Posted in Holidays, Musings, Party Theme, tagged Groundhog's Day on February 2, 2011| Leave a Comment »
A Happy Groundhog’s Day to you!
It looks like Mr. Punxsutawney Phil is predicting an early spring. I could just kiss his furry little head!
If you’d like to check out his official website, it is brief but fun.
You can also find some interesting Groundhog’s Day facts here.
And, if you want some crazy Groundhog’s Day entertaining ideas, I’ve got some to share right here.
Have a fabulous day and think happy spring thoughts!
Happy Entertaining!
She who is ready for the tulips to bloom
Posted in Entertaining at Home, Entertaining Ideas, Holidays, Party Theme, tagged Valentine's Day, Valentine's Day Decorating, Valentine's Day Entertaining, Valentine's Day Ideas on February 1, 2011| Leave a Comment »
If you are entertaining at all during the Valentine’s season, think about starting the welcome outside your door with some fun accents.
I absolutely love this red berry heart wreath hanging on the white gate from Southern Living at Home. Not only is the contrast of the red and white visually striking, it sets the tone for a warm and friendly welcome.
Then carry on the Valentine’s theme inside with some easy accents. Toss a few red pillows on your couch or favorite chair. This one from Bed Bath and Beyond is a marvelous selection. Use black, white, or robin egg blue slip covers for the most wow-factor with your red accents.
Mix red and white plates for a stunning table. Use a bright blue cloth and really set the red on the edge!
Create a show-stopping centerpiece with a hurricane vase, a dozen floral stems (roses preferred, of course) and a piece of satin ribbon. This idea from Better Homes and Garden’s website truly inspires me! Absolutely lovely!
Everybody loves cookies – especially sugar cookies. Valentinecookierecipes.com offers a wide variety of fun cookie recipes along with great photos. Being a visual person, the photos are essential to my happiness!
However you entertain this Valentine’s Day holiday, have fun and connect from the heart. That’s what it is all about, my friends!
Happy Entertaining!
Shanna
Posted in Entertaining at Home on January 28, 2011| 4 Comments »
My mother and grandmother could roll out pie dough like nobody’s business. Light, flaky, perfectly delicious. This pie-dough-making gene was not one they passed along to me.
I can make pie dough that would probably score a B+, but it requires a lot of work and effort and I hate doing it. So I don’t.
The other day I happened across a recipe for pie crust and had to try it. It called out to me, screaming “Make me, Make me!”
So I invited my BFF, Miz Sunshine, over for a day of pie baking and laughs. She was new to the whole pie baking from scratch scenario and I was a bit out of practice, so it proved to be a good learning experience for us both. And we laughed – a lot – which is always, always a good thing.
The pie dough turned out marvelously light and flaky with a wonderful taste and texture. And… here is the best part, hold on to your hats… it wasn’t hard to make or roll out and get into the pan.
The secret to this simple and delicious crust is vodka. That’s right … a bottle of booze makes all the difference in the world. (Please note, there is no consuming the vodka as a beverage involved in this recipe!). For those concerned about consuming alcohol, the vodka evaporates in the oven. That is what makes the crust so light and flaky while making it easy to handle. The extra moisture while you are rolling out the dough makes it pliable and no problem to get into the pan. Then Poof! the vodka disappears while baking to leave behind a very tasty crust.
Ingredients for the best pie dough ever!
Combine dry ingredients until coarse and crumbly.
After adding liquid, let the dough rest covered in the fridge for 45 minutes. Then roll out on a well-floured surface.
Ready for a pan.
I was nearly giddy at this point in the game because the crust was so easy to handle. Mine would have been in about 10 pieces of flaky messiness at this point with my old stand-by pie crust recipe.
Here's what the bottom layer looks like with a beautiful berry filling. Did I mention we made three pies?
And the top crust goes on so easily. Yes, I am a big believer that a little butter is good and another pat or two is even better! There are no finished photos of the berry pie because Miz Sunshine grabbed it hot out of the oven and ran off to pick up little Miss Sunshine!
Vodka Pie Crust
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. sugar
1 1/2 sticks cold butter, cut into 1/4 inch slices
1/2 cup vegetable shortening, cut into 4 pieces
1/4 cup cold vodka
1/4 cup cold water
Process 1 1/2 cups flour, salt, and sugar in food processor until combined, about 2 one-second pulses. Add butter and shortening and process until dough just starts to collect in uneven clumps, about 15 seconds (dough will resemble coarse crumbs ). Scrape bowl with rubber spatula and redistribute dough evenly around processor blade. Add remaining cup flour and pulse until mixture is evenly distributed around bowl and mass of dough has been broken up, 4 to 6 quick pulses. Empty mixture into medium bowl.
If, like me, you do not have a food processor, get ready to apply some arm muscle and work the dough together with either a fork or pastry cutter until all flour is mixed in and it is crumbly.
Sprinkle vodka and water over mixture. With rubber spatula, use folding motion to mix, pressing down on dough until dough is slightly tacky and sticks together. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 45 minutes or up to 2 days.
Generously flour a clean, flat surface and your rolling pin. Divide dough in half and roll out one half, turning dough over between rolls to keep from sticking to counter or surface. Place in a pie pan and fill with favorite filling or prick with a fork and bake shell until golden brown then fill.
Enjoy!
Happy Entertaining!
From the no-longer pie-crust challenged baker
Posted in Entertaining at Home, Musings, tagged Dogs, Neighbors on January 27, 2011| 1 Comment »
Meet Stinky. She lives next door to us and has got to be the biggest tease on the planet.
In the year-and-half since our neighbor brought her home, she has nearly broken my poor ol’ heart. She stands at our fence looking just like this, begging for attention. We of course, heed the call and nearly pull a hamstring running to the fence to fawn over her. As soon as our hands, ready to bestow loving pats on her scruffy head, are just mere centimeters from making contact, she will jump back, bark and yip and then run around the yard like an energizer bunny on steroids.
Which is all fine and dandy… unless you really wanted to pet the dog.
She also fancies herself in love with The Heinous Cat. Unfortunately it is a one-sided affair. The cat absolutely, without a doubt hates her. He practically hissed himself dry the other day in his attempts to make his feeling for her perfectly clear.
I don’t think it phased her a bit.
If she wasn’t causing enough damage to my dog-petting psyche, our neighbor had to go and bring home another dog.
This is Poochie. Who could resist this face? No one, I tell you! No one! And certainly not this sappy, mushy-hearted girlie-girl.
He is even worse than Stinky. He starts his freak-out-show before we even reach the fence and drags Stinky right along with him.
The last time it snowed, Hubby put birdseed out on top of the pump house roof. We heard a noise coming from outside only to discover Stinky on top of the pump house gobbling up the birdseed. We were both shocked and surprised that she would 1. eat birdseed and 2. be in our yard.
We still didn’t get to pet her, though. She barked and ran and teased, staying just out of arms-reach.
She figured out how to escape her confines and dash into our yard the other day. She’s made many trips back and has not always come alone.
She brings this wild animal with her.
They run and roll and chase and chew.
I realize the photos are blurry but that would be because the two canines are a blur as they whip through our yard, unmercifully teasing us.
Could someone please tell our neighbor he needs to train these two to sit still for five seconds so someone can pet them and pat them on the head and call them George?
That hands are just itching to rub these two big heads. Please.
Drooley (aka) The Heinous Cat
Oh, and The Heinous Cat would like me to add a request that the dogs never come into his yard, bark at him or even think about looking his direction. They frighten him so.
If you have a dog you can pet, give it an extra rub for me today.
From She Who Just Wants to Pet the Dogs
Savvy Entertaining 