Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Recipes’ Category

Entertain with a Summer Picnic

Posted in Entertaining Ideas, Quick and Easy, tagged , , on July 8, 2009| 1 Comment »

picnicSummer is the perfect time to grab a blanket, pack some food and eat in the great outdoors. If you haven’t gone on a picnic in a while, think about inviting a few friends or family members to join you for a casual meal. The key ingredient should be fun.

The Perfect Spot
Pick your picnic spot strategically. Look for an area in the shade, away from foot traffic. If you have children along, make sure there are no hazards nearby: busy roads, deep water, or cliffs. Be realistic about what you can carry to the picnic spot.

The Perfect Seat
Lounging on a blanket is all fine and dandy unless the ground is wet. Bring along a plastic tarp to put underneath the blanket. My favorite picnic blanket is a comforter that is thick and soft and just meant for lazy afternoons out in the sun.

The Perfect Food
Keep the food simple and opt for no-fuss picnic fare like crusty bread, cheese and fruit. Add something sweet for a treat like cookies, brownies or slices of pie. Think about foods that are easy to transport and keep cold. Wraps and sandwiches are yummy, simple to make and easy to pack. Before you fill the cooler, make sure everything is thoroughly chilled. Take plenty of ice and remember food should not set out more than an hour in heat that is 85 degrees or higher. Also take plenty of beverages to stay hydrated.

The Essentials
Picnic basket or cooler
Bottled water (freeze overnight and use as an ice pack)
Outdoor dinnerware
Flatware or plastic silverware
Napkins
Glassware
Cutting Board
Sharp Knife
Bottle opener
Tablecloth, blanket
Decorative centerpiece (hurricane candles, a cup of freshly plucked wildflowers, a beautiful dessert)
Sunscreen
Bug spray or citronella candles
Wet-wipes
Paper towels
Hand sanitizer
Trash bags
Games (Frisbees and balls for the kids, badminton for adults)

If you have any fun picnic ideas to share, please post them here.
Enjoy your summer entertaining and may all your picnics be ant-free!

Read Full Post »

Picnic-worthy Potato Salad

Posted in Easy Recipes, Fast Recipes, tagged , on July 3, 2009| Leave a Comment »

I can’t think of a summer picnic or celebration while I was growing up that didn’t include a big bowl of potato salad – especially the 4th of July.
Here is a simple and different variation of our traditional family recipe.

Ranch Potato Salad

3 pounds baby red potatoes
6 hard-boiled eggs
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup ranch salad dressing
1 cup dill pickles, chopped
1 tsp. onion flakes
1 tbsp. juice from pickle jar
1 tsp parsley, finely chopped
dash of paprika
salt and pepper to taste

Scrub the potatoes and boil with skins on until fork tender. Cool, then cut into small chunks. (If I’m really in a hurry I cut the potatoes before I cook them.) Separate the hard-boiled yolks from the whites. Chop the whites and add to cooked potatoes along with pickles and onion flakes. Mash the yolks in a separate bowl and mix with the mayo and ranch dressing. Pour dressing over potatoes and stir. Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir in parsley then top with a sprinkle of paprika. Enjoy!

If you have a favorite version of potato salad, please feel free to share it here!

Wishing you all a safe and very Happy 4th of July!

Read Full Post »

Simple Coconut Dessert

Posted in Easy Recipes, Fast Recipes, tagged , , on June 26, 2009| Leave a Comment »

One of my favorite desserts in the summer is so simple and oh, so good.
The best thing about the dessert, beyond the cool creamy flavor, is that you can make it the day before you need it and it tastes even better!
This recipe was one I pulled from my Mom’s collection years ago. It has had several names from Ice Box Dessert to “that coconut thing you make” but the easiest to remember is Simple Coconut Dessert.

Simple Coconut Dessert
1 3-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups milk
1 large package instant coconut pudding mix
1 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup coconut, shredded and sweetened
Graham Crackers

Line the bottom of a 9×13 inch pan with Graham Crackers and set aside. Whip cream, add a dash of confectioner’s sugar to lightly sweeten.
In another bowl, mix cream cheese and milk until smooth. Add pudding mix and beat one minute. Fold in half of the whipped cream. Pour over Graham Crackers and chill for one hour.
Once chilled, spread rest of whipped cream on top and sprinkle with coconut.

So yummy and easy for summer entertaining. For more easy summer recipes, send me a message with your request or sign up for my newsletter. If you have a great summer recipe to share, please feel free to post it here!

Read Full Post »

Set an Entertaining Timeline

Posted in Desserts, Entertaining at Home, Quick and Easy, tagged , , on June 23, 2009| 2 Comments »

You’ve taken the plunge, set a date for a party, invited guests and are getting ready for the event. Take a few minutes to create a timeline. It will save you a lot of time and frustration and help you from looking frazzled in front of your guests.
Start by writing down your menu. In detail. What foods can be purchased and made ahead of time? What needs to be purchased and made the day before? The day of the party? What decorations will be needed? Will you be making any decorations or will you be shopping for them? When will you do this? Where will the centerpieces come from? What cleaning tasks need to be accomplished?
Get it all down on paper and then divide the menu, cleaning and decorating tasks into specific steps for at least the seven days leading up to your party. When you break it into set tasks, entertaining can be very simple.
You absolutely do not need to do everything yourself. Children are great helpers. They can certainly roll silverware in napkins, create welcome signs, tie ribbons, make place cards. They can serve as door greeters, coat takers and a very enthusiastic welcome committee to guests.
Find the barbecue king and ask him to man the grill. Aunt Bev would be thrilled to bring her favorite salad – so let her. Look for ways to involve others while lightening your load. If friends volunteer to help, let them! And should anyone volunteer to stay and help clean up, accept their generous offer and send them home with a doggie bag as thanks for their efforts.
I’d love to hear any ideas you have for getting family members involved in the party prep process. Share your comments here!

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »