Romance and Elegance at the Gardens at Uncanoonuc Mountain

The Gardens at Uncanoonuc Mountain, Goffstown's newest venue, provides a magical and serene backdrop for your wedding or special event. Imagine getting married under a large oak tree while your guests are surrounded by the colorful gardens. Enjoy cocktails and appetizers outside the quant cottage with views of the gardens or up by the pine grove for an intimate setting with lots of tree cover for shade. Dinner and dancing take place under a large sperry sailcloth tent on the center lawn of the perfectly manicured property. End your evening with smore's by the fire pit. Your guests will enjoy full use of the property and the picture opportunities are endless. 

When owners Nattie and Alyssa approached us to take part in a styled photoshoot at their property we were beyond excited. It was a great opportunity to showcase what a wedding at their venue would be like. In coordination with Alyssa of Apotheca Flowers and a great team of vendors a romantic and elegant garden summer wedding was brought to life. 

This styled shoot was featured in New Hampshire Bride 2018 Spring/Summer addition. Click here to see the publication. 

The Team
Venue: The Gardens at Uncanoonuc Mountain
Floral Designer and Coordinator: Alyssa Van Guilder, Apotheca Flowers
Catering, Cake, Dessert Bar, Beer Wall, Chalkboard Signage: Peppers Artful Events
Photographer: Lindsay Hackney Photography
Vintage Furniture, White Washed Farm Tables, Cross Back Chairs: Boston Rustic Wedding Rentals
China, Glassware, Flatware, Linens: Peak Event Services

Caitlin and Nat's Fall Wedding at Larz Anderson Auto Museum

Cheers to Caitlin and Nat who planned the details for their fall wedding to truly reflect their personalities, food tastes, and the wedding venue.

The ceremony took place on the park hilltop with gorgeous views of Boston. A jewel-covered floral arbor was the perfect focal point for their intimate ceremony on this gorgeous  fall day.

Back down at the museum for cocktail hour, guests enjoyed playing classic video arcade games while sipping on a harvest-inspired apple cider old fashioned signature cocktail. Many of their wedding details paid homage to the car museum like the license plates that were used as table numbers. The menu was created around the couple’s favorite dishes and consisted of a laid back station menu. This included New England lobster rolls, barbecue brisket and mac and cheese. For desserts guests enjoyed a selection of homemade pies and mini sweets along with a late night passed snackof warm apple cider donuts! 

We loved every beautiful detail at this wedding from the picturesque hilltop I do's to the teacup centerpieces!

The Team
Venue: Larz Anderson Automobile Museum
Catering, Dessert, Floral Designs: Peppers Artful Events
Photographer: Dreamlove Photography
DJ : Absolute Celebrations

No Mocking These Graduate Inspired Mocktails

Having a Summer Graduation party? Looking for some unique, alcohol-free beverages that the whole crowd can enjoy?  Consider having a “mocktail” bar. Mocktails are fun, flavorful, hand-crafted beverages that contain zero alcohol making this a no-brainer for a high-school-aged crowd of graduates. As for the adults? Good luck keeping them away from these delicious and refreshing drinks!

• Cotton candy - enough to fill an 8oz glass
• Raspberry or Regular Gingerale
• Cherry or Raspberry Garnish
  
  Crafting Your Mocktail:

  Set out your martini glass. For optional flare, lightly wet the rim your glass with a lemon wedge and dip in colored sugar. Then place one piece of cotton candy in each glass. Pour the ginger ale over the cotton candy and top with cherry before serving.

The Adventure Awaits

• 3 TBS Water
• 2 TBS White Sugar
• 1 TSP Coconut Extract
• 2- 12 oz Cans of Lemon Lime Soda
• Blue Food Coloring
• Swedish Fish for Garnish

Crafting Your Mocktail:

1. Make the simple syrup by combining the water and sugar together and heating in the microwave for 30-60 seconds or boil togher in a pot on the stove. Let cool. 

2. In a pitcher or punch bowl combine the simple syrup, soda, coconut extract and food coloring. 

3. Add in swedish fish for garnish and serve over ice. 

The Strawberry Celebration

• 1 Cup Strawberry Yogurt
• 1 Cup Vanilla Almond Milk
• 2 Cups Frozen Strawberries
• 2 TBS Lemon Juice
• Sprinkles and Fresh Strawberries for Garnish

Crafting Your Mocktail:

1. Place all ingredients in a blender

2. Blend on high for 2 minutes or until smooth. 

3. Wet the rim of glass with a lemon wedge then dip in sprinkles. Pour in mixture from blender. Garnish with a strawberry and enjoy! 

For more festive details, consider adding colorful straws in the graduates school colors or use graduation cap picks as garnish. An interesting glass such as a mason jar or a fun-shaped plastic cup makes for a great presentation. 

What's on the Menu | Graduation Party Planning

Menu planning for a graduation party is an important step in putting together the perfect celebration.  After all the invites are sent, location is determined and the theme is decided on, it’s time to start planning the food! But where do you start? Ask yourself- what kind of food does the graduate like? What kind of food will work best in the location where the event is taking place? Is there a particular theme for the event that the food can coincide with? These will help you determine the direction of the menu.

Here are a few of our favorite themed graduation party food menus.

Take Me Out To The Ball Game

Game day food is fun for a graduation party and fits great with an outdoor celebration.

Menu Ideas: Nachos, Sausage and Peppers, Pretzels and Mustards, Flavored Popcorn, Chili Dogs

Grill Party

Grill parties are perfect for outdoor summer celebrations. If your party will have guests coming and going, this menu lends itself to items that can be quickly thrown on the grill for new party guests. 

Menu Ideas: Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Watermelon, Pasta Salad, Coleslaw, Potato Salad 

Smokey Texas BBQ

Perfect for the BBQ lover in your family and an excellent menu that holds up very well on a buffet.

Menu Ideas: Brisket, Pulled Pork Sliders, BBQ Chicken,  Fried Pickles, Coleslaw, Potato Salad

A Day at the Fair

Summer is state fair season. Fair menus are filled with delicious fried food and easy to eat on the go items (think food on a stick!).

Menu Ideas: Cotton Candy, Funnel Cakes, Pretzels, Corn Dogs, Kettle Corn

Mexican Fiesta

A Mexican themed menu allows guests to customize their offerings. We love a make your own taco bar where guests pick their proteins along with all the fixins! Then you can add in some fun Mexican side dishes.

Menu Ideas: Make Your Own Taco Bar, Salsa and Queso with Tortilla Chips, Refried Beans, Mexican Rice, Stuffed Jalapenos 

New England Lobster Bake

Celebrate with classic New England faire! This is a great menu for the graduate who will be traveling away from New England to go to school. 

Menu Ideas: Clam Chowder, Steamed Lobsters, Corn, Baked Beans, Pasta Salad

Tips:

Graduation parties tend to be an event where guests are juggling multiple parties in the same day which means guests will come and go throughout the duration of the party. If this is likely the case with your party you will want to choose a menu that can hold for an extended period of time or have food that can quickly be made for new guests as they arrive.

Most graduation parties are a mix of friends and family which means a wide range of age groups. When deciding on a menu make sure you have options that will satisfy all ages attending.

A good place to start menu planning is choosing a theme that focuses on some of the graduates favorite foods.

Ready to start planning? Give us a call!

LEMON THYME VODKA SPRITZER

Ingredients (Makes 10 servings)

• 4 whole Lemons Zested
• 8 sprigs Fresh Thyme
• 3 3/4 Cups Granulated Sugar
• 3 3/4 Cups Water

• 4 whole Lemons, Juiced
• 1 1/4 Cups Your Favorite Vodka
• 7 Cups Club Soda 
• Blueberries, For Garnish
•  Sliced Lemons, For Garnish

Preparation

For the lemon-thyme simple syrup
In a medium saucepan, add lemon zest, thyme sprigs, sugar and water. Bring to a low boil and reduce heat to simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let the syrup cool for 15 minutes.

For the cocktail
Pour the cooled simple syrup into a pitcher and add the fresh squeezed lemon juice and tequila. Add a handful of ice cubes and fill the rest of the pitcher with the club soda. Stir well to combine. Add ice cubes, 1 sprig of thyme and a slice of lemon to a tall glass and top with cocktail. Sip and enjoy!

Photo © Lindsay Hackney Photography

Apricot Almond Chicken Salad

Our Apricot Almond Chicken Salad has been a staple on our sandwich catering menu for many years and is by far one of our most popular. Now you can enjoy this recipe at home from our kitchen to yours. 
Makes 16 Servings

Chicken Salad Ingredients 
3 lbs Boneless Chicken Breasts
1 Box of Chicken Stock
4 Celery Stalks
1/2 Bunch of Scallions
1/2 Cups Sliced Toasted Almonds
½ Cup Dried Apricots
¼ Cup Dry Sherry Wine
6 sprigs of Rosemary Chopped
Black Pepper to Taste

Dressing Ingredients:
2/3 Cup Dijon Mustard
1/4 Cup Whole Grain Mustard
1/4 Cup Heavy Mayo
¼ Cup Sour Cream 
1/8 Cup + 1 TBS Honey
Juice From Half a Lemon

Directions:

1. Fill a pot with chicken stock and heat to a boil. Place chicken in pot and poach until cooked through (roughly 25-30 minutes). Let cool and cut into small cubes.
2. Dice apricots. Heat dry sherry wine on the stove. Once heated drop in diced apricots for 2-4 minutes until soft then drain.
3. Combine all dressing ingredients together and mix well.
4. Combine all chicken salad ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
5. Add dressing to bowl with chicken salad and mix.

Enjoy as is, on top of a green salad, or add to your favorite sandwich bread. 

2018 CATIE AWARD FINALIST

The International Caterers Association recognizes each year exemplary production at an event through their Catered Arts Through Innovative Excellence Awards (CATIE). 

This year our Executive Pastry Chef, Lisa McCaffrey was recognized as an ICA CATIE Award finalist for Best Celebration Cake. Out of all the submission received internationally she was awarded one of the top 3 finalist                                                                  spots for her work designing a Legends of Zelda Wedding Cake. 

                                                        The Cake

FEATURED EVENT VENUE: LARZ ANDERSON AUTOMOBILE MUSEUM

Photo by http://www.dreamlovephotography.com

    Larz Anderson Auto Museum located in Brookline, Massachusetts sits on a stunning 64 acres at the Larz Anderson Park. The property, once owned by the late Larz and Isabele Anderson, is most known for “America’s Oldest Car Collection” and related memorabilia, however, the grounds surrounding the museum are nothing short of breathtaking and offer a truly unique, historically-rich setting for weddings, corporate and social events of all kinds.  While appealing to car enthusiasts, the museum is also a desired attraction for those interested in history, architecture and an authentic vintage setting.

    There are three main spaces in which functions can be held: The Main Gallery, The Stable Room and the Great Lawn.

       The Main Gallery, located inside the Carriage House, is a great spot for a cocktail reception, wedding or corporate meeting and can easily hold up to 150 standing guests. The vaulted ceilings, exposed brick walls, original wood flooring and permanent exhibits of exquisite vintage automobiles set the stage for a truly unique event location. The gallery offers room for a large dance floor and photo ops by the great doors as you enter the space.

       The Stable Room, once home to the Anderson’s horses, is a more intimate space and is great location for cocktail hour with unique exhibits for guests to enjoy as they mingle.

       The Great Lawn can hold up to 500 guests and is a popular spot for tented weddings, picnics, barbecues, and automobile shows. Tents can be set up on the sprawling lush green lawn with clear views of both the Carriage House and the Park. Guests are welcome to enjoy the museum throughout the event and many choose to have cocktail receptions or meetings inside the museum before kicking off their reception outdoors.  

     Due to its close proximity to the Larz Anderson Park attractions, you can utilize both the park and the museum for your functions. Corporate clients have used the ball field, skating rink and open lawn for fun outdoor activities while wedding ceremonies have been held at “The Top of the Hill” and “The Temple of Love”, also located inside the park.

Photo by http://www.dreamlovephotography.com

 With many function options in both the park and the museum itself, the Larz Anderson Auto Museum makes for an ideal setting for events of all types and sizes.

Learn more about hosting your event at Larz Anderson Auto Museum

Lemon Poppy Seed Cake with Homemade Lemon Curd

Lemon Curd

• 3 eggs
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/3 cup lemon juice

• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest

Lemon Poppy Seed Cake

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups white sugar
• 4 eggs

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 13 fluid ounces evaporated milk
• 1/4 cup poppy seeds

Steps for lemon curd:

1. Whisk eggs, sugar, and lemon juice in a double boiler over simmering water until mixed well, then continue to stir until thick, about 7 to 10 minutes.

2. Drain mixture through a mesh sieve to get rid of lumps. Fold in butter until well incorporated. Mix in lemon zest.

3. Cover curd and chill in the refrigerator until it has thickened, about 4 hours.

Steps for Poppy Seed Cake:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 10 inch cake pan.

2. In a large bowl, mix flour, baking soda, salt and sugar. Make a well in the center and add eggs, vanilla, oil and milk. Mix well. Then fold in the poppy seeds. Pour mixture into a 10 inch cake pan. 

3. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.

4. Cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.

5. Pour lemon curd over cooled cake and top with berries and whipped cream. Enjoy!

HERE COMES THE SUN | OUTDOOR VENUES FOR CORPORATE EVENTS

Summer is just around the corner and that means plenty of outdoor customer and employee events and retreats.

Here are some great locations to consider with lots of outdoor (and indoor) space for lawn games, scavenger hunts, picnics, concerts, paint parties, make your own terrariums,  yoga and more!

 The Connors Center 

The Connors Center

The Gardens at Elm Bank

The Gardens at Uncanoonuc

Photo by Lindsay Hackney Photography
Location: Goffstown, NH
Website: The Gardens at Uncanoonuc Mountain

Gore Place

Location: Waltham, MA
Website: Gore Place

Harry Parker Boathouse 

Location: Brighton, MA
Website: Harry Parker Boathouse

Larz Anderson Auto Museum

Photo by Love Days Photography
Location: Brookline, MA
Website: Larz Anderson Auto Museum

Pierce House

Location: Lincoln, MA
Website: The Pierce House

Tower Hill Botanic Gardens

Photo by Samantha Melanson Photography
Location: Boylston, MA
Website: Tower Hill Botanic Garden

The Five Bridge InnPhoto by Angela Greenlaw Photography
Location: Rehoboth,MA
Website: The Five Bridge Inn