Frecklize the World | Party inspiration | Menu Ideas | Decor | Recipes

Superior Superbowl Party Snacks

2012-01-26T20:35:00.000-06:00

In case you need a little inspiration to gear up for Super Bowl Sunday, this video of the building of a snack food football stadium might do the trick!

The Big Game Snack Food Stadium

Since most of us won't be undertaking a massive snack-filled construction project like the one above, let's come back down to earth and talk real food. I'm a strong believer that the best football "grazing" food can be eaten with one hand and in a few bites (maybe a napkin). If you're going to host a pot-luck style viewing party, be sure to ask your guests what they plan to bring so you don't end up with 3 renditions of the same dip and 4 fried chicken platters.

Start out by sending an invitation or e-vite to your friends. Paperless Post and Pingg are both great resources for unique designs like these below. Depending on the design and the number of invites you're going to send - some designs are free and others cost a nominal amount:

Source: paperlesspost.com via Anne on Pinterest

Source: pingg.com via Anne on Pinterest

Now let's turn our attention back to the real star of the party: snack food!

Source: food.com via Anne on Pinterest

Chicken wings are a football staple, and recently I've noticed that wings have been showing up in dip form at parties. Buffalo chicken wing dips like this and that are super simple to make and absolutely delicious. Some people prefer ranch dressing instead of blue cheese dressing in their dip. Regardless of the recipe you decide upon, serve this dip warm with Fritos, crackers and celery.

Next up, you have to treat your guests to a delicious creamy dip. I recently came across this copycat recipe of Chuy's Creamy Jalapeno Dip/Dressing. It is tasty with tortilla chips or flax chips from Trader Joe's, as well as carrots, broccoli, celery etc. This dip has a great kick to it, but it's fresh-tasting and light at the same time.

And the party wouldn't be complete without dessert, so why not make some football-themed cupcakes?

Source: the-baker-chick.com via Anne on Pinterest

Holiday Party Drinks: Hot and Cold

2011-11-26T16:45:00.000-06:00

Holiday entertaining is always fun, but I enjoy spicing things up a bit by serving guests a specialty cocktail or hot toddy. These beverages I'm sharing with you are easy to prepare and can be made in advance.

Source: marthastewart.com via Anne on Pinterest

If you want to keep your specialty cocktails quick and easy with only 2 ingredients, try a kir royale, St. Germain Kir Blanc, or St. Germain and Champagne. If you're unfamiliar with St-Germain, it's is an elderflower liqueur with a very light, flowery flavor. You have to try it to fully grasp how delicious it is. A little goes a long way.

Kris Kringle Punch is a lovely pink drink that is especially festive when served in martini glasses, champagne flutes or punch cups. You can garnish each glass with a skewer of fresh cranberries or a twist of orange peel.

Source: hwtm.com via Anne on Pinterest

Kris Kringle Punch

Ingredients

6 cups chilled cranberry juice
3 cups chilled apple juice
3/4 cup lemon juice
1 1/2 cups chilled orange juice (no pulp)
2 bottle ginger ale 1 pint 12 oz size

Directions

Combine all juices in punch bowl. Just before serving, pour in ginger ale. Stir well. Garnish with ice ring. Makes 4 1/2 quarts or about 28 servings. This punch can be spiked for adults with vodka or citrus vodka.

Spiced tea mix is something that I was raised on. Maybe it was a fad of the '80s when Tang was in its prime, but I'm glad to know that spiced tea is still a beloved beverage among my friends.

Source: tasteofhome.com via Anne on Pinterest

Mom's Spiced Tea

Ingredients

1 cup Tang
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup Unsweetened instant tea
1-5 ounce package Sweetened lemonade mix
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp ground cloves

Directions

Combine all ingredients above, and store in a tightly sealed mason jar. Ingredients can be adjusted to satisfy your taste. Recipe makes 2 cups of mix. This recipe can be doubled or tripled.
To make a cup of tea, mix 2 rounded teaspoons of mix into a mug and fill with hot water. Stir well.

Party Planning for the Holiday Season

2011-11-24T22:00:00.000-06:00

It's hard to believe that Christmas is merely a month away! Time to bust out the decorations and start planning for the holiday festivities that are around the corner. While the die-hard shoppers are braving their favorite stores for Black Friday, I've been reading up on new recipes and scouring Pinterest for inspiration in the comfort of my home. Tonight I came across this party planning guide from Trader Joe's, and surprisingly it has a lot of good information!

I'm a big fan of advance prep when it comes to party food, because it's important for a hostess to enjoy the fruits of her labor! So needless to say I'm always on the lookout for hors d'oeuvre recipes that can be made in advance and plated before the guests arrive.

Aside from getting my house ready, one of the hardest things about planning for a crowd is trying to figure out how much food and drinks to have on hand for your guests. Whole Foods has a great "servings calculator" on their website, so there's no need to fret. More to come in the weeks ahead about my favorite appetizers and cocktails for this year.

Tomorrow as I start pulling out my Christmas decorations, here's what I'll be using for inspiration.

Source: countryliving.com via Anne on Pinterest

Source: traditionalhome.com via Anne on Pinterest

Source: southernliving.com via Anne on Pinterest

Thanksgiving: a feast for the eyes

2011-11-09T18:52:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving is one of my top choice holidays because of the food, but for some reason the decorations tend to get overlooked. Maybe it's because I'm so excited about the food in the oven, or perhaps the prospect pulling out all the Christmas decorations afterwards distracts me. The more I think about it, food takes center stage in my family at all holiday celebrations.

Repurposing decor from Halloween would be an easy way to spice up the house for Thanksgiving with no additional investment. Branches of fresh bittersweet can be hard to come by late in the season, but they are perfect for the occasion.

Source: bhg.com via Anne on Pinterest

Nuts as placecard holders, what a simple yet festive touch!

Source: marthastewart.com via Anne on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com via Anne on Pinterest

Source: countryliving.com via Anne on Pinterest

Featuring Fall Flavors

2011-10-12T15:35:00.001-05:00

Caramel apples, pumpkin muffins, cinnamon raisin bread pudding with bourbon sauce, spiked apple cider...I could go on for days gushing over my favorite fall foods. From mid-September through Thanksgiving, I try to take advantage of the fall flavors whenever possible.

Image via Williams-Sonoma.com

Cinnamon Raisin Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce
This is a delicious recipe that you MUST try if you even remotely like bread pudding. The beauty is that you assemble everything the night before and bake right before serving. Great for a crowd. If you double or triple the recipe, you'll need to extend the baking time considerably.
from Bon Appetit 1999
Yield: Makes 6 servings

4 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
4 cups day-old cinnamon-raisin bread with crusts, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup pecans, toasted, chopped

Bourbon Sauce
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1/2 cup sugar
3 tablespoons whipping cream
2 tablespoons bourbon
Pinch of salt
Melt butter in small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in remaining ingredients. Simmer until thickened, whisking often, about 3 minutes. Cool slightly.

Butter 8-inch square baking dish. Whisk first 6 ingredients in medium bowl. Place bread and pecans in prepared dish. Pour milk mixture over and let stand 5 minutes. Push down bread into custard. Refrigerate 2 hours, pushing bread into custard occasionally.

Preheat oven to 375°F. Place bread pudding in large metal baking pan. Add enough boiling water to baking pan to come 1 inch up sides of dish with bread pudding. Bake until pudding is puffed and golden brown on top, approximately 50 minutes. Remove dish with bread pudding from water and cool slightly. Cut into squares. Serve bread pudding warm with sauce.

image via foodnetwork.com

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
by Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa)
I'll confess that I haven't made this recipe before, but I have eaten it! So with that disclaimer in place, I will attest that this soup is wonderfully flavorful if you want to try something different.

3 to 4 pounds butternut squash, peeled and seeded
2 yellow onions
2 McIntosh apples, peeled and cored
3 tablespoons good olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 to 4 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade
1/2 teaspoon good curry powder

Condiments for serving (optional):
Scallions, white and green parts, trimmed and sliced diagonally
Flaked sweetened coconut, lightly toasted
Roasted salted cashews, toasted and chopped
Diced banana
Directions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Cut the butternut squash, onions, and apples into 1-inch cubes. Place them on a sheet pan and toss them with the olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Divide the squash mixture between 2 sheet pans and spread in a single layer. Roast for 35 to 45 minutes, tossing occasionally, until very tender.

Meanwhile, heat the chicken stock to a simmer. When the vegetables are done, put them through a food mill fitted with the medium blade. (Alternatively, you can place the roasted vegetables in batches in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add some of the chicken stock and coarsely puree.) When all of the vegetables are processed, place them in a large pot and add enough chicken stock to make a thick soup. Add the curry powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Taste for seasonings to be sure there's enough salt and pepper to bring out the curry flavor. Reheat and serve hot with condiments either on the side or on top of each serving.

Summer Grilling Favorites

2011-07-13T07:05:00.008-05:00

Despite by better judgement, I often crave grilled food for dinner during the summer months. My sweet husband willingly fires up the grill (even in the scorching 90+ degree weather we've been having recently!) and will cook pretty much anything I pull out of the fridge.

My all time fav (and so easy!) are chicken drummettes that have been soaking in Allegro marinade for at least a couple of hours. My dad mastered these when I was younger and they have been a family favorite ever since. This marinade is also delicious on chicken breasts (bone in or boneless) and pork tenderloin. I will caution you to not marinate your meat too long in this mixture as it can cause the meat to taste too salty after 8+ hours.

Another grilled summer delicacy is sweet corn on the cob. There are a million different ways to grill corn, but my husband tells me that his preferred method is to shuck the corn and wrap each cob individually in foil. You can butter before or after grilling, but I figure it's best to let everyone season the corn themselves.

After tasting a couple of different versions of Mexican street corn (a.k.a. elote) at various restaurants around Nashville (especially Mas Tacos Por Favor and Taco Mamacita) the recipes below have me drooling. Most of the Mexican grilled corn recipes I've come across consist of grilled corn topped with a lime-mayonnaise-cheese-chili powder sauce:

Mexican Grilled Corn from Ezra Pound Cake

Mexican Grilled Corn from Eating Well

Grilled Corn, Mexican Style by Mark Bittman - The Minimalist - NY Times

image via eatingwell.com

To top off the meal, I love a good potato salad. Since not everyone likes the creamy, mayonnaise-based potato salads that have become common-place on grocery store deli shelves, this French Potato Salad recipe from Barefoot Contessa is a great, fresh alternative. The aromatic herbs and light dressing will make this potato salad an instant cookout favorite.

image via foodnetwork.com

A friend recently shared his favorite margarita recipe with me, and I have been looking for an excuse to try them. No need to wait for your next fiesta to whip up a pitcher of these margs. Note: this recipe might upset the margarita purists out there -- but my friend swears that we won't be disappointed! Use your limeade can to measure out the other ingredients.

image via Martha Stewart

Michael's Margaritas on the Rocks

1 - 12oz can frozen limeade concentrate

1 - 12oz Corona light

12 oz Diet 7-Up

12 oz Tequila (blanco is recommended)

Use your limeade can to measure each of the ingredients. Mix all together in pitcher and let rest in fridge for 30 minutes. Serve on the rocks with a lime wedge. Cheers!

Vision Turned Reality: Lowcountry Rehearsal Dinner

2011-06-30T07:15:00.004-05:00

With May and June under my belt, I feel like I can let out a huge sigh of relief. WHEW! What a whirlwind of weddings, parties, and celebrations the past 2 months have been. From attending friends' weddings to helping my mom with my brother's rehearsal dinner, I feel like summer appeared with the blink of an eye.

Way back in January, I began brainstorming with my mom about a vision for my oldest brother's rehearsal dinner. After a quick trip to Bluffton, SC, we chose the venue, Oldfield Plantation Outfitter's Center, with a low-key, laid-back vibe in mind. Being the avid fisherman that my brother is, this outdoor pavillion with expansive decks overlooking the scenic low country river was absolutely perfect.

We decided on a low country boil (a.k.a. frogmore stew - boiled shrimp, potatoes, corn) as the star of the dinner menu, and added pulled pork barbecue, baked beans, and a field greens salad just to be sure no one went hungry! The food was delicious and the conversation lively. Despite a looming 30-40% chance of rain, the weather turned out perfect. We topped off the night with toasts to my brother (groom) and his sweet bride, Lindsay. Overall, it was a very memorable night.

My mom suggested that we incorporate some unique family heirlooms into the decorations -- antique fishing lures and quart-size aqua Ball jars to serve as vases for our table arrangements. My mom's friend Kathy decorated the mantle inside the pavillion with old fishing lanterns and other fishing gear. We also used burlap runners to each table to top off the look. I highly recommend buying these rolls of burlap that you can cut to size on the spot to serve as table runners.They are super affordable and don't require any sewing. Without further ado, here are pictures from the party.

Sub-par picture of an incredible invitation designed by Maria Augustine Designs

Entrance to the Outfitter's Center, complete with a welcome sign and tiki torches to keep the mosquitoes away.

The view was stunning.

The buffet was inside and the chef was around the corner preparing the low country boil for us!

My sweet mom glowing with excitement (and relief) that the party's about to begin

Kathy decorated the mantle with authentic fishing lanterns, paddles, and creel fishing baskets.

Family and friends enjoying cocktails and passed hors d'oeuvres

Steeplechase Picnic Menu

2011-05-11T16:50:00.000-05:00

Drumroll please...I've finally made up my mind as to what I'm going to bring for our picnic lunch for Steeplechase. As I mentioned earlier, I'm trying my hardest to keep it simple this year (not an easy task for me!), especially since we're having such filling food at the pre-Steeplechase brunch.

So without further ado, here are my 2011 Steeplechase brunch and picnic menus!

And we can't forget the 2 gallons Bourbon Slush (click here for the recipe) and mint juleps.

Iroquois Steeplechase Cups - Reserve Your Cups Today

2011-05-10T14:11:00.000-05:00

Hey Nashvillians:
Got cups for your favorite Steeplechase beverages? It's not too late to drink in style! Because I have had NO luck finding cute, horse-themed cups for Nashville's annual horse racing event, my friend Keaton and I decided to order our own. The cups are 16oz. styrofoam, and there are 2 cute styles to choose from:

Style A

Style B

**If you want to buy cups for your tailgate, the cost is $10 for a sleeve of 10 cups.**

You can mix and match designs if you would like! Just be sure to specify which style you want when you email your reservation to me.

Quantities are limited, so reserve your cups today! Please send an email to me at aasbradley@gmail.com if you are interested. We are coordinating pickup of the cups for Friday, May 13.

Off to the Races - Iroquois Steeplechase

2011-05-06T10:14:00.001-05:00

If you live in Nashville, you're well aware that Steeplechase is fast approaching. You've probably already picked out your dress for the day and hopefully have a hat to match! For most ladies, the Steeplechase dress is always the first priority, and the picnic food, cold drinks and other details come second. There are soo many cute sundresses to choose from these days, and comfort is key when it comes to your selection of shoes. You can pick out the first-timers in the crowd because they are usually sporting some sort of spikey heel and trying to pull themselves out of the grass with each step. Wedges, espadrilles, or flats are perfect for this occasion.

When it comes to the food -- follow the mantra "keep it simple." If you're in the infield, you probably have the luxury of driving your coolers into your spot...so you can bring as much of everything as your car can hold. As a box-goer, there's the option of going with the catered-box lunch (some of which are delivered to you in your box!) or bringing your own basket/cooler of goodies. Schlepping heavy coolers and over-filled baskets of food, cups, etc. is not fun. Plus, I have figured out over the years that people are most concerned about having a sufficient supply of beverages and light, easy picnic-type food will typically satisfy the group.

My friends and me at last year's Steeplechase

Here's my checklist for determining whether or not a menu item makes the cut for my picnic basket:

Does not require utensils to eat
Does not require too much ice to keep at proper temperature
Isn't too messy to eat
Doesn't contain weird ingredients that picky eaters might not like
Can "sit out" for at least 30 minutes without spoiling in 80 degree, sunny weather
Easily transportable (or relatively so)
I won't be upset if people don't eat it because they're too busy watching the races :)

Since I'm still working on my race-day picnic menu, I will post that later this weekend! Look back at my posts from year's past for other race-day menu ideas, which can be found here, here and here.

Easy, Affordable Easter Ideas

2011-04-15T17:58:00.000-05:00

There are such cute Easter and Spring party items in the stores this year! I came across some adorable finds at Walmart of all places (Better Homes and Gardens has an adorable spring line as does Wilton).

These "grass" themed cupcake wraps by Wilton can be found at Walmart for under $2. These would be fun to use with carrot cake cupcakes or perhaps lemon blueberry muffins.

The flower print melamine plates above are part of the BHG line for Walmart. There were a ton of other cute items in this spring line. These adorable plates can be yours for are under $2 per plate!

This woven bunny from Pier One (currently on sale for $12.76!) would be fun to fill with some flowers and moss as part of your Easter centerpiece. Or even just some straw grass and pastel eggs would be pretty.

I couldn't resist posting this picture (you can buy one for your child, niece, nephew, or friend from Target). My family definitely had a kid-sized bunny costume and massive carrot that usually made an appearance around Easter. Why???

Road Trip Snacks

2011-04-06T06:50:00.000-05:00

It's no secret that long road trips can completely throw your body out of whack. Since your body won't be being burning many calories while you're riding in the car for hours on end, it's not a bad idea to think through what snacks you want to pack before you hit the road. I'm not a health freak by any means, but it's something worth considering if you're planning on sporting a swimsuit while on vacation!

Here are some of my favorite {semi-healthy} snacks that are easily portable:

Carrots and celery with low fat ranch or hummus
Soy crisps or mini rice cakes (I love the Ranch Soy Crisps by Genisoy)
Tangerines or clementine oranges - these are super easy to peel
Trail mix (comes in hundreds of varieties, but I lean towards the varieties with dried fruit and nuts)
100 Calorie snack packs are an easy option too (sweet to savory: Oreos, Cheez Nips, Chips Ahoy...the list goes on) - something chocolate usually satisfies a craving
Bottled water
Frozen grapes - I typically go with green
Cheese and crackers (pre-sliced cheese would make things even easier)
Pretzels

While you're at it, why not pack your road snacks in these colorful containers from The Container Store. I particularly like the plastic containers with the dip divider!

Happy snacking!

Free April Chevron Desktop Calendar

2011-04-01T07:05:00.019-05:00

Happy April, everybody! Recently I've been on a kick of making desktop calendars for my computer background, so I thought I would share one with you! This bright April calendar with a cheerful chevron design can be yours with the click of a mouse. Just click on the link below the thumbnail, and once the image loads, right click on the large image and select "Save as Desktop Background." and voila!

Click here to download desktop background (1440 x 900)

Luck of the Irish: St. Paddy's Day Celebrations

2011-03-13T21:34:00.000-05:00

With my Scotch-Irish ancestry and being the red-headed, freckled person that I am, I can't help but feel a bit of a connection with St. Patrick's Day. And green just happens to be one of my favorite colors.

I love the wispy clover on the invitation above via FineStationery.com

Thoughtfully Simple is featuring the cutest St. Paddy's Day breakfast idea - "A Lucky Breakfast". You must see for yourself!

Rainbow cupcakes would make for a fun and unexpected St. Paddy's Day treat, even if slightly time-intensive. Here's the how-to from Family Fun mag.

I absolutely adore the fabulous St. Patrick's Day beer tasting party over at The White Library. Definitely check out the free printables she's posted too! I'm considering whipping up a batch of this hearty beef & Guiness stew, since beer makes every stew taste better, right?

recipe and image via Cooking Light

Wishing you the Luck of the Irish during the week ahead!

Spring is in the air!

2011-03-02T07:25:00.000-06:00

Hello friends! After a long winter's nap, I'm back to blogging and excited about what's ahead this spring. As the daffodils are starting to pop up around town, I'm starting to think that the groundhog was correct in his prediction that spring will be here soon! Now that I've crawled out of my winter hibernation, it's time to dust off the crystal and polish the silver. Party time is around the corner!

I love this apple green and pink color scheme for a fresh spring tabletop via Country Living. The seersucker table cloth is perfect too.

Dessert anyone? Springtime calls for fruit-inspired desserts, and of course desserts containing with bright lemon flavor and fluffy white coconut fit the bill too.

Dessert images via Williams-Sonoma

Lowcountry Rehearsal Dinner Inspiration

2011-01-20T07:15:00.000-06:00

My brother and his fiance are getting married in the low country of South Carolina this June, so I have been helping my mom to dream up some ideas for their rehearsal dinner. We took a quick trip down to Bluffton/Hilton Head, SC after Christmas in order to look at potential venues. There were many lovely options - from picturesque riverfront clubhouses to more casual, rustic river-side outdoor pavillions, but we decided on the more casual of the locations - the Outfitters Club at Oldfield Plantation.

There are beautiful decks overlooking the river on 2 sides of the screened-in building, so there are endless options for how we can layout the tables. I can only imagine how lovely the sunset is from this site. We're thinking about a casual low country boil, mason jar lanterns in some of the trees, burlap tablecloths or runners, and an overall laid-back, yet still festive feel. Here's a look at the inspiration board I put together to help us get an idea of what the look of the party could become.

Regifting: Friend or Foe? You Decide! Free Downloadable Gift Tags

2010-12-20T07:25:00.002-06:00

Who says that regifting is always a bad thing? I have loved seeing all the downloadable gift tags that my fellow bloggers have been sharing with their readers over the past couple of weeks, so I thought I would spread the love around to all of you....a little regifting of sorts.

Below you will find links to bloggers that have so generously posted free downloads of adorable gift tags that you can print out at home and use to top off your Christmas gifts. This is such a fun (and thrifty!) way to personalize your gifts. I'm sure there are even more gift tag downloads out there that I haven't seen yet, so feel free to share your favorite gift tag download links in the comments section below.

Check out the fabulous free gift tag downloads courtesy of:

Tomkat Studio
Katie and Company
Camilla Engman
Sinful Southern Sweets
Going Home to Roost
Unsophisticated Cook
Belvedere Designs
Playing Grown Up

Many thanks to all of the thoughtful bloggers for sharing these timely gifts with us!

Merry Christmas 2010!

2010-12-17T07:15:00.000-06:00

I'll admit I've been remiss in my blogging efforts the past few months, but thanks to those of you that still pop in every once in a while to see what's happening over here. Hope you all have a very Happy Holiday season filled with friends, family, fantastic food, and fun!

The Top 5 Holiday Hostess Gifts

2010-11-27T09:47:00.004-06:00

The holiday season is full of parties to attend, which means that I need to stock up on hostess gifts to take to my sweet friends and family members who welcome us into their homes for holiday parties. I am always on the hunt for fun, affordable hostess gifts that will keep on giving even after the party is finished.

Here are my top 5 holiday hostess gifts for 2010:
1. Holiday Candle - Nest - $32 (large) - $20 (votive).

Nest's Holiday candle is the epitome of Christmas. It's the perfect combination of pomegranate, mandarin orange, pine, cloves and cinnamon with a hint of vanilla and amber. This candle burns slowly so it will last the entire holiday season under a watchful eye. The super chic gold glass container will blend right in with your holiday decor too!
2. Christmas Mugs - M.Bagwell - $12

The whimsical green and red mugs by M.Bagwell add instant holiday cheer to your everyday china. From adorable hand-painted ornaments to festive serving dishes, any item from M.Bagwell's Holliday Collection would probably make a fantastic hostess gift.
3. Winter Survival Kit by Thistle Farms - $32

Thistle Farms is a Nashville-based ministry of the women of Magdalene. If you haven't heard about this impressive organization, you should check them out. Thistle Farms' body care products are really high-quality - wonderful-smelling lip balm, body balm, lotion, handsoap etc. Supporting an organization "with a cause" is definitely a gift that keeps on giving.
4. Unique Christmas Ornaments - $5 to $15

You can put together an adorable hostess gift with a bottle of wine and a unique Christmas ornament. I buy a handful of fun ornaments at the beginning of the holiday season, because you can tie one on to a bottle of wine to add a little spice to this oh-so-easy hostess gift. Stores like Crate and Barrel, World Market and Pier One usually have a good mix of unique, affordable ornaments.
5. Wispy Beard Wine Toppers - At West End - $10 a piece

Another fun way to dress up a bottle of wine is by topping it off with one of these gnome-looking hats from At West End. Get 4 bearded hats for $39. I've also spotted some Christmas wine bottle sweaters, which are so funny too and would be perfect to take to the tacky sweater party this year.

November is National Peanut Butter Month!

2010-11-08T18:29:00.000-06:00

Let's raise our spoons to National Peanut Butter Month. I love peanut butter-filled desserts, savory peanut sauces. I could go on for days! While I don't have a particular loyalty to a particular brand of peanut butter, I am a BIG fan of the crunchy variety.

Do you remember the no-bake chocolate peanut butter oatmeal cookies? Well here's a delicious version to bring back good memories of your childhood days. These will melt in your mouth....

Peanut butter is sometimes found in the least-expected recipes. Here's the perfect example, African Bean Soup. Peanut butter adds a subtle, yet noticeable flavor to this delicious soup. Do you have a favorite recipe that calls for peanut butter?

African Chicken/Bean click here for printable version

(Yield: 11 cups of soup)

Cooking spray

1 1/2 cups cubed peeled sweet potato

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup diced red bell pepper

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced

2 cups chopped cooked chicken breast (about 8 ounces)

1 cup bottled salsa

1/2 tsp. ground cumin

2 (16 ounce) cans chicken broth

2 (15 ounce) cans Healthy Choice Chicken with Rice Soup or any less sodium

chicken and rice soup

1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained

1/3 cup creamy peanut butter

Place a large Dutch oven coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat until hot. Add sweet potato, onion, bell pepper, garlic, and jalapeno: sauté about 5 minutes. Stir in chicken and next 5 ingredients (chicken through beans); bring to a boil. Reduce heat’ simmer 10 minutes; Add peanut butter, stirring with a whisk cook 2 minutes.

Pumpkin: The Flavor of Fall

2010-10-04T07:15:00.000-05:00

With the first blast of chilly weather, I've become pretty much obsessed with everything edible that involves the ingredient pumpkin. From coffee and breakfast items to desserts and savory dips, pumpkin is without a doubt the taste of fall for me this year. While I wasn't raised on pumpkin pie (my family is partial to pecan pie), recently I've developed an affinity for the rich taste of pumpkin that's usually accented with spices like cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and ginger.

If you're craving the flavor of fall like me, here are some of my favorite pumpkin-flavored foods for you to try.

Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins (via myrecipes.com)
Pumpkin Cheesecake (via allrecipes.com)
Last night I made this recipe into individual bite-size cheesecakes, instead of doing one large cheesecake like the recipe calls.
Pumpkin Butter (via smitten kitchen) - this is delicious on warm biscuits or toast. Or if you don't have enough time to cook it up yourself, consider trying Trader Joe's version.
World Market Pumpkin Spice Coffee
I bought a little tester bag of this recently, and it did not disappoint!
Muirhead Savory Pumpkin Dip - You can buy Muirhead Pecan Pumpkin Butter at Williams-Sonoma.

Photo credit: Southern Living

Party with a Cause: The St. Luke's Speakeasy

2010-09-15T21:33:00.006-05:00

I thought I would give a little shout out to an event I've been helping out with over the past couple of months -- the St. Luke's Speakeasy fundraiser, which will be held on Friday, September 24th at Houston Station in Nashville. If you're in or near Nashville, TN, this 1920s themed event is going to be a blast, so make plans to attend! You can buy tickets here!

All proceeds from the Speakeasy party will benefit St. Luke's Community House, which is a local non-profit organization with the mission of helping low-income working families, seniors and individuals in West Nashville achieve their potential and prevent problems that threaten the stability of families and community.

Here's a look at the adorable invitation for this year's event! It definitely sets the tone for the party.

I was introduced to the amazing outreach services of St. Luke's Community House at a very young age, because my mom has volunteered there as a music teacher once a week for over 25 years! Needless to say, I have a special place in my heart for St. Luke's and its mission, so I want this fundraiser to bring in as much money as possible for the organization.

My role in the planning process for this event has been to find local businesses willing to donate food (appetizers and desserts) to the party. We have assembled an amazing group of dedicated catering companies and businesses as food sponsors. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the food sponsors for their generous contributions to the St. Luke's Speakeasy!!

2010 St. Luke's Speakeasy Food Sponsors

Now I just need to finish pulling together my 1920s "flapper" costume! All I lack is a pair of t-strap or mary jane style shoes. Check back soon for pictures from the St. Luke's Speakeasy. Hope to see you there!

Football Food - Early Morning Tailgate

2010-09-12T21:29:00.000-05:00

Football is absolutely the highlight of the fall season for me. I love watching game after game on TV with friends and attending the big games in person (and of course tailgating before hand) is obviously the best case scenario. When you're faced with a noon kickoff, tailgating starts really early -- like as soon as the sun comes up -- so you might as well have food that suits the time of day as well as the occasion.

As I've said before, picnics, tailgating and outdoor entertaining in general will be much more enjoyable if you spend some time developing a simple, practical menu. Try to stick to menu items that can be eaten easily with plastic ware or finger food that is bite-size. Chances are there won't be plentiful seating available for your tailgate guests, which means that people are going to be eating while standing up -- trying to balance a drink and a plate while enjoying the tailgate spread.

Breakfast/Brunch Tailgate Menu

----------------------

Sausage Balls

Fruit Skewers

Country Ham and Biscuits

Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins

Brunch Punch

Sausage Cheese Balls from Betty Crocker

Fruit Salad Skewers

Thread your favorite fruit (strawberries, melon, grapes, pineapple etc.) onto wooden skewers. Make it even easier on yourself and buy pre-cut fruit in the produce section of the grocery store.

Country Ham and Biscuits are delicious even at room temperature, so these are a must-serve for your breakfast tailgate.

Pumpkin Cranberry Muffins encompass the flavors of fall, so they should definitely be included in your football tailgate spread. Consider making mini-muffins which are even easier to eat while standing up.

Boozy Brunch Punch

3 cups orange juice

2 cups cranberry juice

1 cup pineapple juice

1 bottle champagne

1 1/2 cups vodka

1/4 cup cointreau or triple sec

Mix first 4 ingredients above in a gallon pitcher and chill or freeze over night. Add alcohol right before serving (if frozen, set it out of the freezer 20-30 minutes before you're ready to serve). Serve punch over ice and garnish with a maraschino cherry or slice of orange.

This recipe makes 6-8 servings, so you'll probably want to double - or triple - in order to serve a crowd.

Lazy Labor Day Gathering

2010-08-30T19:15:00.000-05:00

According to Wikipedia, Labor Day is celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer. The holiday is often regarded as a day of rest and parades. Not to mention it's the kickoff weekend for the college and NFL football seasons. Sounds like the perfect time to prepare a meal that suits the slow-pace characteristic of this "holiday" -- lounging around the house (or your getaway cottage!) with friends and family. Perhaps you'll follow my lead and spend the weekend sitting on the porch enjoying the last of the summer weather.

Mix up a batch of punch like the raspberry beer cocktails above.

Entertaining over a long weekend beckons for food that can be prepared in advance and enjoyed at a moment's notice. Dips, snack mixes and similar tasty treats are my favorites when we're going to be on "vacation" and chilling out with friends.

I love making a big batch of spiced nuts for folks to snack on with a cold beverage!

Sometimes you have to get creative when it comes to entertaining away from home. I think this is such a fun way to ice down bottled drinks, especially when the sink is that picture perfect!

(photo credits (top to bottom) - myrecipes.com and countryliving.com)

The Lost Art of Written Correspondence

2010-08-18T07:30:00.003-05:00

I am a big fan of written correspondence. Although there is always a time and a place for email or a phone call, nothing beats a well-written thank you note showing ones' gratitude to the hostess after spending a long weekend with friends. It shows that you took the extra effort to sit down, reflect on what was "given" to you, and to express thanks in a well-thought out manner. I try my hardest to get the thank you note in the mail promptly after the occasion.

As long as I can remember, I have written thank you notes after holidays, birthdays, weekends away etc. While it definitely takes a bit of time and thoughtfulness, I have found that people really do appreciate being thanked in writing. Everyone has their own writing style, but sometimes it is challenging to put into words exactly what you're thankful for -- without just saying "Thanks for the beautiful platter you gave us for our wedding." What's next?

If you're at a loss of words for what to say in a thank you note -- check out one of several books like "101 Ways to Say Thank You" by Kelly Browne.

If you need an additional excuse to write thank you notes, why not splurge on some adorable thank you cards like these by Paper Source?

I'm a sucker for letterpress designs too, so these thank you cards from Hello Lucky are at the top of my list too!

I hope this inspires all of you to sit down and thank someone who has done something nice for you by writing them a kind note expressing your gratitude.

Perfect Ingredients for a Summer Picnic

2010-08-05T22:15:00.000-05:00

I've said it before and I'm going to say it again. I love entertaining outdoors. Summer outdoor concert series and events in the park are the perfect excuse to pack a picnic and head outside for the night.

When I am trying to decide on what picnic food to make and pack up, I always think back on when I lived in Paris for a semestser in 2004. My friends and I would often take freshly baked baguettes and pungent cheese, along with a bottle of wine, to the nearest park. Conveniently I lived within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower, so obviously that was usually the destination.

Avignon Picnic Basket from Crate and Barrel rises to the occasion.

The key to a successful picnic is to keep it simple, while not forgetting the necessities. Selecting food items that are tasty (and safe to eat!) at room temperature or slightly chilled is key. Don't forget the picnic blanket, beverages (and vessels to drink out of), and utensils if needed. If you're bringing wine, don't forget the corkscrew, or even easier -- buy a twist off bottle of wine! Packaging your food and additional items is also pretty important. Be sure that all of the lids of your food containers are securely fastened for travel (use a rubber band around the entire container to be safe). Remember to pack desserts that won't melt, too.

I love these super soft and chic blankets by Steven Alan

Many cities offer free outdoor summer activities hosted by the city and local non-profits. I'm always on the lookout for movies in the park, Shakespeare in the park, free live music, arts festivals etc. My favorite summer activities start at sundown and go on into the night hours when things tend to cool off outside. If it's going to be dark by the time you're packing up your picnic, you might consider throwing a small flashlight into your bag -- just so that you're sure you're not leaving anything behind! A citronella candle (with a lighter) is a good idea too, or perhaps just toss in a bottle of bug spray.

If you want to throw together a last minute picnic, consider stopping by your favorite sandwich shop or gourmet bakery. You will be amazed at how many places will package your food up in the perfect containers that are just meant for a picnic.

Here are some fun picnic-related posts:

How to Plan a Picnic - Martha Stewart

4 Fast, Delicious Picnics - Real Simple

101 20-Minute Dishes for Inspired Picnics - The Minimalist - NY Times
Summer Picnic Recipes - Country
Utensil Free Picnic - Epicurious

So I've been a little occupied

2010-07-27T07:30:00.001-05:00

The past couple of weeks have been insanely busy and filled with fun activities. I'm not making excuses, I promise...I'm just saying! I've helped my husband paint our basement, assisted Alice Hendry with a couple of weddings (the picture below is of a wedding that Alice coordinated at Cheekwood) .... check out the incredible flowers arranged by Village of Flowers on the hanging chandelier!

One Sunday afternoon I floated down the Harpeth River in a tube alongside a group of friends...

and somehow I managed to find time to relax with friends, and keep my sanity.

With that being said, let it be known that I have not entirely abandoned my blog or my love of parties! Think of it as a summer getaway. Stay tuned next week for more party inspiration, fun summer entertaining ideas, and all kinds of exciting random bits of knowledge.

Relaxed Engagement Party over the 4th

2010-07-11T10:42:00.005-05:00

My husband and I recently hosted an engagement party in Monteagle for some of our friends. It was a very casual get together, but we wanted it to feel special nonetheless. One of the guests of honor brought over a beautiful wildflower arrangement that we placed on the food table. She and her mother-in-law to be arranged the flowers earlier that morning. What a special treat!

Check out the gorgeous flowers on the food table above.

Here's a shot of the hosts/hostesses and the guest of honor. (above)

This is a picture of some of my girlfriends who came to the party. I can't remember the last time I helped throw such an easy-going, yet festive party. It definitely helped to have some helpful co-hosts to chip in. Mission accomplished! Can't wait to see what sorts of parties next year will bring.

The hit of the food table at this party was a rendition of beer cheese made by our friend Sidney. She shared the recipe with me, and I would like to share it with you! Its not your typical slimey , processed beer cheese that you might have seen at the grocery store. This is a creamy, zesty cheese spread. Definitely worth trying this recipe...it was the first thing to disappear off the food table.

Beer Cheese Dip

2 C. Sharp Shredded Cheddar
2 (8 oz.) blocks cream cheese (softened)
1 packet ranch dressing mix
1/2 C. beer
1 jalapeno, diced
Dash of seasoning salt or garlic salt (optional)

Mix together all ingredients until well blended. Chill for several hours before serving. Can be made the day before.

Tips: It works best to mix the first 3 ingredients together and then add the beer. We like it best on Fritos Scoops, but it is also great with wheat thins, Triscuits, etc. Can be easily doubled for a crowd.

Engagement Party with a Twist

2010-07-01T07:15:00.001-05:00

It is a tradition in the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly to celebrate recently engaged couples with engagement parties over the 4th of July weekend . Since so many people come into the Assembly for the 4th of July, it is an ideal time to gather many friends from across the country. Groups of friends will join together to host a party to celebrate several engaged couples at once. When we were engaged a couple years back, it was so much fun to have these parties thrown for us, so we are excited to be able to do the same for our friends!

My hubby and I are co-hosting one of these parties this weekend for several of his childhood friends and their fiances. Here is the invitation that I designed for this fun occasion. More to come next week on the outcome of the engagement party. Stay tuned!!

Patriotic Party Ideas - 4th of July Inspiration

2010-06-27T17:25:00.016-05:00

The 4th of July is approaching fast, so I wanted to share some craft ideas that you can incorporate into your celebration. Whether you are spending the holiday with a picnic, backyard barbecue, or perhaps on a boat, any of these festive flourishes will be a nice addition to your 4th of July activities.

Adorable DIY red, white, and blue garland from Martha Stewart
Free printables from The Party Dress (cupcake toppers and food tent cards) for your 4th of July party
Stars and Stripes Drink parasols from Martha Stewart
Loving the patriotic stripes montage from The Finer Things
Fabulous red white and blue Napkin Rings from Martha Stewart

And for those of you who love finding inspiration for your party decor, here's some eye-candy for you.

images from CountryLiving.com

I love incorporating colors of the holiday into the food that is being served at the celebration. 4th of July calls for cold dishes that feature homegrown tomatoes from our garden, so I think I will probably make a tomato, basil, and fresh mozzarella salad for the 4th of July picnic.

Don't Forget to Celebrate Dad!

2010-06-17T22:40:00.002-05:00

This Sunday is Father's Day. I have been racking my brain trying to think of how I should celebrate my Dad. He loves to go fishing, read books, and grill out (lucky for me and my family!). Maybe it would be nice to treat Dad to a cookout, or better yet -- grill some fish!

So it's time to brush up your grilling skills then stop by the meat counter at your local grocery.

I usually will come up with a recipe or an idea that I want my hubby to try and he runs with it (to the grill of course). I have seen a bunch of yummy-looking recipes that I am eager to pass along to the grillmaster. You don't have to have a fancy grill either. A basic kettle grill with charcoal (and some basic grilling skills) can produce some surprisingly tasty results. And for the Dad who has mastered the gas grill and the charcoal grill, and is dying for something a bit more intense...The Big Green Egg is just what he needs.

Epicurious.com has a feature article on marinades, rubs and sauces that peaked my curiosity
Head over to Bon Appetit.com to find out how to grill seafood dishes for dinner
Grilled brined pork chops from the Food Channel look delish too
If you're looking for grill accessories to outfit your Dad (or perhaps give him an upgrade to the worn-out tools he's currently using), check out the recommendations for Grilling Gear at Epicurious.com

Spring + Summer Floral Arrangements

2010-06-11T07:15:00.000-05:00

I have been totally MIA for the past 2 weeks. My life has been super busy with work and extracurricular activites! For quite some time, I have been meaning to share some gorgeous flower arrangements designed by Village of Flowers for recent weddings coordinated by wedding planner extrordinaire, Alice Hendry. All of these flowers happen to come from weddings at Belle Meade Plantation. There's something very special about the rustic elegance of thise venue paired with these unique arrangements.

Photo disclaimer: unfortunately my iphone photography skills do not do justice to the true beauty of these arrangements.

Summer Soiree - Invitations for Entertaining Outdoors

2010-05-27T16:59:00.000-05:00

There's something about the summer that just screams "Party time!" I love wearing sundresses and sandals, and porch parties are always so much fun, so its only natural for me to entertain outdoors once the weather warms up.

Here are some invitations that would be ideal for a casual outdoor party, perhaps a cookout over the holiday weekend, a birthday party, or an engagement party to celebrate your friends. Remember that you always need to have plenty of cold beverages on hand. Summer menus tend to involve room temperature and cold foods. No one likes eating a steaming hot plate of food when it is even hotter outside.

Boatman Geller Lantern Invites from Finestationery.com would be cute for a pool-side birthday party

Inviting Company's Floral Gleam invite at Finestationery.com

Boatman Geller Bright Floral invite is so cheery and versatile!

Stevie Streck Designs Watermelon Invite from Finestationery.com

Checkerboard's Lime Slices Invite would be fun for a cocktail party!

Citrus Dillema: How to Use a Sack Full of Limes

2010-05-20T21:34:00.001-05:00

I somehow ended up with a basket full of limes that need to be used ASAP, which led me to begin looking at recipes that call for more than just a lime or two. I came across some pretty delicious lime-alicious delicacies.

Tyler Florence's Mojito Slush looks pretty stinking yummy.

Martha Stewart's Lime Meltaways are incredible! The recipe only call for 2 limes, but that's okay:)

Any more ideas for lime-heavy recipes?!

Celebration!

2010-05-16T18:12:00.002-05:00

I would like to dedicate this post to my Grandmother, who is celebrating her 90th birthday today! She has been blessed with amazing health, a gentle spirit, and a hard-working attitude. Here's a picture taken today of my mom, Grandmother and me at Grandmother's birthday lunch.

My Grandmother has always encouraged me as I tried to learn how to cook, bake, and really make anything my creative heart desired. I have learned so many valuable lessons over the years from my grandparents, and I am so thankful that I have had grown up with them in my life.

With that being said, I must also mention that my grandmother is an amazing cook and baker. She is famous in our family for her homemade angel food cake with fluffy white icing, chess pies, and homemade bread. I absolutely love her green pepper relish, and I can't wait until the fall when she is going to show me exactly how she makes it with the green tomatoes and green peppers from our garden.

I would like to share a recipe that will forever remind me of my sweet Grandmother, her homemade bread. This bread is sortof a cross between sandwich bread and homemade rolls. I've never tasted anything store- bought that compares to Grandmother's homemade bread. We always have it on Thanksgiving and Christmas, and Grandmother tells me that the baked loaves will keep in the freezer for several months. It is delicious warmed up in aluminum foil, then sliced and slathered with butter.

Grandmother's Homemade Bread

1 pkg yeast1/2 cup warm water
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsps salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 cups buttermilk
3/4 cup vegetable oil (or 1 stick margarine and 1/4 cup vegetable oil)
1 beaten egg
7-8 cups bread flour

In a large mixing bowl, combine yeast with warm water and stir to dissolve. Add sugar, oil, and egg to yeast mixture. Combine baking powder, soda, and salt with the buttermilk in a medium bowl. Stir to combine. Next, alternately add the flour and buttermilk mixture to the sugar/egg/oil mixture. Add enough flour to make the dough stiff.

Put dough in a greased bowl and cover with saran wrap. Let dough rise over night at room temperature or 6-8 hours. Kneed dough well and shape into four loaves. Place dough in greased loaf pans and let rise until doubled in bulk, covered with damp towels.

Bake bread at 375 for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to 325 and continue to bake for another 20 minutes. Cool loaves for 15 minutes, then remove bread from pans and allow to cool on waxed paper.

Steeplechase Menus: Pre-Race Brunch and Picnic at the Races

2010-05-04T19:29:00.002-05:00

The week of Steeplechase has finally arrived. After much anticipation, the big event is almost here! I am thrilled that my friends are coming to town, and the weather is predicted to be partly sunny and high temperature of 69 degrees! Despite the terrible weather that hit Nashville last weekend, the races are on!

In case you've been living in a cave for the past 2-3 days, you have probably heard that Nashville was hit by a devastating flood last weekend. Read about the flood here and here. Hundreds of families have been displaced because of this disaster, but the city of Nashville has responded in every way possible to help out those in need.

Luckily, our home only experienced minor flooding in the basement, so we feel truly blessed. The creek in our backyard swelled almost 4 times its normal size, and the ground eventually became so saturated that some water entered our house beneath the foundation. After the flood waters receded, we noticed that some HUGE rocks had been deposited in our little creek.

With all that being said, I am looking forward to this weekend's diversion...Steeplechase! It will be wonderful to spend some quality time with friends.

So without further ado, here are the finalized menus for my 2010 Steeplechase festivities.

Derby Party, Steeplechase, and Horse Races Galore!

2010-04-28T07:33:00.002-05:00

This Saturday entertainers around the world will be hosting Derby parties in celebration of the 136th Kentucky Derby, which is held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY. Nashvillians get excited about the Derby because its always the Saturday before the Iroquois Steeplechase, which is Nashville's signature horse racing event.

Last week I borrowed a cookbook called Cordon Bluegrass: Blue Ribbon Recipes from Kentucky from my mom, who happens to be a native Kentuckian. This book was originally published by the Junior League of Louisville in 1988, but I found out that they have recently reprinted a limited edition of this cookbook. It is chock full of Derby menu ideas and characteristically Kentucky recipes.

The Derby Day Breakfast menu looked particularly enticing to me...

Derby Day Breakfast

Mint Juleps

Strawberries and Champagne

Derby Cheese Grits

Eggs Derby

Fried Kentucky Ham with Red-eyed Gravy

Bourbon Pecan Bread

Chocolate Bourbon Bars

Beaten Biscuits

Amaretto Fruit Dip with Pineapple & Strawberries

Plantation Tea

Here are some fun entertaining finds from the Keeneland Gift Shop (minus the Arthur Court julep cup):

Here are some fabulous sources for Derby inspiration:

Race day cocktails from The Party Dress
Mint Julep-inspired party from The Finer Things
Kentucky Derby inspiration board at Cream City and Sugar
Opulent hats at Hatsblog
Almost too cute to eat -- Derby Hat cookies by Bakerella
Derby party themed wedding at Snippet and Ink
Last year's derby party post from Coco+Kelley

Entertaining at the Races - Steeplechase 2010 Preview

2010-04-21T21:54:00.005-05:00

The world famous Kentucky Derby is just under 2 weeks away, and Nashville's beloved Iroquois Steeplechase is just under 3 weeks away. I can hardly wait for May 8th! Horse races are characterized by fabulous hats, cute sundresses, yummy food, delicious drinks....oh, and of course the horse races, what is there NOT to enjoy about a day at the races??

I am planning 2 menus for our group of friends--from brunch before the races to a light lunch, snacks, and special drinks for the afternoon.

***More to come soon about the menus I'm putting together***

At Steeplechase, the key is to pack light, sort of like a picnic, since we will have limited space in the box. Yet the ultimate goal is to remember everything you will want to eat and drink during the 4 to 5 hours you are at the races. However, if you're hosting a Derby party, you don't have to worry about being so efficient with your menu.

Images credits: (clockwise from top left corner) -- Derby invite by Inviting Company at FineStationery.com, hydrangea arrangement in silver revere bowl, collapsible picnic basket by Picnic at Ascot, gingham takeout containers from Plum Party, horse shoe napkins from WeddingChannel.com, hat by Callanan at HatsintheBelfry.com

There are a host of Nashville restaurants that offer menus for Steeplechase -- box lunches, breakfasts, tailgating platters etc. If we were going the catered/box lunch route, it would be a tough decision between these offerings:

Bread and Company box lunches
belle at Belle Meade Plantation's Steeplechase Carryout Menu
Loveless Cafe -- fried chicken

While the signature drink of the Kentucky Derby is the mint julep, I think a close second should be Bourbon Slush. For the past couple of years, I've made this delicious frozen concoction of fruit tea (a.k.a. tea punch) and bourbon. It's the ideal picnic beverage because the recipe calls for you to freeze the mixture overnight in a gallon jug, and then it thaws out at the PERFECT rate, resulting in a perfectly slushy drink. I must not fail to mention that the Bourbon Slush ALSO serves as an ice pack in your cooler, until your guests drink it all!

Without further ado, the Bourbon Slush recipe!!!

Bourbon Slush
click here to print this recipe

7 cups water
3 family-size tea bags
16 oz frozen orange juice concentrate (thawed)
6 oz frozen lemon juice (thawed)
3/4 cups Sugar
2 cups Kentucky Bourbon

In a medium saucepan, bring water to boil. Carefully add sugar into simmering water, and stir until dissolved. Once water returns to boil, add tea bags, remove pan from heat, and allow tea to steep for at least 10 minutes. Remove tea bags. Stir thawed orange juice and lemon juice into tea. Once tea has cooled, add bourbon. Pour cooled liquid into a clean gallon milk jug. Fill jug ONLY three-quarters full, leaving a couple of inches at the top of the jug.

Freeze for 8-10 hours or overnight. Slush can be made many days in advance and kept frozen. Remove jug from freezer 2 hours before you want to serve, in order to allow the mixture to thaw. When you're ready to serve, cut off the top 1/4 of the jug making sure to keep the handle intact. This will make it easier to scoop and serve the slushy mixture.

My All-Time Favorite Cookbooks

2010-04-16T07:21:00.027-05:00

I am always learning new techniques and ideas for entertaining, and when I say "ideas" I am referring to recipes, beverages, themes, decor trends etc. Beginning with the obvious, I find myself scouring cookbooks (old and new), magazines, and blogs for party-related inspiration. Old cookbooks are always fun to peruse because they exemplify the trends of a particular era.

Any of my favorite cookbooks below would be great gifts for friends learning to cook or even a shower gift for a friend who is getting married! Together these cookbooks are like an encyclopedia of all things delicious.

My top 3 favorite classic cookbooks:

The Joy of Cooking

The JoC is staple for every cook, as it tells you how to cook pretty much anything you can imagine. If I am making a recipe for the first time, I often refer to JoC to see if there are any "insider tiprs" that I need to know before jumping into a new recipe.

Better Homes & Gardens Cookbook

There are also a million editions of this book, and I have been told that no two are the same. Like the Joy of Cooking, the BHG has lots of "staple" recipes, which makes it a fabulous resource.

The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook

I am a big fan of this cookbook because the recipes are relatively straightforward, yet a step above "basic." Ina incorporates a lot of the flavors of French cuisine that I just can't seem to get enough of. We received a copy of this cookbook as a wedding gift, and I will admit that this is a "gift that keeps on giving." My favorite recipe from this cookbook is the Turkey Meatloaf.

You've GOT to try it, even if you're not huge on ground turkey.

Outdoor Entertaining Must-Haves

2010-04-08T21:15:00.002-05:00

I love to think about all of the outdoor entertaining that is going to take place in the months ahead! From engagement parties to cookouts, the warm weather (and sometimes TOO warm) just beckons us to move the party outside. Here are some of my favorite entertaining accessories that would be perfect to incorporate into your next al fresco gathering.

Dabney Lee - Monogrammed Lucite Tray is available in a fabulous assortment of designs and colors

Adorable polka dot melamine (plastic) appetizer plates from Target

Retro-style flatware tub in galvanized metal - Sur La Table

Galvanized Metal Drink Tub Wagon - Pottery Barn

How playful are these blue stripe straws?! by HeyYoYo on Etsy

Easter Desserts and Spring Delights

2010-04-01T07:25:00.001-05:00

Easter is the first event of Spring, so it is only fitting to break out some springtime dessert recipes for the occasion. Personally, these flavors remind me of spring: lemon, berries--raspberry, strawberry, blueberry etc.--and coconut. I've been charged with bringing a dessert to my husband's family's Easter supper on Sunday. Here are some ideas I'm contemplating as I try to decide what I will bake. Happy Easter!!!

Ina Garten's coconut cupcakes

Crispy Easter Nests from Myrecipes.com

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting - from SimplyRecipes

Lemon Cream Tart from Cooking Light

Cheesecake with strawberry glaze from Foodnetwork.com

Daffodils are a Sure Sign of Spring

2010-03-24T20:25:00.007-05:00

Spring has sprung! The daffodils are popping up all around town, which to me is a sure sign that warm weather is on the way. Today, the weather in Nashville was unbelievably perfect -- 72 degrees and partly sunny!

Daffodils are the perfect flower for Easter floral arrangements, and many people have an abundance of these sunny flowers in their yard. If you can't find a free source for these flowers, you can buy them at most floral shops for a reasonable price. At Import Flowers in Nashville, a bunch of 10 stems is going for $8.50 ($4.00 for field daffodils) this week.

Martha Stewart provides some care tips for daffodils here. Any of these arrangements would be fabulous for an Easter gift or centerpiece.

Daffodils and Branches via MarthaStewart.com

Daffodils can brighten up a room, even when placed in a simple glass vase or a mason jar.

Daffodils in simple vase via BBrooks Fine Flowers

Colorful bottles add a more playful dimension to these spring blooms via Country Living

If you want to get fancy, you can incorporate clumps of wheatgrass into your arrangement along with the daffodils.

Arrangement via Southern Living

You can find a number of inspiring daffodil arrangements from Martha Stewart, here.

Spring is Here and Easter is Near!

2010-03-18T21:29:00.001-05:00

It's hard to believe that this weekend will be the official beginning of Spring. I am looking forward to the trees and flowers blooming, and the grass turning green once again! April and May are some of the most exciting months of the year, and I feel like everyone is anticipating the arrival of the warm weather.

I assembled the photo board below to tie together some of my favorite spring colors. I love assembling these fresh colors together (light blues, greens, lavender and pale pink) because they remind me of the colors commonly used to die Easter eggs.

Adorable Easter invitation by WH Hostess
Wheatgrass centerpiece with chocolate bunnies by Martha Stewart
Spring fresh cut flowers by Southern Living
Best carrot cake by Southern Living

Leave Your Mark with Calling Cards

2010-03-15T19:36:00.001-05:00

As a child my mom purchased calling cards with my name on them to go with every birthday gift that I gave to my friends. The history behind calling cards (formerly known as visitor cards) is quite interesting. According to Emily Post, the visitor card "was to be left as an evidence of one person’s presence at the house of another." Today, calling cards or enclosure cards are placed within wedding gifts or on top of a present so that the person receiving the gift knows who gave the gift to them.

I would argue that greeting cards have somewhat replaced calling cards, as more people tend to enclose a Hallmark card with a gift than a calling card. I will admit that I only use my calling cards when sending a wedding gift to someone, and for that reason my calling cards are rather formal and traditional.

I am considering ordering some more casual calling cards (see the wonderful designs below) for more "everyday" occasions. These calling card designs could also be used as business cards, simply by adding your contact information, instead of just your name.

Simple Border Calling Card by Jack and Lulu

Kate Spade Assorted Frame Calling Card atFineStationery.com

Martha Stewart White Cartouche Calling Card at FineStationery.com

William Arthur Prestegious Calling Card at FineStationery.com

St. Patty's Day Celebrations

2010-03-10T21:18:00.006-06:00

Do you associate St. Patrick's Day with drinking green beer?

I think it would be festive to incorporate an authentic Irish beer selection into your St. Patrick’s Day celebration, in lieu of that stank, green-food-colored-beer that has become the norm. I will admit that I have celebrated St. Patrick’s’ Day in the past by raising a green beer in a plastic solo cup, but I think it’s fair to say that my green beer days are gone for good. There are tons of Irish beers that you can try, besides Guinness. You can get an overview of Irish beer on Epicurious.com

I have always wanted to grow a shamrock plant. And of course, Martha Stewart has a "how to" tutorial on growing shamrocks.
Take a look at these St. Patty's day menu ideas from Bon Appetit.
Why not think outside of the box when it comes to your St. Patrick's Day festivities? Host a St. Patty’s Day Brunch – get some ideas from this Yum Sugar.
UPDATE -- A "MUST SEE": Take a look at these amazing St. Patrick's Day cupcakes on HWTM's blog.
Check out this post from Celebrations.com about an Irish-inspired breakfast menu. Even if you're no master baker, you can whip up a batch of scones using a delicious mix like these made by Sticky Fingers. My favorite flavors are lemon poppy seed and cranberry.

The Cake Ball Phenomenon

2010-03-06T09:28:00.005-06:00

I tried my hand at making a batch of cake balls yesterday. If you have not heard of cake balls, essentially they are made from cake that is crumbled up and mixed with icing -- and dipped in white chocolate. I had read about how cake balls have a unique, almost truffle-like taste that people go crazy over, but I never imagined what a hit they would be with my friends.

As usual, I didn't get a great picture to capture the cake balls before they were snarfed up, but here's a little snapshot. I wish I had time to decorate them more carefully, with fun colors, but I will have to try that next time around.

The thing I love most about cake balls is that the flavor combinations are endless. Although they are super easy to make, cake balls take a while only because the mixture has to be chilled for at least 2 hrs and the balls frozen for at least 6 hrs.

Here are a couple of cake ball recipes to try:

I used this basic cake balls recipe from the Dallas Morning News *yellow cake w/ vanilla icing -- white chocolate coating w/ a touch of semi-sweet chocolate on top*
Bakerella is the cake ball queen -- this recipe is for red velvet cake balls (yum!)
The Pioneer Woman has a great cake ball tutorial with pictures
Step-by-step pictures and flavor combo ideas from Simply Daily Recipes (next I want to try strawberry cake, cream cheese icing and white chocolate coating!) How about funfetti cake balls?!

Image via DallasNews.com

Noah's Ark Baby Shower

2010-03-04T22:22:00.003-06:00

How much fun would it be to throw a Noah's Ark themed baby shower? In my opinion, this theme could be translated to either a girl or a boy. You could use this theme to shower a mom expecting twins -- two by two. Invite your guests and kick-off the theme with an adorable invitation like one of these.

Invite by Stevie Streck at FineStationery.com

Announcement by William Arthur at FineStationery.com

Animal Onesies by TSCookies on Etsy

How cute is this "Zoo Crew" Cupcake Tower by Sweet Roxy's

Animal Collage Napkins by Caspari

Animal Suckers from Oriental Trading

Wouldn't these be the perfect shower gift?

Handmade Wooden Blocks -- Zoo Themed! from tinygiraffe's Etsy shop

Gingham Animals Bib & Burp Sets from Pottery Barn Kids

You could smock a dress for the baby with a Noah's Ark scene, like my mom did on the dress above. That would be the ultimate shower gift in my opinion!

And the winner is... {drumroll}.....

2010-02-26T07:30:00.002-06:00

Congratulations to Lauren H. from Nashville, who is the winner of the Frecklize the World Birthday Giveaway! Lauren will receive a copy of Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics by Ina Garten. Thanks so much to everyone for participating in this fun giveaway. Hopefully there will be many more exciting opportunities to win free party stuff in the future!

To wrap up the big birthday week, here are some fabulous birthday party ideas from some of my favorite blogs AND my Grandmother's recipe for the ultimate birthday cake (in my opinion anyways).

Image via Martha Stewart

A wide array of themed birthday party ideas over at The Party Dress
DIY Birthday hats from Martha Stewart
Handmade party favors at Pepper Design Blog
Fairy Sweet theme birthday party at HWTM

Image via MarthaStewart.com

Grandmother's Angel Food Cake with Fluffy White Icing

Cake Ingredients

1 1/4 cups sifted cake flour (Grandmother prefers Swan's Down)

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups egg whites, separate eggs while cold, then allow to come to room temp (about 12 eggs)

1 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

1 1/3 cups sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Measure sifted flour, add 1/2 cup sugar and sift 4 times. Combine egg whites, cream of tartar, salt and vanilla and almond extracts in large mixing bowl. Beat on high speed with electric mixer until soft peaks form. Sprinkle in 1/13 cups sugar in 4 additions, and beat well until blended. Add flour mixture in four additions with a large spoon, then scrape down sides of bowl. Pour mixture into ungreased tube pan. Bake in oven for 35 to 40 minutes. Cool cake upside down over a plate.

Icing Ingredients

1 1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup cold water, less 2 tablespoons

2 tablespoons white corn syrup

3 egg whites

1/4 tsp. cream of tarter

150 small marshmallows

3 tablespoons powdered sugar, sifted

In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, water, and corn syrup. Cook over medium heat until the mixture "spins a thread" or 215° F–235° F on candy thermometer. In a large mixing bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar for about 1 minute. Add the sugar syrup mixture to the egg whites while beating on medium-low speed. Next, gradually adding marshmallows and sifted powdered sugar. Continue to beat mixture until well blended and fluffy.

Once cake has cooled, ice generously with fluffy white icing. Best served within a day or so of baking, but leftovers (if there are any!) will keep for a couple of days.

Birthday Giveaway -- Last Chance to Win A Free Barefoot Contessa Cookbook

2010-02-25T08:00:00.001-06:00

Dear faithful readers:
Today (2/25/10) is the last day to enter the FTW Birthday Giveaway. So don't waste another minute....click here to sign up to win the birthday giveaway. It will take LESS than a minute to enter, and who doesn't want to win a free prize every once in a while? You have until the clocks strikes midnight (Central Standard Time) to enter to win a hardback copy of Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics by Ina Garten. Good luck everyone!

You're Invited -- Frecklize the World Hosts Birthday Giveaway

2010-02-21T17:59:00.001-06:00

In celebration of Frecklize the World's 1st birthday, you have a chance to win a free hardcover copy of Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics by Ina Garten. This cookbook offers an array of amazingly delicious recipes, tricks of the trade, and entertaining tips -- it's truly a gem for your cookbook collection. To enter the giveaway, you need to officially become a Follower of Frecklize the World (click here for instructions about following blogs) and submit the form below.

Increase your Odds of Winning: Each person can receive 1 additional entry by promoting this giveaway on Twitter, your blog, or Facebook status. To earn your additional entry, paste a link to your blog post, tweet, Facebook status etc. in the comments section below.

What's for Dinner? A Taste of Mardi Gras!

2010-02-16T07:30:00.005-06:00

Since we weren't able to make it down to New Orleans for Mardi Gras this year, I thought it would be fun to have a mini-celebration of Fat Tuesday at dinner tonight. You have to eat dinner anyways, so why not make it fun and a little different by creating a New Orleans inspired menu in the spirit of Mardi Gras. DISCLAIMER: By no means am I claiming that the recipes below are authentic cajun dishes. They are simply integrating cajun-inspired ingredients.

Image from SouthernLiving.com

In case you have a hankering to make a king cake from scratch, I have enjoyed using this Southern Living recipe for the past couple of years. I am a bit intimidated by bread-making that involves yeast, and even I was able to master this recipe.

I'm planning to make my mom's recipe for Shrimp Creole. I don't know the origins of this recipe, but basically it is a delicious, well-seasoned tomato sauce with the "trinity" of vegetables (onion, celery, and green pepper).

Photo from Foodnetwork.com

Mom's Shrimp Creole

Serves 4

2 tbsp margarine or butter

1/2 cup finely chopped onion

1/2 cup finely chopped celery

1/2 cup finely chopped green pepper

1/ tsp salt

dash cayenne pepper

1 bay leaf

pinch of sugar

1 can tomato puree, tomato sauce or tomatoes (whichever you like best)

2 cups water

1 pound or more cooked, peeled shrimp

Chef Prudhommes’ Seafood Magic seasoning to taste

Chopped parsley if desired

In a heavy sauce pan or electric skillet, melt margarine and add the onions, celery, and green pepper. Sauté until golden. Add the rest of the ingredients except shrimp and simmer about 30 minutes. This can be thickened at the last with 2 tbsp flour and a little cold water if needed. Add the shrimp at the end to just warm them. Serve over hot rice with warm crusty bread.

Photo from Foodnetwork.com

Bananas Foster for 2

2 Tbsp. Butter

3 medium size bananas, peeled and sliced in half

4 Tbsp. brown sugar

3 Tbsp. dark rum (Myer’s)

¼ tsp. Saigon cinnamon

In a medium sauce pan over medium low heat, melt butter then add brown sugar, and cinnamon, stirring until sugar is melted. Next add bananas and sauté for 3-4 minutes until tender and beginning to caramelize around the edges.

Add rum to sugar/banana mixture and stir once or twice gently with spatula. To flambé, carefully hold flame over saucepan (beware that the flame can and likely will jump upwards). Remove from heat and flame will die down once alcohol has cooked off. If you would prefer not to test your flambé

Serve immediately with a scoop (or two) of vanilla ice cream on top.

Last Minute Valentine's Day Ideas

2010-02-12T07:30:00.002-06:00

Valentine’s Day is just a day away, so in case you haven’t decided what you’re going to do to celebrate (or boycott) this lovey dovey holiday, I have a couple of thoughts to share with you. I think most people will agree with me when I say that Valentine’s is another one of those over-commercialized, over-rated holidays. However, it’s also an excuse to rise to the occasion and spend time with those that you care about—friends, boyfriends, or family.

Williams-Sonoma's Sweetie Pie's would be hard to resist

Recently I've heard buzz around the idea concept of Single’s Appreciation Day (Feb. 14^th), which is a different and fun twist to the traditionally “couples only” holiday. You could host a girls’ night for all of your single friends to get together and enjoy each other’s company. I actually met my now-husband (for a second time) while out with friends for an anti-Valentine’s get together. I guess that goes to show that it’s possible to find “the one” when you’re least expecting.

Yum-O! LaMaison du Chocolat heart assortment (via Williams-Sonoma)

If you are more interested in celebrating by cooking a romantic dinner for two at home, you need to check out Epicurious.com’s Romantic Meal Planner. It’s a quiz that helps to determine the best meal to cook based on your food preferences, cooking skills, etc. While you at Epicurious.com, definitely check out their Romantic Menus for more inspiration.

FineLiving.com has some festive cocktail recipes for your Valentine’s inspired gathering.

If you forgot to get a Valentine card in the mail, consider sending an e-valentine.

There are hundreds of free services online offering e-Valentines, but these are the cutest ones I’ve seen this year...

Kate Spade has a couple of fun designs resembling post cards.
Pingg.com is offering a ton of Valentine’s card designs.

Winter Olympics Party

2010-02-08T21:30:00.001-06:00

In celebration of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and the snowy weather we've had recently in Nashville, I think it would be a blast to host a winter "olympics" of a different kind for friends young or old{er}. Think sledding races, snowball fights, "torch" relay races, and medals/prizes for the winners. Have your friends dress in their warmest winter clothes and prepare for a fun-filled day in the snow.

Serve food that represents a "taste of the world. I am envisioning serving Chinese appetizers, an Italian entree, and French desserts! You could really take this theme to the next level by incorporating decorations to correspond with the countries represented in your food spread.

Add some international flair to your spread of food by using these flag toothpicks.

These party cups from Plum Party are just too perfect to pass up! They will really complete the Olympics theme.

Award the race winners with some chocolate medals like these gold chocolate medallions from Cool-Party-Favors.com

Here are a couple more Olympics party resources to check out:

- Winter Olympic Party Ideas from chiff.com

-Adorable post on a Winter Olympics party by Busy Bee Lifestyle
-Olympic themed recipes from Sheknows.com

More Super Bowl Bites

2010-02-05T07:15:00.002-06:00

Noteworthy Collection's football invite from Finestationery.com

Here are some last minute Super Bowl party ideas:

a plethora of Superbowl snack ideas from the New York Times.
creative party theme and inspiration board from Thoughtfully Simple
delicious food and cute tablescapes from HWTM
cost-saving football party ideas from Party Blueprints

Hope everyone has a great fun-filled weekend!!

Super bowl 2010- the ultimate football food feast

2010-02-02T07:16:00.008-06:00

Even if you're not a big football fan, a super bowl party is a wonderful excuse to mix up your favorite dip or snack food. This year, branch out from the basics of delivery pizza or chips and salsa. Here are a few snack recipes that you can make for your football-watching friends.
Buffalo Chicken Dip

Printable recipe

8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup blue cheese or ranch salad dressing

1/2 cup hot sauce

1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese

2 cups shredded cooked chicken
Preheat oven to 350°F. Place cream cheese into deep baking dish. Stir until smooth. Mix in salad dressing, Hot Sauce and cheese. Stir in chicken. Bake for 20 min. or until mixture is heated through; stir. Garnish as desired. Serve with crackers, vegetables or corn chips.

Photo credit: foodchannel.com

Barefoot Contessa's Pan-Fried Onion Dip

Photo credit: foodnetwork.com
Cheesy Bacon Potato Skins from All Recipes

Mini Reuben Sandwiches

Photo credit: food2.com

Football Oreo Truffles by Bakerella

Do you have a favorite football-watching snack? Feel free to share what you will be making for super bowl Sunday by posting a comment below!

Kitchen shower - inspiration

2010-01-22T17:35:00.001-06:00

I am a fan of wedding showers, but I particularly enjoy a good kitchen shower. I am a little biased because I enjoy cooking and all of the fun gadgets that come along with a well-stocked kitchen. It is always fun to see what people think is a "vital" necessity to have in one's kitchen. I know where I'm going to buy my kitchen shower gift whenever the next bride-to-be includes me on her invite list...Anthropologie. I realize that their emphasis is on clothing, but they have some really fun, unique kitchen and dining items that would be fun to give (or receive!).

And of course, you could always look at the bride's registry to see what items she has chosen for her new kitchen. I'm a big believer in giving what you would like to receive, however tastes vary widely, so it is always safe to pick out an item from the registry, particularly china and glassware. You can never have too much of either! :)

New Year, New Look!

2010-01-17T19:28:00.002-06:00

I decided this morning that my blog layout could use a little "freshening up" in 2010, so I hope you like the new look! It's fun to make subtle changes in your life, like moving furniture around or re-inventing an old recipe, just to mix things up a little bit.

In 2010, I have resolved to take on tasks that I am reluctant about doing for one reason or another. I will try to apply this resolution to all aspects of my life, personal and professional. My grandmother always says that it is best to tackle your most dreaded task first (simply, just get it over with).

In late February, I will be celebrating Frecklize the World's one year anniversary! I am trying to come up with a fun way to "raise a glass" to a year full of party tips and new ideas. Here are a couple of fun items that would be perfect to use for a birthday party.

Annieglass Ruffle Cake Platter and Plates (not to mention a decadent chocolate cake)

Simon Pearce Cavendish Candlesticks

Monogrammed Ruthie Napkins by Leontine Linens

I am loving the idea of bird-themed invitations. This one is by Kate Spade at FineStationery.com

Grass green peacock invitation by Inviting Company

Adorable pink peacock invitation by William Arthur

Apres Ski Party - enjoy the spirit of the Rockies

2010-01-10T19:40:00.005-06:00

Even if you've never skiied a day in your whole life, you can still throw an apres-ski themed party to break up the doledroms of winter. The idea is to invite your friends over for a night of winter-themed fun. If you really want to get into the theme, have your friends dress in classic ski-attire or snowflake sweaters and fuzzy boots...you get the idea. Seeing as I live in the south and a "snow storm" often brings a full inch of snow, it is fun to bring the ski theme to us, even if we cannot make it out west to ski every ski season.

Send out festive invitations that will clearly convey the apres ski theme and set the wintery tone for your party. I love the Winter Mountains invite by Monica Maslack and the adorable Ski Hat invitation by Cross-My-Heart at Fine Stationery.com.

Make hot toddies like mulled cider or snugglers (peppermint schnapps and hot chocolate) and serve festive apres-ski food for everyone to munch on (think fondue or warm appetizers, hearty desserts). While the apres-ski theme could be toned down and turned into a winter dinner party without all of the costumes, I think it would be fun to give everyone a chance to get creative and come up with their own interpretation of the theme by dressing up in apres-ski attire.

For a nice touch of ambiance, turn on your favorite Warren Miller ski film or an 80 or 90s classic ski movie like Aspen Extreme or if you have Comcast cable, turn on your yule log On Demand.

Cheers to 2010

2010-01-07T07:30:00.003-06:00

Happy New Year! I rang in the new year with good friends in a warm, cozy cottage in Monteagle, TN. We had the fire crackling, fun music playing, and an abundance of delicious appetizers, hearty spaghetti, and festive drinks. Although we kept our party relaxed and rather low key, we still pulled out all of the stops when it came to eating and drinking well! While New Year's stole the show, our festivities continued into the weekend as many of our friends stayed with us for a couple of days. Over the course of the weekend, we watched tons of football bowl games, feasted on fried turkey, cooked hearty breakfasts, watched the snow fall, and played some games.

While I don't have a plethora pictures to illustrate how much fun we had over New Year's , I do have some recipes to share.

For New Year's Eve, I made a batch of glogg. I combined a couple of different recipes to make the glogg or hot mulled wine, which typically consists of winter spices - I used a spice pack called Aspen Mulling Spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves etc.), cinnamon sticks, orange juice (I used actual orange slices and apple slices), brandy, and of course red wine.

Since we were entertaining a crowd, I bought a box (gasp!) of Bota Cabernet Sauvignon, which had the equivalent of 4 - 750mL bottles of wine inside. I know there are lots of nay-sayers out there who trash on boxed wine, but this is not your typical "pink" boxed wine. This stuff was actually pretty tasty, even without all of the spices.

About 2 hours before the party, I mixed the wine, spices, fruit, brandy etc. in a slow cooker (see pic above) and turned to the to high heat. Other than an occasional stir, I let the concotion simmer for a couple of hours. The result was a spicy and not tooooo sweet mulled wine. Once the mixture is hot (this can take a while), turn the slow cooker back down to low.

Another favorite recipe from the weekend was the hot Bacon & Swiss dip. I know this sounds ridiculously indulgent, and that's because it is! This recipe is very easy to make, and everyone always devours it within minutes of coming out of the oven. This would be perfect to take to a super bowl party. I was given this recipe via my cousin, Lydia. Enjoy!

Bacon and Swiss Dip
click here for printable version of recipe

4 oz. Hellman's Mayonnaise (you can use light mayo)
1 1/2 Cup Shredded Swiss Cheese
8 oz. Philadelphia Cream Cheese
8-9 Slices Crisp Crumbled Bacon (can be cooked in microwave)

Preheat oven to 350. Set Cream Cheese out to soften to room temperature and further soften in microwave for 10 seconds if necessary. Place Mayonnaise in medium bowl. Next add swiss cheese and bacon. Stir in softened Cream Cheese. Spread evenly into a shallow glass pie pan or small casserole (8x4"). Bake at 350 for 20 minutes. Serve with Frito Scoops.

New Year's Eve Party Inspiration

2009-12-28T08:00:00.002-06:00

I tend to think that New Year's Eve gets more hype than it deserves, but I will admit that I enjoy planning a fun gathering of friends to ring in the New Year. Here are a few invitations from FineStationery.com that could be tailored to fit an elegant soiree or a relaxed gathering with close friends. I love the idea of a New Year's Day brunch as a way to celebrate with friends and family in a more toned-down way, in lieu of a blow-out party the night before.

This robin egg blue invite by Caspari gives a different twist to the typical black/silver/gold.

A black/copper color combination could also double as a unique color scheme for your New Year's party.

The Bubbly Bottle invite by Meri Meri could be dressed up or down.

I love this festive, chic invitation by Checkerboard at FineStationery.com

The Snowflake Invitation by Crane & Co from FineStationery.com would work for either a NYE or New Year's Day event

This year we are celebrating with friends at the cottage in Monteagle and then spending the weekend watching football and relaxing. We will either cook dinner or eat from a spread of appetizers galore and desserts. I should really start to figure out all of those details now that the parties and celebrations surrounding Christmas have passed. More to come on our New Year's plans (and the menu that accompanies it).

Christmas cocktail party

2009-12-21T10:22:00.004-06:00

My hubby and I hosted our annual Christmas party for our friends last Saturday night. We love entertaining in our home, but we have not been able to because things have been so busy. In my free time (ha!) over the past couple of weeks, I've been brainstorming about fabulous food, delicious cocktails and unique decor for our Christmas party. I put together a fun menu of nibbles and sweets for everyone to enjoy.

I believe that our guests enjoyed the food and drinks that we prepared, since there were hardly any leftovers! Now that is what I consider a success.

I received rave reviews about the poppy seed ham rolls, Christmas cream cheese olives, oreo balls, and kris kringle punch, so I am going to post those four recipes.

I setup one bar in the kitchen- kris kringle punch (on the right in the pitcher) was a big hit!

Friends!

Flower arrangement that I made for my dining room table. I used white hydrangea, white tulips, spray roses, hypericum berries, and holly.

The spread of food: cream cheese olives, smoked salmon cucumber canapes, and pesto torte are pictured on the front side of the table.

2009 Christmas Party Recipes
click on each item below to see the recipe
******************
Poppy Seed Ham Rolls
Christmas Cream Cheese Olives

Oreo Truffles
Kris Kringle Punch

Holiday decor, greenery and more

2009-12-17T20:00:00.008-06:00

I just love the smell of a fresh Christmas tree inside of the house. This year we began decorating much earlier than usual (we started the day after Thanksgiving!) simply because our December looked to be super busy and hectic. Well, it's fair to say that December has proven to be both hectic and fun, and I am thrilled to have the house decorated inside and out.

Starting with the outside of the house, my sweet husband hung a pine garland wrapped with lights around the outside of our front door and also put little white lights on the boxwoods at the bottom of the stairs.

This year I opted to go with a square boxwood wreath on the front door to mix things up a little bit. Recently I have gotten a kick of making my own big red bows.

I think the key to making your own big bows is having really good quality wired ribbon. It makes the whole process so forgiving, since the wire in the ribbon lets you adjust the bow once you are done making all the loops. Here are step by step instructions (with pictures) on how to make big bows.

This year, I decorated the tree with all of my favorite ornaments, which mainly consists of a lot of different gold, green, red and silver balls. Over the past couple of years, I have acquired pine cone shaped ornaments of all kinds and a variety of Santa Claus ornaments as well.

My favorite decoration, other than the Christmas tree, is the mailbox. I know this might sound silly or strange, but growing up it was a big deal to have the mailbox decorated with pine fronds, loads of magnolia, pine cones, and of course a big red bow on either side. The mothers (including my own mom) at my elementary school used to sell decorated mailboxes as a fundraiser for the school. When my husband and I moved into our home a couple years ago, my mom came over and gave me a tutorial on how to decorate the mailbox. This year was my 2nd time to decorate it on my own, and I think I have finally gotten the hang of it!

And the winner is...

2009-12-14T08:00:00.062-06:00

Congratulations to my friend, Hall, who was drawn as the winner of my first ever giveaway. We had a number of submissions, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading all of your favorite holiday traditions.

Hall's (the winner) favorite holiday tradition:

My favorite holiday tradition is celebrating Christmas Eve with our good family friends (instead of our family). They have adopted us as their cousins, and after all the adults go to bed, we get together at someone else's house and have "cousin time" until early in the morning on Christmas day. - Hall from D.C.

Here are couple of my other favorite submissions from the giveaway:

Probably my favorite Christmas tradition is baking sugar cookies with my sister, Mitchell. Even though we have lived in separate cities for the past few years, we are certain to make time for this special task together. We use an old sugar cookie recipe from my mom which calls for sour cream to make the cookies extra moist and gooey. After making the batter and letting it chill in the fridge for a few hours, we pull it out and the real fun begins.

We take over the entire kitchen counter and sprinkle it with flour (after cleaning it of course). Then we roll out the dough and use the same cookie cutters that my mom has had for over 30 years. We are constantly filling baking sheets and popping them in the oven, while new cookies are being rolled and cut. By the end we are both covered in flour and have ingested about 8 pounds of raw cookie dough. Once the cookies have cooled, we ice them with a mixture of powdered sugar and milk. The secret to this is not adding too much milk so that the icing isn't too runny. We also add food coloring to make green, red, and yellow icing. One of us is usually in charge of icing the cookies, while the other follows behind with sprinkles.

At the end of the night we are left with about 4 dozen brightly colored, delicious cookies that look like a couple of 3 year olds made. But what matters most are the memories that are made right along with them. - Christine from Nashville

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I will be going to my mother's Christmas dinner for the 58th time this year with my children who are 26 and 22 and they have spent their whole lives doing this, we meet at l2:00 and open gifts and eat the big turkey and trimmings on Albemarle Farm, an almost 200 yr. old home recognized by the Kentucky Historical Society and was on the home tour last year in Bourbon County!! - Mary Louise from Lexington

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Decorating the Christmas Tree. We always decorate the Christmas Tree and listen to Aaron Neville's Christmas CD. My husband, David, always complains about listening to Aaron Neville. I however, believe that you have to be a little cheesed out when decorating the tree. - Brook from Murfreesboro

Thanks again to everyone who participated in the giveaway. Hopefully this will be the first of many! More to come later this week about decorating the home for the holidays and my upcoming Christmas cocktail party.

'Tis the season for generosity - my first giveaway!

2009-12-09T08:58:00.010-06:00

In the spirit of the holidays, I am hosting my first giveaway to my loyal readers. I have chosen to give away a set of 4 glass wine goblets by Alessi, courtesy of CSN, which has over 200 online stores, which sell pretty much anything and everything from counter stools to entertaining accessories and cool furniture.

So here's how the giveaway will work. From now until Friday, December 11th at 11:59am (Central Standard Time), complete the form below then click the SUBMIT button (one entry per person). Check back on Monday, December 14 to see who won. I will use Random.org's integer generator to choose a random winner. Please note that I will draw a new winner if I don't hear from the original winner within a week of notification.

UPDATE -12.12.09- Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway. The winner will be posted on Monday, December 14th at 8:00am!!!