The Apres-Ski Party

By Mindy Kobrin

Does this time of year bring out your inner snow bunny? Don’t just dream about the life of the Alpine skier or picture yourself as the owner of a Swiss Chalet! Throw an Apres-Ski party instead and make the most of the cold snowy nights! Enjoy drinks to warm your boots and food to fuel your jet-setting soul!

Atmosphere

You don’t have to be able to swoosh down the slopes like an Olympic athlete to get outside and enjoy the cold. Choose a winter activity for your group and plan your party around it.

Winter Activities

  • Toboganning
  • Sledding
  • Skating
  • Cross-country skiing
  • Downhill skiing
  • Indoor Table Hockey (if it's too cold outside- this is a blast!)

Ice LuminaireIce Luminaire

Welcome with a Winter Glow

Welcome your guests with ice luminaries. To make, set one metal or heavy plastic pail or pot inside another one filled with water. There should be at least an inch of space between the pots. Leave them outside overnight so the water freezes into the shape of a bucket. Once the buckets are frozen, use warm water to loosen the containers and lift your “ice bucket” out. Insert a candle into your “ice bucket” and viola! – you’ve got ice luminaries. This makes a great entrance for any dinner party! (More great dinner party ideas here)

Appeal to the Senses

Don’t forget to add the smell of winter to really play up your theme.  Use evergreen-scented candles by your entryway to set the scene as guests arrive.

Place a vase of white flowers and a delicate sprinkling of fake snow down the center of the table to add the finishing touches. These special touches are sure to light up a frightful winter’s weather.


Party Gifts


Give guests a small party favor as they leave so they can remember your party for a long time to come.  A favor can be as simple as a white gift bag or satin pouch filled with Swiss chocolates or evergreen aromatherapy candles tucked inside.

Activity Refreshments


Think of your party in two stages: the activity and the warm-up afterward. You’ll want to provide refreshments during both stages.  During the outdoor portion of your event, provide high-energy snacks and drinks. Try power bars, trail mix, mini popcorn balls and thermoses of hot chocolate.

Take it easy on the spiked drinks while you're outside though. Alcohol can lower one's perception of being cold and you don't want to be responsible for cases of frostbite (or worse).

Warm-up Comfort FoodBunny Slope White Chocolate Fondue

Warm up & Comfort Food

Once inside, soothe your soar muscles with epicurean bliss and the perfect accompaniments. My friends always love coffee concoctions, mugs of flaming hot apple cider with rum, hot buttered rum and iced hot chocolates for the non-drinkers. Yummy and delicious!

You can't go wrong with stuffed brie and a big pot of corn chowder on the stove. I like to garnish each serving with crumbled bacon, grated cheddar and chopped green onions. Dreaming of a dessert? Think white chocolate fondue with fresh fruit, cookies and pound cake.

 

Hot Apple CiderHot Apple Cider

We love cocktails and cocktail paries. So, warm everyone up by setting out an assortment of liqueurs like hazelnut, coffee, Irish cream, creme de menthe, and peppermint schnapps along with whipped cream, peppermint and cinnamon sticks, marshmallows and shaved chocolate so guests can enjoy their own creations.

Iced Hot Chocolates are super for a non-alcoholic beverage. Just whip up an extra-rich batch of your favorite hot chocolate and pour in a highball glass filled with crushed ice. Garnish with a mint sprig.

With some of my black diamond recipes, your Apres-Ski Party will transform you into an expert snowbunny host without attending a day of ski school.

Share your Party Ideas with us at Celebrations! We’d like to hear how you enjoy the winter months with your family and friends. If you’re looking for inspiration, visit our Every Day Party pages for festive food and décor ideas.

Hot Apple Cider with Rum Recipe

courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2002

Ingredients

1 apple
2 teaspoons whole cloves
1 orange, thinly sliced
2 quarts apple cider
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon allspice
Pinch grated nutmeg
1 cup dark rum
Cinnamon sticks, garnish

Preparation

Stud the apple with the cloves. In a medium pot, combine the studded apple and remaining ingredients except the rum. lowly bring to a simmer over low heat. Simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and add the rum. Discard the apple. Ladle into mugs and garnish each with a cinnamon stick. Serve immediately.

 

Hot Buttered Rum Recipe

Ingredients

1 cup unsweetened pineapple juice
1 1/2 ounces dark rum
Sugar to taste
1 stick cinnamon
Pat of butter

Preparation

Heat the pineapple juice until it steams, don't boil it. In a large mug with the cinnamon stick, stir together the rum and sugar. Pour the hot pineapple juice over rum. Float pat of butter on top. Serve immediately.

 

Stuffed Brie

Ingredients

2.2 pound wheel of Brie
1 package puff pastry (17.5 ounces)
1 egg
8 ounces sliced mushrooms
2 tsp fresh thyme
2 tbsp Vermouth
6 ounces crumbled goat cheese
Freshly ground nutmeg
Egg white

Preparation

Saute mushrooms and thyme over medium heat for approximately 2minutes.Add vermouth and simmer for 4-6 minutes, until liquid is evaporated and mushrooms are tender. Keep the rind on the cheese. Slice Brie wheel in half to make two flat pieces. Sprinkle mushroom mixture over bottom half of Brie and sprinkle goat cheese evenly over mushrooms. Add a pinch of nutmeg and place other "slice" of Brie on top. Press down lightly. Lightly flour your countertop and roll out two pieces of thawed puff pastry. Cut the dough into two (2) twelve inch circles. Place Brie on top of one of the circles of puff pastry, and pull up pastry over sides of the Brie, pleating where necessary. (It shouldn't cover the top of the cheese).

 

Take the pastry covered Brie and invert it onto the other circle of puff pastry. Pull the pastry over the sides, pleating where necessary. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill in refrigerator for at least 2 hours (or overnight). To bake, preheat oven to 400F. Line baking pan with parchment paper. Unwrap chilled Brie and place, with seam side down, onto a baking pan. Brush top with egg white. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until puff pastry becomes a golden colour. Let the cheese rest for about 20 minutes before serving. Serve on platter with a selection of fruit, bread or crackers.


Corn Chowder

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter
Extra-virgin olive oil
1 onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves only
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
6 cups canned vegetable stock
2 cups heavy cream
2 Idaho potatoes, peeled and diced
6 ears corn
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
Garnish each serving with crumbled bacon, grated cheddar and chopped green onions

Preparation

Heat the butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and thyme and cook until the vegetables are good and soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Dust the vegetables with flour and stir to coat everything well. Pour in the vegetable stock and bring to a boil. Add the cream and the potatoes, bring to a boil and boil hard for about 7 minutes, until the potatoes break down (this will help to thicken the soup and give it a good texture).Cut the corn kernels off the cob and add to the soup. Season with salt and pepper and simmer until the corn is soft, about 10 to 12 minutes. Stir in the parsley and give it another little drink of olive oil. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve.

 

Bunny Slope White Chocolate Fondue

Ingredients

1 cup heavy cream
1/2 stick unsalted butter
2 (12-ounce) packages premier white morsels
For dipping: sliced apples, bananas, strawberries, crisp cookies, pretzels, and cubed pound cake

Preparation

In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine cream and butter. Bring mixture to a simmer, stirring constantly. Remove pan from heat. Add white morsels. Stir until melted and smooth. Cool slightly. Transfer to a fondue pot, chafing dish, or ceramic bowl. Serve immediately with sliced apples, sliced bananas, strawberries, cookies, pretzels, and pound cake.

 

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