guest with fancy dinnerware. To further spruce up your tablescape with a splash of pastel hues, you can use our beautiful Blue Beaded Charger Plates and  Turquoise Vintage Round Disposable Plastic Dinnerware Value Set that is charmingly paired with the refreshing flair of light green floral placemat and the vintage charm of our blush pink tablecloth. To make the table extra festive blend in some shimmering metallic tones into your holiday color palette by opting for a Shiny Metallic Silver Flatware Set.

Drinkware

For serving wine, sparkling juice, or any other delicious beverage at your Easter celebration, you can dress up our crystal clear cups, champagne flutes, coffee mugs, and wine glasses with fun Easter flower tapes and pink flowers. Simply glue flower tape over the glasses, stick a pink flower in the middle and serve them up. These glass embellishments will surely add a festive and unique touch to your Easter tablescape.

Dinner Napkins

An easy way to spice up your table decor is with some festive dinner napkins. Instead of buying expensive linen napkins and waste time on laundering, this year, use our disposable flower paper napkins and a touch of colorful style to your table decor. Just wrap an Easter-inspired napkin ring around your favorite napkin and set it up in our Clear Small Disposable Plastic Concave Cup along with Easter eggs and fresh flowers. A beautiful small cup with eggs beside that help balance the color theme also makes a nice favo+r to give to guests.

Additional Accessories

It is no secret that additional accessories give an extra charm to the entire setup. Highlight your table with various decorative accessories like wooden or paper bunnies to accentuate your table decor. Moreover, create a couple of charming Easter flower arrangement centerpieces using pastel-colored florals to bring the perfect springtime vibe to your Easter tablescape.

These Easter tablescape ideas and Smarty's gorgeous disposable plasticware and ecoware will make setting up for your Sunday party a breeze, so you won't have to worry about your presentation or the long-lasting cleaning up when preparing your holiday meal. And what is more surprising about this beautiful tablescape – it is quite budget-friendly. Uplift your festive spirit and order your decor supplies from Smarty Had A Party and set your one-of-a-kind Easter tablescape.
Photo and styling credit: Alicia Alvarez
 

Party Planning Mistakes To Avoid

Posted by Sam Chun ·

Party Planning Mistakes To Avoid
You may be a little out of practice when it comes to planning a party, and understandably so. Remind yourself of these party planning mistakes to avoid.

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