The Meaning of R.S.V.P.

Because I have been wondering what RSVP means, and because I just hosted a party where I requested RSVP's (and actually had a really decent response) here is what I found out.

Let's Clear Up the Confusion Over RSVPs
By Donna Pilato,

I hope that this week's tip will benefit hosts and guests alike, because there seems to be a lot of confusion about the meaning of the above term.

Lack of RSVP's - A Growing Problem
I hear more and more often, and have found in my personal experience, that hosts often do not receive firm indications whether guests plan to attend their parties, even if RSVP is clearly printed on the invitation. This could mean either one of two things. First it could mean that rudeness is a growing trend in our society. Or, as I would prefer to believe, people no longer understand what the term means. Assuming the best, and that the decline in RSVP's can be attributed to ignorance and not rudeness, I will clarify this for the record.

What RSVP Means
The term R.VP comes from the French expression "répondez s'il vous plaît", meaning "please respond". If RSVP is written on an invitation it means the invited guest must tell the host whether or not they plan to attend the party. It does not mean to respond only if you're coming, and it does not mean respond only if you're not coming (the expression "regrets only" is reserved for that instance). It means the host needs a definite head count for the planned event, and needs it by the date specified on the invitation.

Why It's Inconsiderate to Not RSVP
An incomplete list of respondents can cause numerous problems for a host including difficulty in planning food quantities, issues relating to minimum guarantees with catering halls, uncertainty over the number of party favors and difficulties in planning appropriate seating, among other things.

So the next time you see RSVP on an invitation you receive, please call your host and respond promptly.

Sushi Anyone?

Hey Laura, do you think Brian would like this kind of sushi? Just wondering. :)

Boojiboo Flirty Apron GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Grosgrain: Boojiboo Flirty Apron GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

The Rest of The Fish

Here are the rest of the fish related snacks we had for VBS last week.

Cheesecake Tarts Recipe

Here is the recipe for the cute little cheesecake tarts Laura made. I happen to be borrowing the cookbook they came from so I got the honors of posting the recipe. The book is called Dessert Express, 100 sweets you can make in 30 minutes or less, by Lauren Chattman.

4 oz cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons powdered sugar
12 vanilla wafers
12 fresh raspberries or blackberries
Fresh mint leaves for garnish

Combine the cream cheese, lemon juice and zest, and vanilla in a medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer until very smooth. Beat in the powdered sugar.

Arrange the vanilla wafers on a serving platter. Spoon a heaping tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture on each one, then top with a berry. Garnish the platter with mint leaves. Serve immediately, or refrigerate for up to one hour before serving.

Makes 12.

Something fishy is going on here.

We have VBS at church this week and can you guess what I managed to volunteer to help with? Yep, snacks. We have a fish theme going, Icthus. Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior. No, there are no crucifix cookies in the works but there are plenty of fish to go around. Here is what we have had so far.

No time to bake fancy cupcakes?

Check out these Vanilla Wafer Cheesecake Tarts from my new cookbook, “Dessert Express”. Cream Cheese with a bit of lemon and sugar piled onto a vanilla wafer and topped with a berry. Bite size and very good!