Posts Labeled ‘recipe’

March 8th, 2012

St Patrick’s Day Feast

Cathal Armstrong's menu via Epicurious

One of my favorite restaurants in the DC area is Restaurant Eve. I particularly love going for lunch and every time I do I leave so satisfied. The food is always delicious and the atmosphere is cozy and relaxing.

Behind all great restaurants are great chefs and Cathal Armstrong of Restaurant Eve is no exception. That’s why when I found this Irish feast on Epicurious designed by him specifically for St Patrick’s Day I couldn’t resist sharing it. Doesn’t it look delicious?!

 

How does one say “Bon Appetit” in Irish?!

January 25th, 2012

Super Bowl Entertaining Ideas

One of my favorite days of the year is just around the corner: the Super Bowl! This year is even more exciting as my New England Patriots are playing! As you prepare for Super Bowl Sunday, here are some fun Super Bowl party decoration ideas, including a variety of printables from Hostess With the Mostess.

Go Pats!

football garland via Better Homes and Gardens

football brownies via Better Homes and Gardens

Super Bowl printables via Hostess with the Mostess

Football field runner and coasters via Martha Stewart

January 13th, 2012

DIY Layer Cakes

from Food & Wine magazine Feb 2012

I was just talking with some friends the other day who shared that the new dessert buzz is all about layer cakes. Upon opening my February 2012 issue of Food & Wine, I’d have to agree. The magazine has an informative spread on DIY layer cakes, offering recipes for cakes, fillings, and frostings. Use your creativity and create a layer cake that is totally unique by mixing and matching the flavors.

I highly recommend picking up the issue but here are a just few of the recipes you can access online.

Filling: Dark Chocolate Mousse Filling, White Chocolate Mousse Filling

Frosting: Rich Chocolate Buttercream, Hazelnut Buttercream

Cake: Brown Butter Layer Cake, Double Chocolate Layer Cake

 

 

December 19th, 2011

Celebrate the New Year!

Ring in 2012 with style using these creative New Year’s entertainment ideas!  Serve drinks with a fun tinsel stirrer to add some sparkle and shine to your party.

Tinsel Drink Stirrer by Martha Stewart

For dessert, try making these fun ball drop cupcakes or arranging a cheescake bar buffet with an assortment of sauces and toppings.

Ball Drop Cupcakes

Cheesecake Bar Buffet by Southern Living

These free retro printables from Ellinee can enhance your festive party decor.

Retro New Year's Printables by Ellinee

Retro New Year's Printables Template

For easy noisemakers, fill clear ornaments with colorful foods such as popcorn, jelly beans, or pink peppercorns.  Noisemakers can be placed in a bowl or vase to serve as a centerpiece until the countdown to the stroke of midnight begins.

Ornament Noisemakers by Rachel Ray

November 23rd, 2011

Simple, delicious cranberry sauce

One of my favorite dishes at Thanksgiving is cranberry sauce. The canned kind is good (I love how it comes out as one giant cylinder on the plate!) but homemade is even better. Here is my favorite cranberry sauce recipe, courtesy of Food & Wine magazine. It is easy and delicious.

Jellied Cranberry Sauce with Fuji Apple

One 12-ounce bag fresh cranberries
1 large Fuji apple, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup water

  1. Line an 8-by-4-inch loaf pan with plastic wrap and spray the plastic wrap with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. In a medium saucepan, combine the cranberries with the apple, sugar and water. Bring to a boil and cook over moderately high heat, stirring frequently until the cranberries are completely broken down and the sauce is very thick, about 15 minutes. Scrape the cranberry sauce into the prepared pan and refrigerate until chilled, about 3 hours. Invert the jelly onto a serving plate and remove the plastic wrap. Garnish with fresh cranberries and rosemary sprigs. Slice with a serrated knife before serving.
MAKE AHEAD The cranberry sauce can be covered in plastic wrap and refrigerated for up to 2 weeks. Serve chilled.

 

November 14th, 2011

I scream, you scream, we all scream for Nutella!

A dear friend of mine is crazy for Nutella. And I mean who wouldn’t be? The chocolate, hazelnut goodness can turn a piece of bread into a sinfully good sweet. It’s magical! Here is a roundup of some desserts that feature the beloved spread. Click on the photos below to take you to the recipes.

nutella rice krispie treats from Liv Life

nutella caramel hazelnut brownies from Bella Alimento

Molten chocolate nutella cake from US Masala

nutella sandwich cookies from A Beautiful Mess

Nutella Mallow Pillow Pockets from Picky Palate

homemade nutella via The Eccentric Cook

 

Nutella Cheesecake Brownies from Babble

nutella buttercream cupcakes from Babble

no bake nutter butter nutella pie from Tasty Kitchen

 

September 7th, 2011

Homemade Dog Biscuits

Our puppy had to be rushed to the emergency vet a few days ago. She is OK now, but it was very scary in the moment. We feel so bad for her that she is sick — which makes us want to spoil her even more than usual. She is on a very bland diet now, but I think when she is up for it, I might make her these homemade dog biscuits (which, as an aside, could make a great gift for fellow dog lovers).

Get well soon, Fletcher!

August 15th, 2011

S’more please

Everywhere I look these days I am seeing s’mores. Including in my house. My husband likes to make them with a blow torch. Not a creme brulee blow torch, mind you. A real, industrial one. But I have to say, it makes a darn good s’more!

Here are some fun new ways that people are interpreting s’mores.

s'mores pudding from Annie's Eats

s'more cookie bars from Baked Perfection

s'mores pie from The Pastry Affair

mini s'mores cups from Texas Cottage

Frozen S'more Snacks from Woman's Day

Campfire Marshmallow cookie from Farenheit 350

June 24th, 2011

Add some pop to your popsicle.

In the midst of summertime heat anything cold and refreshing sounds wonderful. These spiked ice pops from Bon Appetit look wonderful, indeed. A mixture of Campari and orange juice, they sound like they’d hit the spot on a hot summer day.

 

To make the pops there are countless popsicle molds to choose from. I really like the look of these from Tovolo and the convenience of being able to take out just one or all six at a time is appealing, too.

campari-orange ice pops from Bon Appetit

Tovolo Groovy Ice Pop Molds via Amazon.com

June 17th, 2011

The best pie crust ever.

I’ve been making a lot of pie lately. Mini blueberry pies on my Breville individual pie maker, mostly. In my attempts to make the perfect mini pies I tried a lot of pie crust dough recipes. None were as good as this one from The Bon Appetit Cookbook. Find an excuse to make pie (do you really need one?!), try this out, and see if you agree.

Butter Pie Crust Dough
*bakes two pie crust disks

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

6 tablespoons (or more) ice water

Blend flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor. Add butter; using on/off turns, cut in until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 6 tablespoons water. Using on/off turns, blend just until moist clumps form, adding more water by teaspoonfuls if dough is dry. Gather dough into a ball; divide dough in half. Flatten each piece into a disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate one hour.

(Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Keep chilled. Soften slightly at room temperature before rolling out.)