We all scream for ice cream

Each year we like to kick start Summer with an Ice Cream Social. We typically hold it a few weeks into Summer, hoping for better weather and until my nieces come into town.  Last year, the Ice Cream Social doubled as our gender reveal party, this year we are doing something really fun and teaming up with Snoqualmie Ice Cream for our party. Snoqualmie Ice Cream will be providing all the ice cream and adding a delicious and local touch to the party. Let's cross our fingers for sunshine and a great time to be had by all!!

What traditions do you enjoy for Summer entertaining?

Entertaining 101: Building your entertaining supply closet

Several years ago I chronicled my favorite entertaining essentials. Four years later, I still love and use them all just as much. This is a good example of how if you invest in great pieces, they will never go out to style and you can easily pair them with something new for an entirely different feel. Here they are.

Entertaining 101: Assembling the perfect cheese Platter

Typically, I am the person who schedules our social activities, but lo and behold Cameron initiated an invitation for the first time in a long while. I am fortunate to be married to someone who is able to get along with just about anyone, so when he wanted to invite someone in particular over, I knew I should jump at the chance to entertain.

Easter invites

All this talk of Easter, I thought it was time to talk about invitations. A quick and easy invitation is to create a large flower.

You can purchase these circular scalloped cards or make your own. Take the scalloped cards and stitch random criss crosses in the middle of them. After you are done stitching, cut two little leafs out of green ribbon and attach them with glue to the backside of your flowers. Then attach the flower to a piece of circular card stock and there you have it, an easy Easter invitation.

Cake appeal: Old Fashion Berry Cake

It never fails whenever I make this tiered Old Fashion Berry Cake from Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook it is a show stopper. This cake is a prime example of how presentation makes or breaks your food. This recipe is simple to make, you can make the cake the day ahead and assemble right before your guests arrive. The beauty is in the drama of the layers of cake, berries and cream.

Easter treat bags

When I have guests over for a holiday meal I like to have a little treat at each place setting. Easter has a tendency to sneak up on me when it is at the end of March, so here is an easy treat you can pull together with minimal planning and effort.

Easy Easter Brunch

Recently, I stumbled across these photos I took several years ago on Easter. I wanted to do something special for breakfast, but with church early in the morning it can be a challenge. To remedy this problem I kept the menu very simple and made as much as I could in advance. The night before I made sconces and strawberry lemonade. Come morning I plated the scones with fresh fruit, served the strawberry lemonade and made scrambled eggs. After carefully cracking the eggs open I cleaned and dried them and set them aside. To dress up the eggs I put them back inside their shells. Rather than a large easter basket I created little nests out of copper wire I loosely twisted in the shape of a cup and filled them with artificial grass and candy.

Modern Christmas Table Setting

With Thanksgiving behind us, it is now time to start thinking about Christmas. When it comes to setting a holiday table, the more color the better in my opinion. However, I like to maintain the standard color scheme of red and green, but then throw in unexpected things, like polka dots or a modern accent plate.

Christmas Light Plate from West Elm, Poinsettia clip from Target, Goblets from Crate and Barrel, Polka Dot Napkin from West Elm and Metal Rectangular Napkin Ring from West Elm.

Quick Thanksgiving Centerpiece: Yarn wrapped pumpkins

Are you tired of looking at your mini pumpkins left over from Halloween? If so, breathe new life into them by wrapping them up with yarn. I have seen this idea all over the internet and thought I would give it a try.  For the pumpkins, I used the multi colored yarn I had on hand, but you could also use a solid. Between the yarn wreaths and these pumpkins, the number of trips I have made to the yarn store has grown exponentially as of late.

Supplies:
Pressed leaves from outside
Fallen branch or several twigs
2 mini pumpkins
1 spool of yarn

Sunset Group: Rooftop Edition

My friend started Sunset Group about a year ago, where we all meet once a month to sample different recipes we have made from Sunset magazine. I find it a great excuse to make something new and an even better excuse to spend the evening with all my favorite people from church. This past month I hosted the event on our rooftop deck. Although our numbers were few, the flavors were big. I made a A Summer Fruit Soup. Aside from gazpacho, this is the first time I had made a cold soup.

My friend, Tana, made these adorable Raspberry Fools.

My friend, Sara, made this Melon Salsa.

If these recipes have peeked your interest, feel free to email me about the upcoming date and location of our next Sunset group.

Entertaining 101

I am always looking for an excuse to have a party, but this does not mean I only break out the good stuff for guests.

Here are my four workhorses for making everyday feel special:

1. PB Classic Goblet: We registered for these when we got married, but I have purchased an additional set so I have a total of eighteen on hand. You can even get these beauties monogrammed.

2. Cambridge Two Tier Server: The best $35 you will ever spend. I use the white platters as dinner plates because everything appears fancier when served on something other than a round dinner plate. Also, I cannot think of a dinner party I have thrown over the past five years where I have not appreciated the minimal real estate it takes up on a buffet.

3. Grand Hotel II flatware: The single most important decision after your groom is what flatware to register for. I searched high and low, but finally decided on the Grand Hotel II. It is simple, clean and yet elegant. I much rather have my guests use the real stuff as opposed to plastic. Once a year I try to purchase an additional set or two, so by the time they discontinue my pattern I will have all that I want.

4. Fantastik paper napkins: Although I am not a huge paper napkin fan, these have altered my overall opinion of the traditional too small, too thin, and ugly printed ones. They are a generous size, thick and come in a variety of colors. I prefer the white, which come in a 100 pack for $1.99, but they also come in baby blue, red, lime green etc.

Do you have any everyday dining favorites?