Archive

September 2015

Browsing

As much as I love my smoked salmon and eggs benedict, sometimes you just need to break out a classic and traditional quiche for your brunch party! Quiche is the perfect addition to any breakfast or brunch because you can easily adapt it to the size of your party and change up the ingredients to suit the tastes of your guests! Plus, you can make it the night before, so all you have to do is reheat it in the morning for a hassle free meal.

brunch Table layout two

Quiches save really well, so I love making a variety of quiches on the weekends for a fun Sunday morning brunch with friends or even just for a party of two and keeping the extras for an easy go to breakfast throughout the rest of the workweek!

You can easily change up the vegetable and meat additions to create a variety of different quiche combinations. My personal favorite combinations are bacon (because who doesn’t love bacon?!), red and green bell peppers, and spinach, but feel free to get as creative as you want! 

It is finally fall! Well at least in most parts of the country! Here in Dallas, we are still sitting around 90 degrees, but I am doing everything I can to get in the spirit of the season. Since I can’t start pulling out all of my sweaters, scarves, or boots yet, I am going through all of my fall recipes and filling my home with the aromas of autumn, starting with these absolutely delicious cream cheese-filled pumpkin muffins!

Pumpkin Muffin 3

What says fall more like pumpkin spice?! I started making these muffins last fall and they quickly became a staple in my household! All summer, my boyfriend and I have been counting down the days until we could break out this recipe again. The pumpkin spice paired with sweetened cream cheese filling and cinnamon streusel topping make these the perfect treat for a fun autumn afternoon bite or a sweet morning breakfast.

Pumpkin Muffin 5

How to Create the Perfect Mimosa Bar

Decor:

Tissue Paper Tassels || Juice Swing Bottles || Fruit Bowls || Juice Labels || Mimosa Bar Print

Mimosas are the perfect addition to any brunch or bridal shower! Such a simple cocktail, yet it is so fun and a total crowd pleaser! 

Mimosas consist of an equal part of champagne and citrus juice and then topped with a little fresh fruit. Of course there is the classic mimosa with champagne and orange juice, but there are so many fun ways to spice it up a bit and make your mimosa bar a little more unique!

BP #9

Start by considering how many people you want your mimosa bar to serve. I usually yield about 8 servings per champagne bottle. Then select an assortment of juices. Orange juice is always a necessity, but instead of buying multiple orange juices, mix it up a little and add some other types of juices. Pomegranate, raspberry, blueberry, limeade, and grapefruit juice all make beautiful mimosas!

BP #14

Presentation is key, so pull out some fun champagne flutes and top your mimosa with some fresh fruit. Sliced oranges, raspberries, lemons, strawberries, and cranberries all make beautiful additions. 

SS #2

SS #11

SS #14

Slate Cheese Platter v2

SS #20

SS #17

SS #5

SS #21

SS #10

Decor:

Flowers: The T Shop || Garland: Martha Stewart  || Honeycombs: Amazon   || Wooden Crates:   Distressed White Wash Boxes || Burlap Table Runner: Amazon  || Mason Jars: Ball Canning Jars  || Paper Straws:  Amazon || Paper Plates: Amazon   ||  Napkins: Amazon  ||

Menu and Recipes:

Snacks: Cheese Platter || Caprese Bites || Garlic Hummus || Chicken Salad Sliders || Buffalo Chicken Sliders || Potato Salad ||

Sweets: Cream Cheese Cookie Fruit Cups || Strawberry Lemonade Cheesecake || S’mores Cookies

Sips: Strawberry Basil Infused Vodka and Jalapeno Cocktail

There is nothing better than a summer party with good food, good friends, and an outdoor patio to enjoy a wonderful cocktail. Because of the Texas heat in July and August, my roommates and I decided to wait until it cooled down a bit  to host an end-of-summer soirée and take advantage of the outdoors a little more.

We went for a classy, casual, summery theme with lots of bright and vivacious colors. Between the flowers, the table runner, paperware and pom pom banners, we were able to incorporate different shades of pinks, purples, yellows and greens. Our amazing flower arrangements came from the T Shop and completely tied all of our decor and colors together perfectly! The shop worked with us in advance to make sure that the flowers and vases coordinated with the purple gingham styled table runner and burlap overlay. It is all about the details, my friends! 

This is my absolute favorite craft cocktail to make! It is always a crowd pleaser and is perfect for smaller dinner parties, so you can customize the spice level to each person’s liking. The strawberry basil infused vodka paired with the muddled jalapeños create a delicious sweetness with a little kick that is sure to get everyone asking for more!

I particularly like making these for date nights at home. They are the perfect cocktail to enjoy while sitting on the patio enjoying the Dallas skyline or just enjoying the cool breeze.

cocktails

The base of this cocktail is jalapeño and lime, however, you can sweeten it up by using a strawberry basil infused vodka (my personal favorite!) rather than plain vodka. Or if you really want to bring an extra kick to your cocktail, you can use a jalapeño infused vodka

Buffalo sauce is a staple in our household. I absolutely love everything about it, and I am always experimenting with different ways to incorporate it into recipes. These buffalo chicken slow cooker sliders are an absolute breeze to make and taste delicious. All you need to do is throw a few simple ingredients into a slow cooker, and the crock-pot will do all the heavy lifting for you! Buffalo Chicken Sliders

I love making these when I know I will be home late from work or don’t have time to prepare a full dinner. With a quick 5-10 minute prep time, I can easily throw everything in the crock-pot before I leave for work and come home to a house filled with the aromas of buffalo sauce and dinner ready to go!

Say cheeeeese!

If you’re like me, a beautiful cheese platter is more than enough to make you smile! They’re always one of my favorite additions to any  party! They are easy to spread around on different side tables and encourage mingling. Plus they are always a crowd pleaser! By selecting the perfect combination of cheeses and adding some fun signs or labels, you can spruce up any cheese platter!

How to Create the Perfect Cheese Platter

Selecting the Cheese:

If serving as an appetizer/hors d’oeuvres, plan on about 1-2 ounces per person.

When picking out the cheese for your platter, include a variety of flavors and textures of cheeses, including aged, fresh, soft, firm, and blue cheese. I usually like to include one or two (depending on the size of your party and your cheese platter) from each category to ensure a good variety.

Here are just a couple of my favorites: 

This macaroni and cheese recipe is one of my absolute favorite go-to’s when I am looking for a unique twist to a traditional comfort food. Everyone loves a good homemade macaroni and cheese, but the bacon and hot pepper puts a spin on a classic that is sure to get your guests lining up for more! The addition of the bell peppers and jalapeños bring a freshness to the dish, while the bacon brings a nice sense of comfort.

Processed with VSCOcam with c1 preset
Processed with VSCOcam with c1 preset

I am absolutely LOVING these buffalo chicken wonton cups these days! With the start of fall, it is time for warm sweaters, scarves, and pumpkin spice everything! But also with the start of fall, is football season!! Time for tailgates, corn hole, reconnecting with TCU friends, and of course….good food! Tailgating snacks are always the best, but these buffalo chicken wonton cups take the cake!

wonton cups - Copy

These are pretty quick and easy to make and are best served straight from the oven…plus they are unique, so always a crowd pleaser! 

I absolutely LOVE these little cream cheese cookie fruit cups, and they are always a party hit! Seriously so easy to make and you will have people talking! I have made these for years and they’re an easy go-to dessert if you are heading to a friend’s house for dinner or need to whip up a quick dessert for some last minute guests!

IMG_8452

Did I mention that they are easy? SO easy.