salade verte amère
That is French and translates word for word into Salad. Green. Bitter.
It sounds poetic in French but it certainly does not sound as lovely or appetizing in English. So we shall give it a nicer English name … Bitter Greens Salad with Pomegranates & Parmesan.
So much better. This, of course, was the salad from the European Dinner Party.
I put out store-bought cookies and candies at the end of the meal, so there will not be a dessert recipe. The main course is all I have left to post. Expect that recipe tomorrow.
November 11, 2013 3 Comments
Bienvenido cócteles – dos sangrías
If you know anything about my entertaining style, you know that I love to offer a “Signature” or “Welcome” cocktail when my guests arrive.
For the European Dinner Party, I decided I needed two. That may seem a bit excessive for only four people, but I honestly couldn’t decide between apple or pomegranate on that beautiful autumn evening, so I settled on both.
Sangria is a Spanish and Portuguese beverage that is traditionally served throughout Spain and Portugal during the hot summer months. It is made with summer fruits and juices.
I figured, why not use fall and winter fruits and juices and serve it all year long? Ole!
Spiced Apple Cider Sangria
1 bottle Pinot Grigio
2 cups spiced apple cider
1/2 cup brandy
2 Honeycrisp apples, cored and then chopped
2 Bosc pears, cored and then chopped
1 cup club soda, chilled
Combine all ingredients together, except the club soda, in a large serving pitcher.
Refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 24 hours.
Pour sangria into ice-filled glasses; use a slotted spoon to add a few of the apple and pear pieces to each glass. Then top each with a splash of the chilled club soda.
Makes 8 to 10 servings
Note: I found the sparkling pomegranate soda for the next recipe at Trader Joe’s.
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November 6, 2013 2 Comments
aperitivo número dos
The recipe for these marinated chickpeas, aka garbanzo beans, comes from Real Simple Magazine. I tweaked it a tiny bit.
This was appetizer #2 for my European Dinner Party. I used the chickpeas as the centerpiece for a Spanish tapas plate, which also included prosciutto, Manchego cheese, olives, Iberico cheese, salami, and baguette slices.
November 5, 2013 2 Comments
European dinner party
A couple of weekends ago, we had dear friends over for an intimate dinner party. There were just four of us and it could not have been a more lovely and relaxing evening.
Both the husband and the wife of this chic and well-traveled couple are fabulous cooks – so obviously I wasn’t planning on serving them hot dogs and baked beans.
At first, I was thinking of French cuisine. Maybe Italian … or what about Spanish?
Oh, forget it, I’ll just do a bit of everything. From that, my Eclectic European Dinner Party was born.
I’ll be posting a different recipe from the menu- including appetizers, cocktails, soup, salad, and main course – each day this week.
First up: Antipasto Numero Uno….
November 4, 2013 1 Comment
the rest of the crafts
This is the final post for the 2013 Fall Craft Party. A wrap-up, of sorts.
(*For links to all the craft projects please scroll to the bottom of the page)
The basket of fresh herbs was used to make bouquet garni.
Bouquet Garni is a bundle of herbs, tied together with string, and then used to prepare soup, stock, stews, and such.
The bouquet is cooked along with the other ingredients of a dish but is removed prior to serving.
We used bay leaves, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and basil for our bouquets.
Here’s how to make BOUQUET GARNI:
1. Gather the fresh herbs you wish to bundle –make sure they are fresh, not dried. Also, be sure that you have allowed them to completely dry after washing them. Do not bundle moist herbs—they will turn to mush or worse yet, mold!
2. Take a few stalks of each herb you wish to include in the bundle and only one bay leaf for each bundle.
3. After gathering them together–use kitchen twine to wrap around {crisscrossing} and then tie in a knot at the end.
4. Allow your cute little bundles to sit out for a few days to dry—and then store in an airtight container until ready to gift as gifts or use for soups, stews, stocks, etc.
Kim was the most prolific bouquet garni maker – I think she may have gone home with a dozen. (I do not know why there is a pair of pliers in this photo -weird – you do not need pliers to make bouquet garni.)
It was requested by about half of the attendees that we once again make the burlap and fabric pumpkins. I happily obliged. Detailed instructions may be found HERE.
This table was one of the busiest places, all night long.
Dozens of beautiful pumpkins were created…
October 29, 2013 3 Comments
My friend, Larry
As many of you know, Arizona Cardinals wide-receiver, Larry Fitzgerald, is a dear friend of mine.
If you don’t already follow him on Facebook or Twitter – now is the time! Here is what Larry posted on Facebook on Wednesday, October 2nd:
“As of yesterday I’m donating .25 per new follower, $1,000 per reception & $10,000 per touchdown for the entire month of October #BreastCancerAwarenessMonth#ThinkPink Please share, like, comment and forward on to everyone you know! Let’s make this the biggest year yet!!!”
By the time I saw the post on Facebook, it had been up for 12 minutes. Here is the text I send him:
“Gotta say, I love your Facebook post. I wanted to comment, “But, of course you are!!!”But I knew it would get lost among the other 1,500 comments you got in a mere 12 minutes. So I just “liked” it along with the other 4,700 likes you already had! All in all – You Rock!! xoxo”
“Love ya Linda, I am just trying to do my part to help people in need.”
October 3, 2013 4 Comments
2013 craft party
Happy October!
I am so happy that it is finally October!
I love October!!!
Now that I got that off my chest, allow me to invite you to the …
2013 Fall Craft Party
If you join us, you’ll be armed with glue guns, burlap, mercury glass paint, booze, twine, yummy food, and much much more! It’s time to get busy making fun home and holiday decor. (That rhymed accidentally, don’t expect it to continue!)
Thursday, October 17, 2013
5 PM
$20 per person plus individual project fees
Hopkins’ Home in Equestrian Manor
12007 N 62nd Place
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
Here’s the scoop – The basic class fee is $20 per person. You pay that to register and just for the opportunity to bask in the glow of “fall crafting”!!! OK, it actually covers the food, booze, and some of the most basic supply costs, such as glue sticks and cheap paint brushes.
When you arrive, you’ll receive a number. The first to arrive (on time, not like 2 hours before, for God’s sake!) gets #1 and the last gets #18, or whatever is the last number, determined by how many people sign up.
October 1, 2013 4 Comments
chowder time!
I can not begin to tell you how difficult I find it is to even think about decorating this house for fall. It is still in the high 90’s during the day. Even attempting to place a real pumpkin outside would be asking for disaster.
At least the mornings and late evenings are finally cooling off to the low 70’s. That helps a little.
Plus, one of my favorite areas to decorate for the season is the front entry.
Last year it looked like this…
Today, it looks like this.
Hmm, at least the “caution” cones are a bright pumpkin orange. That might be all the entry decorating we get this year.
No matter ~ I vow to dig out the fall and Halloween decorations today and then do something with them.
The morning and evening cooler temps did instill in me the urge to make a double batch of yummy fresh corn chowder. A double batch because I wanted to share with my very generous neighbor, Cheryl.
You see…..
A few days ago, Cheryl anonymously dropped off culinary treasures at my front door (yes, she tromped through the dirt to get there). I don’t know for sure if she meant for the gift to be anonymous, but I wasn’t home and she left it with Connor.
Not surprisingly, Connor had no idea who Cheryl was, all he said when I ask who dropped it off was, “I don’t know, she was thin and pretty.”
Oh, thanks to Connor, that describes all my neighbors!
After a little detective work on my part, Cheryl fessed up.
This is Cheryl at the Christmas Crafts Class back in December 2012. On that note – watch for info tomorrow about my upcoming Fall Crafts & Decor Class …
So what was the culinary treasure that Cheryl gifted me with?
Homemade Croissants!
There were three of them!
Connor was home … so coincidentally there were three of us.
I ate one, and immediately hid the other two – eventually eating all three.
Connor did not know what was wrapped in the towel he had accepted.
Dave never knew they even existed.
They were mine. All mine. And they were delicious!
Thank you, Cheryl!
September 30, 2013 6 Comments
the secret is out … plus my Sweet Salvage finds…
I can now share with you some exciting news about another big party scheduled for my new back patio.
In January, I’ll be throwing a baby shower for my dear friend, Tram Mai. She and her husband, Stephen, are expecting twins in March!
Yep, petite Tram is carrying twins! Crazy Wonderful! She and Stephen shared the glorious news with Dave and me over the weekend. Then Tram announced it on her show, EVB Live, yesterday. You can watch her sweet surprise live-on-air announcement HERE. I could not be happier for her!
Since it is now quite obvious that I’m not posting a recipe today, how about I also share with you my fun finds from last week’s Sweet Salvage sale?
This is the porcelain enamel scale that I so badly wanted to get.
Maybe I can incorporate it into the baby shower decor.
Until then, it has found a new home in our breakfast room.
I promise you that I will not be incorporating these creepy freaky doll parts in the baby shower decorations…
They, along with the skull and flashcard, are for my Halloween mantel.
September 26, 2013 3 Comments
Best day of the month – Sweet Salvage opening day
Today is my favorite day of the month! It is the third Thursday and that means one thing – it is opening day for the 4-day Sweet Salvage Sale!
The theme this month is “Hallowed Haven” and I’ve already had a sneak peek at all the wonderfulness!
Yep, last night, Peggy and I attended the Preview Party. We and 98 other guests scoped out all the fabulous finds and made long lists and strategic plans on what we wanted and just how we were going to get it!
Our personal strategy? Peggy goes one direction and has 6 treasures on her list (2 for her and 4 for me) while I go the opposite direction and snag 7 finds (4 for her and 3 for me). I hope our plan works, I shall keep you posted!
Remember how I was one of the lucky VIP 15-minute early entry recipients last month? This month they had a really fun theme game going – it all centered around the board-game CLUE. You must go to their Facebook page and see how amazingly creative these women are. They blow my mind!
Here is your own personal sneak peek – the doors open at 10 AM, I hope to see you there. Look for me, I plan to be at the front of the line!
September 19, 2013 3 Comments
