| How to Make Hot Sauce Posted: 24 Nov 2020 12:00 AM PST Sure, there are a lot of hot sauces on the market, but it's so much fun to make your own! Most hot sauces rely on fresh or dried chili peppers, and you can customize your sauce by using your favorite peppers or a mix. Add a hefty amount of vinegar to get the classic tangy flavor and play around with adding seasonings or other veggies. Store the hot sauce in the fridge and add it to any dish that needs a little kick. [Edit]Ingredients [Edit]Basic Red Hot Sauce - 20 tabasco or serrano chiles or 12 red jalapeños
- 1 1/2 tablespoons (13 g) of minced garlic
- 3/4 cup (115 g) of thinly sliced onions
- 3/4 teaspoon (4.5 g) of salt
- of vegetable oil
- of water
- of distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- of freshly squeezed lime juice, optional
Makes of hot sauce [Edit]Fermented Hot Sauce - of fresh chiles like jalapeño, serrano, Fresno, habanero or a mix
- 2 tablespoons (36 g) of kosher salt or 4 teaspoons (35 g) of table salt
- of distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 1 sliced onion, optional
- 4 cloves of peeled garlic, optional
Makes of hot sauce [Edit]Dried Pepper Hot Sauce - 2 cups (128 g) of lightly crushed and seeded dried chili peppers
- of water
- of white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon (3 g) of garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon (6 g) of salt
- 1 chopped onion, optional
- 2 cloves of peeled garlic, optional
- Citrus juice, to taste, optional
Makes of hot sauce [Edit]Making Basic Red Hot Sauce - Chop 20 tabasco or serrano chilies or 12 red jalapeños. You can use a mix of tabasco and serrano chilies or stick with just red ripe jalapeños. Serranos are 5 times hotter than jalapeños, so if you use a combination, adjust the heat by how many serranos you use. Rinse your choice of peppers. Then, trim the stems from the chili peppers and finely chop the peppers.[1]
- Remove the seeds for a milder sauce.
- Sauté the peppers with garlic, onions, and salt for 3 minutes. Heat of vegetable oil in a skillet over high heat and add the chopped peppers along with 1 1/2 tablespoons (13 g) of minced garlic, 3/4 cup (115 g) of thinly sliced onions, and 3/4 teaspoon (4.5 g) of salt. Stir the mixture occasionally and cook it for about 3 minutes so the peppers soften.[2]
- Turn the burner down to medium-high if the peppers stick to the skillet.
- You'll need about 4 cloves of garlic to get 1 1/2 tablespoons (13 g) of minced garlic and a medium-sized onion to get 3/4 cup (115 g) of sliced onions.
- Pour in the water and simmer the mixture for 20 minutes. Add of water and turn the burner down to medium-high heat. Cook the peppers until the peppers are really soft and almost all of the water has evaporated or been absorbed.[3]
- Keep the lid off of the skillet while the peppers cook and stir them occasionally to prevent them from sticking to the skillet.
- Put the cooled mixture into a blender and process it for 15 seconds. Turn off the burner and let the pepper mixture cool for about 30 minutes. Then, transfer it to a blender and put the lid on. Blend the sauce for 15 seconds or until it's completely smooth.[4]
- If you don't have a blender, use a food processor.
- Blend in of white vinegar. Open the pour spout in the top of the blender's lid and slowly pour in of white distilled vinegar while you blend the hot sauce.[5]
- For a slight citrus flavor, add of freshly squeezed lime juice.
- Use apple cider vinegar for a slightly sweet, fruity flavor.
- Strain the sauce and store it in a bottle in the fridge. Taste the hot sauce and add more vinegar, salt, or water according to your taste. Then, set a fine-mesh strainer over a large measuring jug and strain the sauce. Pour the sauce into an airtight glass storage bottle and refrigerate it.[6]
- Choose a bottle that holds .
- The flavor of the sauce improves after resting in the fridge for a few weeks.
- Store the homemade hot sauce in the fridge for up to 6 months.
[Edit]Creating Fermented Hot Sauce - Put of rinsed and trimmed chilies into a blender. You can really customize the flavor of your hot sauce by selecting your favorite chilies. Use of a single type of chili pepper or mix several to create a unique blend. For example, to make:[7]
- Red hot sauce: use red bell peppers, cayenne peppers, and red habaneros.
- Green hot sauce: use green bell peppers, jalapeños, and poblanos.
- Pulse the chili peppers with salt. You can use 2 tablespoons (36 g) of kosher salt or 4 teaspoons (35 g) of table salt. The salt makes the base of the brine that ferments the chili peppers. Put the lid on the blender and pulse the chilies until they form a chunky purée.[8]
- If you don't have kosher salt, use table salt instead.
- Put the puree into a large jar and store it at room temperature for 12 hours. Slowly pour the chili pepper puree into a jar. Set a lid on the jar and screw it on loosely. Then, set the jar on the counter and leave the pepper mixture to ferment for 12 hours.[9]
- Feel free to add other flavorful ingredients to the fermenting mixture. Try adding a sliced onion or 4 cloves of peeled garlic, for instance.
- Stir in of white vinegar and ferment it for at least 1 day. Remove the lid and pour in of distilled white vinegar. Stir the sauce and loosely put the lid back. Then, leave the sauce at room temperature for at least 1 day or up to 1 week.[10]
- If you'd like the hot sauce to have a slightly fruity flavor, use apple cider vinegar instead of white vinegar.
- The sauce becomes more flavorful and stronger the longer it ferments.
- Pour the sauce into a blender and blend it until it's smooth. Taste the hot sauce to decide if it's as fermented as you want. If it is, transfer the sauce to a blender and blend it for about 1 minute so it's completely smooth.[11]
- If you don't have a blender, use a food processor.
- Pour the sauce through a fine-mesh strainer. Set a large bowl or measuring jug in the sink and put a fine-mesh strainer in it. Slowly pour the sauce into the strainer so the smooth, thin sauce drains into the bowl.[12]
- If you want your sauce to be thick, skip this straining step.
- Transfer the sauce to a small bottle. Get out an airtight glass bottle that holds at least and put a funnel in it so it's easier to pour in the sauce. Slowly pour the hot sauce into the bottle and screw the lid on.[13]
- Shake the sauce before you use it since the solids might separate over time.
- Store the fermented hot sauce in the fridge for up to 4 months.
[Edit]Cooking Dried Pepper Hot Sauce - Toast 2 cups (128 g) of dried chili peppers in a skillet for 1 to 2 minutes. Set a deep skillet on the stove and turn the burner to medium-high. Add 2 cups (128 g) of lightly crushed and seeded dried chili peppers, but don't put oil in the skillet. Stir the peppers and heat them just so they start to soften.[14]
- Don't rinse the dried chilies before you toast them or they'll steam in the skillet.
- Arbol and guajillo chiles work really well together, but you could use ancho or poblanos, for instance.
- Toasting the chili peppers gives them a deeper flavor, but if you're short on time, skip this step.
- Add water, white vinegar, garlic powder, and salt to the skillet. Pour in of water and of vinegar. Then, stir in 1 teaspoon (3 g) of garlic powder and 1 teaspoon (6 g) of salt.[15]
- Feel free to play around with the ratio of water and vinegar. If you want tangier sauce, use of vinegar and leave out the water. For a milder sauce, use all water instead of vinegar.
- Add a few cloves of garlic or a chopped onion if you want the sauce to have a richer flavor.
- Simmer the sauce over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes. Turn the burner down to medium and stir the sauce every few minutes. Cook the sauce until the chili peppers soften. This makes them easier to blend.[16]
- If the sauce begins to boil, turn the burner down to medium-low.
- Blend the hot sauce until it's smooth. Turn off the burner and very carefully pour the mixture into a blender or food processor. Put the lid on the blender and blend the sauce until it's smooth.
- Wear oven mitts when you transfer the sauce to the blender since the sauce can burn your skin.
- Taste the sauce and add more vinegar, salt, or water if you like. Decide if you want to adjust the flavor before you store the hot sauce. For a tangier sauce, add a little more vinegar. If the sauce is too thick or spicy, thin it with a little water.[17]
- To give your sauce a slight citrus flavor, squeeze in some lemon, lime, or orange juice.
- Pour the hot sauce into a bottle. Let the sauce cool to room temperature. If you want a thinner sauce, pour the sauce through a fine-mesh strainer before you bottle it. Then, put a funnel into a glass storage bottle and slowly pour the hot sauce into it.[18]
- Use a bottle that holds at least .
- Store your sauce in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. Remember to label the bottle and keep it in the fridge until you're ready to use it. Shake the bottle before you pour it on food since the solids might settle to the bottom.[19]
- For longer storage, put the sauce in the freezer and use it within 6 months.
- Leave the seeds in the peppers for extremely hot sauce or remove them to make the sauce milder.
- If you've accidentally made your hot sauce too hot for your liking, blend in shredded carrot.
[Edit]Warnings - Wear gloves when you work with fresh hot peppers since the oils can irritate your skin. Wash your hands really well when you're done, especially before touching your face.
- Open a window and turn on a kitchen fan to ventilate your space. This can prevent oil from the chili peppers from irritating your eyes or lungs.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Basic Red Hot Sauce - Knife and cutting board
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Skillet
- Spoon
- Blender or food processor
- Fine-mesh strainer
- Funnel
- Storage bottle
[Edit]Fermented Hot Sauce - Knife and cutting board
- Measuring spoons
- Blender or food processor
- 1-quart jar with a lid
- Fine-mesh strainer
- Storage bottle
- Funnel
- Large bowl or measuring jug
[Edit]Dried Pepper Hot Sauce - Measuring cups and spoons
- Deep skillet
- Spoon
- Blender or food processor
- Storage bottle
- Funnel
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Cook Frozen Lobster Tails Posted: 23 Nov 2020 04:00 PM PST Lobster tails make a decadent appetizer or entrée and using frozen tails means you can enjoy them any time of year! For the best texture, it's important to defrost the lobster tails since cooking frozen tails will make tough, chewy lobster. Then, you can broil, grill, or boil them. Mix together butter flavored with herbs or freshly cracked pepper to serve with your lobster tails and enjoy! [Edit]Ingredients [Edit]Boiled Lobster Tails with Pepper Butter - 4 defrosted lobster tails
- 8 tablespoons (112 g) of unsalted butter
- of lemon juice
- 1/4 cup (5 g) of chopped fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon (5.5 g) of salt
- 2 teaspoons (4 g) of freshly ground black pepper
Makes 2 to 4 servings [Edit]Broiled Lobster Tails with Garlic and Paprika - 2 defrosted lobster tails
- 1 1/2 (21 g) tablespoons of butter, divided
- 1 teaspoon (2 g) of garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon (2 g) of smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) of white pepper
- Salt, to taste
- Clarified butter, for serving
Makes 1 to 2 servings [Edit]Grilled Lobster Tails with Herb Butter - 4 defrosted lobster tails
- 8 tablespoons (112 g) of salted butter, at room temperature
- 2 tablespoons (6 g) of chives, chopped
- 1 tablespoon (2 g) of fresh tarragon leaves, chopped
- 1 clove of garlic, minced
- 1 dash of hot sauce
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Olive oil, for grilling
Makes 2 to 4 servings [Edit]Defrosting and Preparing the Lobster Tails - Get your lobster tails out of the freezer 1 day before you want to cook them. Take out as many tails as you plan on cooking. Keep in mind that by defrosting them in the fridge, you can always refreeze them again if you change your mind and need to hold off on cooking them.[1]
- Look at the seafood section of grocery store's freezer aisles for lobster tails. Some meat counter might have them in a case nearby.
- Arrange the tails on a plate in a single layer and cover them. Place the tails on a plate or in a bowl so they're not stacked. Then, wrap them with plastic wrap so they don't absorb flavors in the fridge as they defrost.
- If the tails are already in a single layer and in a package, you can leave them in the package. The wrapper will prevent juices from leaking in your fridge as the tails thaw.
- Refrigerate the tails for 24 hours or until they're completely thawed. Check on the lobster tails after you've defrosted them for 1 day. Remove the wrapping and try to bend a tail. If it's defrosted completely, it should be flexible and will bend easily.
- If the tail is still stiff or icy, refrigerate it for another 2 hours and check it again.
- Use kitchen shears to cut through the top shell of each tail. Place the defrosted tails on your work surface and get out a clean pair of kitchen shears. Hold 1 tail firmly while you cut lengthwise through the shell. Try to avoid cutting the meat so it remains in a single piece and stop cutting before you get to the tail fin.[2]
- If you don't have kitchen shears, you can carefully use a sharp knife.
- Pull open each shell to expose the meat. Use your fingers to gently pull apart the sides of the shells you just cut. You should be able to see the meat of the lobster, but you don't want to pull so hard that you tear the shell off.[3]
- The meat should look like it's sitting on top of the shell, which will protect the meat as it cooks.
[Edit]Broiled Lobster Tails with Garlic and Paprika - Adjust your oven rack and turn the broiler to "high." Move your oven or broiler rack so it's about below the broiler element. Then, turn the broiler on to its highest setting.[4]
- Mix the garlic powder, smoked paprika, and white pepper in a small bowl. Put 1 teaspoon (2 g) of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon (2 g) of smoked paprika, and 1/2 teaspoon (1 g) of white pepper into the bowl and stir until the spices are incorporated.[5]
- It's important to use garlic powder instead of minced garlic since the fresh garlic would burn under the broiler.
- Place 2 tails on a sheet and season them with the spices and butter. Lay the tails on a baking sheet or oven-safe dish and sprinkle the spice mix over them. Then, cut 1 1/2 (21 g) tablespoons of butter into 2 pieces and put 1 small piece of butter on each tail.[6]
- The butter will melt and flavor the lobster tail.
- Broil the lobster tails for 8 to 10 minutes. Set the sheet of seasoned lobster tails on the rack that's below the broiler element. Cook the tails until the meat is completely white.[7]
- To test if the tails have finished cooking, stick a skewer into the meat. It should be tender and you should be able to slide the skewer out easily.
- Serve the broiled lobster tails with clarified butter. Turn off the broiler and wear oven mitts to remove the baking sheet. Use tongs to transfer the hot lobster tails to plates and serve them with clarified butter. You may want to sprinkle a little salt over the tails according to your taste.[8]
- Store leftover broiled tails in an airtight container in the refrigerator and use them within 4 days.
[Edit]Grilled Lobster Tails with Herb Butter - Heat a charcoal or gas grill to medium-high heat. Turn the burners of a gas grill on to medium-high. If you're using a charcoal grill, fill a chimney with briquettes and light them. Once the coals are hot and lightly ashy, dump them on the grill grate.[9]
- Mix the butter, herbs, garlic, hot sauce, and pepper in a bowl. While the grill is heating, put 8 tablespoons (112 g) of softened salted butter into a bowl and mix in 2 tablespoons (6 g) of chopped chives, 1 tablespoon (2 g) of chopped fresh tarragon leaves, 1 minced clove of garlic, 1 dash of hot sauce, and freshly ground black pepper to taste.[10]
- You can cover the bowl with a plate or plastic wrap and set it aside at room temperature while the lobster tails cook.
- Stick a skewer through each of the tails and brush them with olive oil. Get out 4 thawed lobster tails and insert a metal skewer through the length of each tail. Then, brush a little olive oil over the meat of each lobster tail and sprinkle them with salt according to your taste.[11]
- The skewers will prevent the tails from curling as the lobster cooks on the grill.
- The olive oil will stop the lobster tail meat from sticking to the grill.
- Grill the lobster tails for 9 to 10 minutes. Lay the tails meat-side down on the grill and cover the grill. Cook the tails until the shells turn bright red. At the halfway cooking point, use tongs to carefully flip them over and brush some of herb butter onto the meat.[12]
- The meat should be completely white and tender once it's finished cooking.
- Take the tails off of the grill and serve them with the herb butter. Use tongs to transfer the tails to a serving plate. Set out wedges of fresh lemon and the herb butter that you mixed earlier.[13]
- The grilled lobster is great served with grilled vegetables, such as asparagus or peppers.
- Refrigerate leftover tails in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
[Edit]Boiled Lobster Tails with Pepper Butter - Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add salt. Set a large pot on the stove and fill it 3/4 full with water. Put a lid on the pot and turn the burner to high. Heat the water until it begins to boil and you see steam escaping from under the lid. Then, wear oven mitts to carefully remove the lid and add salt to season the water.[14]
- Plan on using about 1 tablespoon (17 g) of salt for every of water you add to the pot.
- Add 4 tails and boil them for 3 to 10 minutes. Slowly lower 4 thawed lobster tails into the boiling water so they don't splash you. Keep the lid off of the pot and boil the tails until they turn bright red. If you stick a skewer into a tail, the meat should be tender once it's finished cooking. You'll need to boil the tails according to how much they weigh:[15]
- 3 to 5 minutes for 3 to 6 ounce (85 to 170 g) tails
- 5 to 6 minutes for 6 to 7 ounce (170 to 198 g) tails
- 6 to 8 minutes for 8 to 10 ounce (226 to 283 g) tails
- 8 to 10 minutes for 10 to 16 ounce (283 to 453 g) tails
- 10 minutes for 16 to 20 ounce (453 to 566 g) tails
- Heat the butter with lemon juice, parsley, salt, and pepper in a separate pot. While the tails are boiling, you can make a simple dipping sauce. Melt 8 tablespoons (112 g) of unsalted butter in a small pot on the stove. Then, turn off the burner and stir in:[16]
- of lemon juice
- 1/4 cup (5 g) of chopped fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon (5.5 g) of salt
- 2 teaspoons (4 g) of freshly ground black pepper
- Use tongs to remove the tails and serve them with the pepper butter. Turn off the burner for the boiling pot of water and use tongs to take each tail out. Set them on a serving platter along with the pepper butter and your choice of sides. You could serve the tails with wedges of lemon, baked potatoes, or steamed broccoli, for instance.[17]
- Refrigerate leftover lobster tails in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Lobster tails usually curl inward when they're cooked. If you'd like your lobster tails to stay straight, push a wooden skewer straight through the tails before cooking them.
- You can double or triple each recipe if you'd like to make more lobster tails.
- Although you can defrost lobster tails in the microwave, you'll need to watch them carefully so they don't begin to cook.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Defrosting and Preparing the Lobster Tails - Plate
- Plastic wrap
- Kitchen shears
[Edit]Broiled Lobster Tails with Garlic and Paprika - Baking sheet or oven-safe dish
- Measuring spoons
- Small bowl
- Spoon
- Baking sheet
- Oven mitts
- Tongs
[Edit]Grilled Lobster Tails with Herb Butter - Knife and cutting board
- Metal skewers
- Measuring spoons
- Gas or charcoal grill
- Tongs
- Serving plate
[Edit]Boiled Lobster Tails with Pepper Butter - Large pot with a lid
- Oven mitts
- Small pot
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Tongs
- Spoon
- Serving plate
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Celebrate a Birthday Online Posted: 23 Nov 2020 08:00 AM PST Don't let social distancing ruin your ability to throw a killer birthday party! While you may not be able to throw that giant party at your home like you normally do, there are still plenty of ways to throw an awesome birthday online. In fact, you have a wonderful opportunity to invite way more people than you normally would since people won't need to travel anywhere to attend the party! While it may feel a little odd to celebrate right now, don't feel bad about enjoying a birthday during the pandemic. Throwing a party during these difficult times will give people something fun to look forward to while they're stuck at home waiting this thing out. [Edit]Planning the Party - Choose a fun theme if you want to give the party a specific vibe. Picking a theme is a great way to make the party feel official. You could do a fancy black-tie event and encourage people to dress up at home, or go for an Oktoberfest celebration and encourage everyone to pick up their favorite fancy beer. You could also do a movie night theme and ask people to dress up like their favorite movie character and play a guessing game to start the party off.[1]
- For a children's party, pick a theme that will get your child pumped. If they're a huge fan of superhero movies, an Avengers-themed comic book party will be fun. If they're younger, a dinosaur jamboree or princess party can be a ton of fun.
- You don't have to choose a theme if you don't want to. It's totally okay to go for a more laid-back event.
- If you don't mind the extra work, you could mail out some kind of theme-based party favor for everyone to wear ahead of time. Matching sunglasses, goofy birthday hats, or a cheap bottle of wine are all great ways to encourage people to get into the spirit of the party.
- Pick a time and date for a digital conference call. Friends and family will be more likely to show up if you host the party on a weekend, even if your birthday is during the week. You can choose any day you'd like, though. Ask your friends and family when they're free and try to pick a time that works for everyone.[2]
- It may be a little tough for people to sit in front of their computer for 3 hours. If everyone is having a ton of fun, they may hang out for 2 hours or more, though. You could say on the invitation, "We'll party from 7 to 8 pm or so" to hedge your bets.
- If you're throwing a kid's party and their birthday is during the week, consider doing something as a family on their birthday and then throwing the party on the weekend when more parents will be free.
- Choose a video chat program for the party that your attendees can access easily. The most popular digital conference call programs for parties like these include Zoom, Google Hangouts, Skype, and Discord. Download one now and get familiar with it if you aren't used to using one. All you need are a computer with a webcam or a phone.[3]
- Houseparty and Microsoft Teams are two solid alternatives, but your guests may not be familiar with them.
- If you're organizing a party for an older child and they know their way around the computer, feel free to let them send the link out to their friends. This will let them set the stream up however they'd like.
- Send out paper invitations or e-vites the same way you normally would. A digital party is still a party! Make it official by sending out a formal invitation. You can mail out paper invitations if you're feeling festive, or send out e-vites to just let everyone know when your party is. Include the theme, time, and video conferencing software you're going to use. This will let people know it's an actual party and not just some random get-together.[4]
- Include the link to your video conference on the invitation if you can. It's okay to send this out via email or social media a few days before if you want to see what platform people prefer to use first.
- If there's a theme for your party, include it in the invitation. For a "beach day" theme, you might use invitations with sunglasses and a bright beach ball on the cover, for example.
- Explain what the party will entail so folks know what to expect. Many of your friends and family are unlikely to have attended a digital birthday party before. Include a note in your invitation about what you're doing here. Explain what kind of digital software they need to download ahead of time and explain what you're doing for the party.[5]
- If you're organizing a children's birthday party and you plan on doing a cake, let parents know in the invitation so they can pick up something sweet for their children. It will feel a little odd if your kid is snacking away on a slice of cake in front of everybody and they don't have anything sweet to eat.
- For example, you might say, "I know times are tough, but this will be a fun way for us to get together. You'll need to download Zoom on your phone or computer ahead of time if you don't already have it. Let me know if you need help with this. We're going to play games, hang out, and have a drink together for my birthday, so pick up a six-pack of your favorite IPA before we meet!"
- Dress up for the occasion to get pumped for the event. Theme or no theme, it's a good idea to get dressed up for the party. Throw on a nice shirt or dress, do your makeup if you wear any, and keep those sweatpants in your dresser. You're going to get a lot more excited for the event if you feel like you're preparing for a regular party![6]
- If you do want to keep it comfy, consider making "pajama party" your theme. This is a fun way for everyone to keep things relaxed.
- Start the video call early and welcome people as they show up. If your party starts at 7 pm, show up at 6:50 so that the punctual folks aren't walking into an empty chat room. As people start showing up to the call, welcome them to the party the same way you would if they were showing up at your home. Make small talk and encourage them to get comfortable while they're settling in.[7]
- If people don't know one another, introduce them. With a digital call, it's possible that you're inviting people from all over who may not know each other, so put people at ease by introducing everyone as they show up.[8]
[Edit]Activities for Adults - Throw a digital cocktail hour to share drinks with friends. One of the easiest ways to have fun together is to crack open a drink together and just chat. This is a great option if you're shooting for a relaxed vibe where everyone is just having fun and going with the flow. You can even have a birthday toast, or play a drinking game, like Never Have I Ever.[9]
- You can tie the drinks to your theme if you'd like. You could do a wine-tasting theme where everyone tries a new bottle of wine and reviews it, or host a "fancy beer night" where people bring their favorite craft brew and explains what they like about it.
- Host a fancy dinner party so everyone can sit down and eat together. Encourage everyone to cook or order out so that their food is ready by the time the party starts. Have everyone set their phone or laptop down at the dinner table and enjoy a digital dinner party with one another. Not only is this a good excuse for your guests to grab some great food, but it's a fun way to emulate something you and your friends may be missing while you're stuck in quarantine.[10]
- If you're going with this option, go all out! Throw on a fancy suit or dress, light a candle, and crack open a nice bottle of wine.
- Attend a live-streamed event together to share some laughs. Virtual events have become quite popular recently for obvious reasons. Look online for a stand-up comedy or improv event that's being streamed online. Watch the event together and chat while you laugh the night away.[11]
- There are free comedy streams and shows you can find online. You don't need to spend money for most of these live events.
- A lot of interesting live events are streamed on Twitch, where people host talk shows, live music, and other events.
- Play a digital party game to have fun together. There are digital versions of most board games out there. You could also download Tabletop Simulator to get a 3D board game going.[12] There are also a lot of trivia and party games from Jackbox, which people use their phones to play. This is a great way to enjoy your time together![13]
- Digital card games are an easy-to-learn and fun option if you've got some guests that aren't a big fan of complex games.
- If you're throwing a small get-together with a bunch of gamers, you could all spend a few hours playing your favorite multiplayer shooter or something.
[Edit]Ideas for a Kid's Party - Decorate your home and yard the night before to make it feel legit. The night before the party, decorate your home like crazy. Put balloons everywhere, hang a banner in the living room, and throw ribbons or streamers all over the place. Decorating your heart out will go a long way towards making your child excited. They'll also feel a lot better about their digital birthday if it feels like the real thing.[14]
- Invite your child's friends to swing by your house on their own time and leave a birthday message with chalk outside! This is one of those great touches that really will make your child feel special on their big day.[15]
- Connect a TV or projector to your computer to make the video easy to see. If your child is younger, a small computer screen may not be a lot of fun for them. Use an HDMI cable to connect your laptop or computer to a TV or projector so that they can get a good look at all of the people showing up to wish them a happy birthday.[16]
- It will also feel more fun to hang out on the couch and eat some pizza or cake than it will to stuff everybody in front of the family computer.
- Choose a host to narrate activities and lead the party. You can host the party yourself, or designate another family member or parent to take the reins. Once everyone has logged on, welcome them, thank them for coming, and wish your child a big happy birthday. Throughout the event, let people know when you're getting ready to blow the candles on the cake out, starting the entertainment, or playing a game together.[17]
- You might say, "Hey everyone! It looks like most of us are here. It's a shame that we couldn't do this in person but we're still going to have an awesome time today! Thank you for coming. Let's kick this off by wishing Jason a big happy birthday!"
- If you're hosting a teenager's party, just let them take the lead if they want it. A 15-year-old may be a little embarrassed by their parents trying to MC their party.
- Have everybody sing "Happy Birthday" to your child. You can do this at the start of the party, or right before your child blows out the candles on their cake if you're getting one. It may be easy to forget a simple detail like this with a digital party, but having everyone sing "Happy Birthday" is one of those little things that will really make your child feel special on their big day.[18]
- If you can, turn the volume up on your computer or TV speakers so the song is nice and loud.
- Hire entertainment and stream it to make the party extra special. If you want to do something a little traditional, hire a magician or clown to show up and perform. Take your laptop or webcam out to the front porch or a local park and enjoy the entertainment from a responsible distance. This is a fun way to give your child something memorable for their birthday.[19]
- Combining a digital conference call with a regular activity is a great way to make it feel like a normal party.
- Enlist a favorite character to join the call if the birthday child is younger. If your child is still at the age where their eyes light up when they see their favorite Disney character or superhero in costume, hire a performer to pop into the conference call and entertain the children. This is a great alternative if you don't want to stream anything outside. It can also be a great way to surprise your child and make the video call exciting![20]
- Many of the companies and freelance actors that specialize in children's parties will be able to accommodate a digital visit.
- You could have the character show up in person, but a little bit of the magic will be lost if your child is the only one who can interact with them.
- Host a watch party for the kids if you want a more relaxed atmosphere. Most parents probably have access to a streaming service, like Netflix. Let your child pick an age-appropriate movie or show and host a watch party. Set the laptop or webcam next to your child and let them watch the movie on a TV with their friends. Time the start of the movie so that everybody starts at the same time and let your child and friends enjoy themselves.[21]
- This is a good option if you can't get everyone on the same page as far as the start time for the party. A movie may take 2 hours to finish, which should give a lot of people time to pop in at some point and wish your child a happy birthday.
- Incorporate a fun activity if you want to give the kids something to do. You won't be able to play pin the tail on the donkey online, there are plenty of games you can set up for your child and their friends. They could play Uno, Scrabble, or some other kind of party game if they're old enough for it. You could also have the children play a game where they act something out, or host a funny dance competition.[22]
- You could pick up a copy of Never Have I Ever Family Edition, or play charades over the digital call.[23]
- The kids may enjoy a joke-telling contest or a scary story competition if they're old enough to handle it.
- Or, have each guest say a few kind words about your child. This is a simple way to really make your child feel loved and appreciated.
- Keep the party going at home to make your child feel special. If the party is over as soon as the conference call is over, they may get a little bummed out. Keep the party moving by doing something as a family as soon as the main event is over. You could watch a movie together, engage in playtime with your child, or have a scavenger hunt at home.[24]
- While it isn't technically an online party, birthday parades are a popular option for children's birthday parties. Invite all of your child's friends and family to drive by, shout happy birthday, and drop a present off.[25]
- If you're throwing a kid's party and you know other parents that threw digital parties for their child, reach out to them. Ask them what worked and what didn't. This is a great way to figure out what you can do depending on your child's personality and friend group if you're a little lost.
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