Party in a Cup! makes cooking for a party fun—and easy—from start to finish. All you need is in here: over 25 mouthwatering recipes using 6 silicone cups you (and your friends!) will cook, step-by-step instructions for whipping those recipes up, party favor and decorating ideas, and more. You just need to bring your creativity and open mind, friends, and family to the table. Are you ready to party? Here we go!
The secret ingredient to any great party is having a plan, staying organized, and getting a head start on preparation. Keep these party “musts” in mind and you’ll guarantee yourself (and your friends) a great time.
Pick a theme. What type of party would you like to have? A slumber party? A tea party? Something to celebrate the end of the school year? Or maybe you’d like to get your girlfriends together for a day of pampering. The type of party you choose will help guide the rest of your choices, like the style of invitations, the decorations, and especially the food!
Think friends. Good company is key! You may be tempted to invite as many people as possible, but another party secret is that a perfect party isn’t about quantity. The best way to guarantee a fun time for all is to invite friends who make you feel good, friends who get along well with each other, or people you’d just like to get to know better. A party is also a great way to have friends bond. Just remember: You can have as much fun with four friends as with fifteen!
Don’t forget food! All the recipes you need for your party are in here! Use six cups to cook up tasty treats that match your party’s theme. You may find silicone cups at most kitchenware stores. You will need 6 cups for each recipe.
How will you have fun? You don’t have to plan every part of your party to have a good time—you may just want to let the party take its course and be spontaneous! It can be good to have a general idea of how you want the party to play out, though. Think about games and things to do in the kitchen (or outdoors) to keep your guests entertained.
There’s no wrong way to throw a party. You’ll be bringing people together and giving them an experience they’ll always remember. The recipes in this book will help you along the way, and hopefully they’ll inspire you to see the kitchen as a key element of your party planning—and even the party experience itself!
Let’s start cooking and get the party started!
Silicone cups make cooking simple and fun!
You may find silicone cups at most kitchenware stores.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind when you use them.
Wash and dry the cups before using them the first time.
Always use a hot pad or an oven mitt when handling cups that are fresh from the oven. Soon after cooking, the edges of the cup may be cool, but the part with the food in it will still be hot. So be careful! And don’t forget about steam. All food releases steam when cooked, so watch out for hot steam when you’re turning food out of your cups.
If something doesn’t slide right out of a cup, give it more time to cool. Then try gently squeezing the base, using an oven mitt if the cup is still too warm to touch. Squeeze the base a few times in different spots, and then try to release the food again. If that doesn’t help, slide a spoon or a butter knife between the edge of the cup and the food to help ease it out.
Cleaning the cups is easy. You can give them a quick wash with a soapy sponge in the sink, or you can put them in the top rack of the dishwasher.
You’ll see this symbol 
whenever a recipe step involves cutting with a sharp knife, using a kitchen appliance, or handling hot things. That’s when you should be especially careful. Ask for adult help whenever the step requires it, or whenever you’re doing something that’s totally new to you.
Also, when an ingredient list calls for a pre-chopped item, ask an adult for help. No matter what, an adult should always be around when you’re cooking so you can get help anytime you need it.
