Category — Entertaining

Happy Easter to you and yours. I’m throwing out one last recipe, just in case you still have to make something super easy and SUPER-DUPER cute! Usually, I would have already had my table all set to show you my tablescape, but since we are eating outside and it’s been windy and dusty all week… I have not done it ahead. Instead, above you can see the pile of dishes I plan to use and a mock-up of a place setting at the bottom of the post.  I hope you enjoy this beautiful day!

[Read more →]

Bonus Photo – The full moon setting this morning at 6 am – gorgeous!

Citrus, specifically lemon, is my favorite dessert to make for Easter. The thing is, my guys don’t love citrus as much as Marissa and I do. Since Marissa isn’t coming home for Easter this year (picture my eyes welling up at this moment), I’ve decided to cater to my husband and son and make something different.

As I was strolling leisurely through Costco earlier this week (picture the one in a million chance of that!) picking up a leg of lamb, spiral ham, and other Easter dinner necessities, I spotted this carton of 18 luscious plums.

Immediately, I thought “plum and raspberry” – so I picked up a package of raspberries too.  Since I’m not a natural baker, I searched the web and found this lovely cake on marthastewart.com. I hope my guys like it… and as for my sweet Marissa… I miss you! xoxo

[Read more →]

Groovy Flowers + Lemons = Stupendous Centerpieces!

My Bestie, Amy, who you already know from Amy’s Famous Taco Soup – is always in charge of making cute name tags for our neighborhood soirées  – love those blinged out peace signs, Amy!

More peace signs along with smiley faces, a flower power table runner, and 70’s album covers were the decor at Rainy and Trent’s ultra cool and “Mod Squad-esque” home.

[Read more →]

Today I’m going to focus on the appetizer portion of our annual Progressive Dinner… which so happened to be held at my house. There will be some of the decor (yes, we had a Disco Mirror Ball!) and a couple classic 1970’s recipes.

Then on Tuesday, I’ll share with you a few more recipes and the super creative decor and tablescapes from two of our dinner host homes – Let me tell you – the two featured couples know how to set a theme table!

When you imagine decorating for the ’70’s, you have a bunch of choices to throw into the mix; Peace signs, the iconic Smiley Face, Flower Power, Hippy, and Disco. So much color and a little too much fun!

I’d recently purchased a case of vintage Pop Shoppe bottles online and had planned on serving a couple of “signature” cocktails in them… but the bottle openings were too small to get the ice cubes into. So instead, they served as a centerpiece.

For the cocktails, I pulled out my crate of antique individual milk bottles – not all that easy to get ice into either, but they worked. (Note: the photo was taken prior to filling the bottles with ice or beverage.)

Here are the recipes for a pitcher of each:

Tom Collins
2 cups Tanqueray gin
1 1/2 cups lemon or lime juice
1/3 cup sweet and sour mix
1/4 cup club soda

Harvey Wallbanger
2 1/4 cups Smirnoff vodka
3 cups orange juice
1/2 cup Galliano

Both cocktails are classically served with an orange slice. Speaking of orange…

[Read more →]

Look at the crazy weather forecast! A blazing 93 degrees today and then a drop of 20 degrees by Sunday, and a lovely 73. What the heck is that?!?! 

This does not bode well for our neighborhood party, this evening.  The screenshot you’re looking at above was taken last night (Friday) at 10:00 PM, and it was still 82 degrees outside, at 10 PM!! That is seriously hot when you’re planning on wearing black polyester bell-bottoms and a long-sleeved polyester disco top!  And when you have made a lovely hanging flower arrangement consisting of delicate roses and ivy.

[Read more →]

What to make for a 70’s themed dinner party? The choices are endless, but are they really great choices? That depends on your level of nostalgia compared to your level of good taste!

Honestly, there were some yummy foods that were popular in the 1970’s. Quiche. Fondue. Fruity Discotheque Cocktails. OK, that’s all I got!

[Read more →]

I’ve shared with you several times before that our neighborhood hosts a Progressive Dinner at least once a year. You don’t remember that? Check it out HERE, Here, and HERE.

The next dinner is this Saturday night and our theme is The 1970’s.  Why the ’70’s? Because that is when our community, Equestrian Manor, was developed.

It’s a pretty fun theme – especially if you’re over 40 and remember some of it first-hand. Does this image of an avocado kitchen bring up scary memories?

[Read more →]

Before we get to today’s recipe… Yes, I’m actually posting a recipe today… I want to wish each and every one of you (lucky enough to be born Irish, or not) a safe, healthy, and very Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

The recipe comes courtesy of Barbara Fenzl and Les Gourmettes Cooking School. Barb made these easy and delicious morsels in her classes this session. They are THE perfect easy-breezy appetizers for carefree entertaining!

The crabmeat mixture can be made a day ahead, covered, and refrigerated. As can the panko coating – if you wait to drizzle on the melted butter until just before assembling the crab cakes.  Additionally, you can bake the crab cakes an hour ahead, then remove them from muffin cups and place them on a baking sheet and leave them at room temperature, and rewarm them in a 350-degree oven for 6 to 8 minutes. Voilà – the easiest crab cakes you’ve ever made!

[Read more →]

This is the final recipe from the grand lobster bake I hosted a week and a half ago.

First off, a few disclaimers. The photo above and 2 more in the body of the recipe (you will easily spot them!) is not my own but from an article in Fine Cooking. This recipe is inspired by the recipe in that article, created by the renowned baker and cookbook author, Rose Levy Beranbaum.  The reason for the snatched photos – yeah, I didn’t take enough while assembling the pie and when I served it at the lobster bake, I was in such a rush, I didn’t get a quality photo of a sliced piece either. No matter, this is one incredible pie~

[Read more →]

Succotash is a hot bean and corn dish that was  popular during the Great Depression because of the ingredients were more readily available than most other foods and relatively less expensive. I’m not a fan of traditional succotash… but turn it into a cold salad with basil dressing, and I’m all in!

[Read more →]