FOOD MACHINE INSTRUCTIONS – POPCORN, COTTON CANDY AND SNO-KONES

Food machines are inherently dangerous: Heat, Sharp Blades and Electric Components!
NEVER ALLOW ANYONE UNDER 18 TO OPERATE ANY OF THESE FOOD MACHINES.

POPCORN

1.    The first step is to pre-heat the kettle. Turn on the agitator (kettle motor) and the heat switch (if separate) and allow it to heat up for 5 minutes. This is only for the first batch. For the following batches skip this step.
2.    Turn off the agitator for a moment to pour in the oil and then immediately turn the agitator back on. Allow the oil to heat up for 1-2 minutes.
3.    Turn off the agitator again to pour in the kernels and then immediately turn the agitator back on. After the popping begins listen for it to slow down. When the popping slows to the point where there is 3-4 seconds between pops it is time to turn the agitator off and dump the popcorn from the kettle.
4.    Repeat steps 2 and 3 until finished. When you are done popping turn off the agitator and the heat switch (if separate.) If you wait more than 10 minutes between batches you will have to start with step 1 again.

 

COTTON CANDY

1.    Turn on the motor and heat switches. Allow the machine to heat up for 5 minutes. From this point you will leave the heat switch on until you are done making cotton candy.
2.    Turn off the motor and when the head stops spinning pour in the floss sugar to the top of the fill line inside the head (about ¼ cup.)
3.    Turn the motor back on and the cotton will immediately start flowing. Use one of the paper sticks provided to collect the cotton by holding it upside down in the bowl about an inch from the bottom and close to the outer wall. Run the stick around the bowl counter clockwise until it has enough cotton stuck to it. Repeat with another stick until done.
4.    When the cotton stops flowing you simply repeat steps 2 and 3.
5.    When you are done shut off the motor and heat switches. If more than 5 minutes goes by between batches you will need to start with step 1 again.

 

SNO-CONES     *You will need approx 30lbs of ice cubes to make 50 sno-cones

1.    Turn on the power switch.
2.    Fill the hopper with ice cubes and close the hopper door.
3.    Place a bowl in the machine under the hopper and while applying gentle downward pressure to the hopper handle press the button to activate the grinder motor. Repeat until the desired amount of shaved ice is produced.
4.    Fill one of the paper cones provided with the shaved ice and then use one of the squeeze bottles of flavored syrup supplied to pour about ½ oz of syrup over the top of the sno-cone.

Thank you for reading this article. If you would like to check out the food machines we rent in South Florida, please visit our website at: www.palmbeachpartyandbounce.com

What Size Table Should I Rent?

When you go to rent tables for your party you will find squares, circles, rectangles, oblongs, ovals, half-moons, serpentines etc. Then you have to deal with diameters, widths and lengths. But you’re still not done because there’s also height to consider. Sometimes too many choices can be a bad thing!

However, there is a saving grace here. When it comes down to ordering tables for a sit down affair the choices narrow considerably. Round tables and rectangle tables are used nearly 100% of the time and there are basically two ‘most common’ sizes used for each shape.

For rounds you have the 60” diameter and the 72” diameter tables and for rectangles there is the 72”x30” and the 96”x30” varieties. Yes there are more choices you will see but these four sizes are definitely the most common and will be the easiest to find a wide selection of linens for. All of these tables are a standard height of 29” or 30” – it really doesn’t matter which you get as far as linen choices go.

And now the important stuff…

So after selecting the table shape and size you would like for your party, the next step is to figure out how many tables you will need to order. Just like with tents, tables also come with varied head count recommendations. You just need to break it down to inches per person. The least space per person would be around 22” and a very generous spacing could go as high as 32” per person. The rectangle tables are simple: a 72” table is suitable for 2 or 3 people on each side with 1 person at each head giving you reasonable seating for 6-8 and a 96” table can accommodate 3 or 4 people per side for an overall seating plan of 8-10 people. If you place the tables end to end you obviously lose 2 table head seats, but you make up for it by gaining an extra seating position at each ‘joint’ where the tables meet.

Rounds take just a little more effort because first you have to determine the circumference by dusting off the algebra your eighth grade teacher swore you would need in the real world one day (and you didn’t believe her!) – so here it is:   C=2(pi)r. Take the 60” round table first. It has a 60” diameter which of course is a 30” radius. So now we have C=2(pi)30. 2 times pi times 30 = 188.4955592153876….. but you have my permission to just go ahead and round that down to 188. So there you have it. The C (circumference) value of our 60” round table is 188”. Now just go ahead and divide it by 22 and then 32 to see it can reasonably accommodate 6-8 people. The 72” works out to 7-10 people.

Yay math!

Thank you for reading this article. If you would like to see the tables, chairs and tents we have available for rent in South Florida please visit our website at: www.palmbeachpartyandbounce.com

Bounce House Safety

The topic of bounce house safety will be at the top of your list when your child asks for a bounce house for their upcoming birthday party. You’ll want to do your homework to make sure you’re getting an age-appropriate inflatable and that the company you’re using is reputable. This is easily accomplished if you follow this simple roadmap.

First start with the type of inflatable you are getting. There are bounce houses and slides made for all different age groups and there is a bit of crossover, but you definitely want to make sure the company you are renting from is aware of the age group at the party and they will be happy to help guide you in the right direction.

Next you want to make sure that the rental company you choose is one of the ‘good guys.’ Ask them about their license(s) and liability insurance. There are some states that do not require bounce house rental companies to carry insurance, but you have to stop and ask yourself if there is any reason to use them when there are other companies that are responsible enough to carry it without even having the state telling them they have to. Always make sure the company you’re using displays their commercial address on their website. If they don’t, it’s generally either because they are working out of their garage and they’re not a legitimate business or they have had complaints in the past and actually don’t want their customers to be able to find them. Why do business with a company that operates this way. Also be sure to check online reviews, the BBB and any other sources you trust. 

After you are comfortable in your choice of rental company, start asking questions about their equipment. How old are the items you are renting? Don’t expect the answer to be “new” – we’re talking about rental companies. But as a rule of thumb commercial inflatables are at the end of their usable lifecycle after 5 or 6 years. That number could be lower for more active businesses and also it assumes the business is using high-quality, American made inflatables. There are much cheaper knock-offs being produced in China and if your bounce house company is offering these to you, you should probably consider going back to the drawing board and finding yourself another company.

When it is delivered make sure that every corner is staked down with metal stakes that are at least 18” long. Read and follow the safety instructions which are printed right on the bounce house near the entrance. Do not exceed the maximum weight rating and always separate kids by age groups. It’s ok for 5 and 6 year olds to jump together but not 5 and 12 years olds.

If weather turns bad take the kids out and keep them out until the threat passes. If weather gets really bad turns off the blower motor so the bounce house doesn’t fly away!

These basic, common sense suggestions will ensure your bounce party is safe and hassle-free. If you have any questions or if you’re interested in an inflatable rental in South Florida please visit our website at:   www.palmbeachpartyandbounce.com

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