Category Archives: Entertaining

Olive love…a couple of easy appetizer recipes

11 Friday Feb 2011

Posted by in Entertaining, Food, Recipes, Simple Meals for the Avid Cook

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Ever since I was a little girl I have loved olives.  My mom always had a platter of nibbles out during family holiday feasts.  The platter included cut celery, carrots, gherkins and olives.  I would eat green olives with pimento and black olives until my mom would have to remind me to save some for our guests.  I used to put the black olives on my fingers…did you ever do that?

Image via French Essence

Anyway, here are a couple of recipes that I recently used as an appetizer and I thought I’d share them because a) they are super simple and b) because if you love olives, like me, you will love the taste of these heavenly olive-based hors d’ oeuvres.

The tapenade recipe is in this book, or you can cut and paste the recipe I’ve posted below.

I don’t think my olives came from Italy, maybe Spain, but these images of olive groves were too pretty to pass up.

Silver Palate’s Tapenade

Directions:

  1. Combine black and green olives, anchovy fillets, garlic, capers, tuna, lemon juice and basil in bowl of a food processor fitted with steel blade. Process until smooth.
  2. With motor running, dribble in the oil to make a thick, fluffy sauce. For a lighter sauce, blend in the mayonnaise.
  3. Taste, and correct seasoning. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Will keep, refrigerated, for 1 week.

AND

Italian Guacamole (Funny name for a delicious spread)

Ingredients:

  • 1 clove garlic, peeled and quartered
  • 1-15 ounce can artichoke hearts (in water), drained and quartered
  • 3 ounces *large green olives (about 10-11)
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons flat leaf parsley, chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt & 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

Place garlic in bowl of food processor along with artichoke hearts and olives.  Pulse until chopped well.  Then with processor on drizzle olive oil into mixture until assimilated.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.  Before serving mix in chopped parsley.  Serve with pita chips or crackers or sliced, fresh baguette.

*I used the large green olives from Trader Joe’s that are stuffed with jalapeno.  I took the jalapeno out of about half of the olives and left it in for the half…this gave the spread a tiny kick.

Easy, tasty chicken recipe

04 Friday Feb 2011

Posted by in Entertaining, Food, Simple Meals for the Avid Cook

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It’s been awhile since I’ve posted a recipe and come to think of it, I may have posted this one before.  The thing is, every time I prepare this and serve it I think how delicious and relatively easy it is; and it always gets compliments.  So…I like to share and this yummy goodness will make any of you who try the recipe very happy!

Happy Friday!

image via internet

I’ve posted this recipe on Tasty Kitchen, Pioneer Woman’s site and it will make printing the recipe infinitely easier.

Go HERE to print recipe.  Note, I took out the word “-Stuffed” in this post due to the increasing difficulty I have in finding boneless chicken breasts with skin—the herb mixture tastes just as tasty using skinless but originally they ask you to stuff the herb mixture under the skin.

Green Chili and Herb  Chicken

2/3 cup fresh lemon juice, divided

1/4 cup fresh parsley

8 fresh jalapeno chilies, seeded and minced

2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, minced

2 tablespoons fresh thyme, minced

2 teaspoons kosher salt

12 half chicken breasts, boneless

2/3 cup dry vermouth

1/2 teaspoon grated zest

2 teaspoons coarsely ground pepper

2 tablespoons minced garlic

Marinade for the chicken:

Mix 1/3 cup lemon juice, parsley, chilies, rosemary, thyme, garlic and 2 teaspoons salt in medium bowl.  Place all ingredients in the baking dish, place chicken breasts in marinade and turn once *half way through marinating time.  Arrange chicken in single layer in large baking pan.  Sprinkle with vermouth, remaining 1/3 cup of lemon juice, lemon peel, remaining 2 teaspoons of salt and pepper to taste.  Turn chicken to coat.

Marinate overnight, turning once (I turn it in the morning of the day I’m going to grill)

Grill chicken over medium coals until cooked through, about 10-15 minutes

Birthday party extrodinaire!

24 Monday Jan 2011

Posted by in Collections & Accessories, Decorating, Entertaining, Food

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Our “birthday group” met in celebration of my birthday as well as hubby’s.  My friend Carla, whose home I have featured before HERE hosted the dinner and as always she created a theme that was near and dear to my heart.

Carla's collection is displayed in several areas of her home. This antique Welsh cupboard has some favorites.

Some of her antique sugar bowls house orchids for her kitchen island.

This Staffordshire stands out on this beautiful antique wood carved shelf.

Carla has collected, over many years, an incredible collection of antique Staffordshire figures.  She has a real talent for finding many of her best pieces on eBay.  We (her friends) all marvel at her talent for her discovery of the prized figures for a great price (relatively speaking).  So when she asked me what she should adorn the birthday dinner table with, I quickly suggested her Staffordshire dogs.  Hubby and I have 2 live dogs (although I believe the pottery kind would be less work!) and I knew with Carla’s flair, her table would be beautiful…I wasn’t disappointed.

Among her collections are antique ivory framed portraits.

Carla had brought one of her lanterns in and placed some antique egg cups filled with live viola's in the base of the lantern...that along with a tine figure made for such a great centerpiece for her kitchen table.

sadly, the image doesn’t do this piece justice.

We had such a jolly good time and everything was delicious.  Thank you Wendy and Linda for amazing appetizers and Joyce for the best birthday cake!  Thank you Carla and Tom for opening your lovely home for our birthday and thanks for preparing a fabulous chicken dish (recipe HERE).  No one went home hungry!

New Years Eve party assignment…easy recipe

29 Wednesday Dec 2010

Posted by in Entertaining, Food

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About 6 or 7 years ago a group of friends in the neighborhood decided to start celebrating New Years Eve together.  We had so much fun at that first dinner, which we made “progressive” style dinner (a course is served at each person’s house i.e. appetizer/house 1; salad-soup/house 2; main course/house 3 and dessert/house 4), we have made New Years a tradition.

In fact, this group is one of those unique, dynamic groups where everyone enjoys each others company, that we have started celebrating St. Valentine’s Day, 4th of July, onset of fall, and New Years Eve, with the occasional get-together thrown in for good measure!

{Note, the four couples share a great history of our respective children (adult children now) all growing up together and we’ve been connected with the same schools and community for 20+ years}

Our New Years Eve dinners are now hosted by one of the couples and we all bring a course.  My course this year is appetizer.  I have one recipe in mind and need maybe one or two more.  I thought I’d share the recipe for this easy, scrumptious appetizer in case you need an appetizer for a dinner.

Bacon Pinwheels

Makes 18 to 20 appetizer servings.

1/4 cup cornmeal

1/2 (17.3 ounce) package frozen puff pastry, thawed *

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/2 (6.5ounce) container spreadable light cheese with herbs *

1 cup crumbled cooked bacon

Olive oil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

On a clean, flat surface, sprinkle cornmeal.

Unfold pastry on cornmeal.

Spread mustard lightly over dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border around sides.

Spread cheese over mustard.

Sprinkle with bacon.

Roll up pastry, jelly-roll fashion, and slice into 1/2-inch pieces.

Place pinwheels, cut side down, 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheet.

Brush each pinwheel with olive oil.

Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve warm

*In this recipe the cooks used Pepperidge Farm pastry and Alouette cheese.

What are you doing this New Years Eve?

Tricia Foley

27 Monday Dec 2010

Posted by in Designer, Entertaining

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While searching my files for inspiring photos for holiday décor, I came across a Christmas issue of Traditional Home, or maybe Victoria Magazine (not sure which) titled “White Christmas”, designed by Tricia Foley.  I remember thinking (when I saved the feature) that the white in the room (walls above the wainscoting, flowers, candles and food) contrasting with the rich, dark wood  (paneling below the wainscoting, wood pieces of furniture) managed to provide all of the cozy, warm notes I thrive on, as well as the classic, simple, understated look white can provide.

The white walls above the paneling set a dramatic contrast.

Tricia Foley, Christmas table

Don't you just love the simplicity of candlelight, white linens and paper whites?

Tricia Foley

This isn't the original room I have from the magazine but it serves the purpose.

I decided to do some further research on Tricia Foley and was happy to see she has 3 blog sites as well as some inspiring projects that you can view on her website HERE.  I’ll be able to catch some additional inspiration from her with just the click of a mouse!

Tricia Foley

A fireplace in a dining room space is so cozy.

Tricia Foley’s bio on her site explains that…

“…Tricia Foley Design specializes in all aspects of home design. She’s known for her simple, classic style, her work includes retail consulting, branding, product development and packaging, creating advertising and catalog collateral, residential interior design, magazine editorial and book publishing”.

She has an amazing list of clients including Ralph Lauren Home, Waterworks, Pottery Barn, Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s Home Stores, to name just a few.  She has several design/lifestyle books that have been published and I recently ordered one of her older titles, “White Christmas:  Decorating and Entertaining for the Holiday Season” published in 1997.

Her website explains she is currently restoring an 18th century farmhouse on Long Island and shares her time between there and New York City.

images via Tricia Foley – website

I ordered her book “White Christmas” on Amazon and received a gently used copy for $8!  {I love being able to find a bargain in design books, or any book title for that matter.}  Trisha Foley rooms are always fresh yet warm and welcoming.  I was impressed that the rooms featured in this particular book are so classic and that you would not know by looking at any of them the book was published in 1997!

Tricia Foley Designs

I really must look into a canopy bed!

Nature is intricate to her designs and I believe that is what gives it such an inviting allure.

The pendant light, white cupboards and butcher block counter tops are simply beautiful.

Have you ever stumbled upon a house, room or ‘look’ that you admire only to discover that it’s a designer that you’ve read about before…you begin to recognize their style.  Am I a designer groupie?  Maybe!


Deck the halls with boughs of holly…

20 Monday Dec 2010

Posted by in Entertaining, Party Planning, Traditions

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…fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la ♪

Each year for the past 10 years one of my friends, Joyce, in our Birthday Group (to read more about that visit HERE or HERE) hosts a caroling party for the 5 couples {Joyce & Russ, Carla & Tom, Linda & John, Wendy & Thomas and Hubby and me}.

Joyce makes her home a Christmas wonderland with no detail left untouched by the magic of elves, angels, reindeer and Santa.  Her table settings are coffee table book worthy and along with all of her beautiful holiday decorations comes a warm welcome and a jolly time had by all!

Wreath

Joyce used to teach elementary school and she is a wonderful pianist (as is my friend Carla, who is also in this group).  We start the evening with wonderful appetizers, dinner and dessert and then the ladies do an ornament exchange.

Christmas floral centerpiece

Following this cavalcade of fun we drag the men in from the family room where they have been discussing everything from football to politics and truth be known, would probably rather just let the ladies sing, and make them participate.  We are not about to let them miss the fun!

Our host, Russ, is our very own Santa for the evening!

...fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!

I hope you are enjoying the activities of the season.

A few of my favorite things about the season

08 Wednesday Dec 2010

Posted by in Decorating, Entertaining, Traditions

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I love this time of year…everything about it makes me happy.  I like cooler weather (I realize there are two distinct camps on this, I have friends that are warm-weather fans) I must have lived in Iceland in another life time! Anyway, here are a few of the things I like best about the season…

image via BHG

I guess it goes without saying, I like the decorating part of the season the best.  I think it’s fun to create new ways to dress up the house.  I’m a traditionalist at heart but its fun to try out new ideas for the home using greens and seasonal  fruit, nuts and the like.  I’ve not done this (above image) but once—hanging wreaths in windows side-by-side.  I think it looks great indoors and/or out.  The reason I haven’t hung live wreaths since the first time is that the hardwood floors were constantly filled with pine needles so maybe I need to find a different spot…but it does look festive and pretty, don’t you think?

image via Slim Paley (you will enjoy her site, visit HERE)

Right up there with decorating is entertaining. I’ve said it before, my house is definitely a winter house.  It looks it’s best when I have a fire in the fireplace and candlelight is emanating throughout.  (Maybe we all look better in candle light, I know I do).  But having good friends over for dinner with Christmas music in the background—good conversation, decent wine and comfort food, what could be better?   (Fans of summer need not respond :-))

image via Country Living

Along with entertaining comes using my Christmas Tree dishes by Spode.  Many of you may know of  my disease—I’m addicted to dishes, all patterns and makes, and I’ve read that there is NO cure.  By the way, I don’t have the red transfer ware pattern above but believe me I’ve eyed it with more than faint enthusiasm!

image via Country Living

And at the end of a beautiful day of holiday traditions I like to climb into bed, between my flannel sheets and catch some zzzzz.

Don’t forget to get your rest during this busy month!  Happy December.

Sharing…blogland love

01 Wednesday Dec 2010

Posted by in Entertaining, Gardening

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If you visit my blog site (and if you’re reading this, you obviously do, at least occasionally) you may have found my links to other “favorite sites” that I have visited and enjoyed.  Like the World Wide Web, links to great design and food sites can suck hours of time in just one morning/afternoon/evening….must stay focused, must be disciplined. In the season of sharing I hope you’ll find something you like…

{image via Southern Accents}

I’m using some Christmas images in between each paragraph because ’tis the season and I like to see something between all the words—yes, I’m a visual learner, why do you ask?

{image via Southern Accents}

On the other hand, there are so many creative and inspiring sites that truly offer great ideas on design, recipes from the simple to the complex and do-it-yourself tutorials that will astound and delight you, even if you aren’t very accomplished in the DIY department {ahem}.

{image via Country Living}

I started thinking about this topic and realized I hadn’t really updated my list of favorite blog sites in some time and I had discovered a few new sites that I really enjoy.  I also found that a few of my fellow blogger colleagues had stopped blogging for the most part {life interfering with art, no doubt}.

{image via Country Living}

So, drum roll please…here are 3 sites that are new to me and that I find keep me entertained and inspired!

Bardot in Blue is new to me.  Haleigh lives in Paris…need I say more.  She provides you with amazing images of some of the most picturesque places in the City of Lights and with wonderful designs she discovers.  Visit her HERE.  Oh, and if you’ve ever visited Jermaine at the fabulous French Kissed site—Jermaine is Haleigh’s mom…clearly the apple doesn’t  fall too far from the tree as far as artistic talents go.

heirloom philosophy is another site that I’ve only recently found {I stumbled upon this site through Little Blue Deer, a blog designer who redesigned heirloom philosophy}.  Allison posts about antiques and interiors with a great eye for detail.  She takes you to antique shows like High Point and Metrolina Expo and her photography makes you certain you are there!  Visit Allison HERE.

paper{whites} has become a ‘must-read’ for me…Alison, a friend who grew up with our oldest son, has recently begun blogging.  Her fresh take on life as a newlywed in a wonderful beach town is fun and informative.  Visit Alison at paper{whites} HERE.

It’s so much fun reading the stories and learning, not only of new places, but new things (gardens, home design, parties and life)!

Favorite Christmas cookies, 3 recipes

29 Monday Nov 2010

Posted by in Dessert, Food, Party Planning

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Years ago, when our boys were very young, two of my dear friends and I would meet at one of our homes in mid-December and bake cookies.  Gretchen and Linda are sisters (Linda was my Maid of Honor at my wedding) and the three of us have known each other since our days as Disneyland employees (just before automobiles were invented).

Those years of cookie baking have created some of my fondest holiday memories and the recipes we used are still some of my favorites.  I thought I’d share them with you all (all 5 of you!).

Molasses Sugar Cookies

These cookies turn out every time and make a great gift.

Molasses Sugar Cookies

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Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup melted shortening
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F

In a medium bowl, blend the shortening, sugar, molasses and egg. Add the

baking soda, flour, clove, and ginger, cinnamon and salt; mix well.

Form into 1 inch balls and roll in granulated sugar.

Place on cookie sheets 2 inches apart and bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Cool on a rack.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

This cookie is just the right amount of chocolate and a little powdered sugar.

Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

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Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 1 2/3 cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 2 eggs
  • ½ powdered cocoa
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • powdered sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°

In a medium bowl, blend the shortening, sugar and vanilla; beat in eggs and cocoa.

Sift together flour, baking powder and salt and add to sugar mixture alternately with milk.

Chill dough for 3 hours; form 1” balls, roll in powdered sugar.  Place on greased cookies sheet and bake for 15 minutes.

Makes 2 dozen

Mexican wedding cake cookies

This may be my personal favorite of the 3 recipes.

Russian Rock Cookies

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons water
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F

In a medium bowl, cream butter and sugar; add 2 teaspoons water and vanilla.  Mix well.

Blend in flour and nuts.

Chill 4 hours.

Shape into balls and bake on ungreased cookie sheet at 325° about 20 minutes.  Remove and roll in confectioners sugar while cookies are still warm.

I’d love to hear about your favorite holiday cookie!  Happy baking.  By the way, these freeze if need be.  Sometimes we have to plan ahead.

Thanksgiving planning and menu 2010

24 Wednesday Nov 2010

Posted by in Dessert, Entertaining, Food, Party Planning

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Cayley and I met the other night and went over our menu ideas for Thanksgiving Day.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, we’ve cooked together on this holiday in years past with great success.  Cayley has saved the menu that I usually print on fall paper each year so we used the 2009 menu as a guide.

I like the fresh produce mixed with flowers for a fall table---bountiful!

We will both prepare an appetizer—to be determined.  Additionally, Cayley will buy some mixed nuts for munching.  I lean towards an appetizer that isn’t too filing for obvious reasons.

I appreciate the mix of silver and pewter and the black furniture piece make the vignette pop.

We’ll salt the turkey per the Los Angeles Times Food feature of November 19, 2008.  This, for scientific reasons I don’t fully understand, works better than brining, see recipe HERE.  We tried the method in 2009 and the bird was moist and delicious.  I’ll be responsible for make-ahead Creamy Mashed Potatoes and I’ll use Pioneer Woman’s recipe HERE.  I’ll also prepare Maple-Roasted Sweet Potatoes (recipe HERE).  We’ll buy Costco’s pre-made gravy—don’t judge, it just keeps stress out of the kitchen on a food/recipe intensive day!  I’ll also prepare a recipe for Gulliver’s Cream Corn (I promise to post this recipe before Christmas because it’s a favorite and pretty easy).

I'm loving the white with natural accents, its great that pumpkins come in so many colors!

{the above picture via Slim Paley’s recent post, “Forget the Turkey, What about the Table?” HERE}

Dessert will consist of pecan pie (thanks to Cayley) and *pumpkin pie and Dreamy Apple Pie, recipe HERE with Hard Sauce from Pioneer Woman HERE.

Another great example of a fall table setting sans orange.

{the above image via French Kissed.  There are lots of ideas for setting a beautiful Thanksgiving table  in her post, “Imperfect Perfection”

*I use the Libby pumpkin pie recipe off the can—family traditions die hard.  I found the recipe at All Recipes.com HERE.

Pumpkin soup, anyone?

Cayley is preparing (in addition to her appetizer) the turkey, stuffing, green salad, green beans, cranberries and pecan pie…oh, AND all the other work and shopping involved in having a dinner for 10-12 guests!  I’m sure she will share the recipes with me and I’ll post links as I find them.

This post is making me hungry.

Have a Thanksgiving filled with love, gratitude and lots and lots of good food and football!