Slice of Heaven

I'm not a huge cake person so I'm always hoping for something to wow me. I had the Simply Desserts Chocolate White Chocolate Cake this past weekend and it rocked my world. It was heaven on earth. Can't wait to order it for our next family birthday party.

What's your favorite cake in the greater Seattle area? Anything out there I need to know about? 

Watercolor Menu

from paper taste buds

Adorable!

You could recreate something like this for your next dinner party.

pinyadayada

Cute custom, handmade pinatas from a local artist: pinyadayada. Such a fun touch for your next party.  

White Sangria

We had our second annual summer fiesta this past weekend and once again, the white sangria was the hit of the party. I made extra this year and we still blew through it. Then the bartenders used all the white wine to make more on the fly and we blew through that. Then I sent my sister to the store for more white wine to make more and we even blew through that. Have I convinced you that it's good?

A great cocktail to whip up for your next party or BBQ. It's best when you make it the night before and it's one less thing you have to worry about.

Terpening Summer Fiesta White Sangria

4-6 cups chopped cantaloupe
4 cups pitted cherries (I used Rainier because I liked the color)
2 oranges, sliced thin
3 lemons, sliced thin
4-5 bottles white wine (I use pinot grigio)
1.5 containers frozen lemonade concentrate
1/2 - 1 cup triple sec

Combine everything but the triple sec in a large container and let sit overnight. The day of, add the triple sec. Serve over ice with a scoop of fruit and a festive stir-stick.

Cheers!

Dreaming of Italy

Back when we could travel internationally (pre - two, wild and crazy bambinos), my husband and I fell in love with Livio Felluga Pinot Grigio on the Amalfi Coast, sharing a bottle every day for lunch. We just cracked a bottle last weekend and it was as good as I remembered it. Now we just need to stock up for summer!

Interactive Art

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I read about Ryan Molenkamp’s Portrait Challenge project awhile back and thought it was so creative. After people went nuts for the interactive art project at Bumpershoot, a new Portrait Challenge was presented at the Seattle Art Museum. (It's not currently showing. It took me a year to post this.) 

You could use this idea as inspiration for a fun kids art project for school, a birthday or play date, or you could make it a funny game for your next adult cocktail party or big birthday bash (everyone could draw the guest of honor). Some good clean fun that could be made all the funnier after a few cocktails. 

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The Hostess with the Mostest

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Interesting article on hostess books...

"Sitting Pretty: The hostess who cares the mostest still goes by the book"
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This whole idea of a "hostess book" is beyond my world of entertaining but I still love the idea. It would be nice to keep notes on things that were delicious, too salty, overcooked, or forgotten items. While I'm not so formal that I could include seating charts and invitations (does a text or evite count?), I'm still a sucker for planning a party. It's almost as fun as the party itself.

Get a great entertaining book, shown above in black and green, from Graphic Image.

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A Wintry Vegetarian Dinner

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My friend Jen sent me this menu for a A Wintry Vegetarian Dinner from Saveur magazine. This is a great menu to serve when entertaining a vegetarian guest, or just steal a recipe or two for a casual night at home. I would love to sit down to this meal with several bottles of wine and a friend. I mean several friends and a bottle of wine. I mean, several friends and several bottles of wine. Yes, that's it.
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Brie with Roasted Garlic and Honey

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My aunt Jadine makes this appetizer all the time and it's so good. I made it yesterday and was thrilled with how easy it was. I'll be making it a lot more often now that I know it's a cinch to make.

Brie with Roasted Garlic and Honey

Round of good brie cheese
3 heads of garlic
olive oil
brown sugar
1/2-1 cup honey
Plain water crackers

Roast the garlic (this can be done a day or two before)

Preheat oven to 250. Cut off the top of the head of garlic. Sprinkle with a touch of olive oil, then brown sugar. Place on a small pan or cookie sheet and roast for 2-3 hours. You want the cloves to be soft, but not too mushy. Remove and allow to cool. Squeeze out garlic cloves.

When ready to serve

Throw roasted garlic cloves in a small pan with honey. Warm over medium heat, then reduce to low until you're ready to serve. Cut off the rind on the side and top of the brie round (bottom too if you want). Heat in the microwave for 30 seconds. Pour the honey garlic mixture over the brie and serve with crackers.
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Happy Thanksgiving Over Cocktails Readers!

Last year I hosted my first ever Thanksgiving dinner. Of course I took photos so I could blog all about it, and then I put it off and put it off and put it off. A year later and I still don't have the recipes merged and ready to post, but I thought I'd share my photos.

The Table

 The Kids Table

I drew circles for plates and put crayons out so they could draw pretend food before it was time to eat. 

Thanksgiving morning

Everything is prepped and ready to go

 Murphy Bird 
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(My uncle gave me the recipe along with lots of advice and guidance so I named the turkey "Murphy Bird" since that's his last name and my maiden name). This year we're eating Murphy Bird II.
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Thanksgiving dinner is served!

(Buffet style, of course, since we're casual folks)

All the usual suspects plus a few Murphy additions

The Menu

Turkey with apple sausage stuffing
(might I add that I made my own sausage!)

Twice baked mashed potatoes

Grand Marnier yams

Lumpia (Filipino eggrolls)

Black bean spare ribs

White rice

Green salad

Corn & pea casserole 

Rolls

Cranberry sauce

Dinner is ready, candles are lit. Time to grab a plate, serve up and enjoy!
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Have a Happy Happy Thanksgiving! Be grateful for this day, good food, your health, family and friends!

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Tie-Breaker

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/Photo credit: Tasty Kitchen

My husband has been perfecting his popcorn recipe (a variation of this recipe) and for almost two years now I've been convinced that it's unbeatable. Well, au contraire mon frere! I found some competition. My friend Marly served Food 52's Spicy Parmesan and Truffle Popcorn at a party she hosted and it was amazing. I ate that popcorn for hours. It was SO good. Then I got home and my husband had made his popcorn. So I ate that for another hour, pondering which I liked better. Then I wondered if your stomach could burst and you could die from over-eating popcorn. Would I survive the night? Well I lived to tell the story and I have to say it's a tie-breaker. Both are equally delicious!

* Marly says to go easy on the salt. She followed the recipe for the first batch and it was way too salty.
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Make it Easy on Yourself

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My friend Tara was hosting a going away party (for herself - boo hoo!) and had the genius idea of ordering up a bunch of Vietnamese food. Feeding guests involved a phone call, a car ride, and setting the food on the table. Genius, right? Because planning a party, cleaning the house, prepping the bar, and all the other details, takes a lot of time. Throw in grocery shopping, planning and cooking a meal, then cleaning the kitchen after and you're wiped out before the party even started. It's a great option for serving good food to a large group with very little stress.

I've copied her idea twice now. Once for my daughter's 4th birthday when I had 13 adults and 4 kids to feed and no desire to plan and execute a big meal. I did it again this past weekend for a Husky football tailgate. The sandwiches were a hit.

It's easy food to serve hot or cold so it just depends on your preference and situation. Bahn mis are inexpensive sandwiches ($2.75 each!) and big (usually a foot long). I cut them in half so there is less waste from people who can't eat a whole one. It's not only easy and delicious, it's also economical when you think of how fast groceries add up for a party.

Bahn mis came from Saigon Deli for both parties with a few thrown in from Seattle Deli for the tailgate. We got the noodles from Green Leaf. For the birthday party we also served fresh rolls, chicken skewers, and Vietnamese pancakes from Green Leaf. 

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Break the Rules

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Just because Mint Julep cups are supposed to be used for a Mint Julep beverage, doesn't mean you can't get creative with them. Here are several reasons to invest in a few....


As their original use... serve Mint Juleps at for your next cocktail party...

I never get sick of a Mint Julep cup as a vase for fresh flowers...

It's an easy way to store your makeup brushes for easy access on the counter...

And makes a pretty little holder for your toothbrush...

They even work with sedums or succulents...

What's not to love?

And as long as you're using containers in new and creative ways, why not use a pretty glass container as a toilet paper holder? That's what I did...

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Seattle Shout Out of The Day: Fleurish

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Next time you need to send flowers to a friend or loved one, or are hosting a party, call Fleurish for your floral needs. They do such beautiful arrangements and I especially love the ones they create that are short and compact. They're good at tall ones too though and did this great one below for my summer fiesta in a pot I got on sale at Anthropologie.

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They have such an eye for mixing and matching flowers, greens and succulents with different colors and textures. They are also great to work with. If you're having a party, you can even bring them your own vases and containers. It cuts down on the cost and they can really tailor the arrangement to match the look and feel of the piece. I've loved working with them for both gifts and personal needs.

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And to my husband - remember, it doesn't have to be a holiday to call 206-322-1602!

Before Summer Fades Away

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Mix up a nice tall pitcher of Drunken Arnold Palmers. Sounds delicious.

Drunken Arnold Palmer

Sweet tea
Vodka
Lemonade
Mint


Photo credit: Evil Chef Mom

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Vegan Smorgasbord (round 2)

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We decided to have a little dinner party with two vegan friends and one very un-vegan friend. The plan was to make a vegan dinner, but have some beef burgers on hand too. Here was the delicious vegan smorgasbord we whipped up...

Gwyneth's homemade veggie burgers *
- Served with Bubbies bread & butter pickles, pickled jalapenos, and veganaise.
- I used Earth Balance vegan butter on the buns before toasting them on the grill.

Grilled corn on the cobb
- Before I grill it I shuck it, brush with olive oil, then sprinkle with a mixture I prepare with chili powder, cayenne pepper, cumin and paprika.

Grilled broccolini
- Tossed with olive oil, salt and pepper before grilling.

French fries
- I bought the frozen ones and they did the trick.

Green salad
- My friend Marly made a great salad from Alicia Silverstone's The Kind Diet cookbook.


* I love love LOVE these veggie burgers. I love them so much I ate four over the weekend (Friday dinner, Saturday lunch, Saturday dinner, Sunday lunch). The toppings really take it to the next level. Love the spicy and sweet combo.
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Mermaid Birthday Party

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I was planning a teeny tiny birthday party for my daughter and had planned on no theme. Just a few little girls, some art projects and face painting, cupcakes and that's a wrap. But wouldn't you know it, some mermaid plates from Pottery Barn Kids caught my eye, and next thing you know a theme was born - a mermaid party! I do love a project to get the creative juices flowing so what was I thinking not having a theme??? You could really go wild/overboard with a theme though, but I forced myself to keep it simple. It still turned out pretty darn cute. Here are all the simple little details...

The Guest List
There was a rule among my mom's friends and neighbors when we were young... a child can invite one friend for every year. Makes sense to me. So, since my daughter was turning 4, she got to invite 4 friends. Small and manageable. I like it. I made it a drop-off party so the moms could have a few hours to run errands and I could focus on the birthday girl and her friends.

The Food
I whipped up a few PB&Js, some ham & cheese sandwiches, fruit, and pirates booty. I'm into simple and fast. For dessert we had cupcakes with cute cupcake toppers from Bug & Boo Designs.

The Decor
Cute mermaid plates on pink & white placemats from Pottery Barn Kids, a mermaid pinata, colorful lollipops and party favor bags. I let my daughter pick out the balloons and cupcakes.

Activities

My sister wanted to come over so I put her in charge of face painting. The girls loved it. Everyone got to decorate a crown with stickers and jewels. We did bubbles from the ice cream cone bubble containers and threw water balloons in the driveway. A little lunch, some cupcakes, a pinata and gifts. Simple and easy. The girls had a blast.

Party Favor Bags

I was shopping for another party at Cost Plus and saw these sparkly little boxes. I put a pink sparkly bracelet inside so each girl got her own little mermaid treasure box along with a pink sparkly crown. Took me two seconds and I thought they turned out adorable.

Mermaid table for five

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 Pink, pink, and more pink

A theme inspired by the mermaid plates

The party favor bags with mermaid treasure box and crown

It's not a party without a pinata!

 Lollipop centerpieces

All the girls got to decorate a pink crown with mermaid stickers and jewels to take home with them

Cupcake toppers by Bug & Boo Designs

Pink water balloons, of course

I let my daughter decorate party hats and pick out balloons
(hence the dolphin and "Have a nice day!" balloon)

Face painting was a hit
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Followed by bubbles

Now that we're done with bubbles, who wants to do water balloons????

They all loved throwing water balloons in the driveway

Funny photo of my daughter mid-toss

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Pinata time!

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Happy Happy Birthday to my little Butter Muffin!

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