Apple themed party with a DIY Apple Craft

A crisp breeze is blowing through the sky bringing fall smells with it.  Deep reds, oranges and yellows are showing in the landscape, I close my eyes and remember walking through an apple orchard to pick my own basket full.  I can hardly wait to sink my teeth into the juicy ripe red fruit.  I decided to  invite some friends over for a fall themed party featuring apples.  My theme was born out of an apple challenge and I will share with you a simply adorable and super easy apple craft I whipped together in about an hour plus a cider recipe.

  

Upcycled pedestal plate with Diet Coke bottle, Luncheon Party Table and Appetizers

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ItsMyMasterpiece #CollectiveBias #ad

Have you seen the one of a kind designer Diet Coke bottles yet?  They are finally at my frequent shopping spot, Walmart!  I nabbed some for a girly lunch party because I am a total Diet Coke fan and each bottle is one of a kind just like me and my girls.  All those colors and designs make me feel like I’m in a kaleidoscope so that is my theme for the party plus I’ve included an upcycle tutorial using an empty bottle for a quick and easy pedestal display stand to show off our “stick to the New Year’s Resolution” low calorie menu.
 

I put together a diet friendly menu that included a vegie tower, a few baby carrots, tuna salad on deli bread and fruity gelatin desserts.  The decorations are inspired by the Diet Coke bottles – lots of colors!  I had planned an outdoor lunch because we’ve had some absolutely beautiful warm days but I live in Texas where it can be sunny 85° one day and rainy 45° with high winds the next.  On the day of my luncheon it was “the next” [sad face].  I put my big girl panties on and came up with a new plan.  I moved a dark red table from the entry into the brightly lit serving area.  Next I strung some yellow, peach and green toile and dark yellow ribbon on string as a banner backdrop.   I used a mix of colorful salad plates and festive napkins in colors from the Diet Coke 12 oz. It’s Mine glass bottles I found at Walmart. The bottles are just so pretty I had to come up with an upcycle project as a focal piece for the table like a pedestal food plate. And of course we’re drinking straight from those gorgeous bottles of cold Diet Coke.



Since I wanted to use a bottle for my one of a kind pedestal food plate I just had to enjoy a cold Diet Coke the day before.  [smiling as I sit in the yard sipping from a pretty Diet Coke bottle while the sun goes down]  With my empty bottle I started an upcycle project that is easy enough for a beginning crafter but elegant enough to inspire a more experienced crafter.
 

Easy Diet Coke bottle upcycle project instructions:

1. You’ll need a Diet Coke bottle, sturdy glue, plate.
2. Wash out the bottle and let it dry.  (I used a hairdryer to speed drying the bottle inside)
3. Fill the bottle about half full of sand to give it more stability. I made a cone out of a scrap piece of paper to help funnel in the sand.
4. Apply a sturdy glue like Gorilla or E6000 around the bottle lip.
5. With the bottle standing up on a table or counter, place a clear plate on top of the glue area.  I used clear because I wanted to see that fancy designed bottle.
6. Apply a little pressure by placing a couple of books on the plate and let the glue cure according to the directions on the glue package.

How easy is that?  Now all that is left to do is to set up the table, arrange some great looking food and enjoy some girl time. 
 

(P.S. guys like the bottles too, so think about a dinner for two.  Just saying.)

I’m a huge fan of Diet Coke and in love with #ItsMyMasterpiece bottles

 

Bonus:  Make a vegie tower 

Cut a Styrofoam ball in half then use florist sticky stuff or some hot glue to secure it to the center of your elevated plate.  Cover the ball with fresh lettuce or spinach from the produce isle in the grocery.  I broke some toothpicks in half and punched them through the lettuce to keep it in place.  Now, use toothpicks or skewers to spear some vegies- leaving about an inch exposed at the tip to stick into the Styrofoam (through the lettuce).  I love all kinds of vegie combos but the caprice combo is a favorite.  Skewer an olive, fresh basil leaf around a cherry tomato, and cube of mozzarella. Drizzle with Balsamic Vinaigrette.  Fill in with some skewered olives.  This one is for a small luncheon, you could make a dynamic display with a taller cone shaped Styrofoam base for a larger group.
I am so excited about how the upcycle turned out  I posted a photo in the Share Your Masterpiece movement featured on the Coca-Cola sharerefreshingideas.com website.  I hope you’ll participate by uploading a photo of how you upcycle those lovely one of a kind bottles too.  I can’t wait to see your creation. 



Look for the new Diet Coke Kaleidoscope bottles at your Walmart.  Here’s a picture to help you spot them as easily as I did in the soda isle.

Diet friendly luncheon menu and recipes

Winter is hard on the diet.  I guess that’s why so many people make diet resolutions on New Year’s.  I don’t do resolutions any more but many of my friends do.  I try to stick to a healthy diet most of the time but especially when the weather starts warming up and I think about the summer wardrobe.  That’s why I put together a calorie simple stress free light menu for a small lunch with friends.  I’d planned to  take advantage of a warmer winter day and setting up a party table outside but in Texas it can be 85° one day and 54° the next .  My party lucked out on option number two [sad face]. Fortunately I used bright colors on an inside table set up to bring spring back to us.
 

I moved a dark red table from the entry to the serving area and strung some light colored tulle and ribbon for a banner backdrop.  I used multi colored sandwich plates and yellow napkins. The table set up was part of my DIY pedestal food plate project post.  But on to what you came for, the menu and recipes!

 

Easy Low Calorie Lunch Menu

• Caprice appetizers
• olives
• Baby carrots
• Tuna salad on deli Bulbous rolls
• Layered Raspberry gelatin  dessert

 Appetizers

The Caprice appetizers are the easiest ever.  Simply use toothpicks to skewer a grape tomato and cube of mozzarella cheese inside a Basil leaf.  Before serving, drizzle with Balsamic Vinaigrette.  Add a few skewered olives for another delicious touch.  A colorful vegetable like baby carrots will go well with this diet friendly plate too.

Layered Raspberry Gelatin Dessert

A day before the lunch make some sugar free raspberry gelatin according to package instructions.  Distribute the gelatin into individual dessert glasses and allow it to gel. When you’re ready to set them out add some lite whipped cream and fresh raspberries.  If you have some fresh mint handy, put a little sprig on top.

Tuna Salad Sandwiches

Gourmet Tuna Salad Sandwich

by Jeannie

Prep Time: 10 min

6077110

Ingredients (4 sandwiches)

• 2 packages, 12 oz. chunk lite tuna in water
• 1/3 cup lite mayonnaise with olive oil
• 1/4 cup sweet pickle relish
• 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 Tablespoons chopped nuts (Walnut or Pecan)
• 1 Tablespoon finely diced onion (I used white but use your favorite)
• 4 Bakery rolls of your choice (I love the Bolillos Rolls at Walmart)
• Spray can of olive oil or butter flavored oil
• 1 apple of your choice (my favorite is Honeycrisp)
• Fresh Spinach leaves
• Olives as garnish

Instructions

Combine all the ingredients down to the bread.

Slice the rolls lengthwise for sandwiches.

Spray the cut sides of the bread with olive oil or butter flavored oil. If you don't have the spray can type you can brush on some olive oil or melted butter.

You can toast the bread open face if you like.

Place several spinach leaves to make a bed on the bread.

Use a 1/3 cup measure to scoop a portion of tuna salad onto the spinach leaves.

Shake a little salt and course ground pepper on top.

Layer on a thin slice of apple.

Sprinkle with a few chopped nuts.

Spear 3 olives on a toothpick into the apple or on the top piece of roll.

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