27 Wednesday Apr 2016
Posted in Cooking, Entertaining, Recipes, Recipes
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When I’m in the mood for a comforting dinner but don’t want to spend tons of time in the kitchen, Ina Garten’s Weeknight Bolognese is one of my go-to’s. This pasta dish is so flavorful you would think it simmered for hours. And, I usually have the ingredients in my pantry. The perfect weeknight meal!
17 Thursday Mar 2016
Posted in Baking, Cooking, Dessert, Entertaining, Gourmet Group, Living Room, Recipes, Recipes, Table Design
After a 6 month break, I’m back to blogging with Gourmet Group!
I hosted the dinner with a Mexican Theme.
I wanted the night to feel casual and laid back, with really delicious food – and still some elegance. One of the guys makes yummy guacamole, so we started with chips & guac, and my Dad’s famous margaritas.
The main dish was a barbacoa recipe that I have made for years. It is so flavorful. (I usually make extra so we eat it for several nights – the first night over rice, and then next over a big green salad with simple lemon vinaigrette.) All of the sides: citrus salad, re-fried beans, and saffron rice with peas, are all from the beautiful Mexico: The Cookbook. To keep it casual we served them all together on piled-high plates.
My husband added a sipping tequilla served with homemade Sangrita as a digestif.
And then, my favorite part of all…Cuatro Leches cake with arequipe sauce!!! Our wedding cake was a cuatro leches cake and and the recipe from La Duni in Dallas seemed similar, so I put it on the menu. My friend did an amazing job on this masterpiece and it tasted even better than it looked!
It was a wonderful evening with great friends and great food.
07 Sunday Dec 2014
Posted in Baking, Cooking, Decor, Dessert, Entertaining, Flowers, Gourmet Group, House, Recipes, Table Design
We hosted our last Gourmet Group in October, and even thought it has come and gone, I wanted to share some of the highlights. We celebrated Oktoberfest!
The atmosphere was festive and casual. We started off with a warm beer and cheddar dip, which I served with pretzels and lots of vegetables to add freshness and color. Beer and a Dr. Loosen sparkling Riesling cut through the heavy but delicious cheese dip.
My favorite part of preparing to host this night was learning about German Riesling. I’ve always incorrectly associated Riesling with sweetness, and while they can be sweet, neither of the wines we served were. In fact, the wine that we paired with dinner, also a Dr. Loosen, was quite dry and really complemented the food. I printed out some information on Riesling to share with our dinner guests, which I think they enjoyed.
The most challenging part of the planning was the food presentation. Almost all of the dishes I chose were the same color, which is why I served so many colorful vegetables with the appetizer, and fresh green beans with dinner.
We ended the meal with this amazing Deepest Dish Apple Pie from the Smitten Kitchen cookbook. It did not disappoint with 5 pounds of apples and a delicious 3+ inch tall crust. It’s an impressive dessert, and although my friend made the pie for Gourmet Group (pictured), I made it for Thanksgiving dinner and the crust is fairly easy as long as you are not rushed.
13 Friday Jun 2014
Posted in Cooking, Healthy, Quinoa Bowls, Recipes
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This colorful Layered Fiesta Quinoa Salad is so perfect for a summer lunch or dinner. It is light, fresh, and filling! I usually follow recipes exactly the first time I make them and then adjust to my taste. However, with this I did change a few things: I substituted scallions for the sweet onions, added jicama to keep the crunch that the sweet onions would have provided, and left out the cheese.
Great recipe!
01 Tuesday Apr 2014
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Last night I made a yummy roasted asparagus farrotto. I love the chewy texture and nutty flavor of farro and I love risotto, so the recipe caught my eye immediately. The ingredients are packed with nutrients, so I didn’t feel guilty eating it even though it tasted so good! I served the farrotto with grilled salmon (simply seasoned with freshly squeezed lemon juice, s&p) and roasted beets for a delicious and healthy dinner! Enjoy!
