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Monthly Archives: February 2011
Wine for Short Ribs
I asked my foxy sommelier neighbor from Hearty Splash what wines would pair best with our weeknight dinner party short ribs. Her big recommendation? Petite Syrah. Two good reasons 1. Petite Syrah can be cheaper than Cabernet Sauvignon. 2. Petite Syrah has good acid and tannins for cutting the fat in the short ribs. Two […]
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Posted in | Tips Tagged dinner party wine, hearty splash, wine recommendations |
Tweets from last week
Don’t push friends out the door as soon as you pull the dessert plates, allow time for a little chitter chatter. For dinner parties that include wine. Always buy more wine than you think you’ll need. It goes fast. RT @winesisterhood: There will always be someone more talented, but never someone more called. Live according […]
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Posted in | Tips
Helen Jane’s Coconut Macaroons
Easy. Cookies. Easy. Cookies. Ridiculously. Easy. Cookies. You can pop these into the oven for 10 minutes while you’re clearing the table at your dinner party and there you have it. So. Easy. Cookies. There are three ingredients! Just three ingredients! And most live in your pantry! Ingredients 2 cups shredded coconut 1/2 cup superfine […]
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Posted in | Recipes Tagged cookie, dessert, gluten-free, helen jane's macaroon recipe |
Dinner Party Playlist
Putting the music together for your dinner party can be done during lunch. And it can be done months ahead of time. Easy. Want to get really into it? Plan your music around the timing of your party. You invited Bob and Robbie over for dinner at seven on Thursday. You have thirty minutes to […]
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Posted in | Atmosphere Tagged dinner party playlist, music playlist timing |
Weeknight Dinner Party Week
“I really like Bob and Robbie, why don’t we have them over some time?” Because you and yours and Bob and Robbie are busy. Busy, busy, busy. Your weekends are packed, you’re exhausted at the end of the day and it all just seems like such work. Ugh. It’s a wonder we remember to floss. […]
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Posted in | Parties Tagged dinner party, during work, weeknight dinner party week |
Cuddlewrappy snuggle night
I get all queasy in my Valentine’s Day stomach when I consider all those strong opinions and the faceless rabble ready to judge my plans. Oh, I see you hate the prix fixe menus, and you hate the chocolate and you hate the roses and screw it. Any holiday that celebrates Love in all it’s […]
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Strawberry Hearts
I do this every time I cut strawberries but thought it particularly appropriate for Valentine’s day. Get a strawberry. Cut the strawberry at a 45° angle from the top right towards the middle. Remove the knife and cut it at the opposite 45% degree angle toward the strawberry’s middle. Now your strawberry looks like this […]
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Posted in | Holiday, Tips Tagged how to, strawberry heart, valentines day |
Tasty and dependable egg casserole
Egg casseroles are one of those triple threat brunch recipes. They’re inexpensive, taste great and can be made ahead of time. (The J Lo of brunch casseroles!) And although, unlike J-Lo, egg casseroles aren’t the fanciest dishes on the brunch table, they’re dependable. The work horse of the brunch table. The tasty work horse of […]
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Posted in | Recipes Tagged brunch recipe, egg casserole, spinach, strata, valentines day |
Be Mine, Coffee Cake
In our Valentine’s breakfast planning, we realized it’s far better to make all the dishes ahead of time than rise at four. This coffee cake can be made up to two days ahead. (But I’d recommend the night before. Less temptation that way.) It’s made in a Bundt pan, which on the surface seems like […]
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Posted in | Parties, Recipes Tagged almonds, dried cherries, sour cream coffee cake recipe, valentines day |
Valentine’s Music Mix
One of my favorite parts of party planning is putting together the play list. For this Valentine’s breakfast, we’re going with some music from the French. Innocuous for early in the morning, sophisticated enough to make you feel glamorous (in your stockinged feet). Since I prefer to let someone else figure out the details for […]
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Posted in | Parties