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Decorative hearts filled the home of Dr. and Mrs. Knight, as they welcomed guest to an evening devoted to the American Heart Association’s upcoming Heart Ball. Floral arrangements and specially designed wreaths by Mary Tuttles adorned the evening with their exceptional fragrance and beauty. After years of involvement, the Knights were chosen as the American Heart Association’s Heart Ball Chairs for the April 5, 2008 gala. Caprese Skewers Gravlax with Honey-Mustard Dill Sauce Caterer Julia Krelo, Julia’s Catering

Most devout advocates of a cause find their way because they have been touched in some way, and for Dr. Gordon and Elaine Knight, their devotion to the American Heart Association is exceptionally strong not just because they have been touched, but because, as Elaine said, “Everyone has been touched by heart disease – either themselves, their parents or a close friend.” Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in America, and to combat these unnecessarily high numbers, Dr, Knight, a cardiothoracic surgeon, and wife Elaine, are committed to the mission of the American Heart Association and moving the mission forward in St. Louis. The focus of the association is building healthier lives free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

Each year the American Heart Association hosts a Heart Ball to raise money and awareness for heart health, and after years of involvement, the Knights were chosen as the American Heart Association’s Heart Ball Chairs for the April 5, 2008 gala. “The Knights were the perfect couple to host; they are outgoing and really dedicated to the mission,” says Heart Ball Director Carol Burcke. To kick off the fundraising efforts of the American Heart Association Heart Ball’s Executive Leadership Team, the Knights delighted in the opportunity to host a heart-healthy party at their home.

Elaine immediately set out to put together the ideal guest list. The Knights invited a combination of board members, friends, neighbors, physicians and acquaintances, concentrating on inviting couples. “So often it is the wives who are heavily involved in charities, but we wanted to get their husbands involved too,” Elaine said. She noted, however, that more important than the guest list, the key to an effortlessly elegant affair is to make all the guests feel comfortable, as if they were in their own home. “Whether your home is big or small, the goal is to create an inviting environment by making everyone feel like family,” says Elaine.

After putting together the list of guests, Elaine recruited friend and graphic designer, Emily Ross of Emagination Designs to create invitations that would  set the mood for the festivities as well as embrace the mission of  heart health. Though the invitations went out only about three weeks before the party, Elaine concedes that if the calendar pages could have been flipped back she would have liked to give her guests more notice. Four to six weeks prior to the party is a good time to mail the invitations.  

With little time to prepare, the Knights brought in the expert florists at Mary Tuttles to embellish the heart theme of the party. Blooms of bleeding hearts at either side of the front door welcomed guests and set the background for their heart-healthy party. Bouquets of deep-red roses adorned the centers of the tables, and the Knights’ home was bursting with rich shades of red. The combination of velvety textures and creative “red” arrangements set the mood for a meaningful event.

The next step in preparing a perfect party was putting together the food and drink. Because the Knights were throwing a party aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles associated with heart wellness, it was very important to incorporate, delicious, heart-healthy foods. In stepped caterer Julia Krelo, who prides herself on using fresh ingredients – the key to any healthy food – in her recipes. Offering a few tips to transform favorite party dishes into heart-healthy delights, Julia suggests substituting lower fat milks for cream and replacing the call for butter in recipes with healthier olive oil. The American Heart Association publishes cookbooks with ideal recipes, and Julia was surprised by one of the recipes she read, but found herself incorporating it into the evening’s menu. “You wouldn’t expect Bourbon Balls to be healthy, but the recipe in the cookbook is just that,” Julia said. 

The mission of the Knights’ heart-healthy party was clear: to promote education about heart health. However, their approach to throwing a party with a purpose was unique. The family incorporated a greeting and presentation from Dr. Knight and fellow contributors to the Heart Association with delightful food and fanciful décor. As the party drew to a close the Knights sent their guests off armed not only with information on the American Heart Association, but also with a sweet treat – a crystal ball shaped cookie from Colleen’s cookies glazed with the date of the 2008 Heart Ball, “The Crystal Ball.” The evening was a successful kick-off for the spring fundraiser. Carol Burcke gushed, “There are some nights where everything comes together, you have fun, and support a great cause. It was fabulous.”

1. Making your Menu Heart-Healthy Caterer Julia Krelo and host Elaine Knight dished on the wonderful tips they use to keep their food heart-healthy. •    Watch your sugar content. Sweets creep up on you. •    Opt for skim milk over heavy creams. •    When a recipe calls for eggs, use only the whites and ditch the yolk. •    Put down the salt shaker and try out other seasonings. •    A dab of olive oil in place of fatty butter keeps health in line.

2. Nourish Your Body A Heart-Healthy Menu from Caterer Julia Krelo Appetizers •    Vichyssoise with Crabmeat •    Gravlax with Honey-Mustard Dill Sauce •    Caprese Skewers •    Indian Spiced Chicken with Cilantro-    Mint Pesto •    Polenta Crostini with Mushrooms •    Crostini with Fig Jam, Apple &     Pecorino Cheese Desserts •    Low-fat Cheeses, Dried Fruit & Nut Platter •    Bourbon Balls •    Yogurt, Honey and Fruit Parfaits Signature Drink •    Rosa Regale Banfi sparkling Dolce red wine, served with raspberries

3. More Heart-Healthy Cooking Tips (from Marianne Prey of Extra Virgin, an Olive Ovation) •    Substitute olive oil for all other cooking oils. Olive oil is almost 100% monounsaturated fat and has cholesterol-lowering properties. •    Substitute lighter, fruity olive oil for shortening or butter when baking. Use 3/4 cup olive oil for 1 cup of shortening. •    For a great European breakfast, try olive oil on toast or scramble Egg Beaters in olive oil. Zero cholesterol – and it’s delicious!

4. Support Your Cause Here are a few tips for throwing a purposeful party to support the charitable cause of your choice: •    To aid Breast Cancer research, throw a party with pink cocktails and invite friends and coworkers to sign up using their e-mail addresses for a monthly electronic reminder for a self-exam. •    Throw a Take Back the Night party to support the victims of domestic violence. Invite your girlfriends over for an evening of drinks, candle lighting, and gathering together baskets of practical and indulgent goodies to take to a local women’s shelter.