Concord Grape Smash anyone? You’ll find the recipe below and on Food52.com. We are loving this site that has contests 52 weeks out of the year for winning recipes from “inventive home cooks” throughout the country. They also compiled the winning recipes into books. Currently there are two volumes available on Amazon.com. Wouldn’t these books make great gifts for the cook on your holiday list this year? We think so!
It’s officially fall. But while it’s still warm why not continue to entertain friends and family outside. Creating a casual afternoon of cocktails and bite sized food doesn’t have to be as daunting as you might think. I’ll be sharing my tips all week for casual entertaining so I hope you’ll follow along today through Friday. Pictured above is this week’s color palette which I introduce each Monday and my paint chip picks from Benjamin Moore. Colors chips from top to bottom: Pearly Gates 190, Pearl Harbor 2165-50, Golden Gate 033, Palace Pear cw-650 and Sweet Pear 389. It’s a … Read more
These are the last weekends with a bit of warm weather before the cool air comes in, so why not take advantage and invite a few friends over for drinks? This cherry fizz (above) is easy and non-alcoholic. I always like to have a non-alcoholic drink for guests (besides water) so they feel like they are part of the celebration. Cherry Fizz: Serves 2 / 1 cup cherry juice, 1 cup ginger ale, mix with ice and serve in chilled glass. How about a Hot Toddy? (see recipe below) Serve in an old fashioned thermos to take outside to an outdoor … Read more
Most everyone loves lemonade, so here is a recipe courtesy spoonforkbacon for a grown-up version of this pink lady. Make a huge batch for your BBQ or picnic and sit back and enjoy. We hope you have a safe and fun holiday weekend!
When planning a party or just having a simple dinner party or luncheon it’s always nice to consider your color palette when selecting your cocktails and desserts. This is sometimes impossible but I find Pinterest to be a great source of inspiration especially when it comes to finding new recipes. With this week’s color palette in mind of pinks and warm neutrals this recipe for brownie and candy cane ice cream baked alaska seemed perfect from the site Completely Delicious (click link for full recipe). If your palette is very neutral then a pop of color can be fun for your … Read more
For my girls’ 3rd birthday I found these fondant animals on etsy.com from “The Cupcake Stylist” and knew we had to do their whole birthday theme around these little animals. So the entire party became pink and green. Here’s a few personal snapshots of the details from our family cake party. -Lynn Butler Beling Simple white buttercream cakes from our local Tate’s Bakery were adorned with the fondant animals I ordered from the shop The Cupcake Stylist on etsy.com. A serve yourself bar of pink lemonade with plastic bottles which were safe for little ones. Pink and … Read more
I know we feature a cocktail usually, but on these hot oppressive summer days an alcoholic drink is not the best choice. Pineapple juice is one juice that is very good to keep you hydrated. When entertaining in summer I always make sure to have a juice, iced tea, a sparkling water… along with a cocktail beverage. This also is something to consider when you are planning a wedding. Not everyone drinks alcohol, so it’s always nice to have a fun, colorful non-alcoholic option for your guests. This blog I found, called kblog.lunchboxbunch.com explains some more of the benefits … Read more
Thank you everyone for sending in your favorite recipes for the 4th of July! We wanted to try and find something a bit different for you all. Marg from Missouri sent in a cocktail recipe that she says is sure to please! She found the recipe on the blog, A Cup of Mai (which they adapted from Southern Living) and it’s a raspberry beer cocktail. She says it’s sure to make everyone at your party happy with “beer” for the men and and a pretty red cocktail for the ladies! ( See recipe below) For red and white striped straws … Read more
Creative Loafing based in Charlotte, North Carolina has a nice round-up of summer cocktails to give you several fresh new ideas for your bar. How about a hot Pink Heelsplitter? or a Queen 2 Bee? I bet you never thought of some of these ingredients to mix your drinks…beet and chard syrup, rhubarb bitters or blueberry mustard! (follow the Creative Loafing link above for the full story)
I recently came across the website floridianweddings.com. They are a great resource for venues and vendors in Florida, but also have plenty of real weddings and inspiration on their site for any bride or groom planning a wedding! I loved this “Lucky In Love” cocktail that Co-Editor Laura McGlynn featured complete with the recipe. She also creatively made a downloadable/ printable sign to display (that you see below) if you choose to have this signature drink at your own wedding. How nice is that? Having a signature drink at your wedding not only personalizes your wedding but it … Read more
