Craft Cocktails are all the rage but why go out to a noisy bar, spend big bucks and barely hear the conversation? Our suggestion? Host a BYO Craft Cocktail Party at home! You provide the snacks, apps and sweets and each person, or couple, invited brings all the fixins’ for 1 craft cocktail. Why do […]
Category: Appetizers
Winter Entertaining at Home #3 – Host a “Celebrity” Night
You haven’t played Celebrity yet? I think it’s the easiest and funniest game night to host since there’s almost no prep – just chairs for everyone, slips of blank paper and plenty of pens to go around. The game rules: Each player/team gets 3-5 sheets of blank paper and writes the name of one “celebrity” […]
Winter Entertaining at Home #2 – Nostalgic Game Day
Who doesn’t love Dominoes, Monopoly, 1980s Trivial Pursuit, or the Game of Life? Nostalgic games are perfect for any group of friends or family including older kids. The beauty of this type of get-together is that everyone already knows each other as well as the rules of the games to be played. A Nostalgic Game […]
Hanukkah: the Menorah, Sufganiyot and a Potato Pancake
The first of the December Festivals of Light to be celebrated this year is Hanukkah, which begins on December 22. I was familiar with the story of Judah Maccabee and the menorah that burned for 8 nights but not why two traditional foods: sufganiyot and latkes, are eaten during this festival. Hanukkah, known as the […]
Smoked Salmon Deviled Eggs
Ingredients: 8 extra-large eggs 4 oz smoked salmon 2 oz room-temp cream cheese 1/2 cup sour cream 1 TBSP lemon juice 2 TBSP mayo 2 TBSP fresh chives, minced (plus enough for the garnish) salt and pepper to taste Directions: Cook the eggs hard-boiled. Cool and peel. Slice in half, lengthwise. Prepare an electric mixer […]
Peach Blue Cheese Flatbread
Ingredients: 1 peach 2 ounces crumbled blue cheese 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar 2 pieces flatbread 1/2 cup fresh arugula To Make: Preheat oven to 375. In a small saucepan, heat the vinegar over medium heat until it reduces by half. Set aside. Meanwhile, thinly slice the peach. On top of each flatbread, lay out the […]
Baked Lemon Gin Wings
Ingredients: 4 pounds chicken wings 1 cup light brown sugar 1/4 cup olive oil 1/4 cup gin Zest and juice of 1 lemon Salt and pepper To Make: Preheat oven to 425. Whisk together all ingredients and toss with wings to coat well. Place in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake for […]
Roasted Stuffed Jalapenos
Ingredients: 12 jalapenos, halved 4 ounces cream cheese, softened 4 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped To Make: Preheat oven to 425. Remove seeds from the peppers and set on a foil-lined baking sheet. Mix together the cheeses and cilantro and stuff 1-2 tablespoons in each half. Roast for about 15 […]
Stuffed Tomatoes
Ingredients: 6 medium tomatoes 4 slices crisp bacon, crumbled 1 small onion, chopped 1/4 cup celery, chopped 1 cup crumbled cornbread Salt and pepper 3/4 cup cheddar cheese, shredded To Make: Preheat oven to 350. Slice the tops of each tomato and carefully cut out the inside of each with a paring knife. Chop the […]
Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds brussels sprouts, quartered 8 slices thick cut bacon Fresh cracked pepper Salt To Make: Steam brussels sprouts for about 5 minutes, or until they just start to soften. Crack pepper directly on to the bacon and press in firmly, flip and repeat. Slowly cook the bacon in a large saute pan […]