Hey Amy!

Why not surprise your sweetheart with breakfast in bed on Sunday?  Heart shaped pancakes (use a heart-shaped cookie cutter and pour batter inside), goat cheese scrambled eggs, mimosas and some fresh made muffins.  You can assemble your menu here simply by searching over there, on the right, for all the recipes you need.  If you are pressed for time, sneak out of the house while your loved one is still sleeping and pick up some bagels or danish, fresh coffee and make these mimosas at home.

Ingredients:

a few sections of a blood orange
1 oz. fresh-squeezed tangerine juice
1/4 oz. Mandarine Napoleon liqueur
5 oz. champagne

Pour the juice and liqueur into a champagne flute, and drop in the sections of the blood orange.  Very carefully, top with champagne.

You could get really crazy and make a bucket of it.  And by a bucket I mean a pitcher.  Enjoy!

xo–me

No Comments | In: Entertaining | tags: cocktails. | #

My sister-in-law’s father is a big man in the kitchen.  He can cook and create dishes like the best of them.  I would love to see him compete on Hell’s Kitchen or one of these chef/cooking shows.  I know he would finish at the top.

Bob makes a lovely punch each time our families get together.  I chug cupfuls until someone spots me back at the punchbowl for the 18th time and then I lie my way out of the embarrassment.  “Oh I am getting this for mom” or “I spilled the last one”.  Yes I have no shame.  The recipe is very simple and I promise you will love it as much as I.

Ingredients:

2 bottles sparkling lemonade
1 pkg. raspberry sherbet

Put in lovely punch bowl you found at a yard sale for $8.  Serve.

Yes, I found thee best punch bowl this summer.  For $8.  It looks best when it’s filled with Bob’s Raspberry Punch.

xo–me

No Comments | In: Entertaining | tags: beverages. | #

It’s been a long week.  Nothing extraordinary, but rather too many small things that have now become overwhelming as I review them collectively.  Yikes!  What is a girl to do?  Take a bath and enjoy a nice adult beverage.  Here is one I enjoy sipping while in the tub.  Maybe you will as well.

Ingredients:

2 oz. gin
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. green creme de menthe
juice of 1 lemon
1 egg white

Mix all ingredients in martini shaker over ice.  Shell well and serve.  Then make more.

xo–me

No Comments | In: Entertaining | tags: beverages, liquor. | #

It’s tree trimming time in many homes!  I love getting all the decorations out of the garage and opening each plastic bin one by one, discovering all the things I forgot I had.  It’s a lovely journey in my mind and heart that I enjoy sharing stories with family and friends.

The tree trimming and house decorating day and night is a great excuse for a small, intimate cocktail party.  Put together a simple menu of snacks, cold and warm cocktail with some sweet at the end and you have a great night of food, friends and fun!  This recipe if easy and simple to make in advance and pop in the oven as people are hungry.

Ingredients:

2 dozen cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 clove garlic, thinly sliced
1/2 c. chili sauce
10 slices bacon, halved

In small bowl, toss shrimp and garlic together.  Add chili sauce making sure all shrimp are covered.  Cover bowl and regrigerate for a few hours, tossing occasionally.  When ready to bake, wrap each shrimp in a bacon slice and secure with a toothpick.  Put on an ungreased baking sheet and bowl 3 to 4 inches from heat for 3 to 5 minutes until crisp.

Make this dish with a cheeseball, a few other hot treats, something sweet and you are set!

xo–me

No Comments | In: Cooking, Entertaining | tags: holiday, hors d'oeuvres, seafood. | #

It’s Wednesday morning.  The day before the big meal of the year.  What’s your schedule for today?  Did you make your pies last night?

For me, the day before the big meal is prep day.  I begin with the house:

• Dust
• Straighten
• Fluff the pillows on the sofa
• Set out candles
• Make sure you have plenty of toilet tissue
• Fill your soap dispensers
• Pull out additional guest towels
• Set the table
• Pull out the board games
• Match your serving dishes with your food dishes

Then I move later in the day to the food prep.  Without knowing your menu, I will simply suggest the general things:

• Cut the vegetables
• Set out the non-perishable ingredients
• Pull out all the baking dishes and any tools you may need
• Review your recipes and do anything today/tonight that will not spoil overnight
• Make yourself a drink, you will need it.

Don’t allow yourself to be stressed out.  You are preparing a meal with love for those you love.  What better way to spend your day tomorrow?

xo–me

No Comments | In: Entertaining, Just Amy | tags: tips. | #

When I am preparing a large meal (like most will be doing on Thursday), I enjoy having a nice beverage that will continue to fill my stomach and glass.  It keeps me from snacking all day!  This recipe is perfect for just that.  It’s not too heavy so you can sip it for many hours.  The aroma fills your home and your guests will request some when they walk in the door.

Ingredients:

16 oz. jellied cranberry sauce
1/3 c. light brown sugar
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. all spice
1/8 tsp. cloves
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp. salt
2 c. water
2 c. unsweetened pineapple juice
6 tsp. butter

Empty cranberry sauce into large (very large if you are doubling or tripling the recipe) pot.  Whisk in sugar and seasonings.  Add water and pineapple juice.  Cover and simmer for two hours on low heat.  Serve with a pat of butter in mug.

I omit the butter sometimes.  It can be a little much, I will admit. Otherwise it’s a great drink to sip.

xo–me

No Comments | In: Entertaining | tags: beverages, easy. | #

We have spent the last few weeks talking about what to eat on Thanksgiving day but not what to drink.  I am going to share a couple of my favorite after dinner tea’s today.  And these all have alcohol in them so they work in the after dinner drink category.

Dear Grandmother:

1 oz. amaretto
hot Ceylon tea

Pour amaretto into a warmed mug.  Add tea and stir.

Triple C:

1 oz. Cointreau
hot Constant Comment tea
orange slice

Place orange in bottom of warmed mug.  Pour Cointreau over slice, add tea and stir.

Two very simple alternatives to after dinner drinks and a nice way to warm your tea.

xo–me

No Comments | In: Entertaining | tags: cocktails, liquor. | #