At Mat and my Stock the Bar couple's wedding shower, one of my best friends gave us a bottle of Hendrick's gin. The smooth gin is definitely memorable probably due to its hints of cucumber in every sip. Recently, I went on the hunt for a refreshing gin cocktail other than a classic gin and tonic, and this one won't disappoint. via Cucumber Gin Fizz 3 slices of cucumber, about 1/4-inch thick plus one for garnish 1/2 ounce fresh juice from 1 lime 1/2 ounce simple syrup 1 1/2 . . .
Recipe: Olive Tapenade
Last week, I showed you how to put together a quick cheese board with some great blogging friends. Today, I want to share the recipe for my no-fail olive tapenade we used as a goat cheese bruschetta topping. You can use this recipe as a dip, a sandwich spread, or even with pasta. The word tapenade actually comes from the Provencal word for capers, tapenas. However, capers are not the star of the show in this dish; we will leave that to your selection of olives. . . .
Remodel: Tackling Our New Great Room
Although we have every. single. room. to fill, our "new" great room/living room is giving me the most headache...on layout and design. I will definitely fill it with classic, neutral furniture, but I do love a little modern, a little rustic, and just a tad of color. Our two living areas are now almost one, so furniture placement is a challenge to ensure everything flows. There are a few things we have to consider before I really start purchasing new furniture: Even though we . . .
Eating Seasonally: 15 Spinach Recipes in Under 30 Minutes
Eating seasonally makes sense. Like I have said before, it makes sense, not only with the enhanced flavor of your ingredients, it makes sense to your wallet. Plus, if you are going to spend time in your kitchen, your family and/or dinner guests deserve the best quality ingredients you can find. Spinach is definitely in season right now, and it is a truly versatile ingredient. From dips to pizza to egg dishes to delicious salads, right now, spinach can do no wrong. Today, I . . .
Monday Menu: All-American Burger Bar
Happy Monday! I am so very ready for Spring and Summer cookouts, and I can bet you are too. This menu is for just that. sliders - fries - potato salad - beans - broccoli salad - cobbler . . .
Party Wines
I have said once before that I have a beautiful friend who is a certified sommelier by the International Sommelier Guild. Brooke has impeccable taste, and she has graciously chosen some great party wines for us today. We have two whites and two reds that are fairly easy to find, along with some detailed tasting notes and food pairings. Enjoy! Santa Ema Sauvignon Blanc Santa Ema Wines was started by an Italian winemaker from the Piedmont region. . . .
Party in a Pinch: the Cheese Board
Who doesn't love a good cheese board? It is the perfect appetizer or a classic dessert, and almost every guest can find something they like if you add enough variety. Last weekend, I got together with my dear friend, Katie of Spray Paint & Chardonnay, to create a simple (and delicious!) cheese board. We knew we wanted it to be for a small affair, but we also knew we didn't want to lose any depth in our selections. We also enlisted the help of our friend, Stacey of the Tilted . . .
The Frugal Florist
Today is the first of a new blog series called The Frugal Florist. I will be creating bouquets of budget blooms and breaking down the cost for you! Most of the flowers in these posts will be supermarket finds or from a local flower market. For today's post, I used blooms from Whole Foods, and I broke up a few bunches into multiple bouquets. I used some amazing gold mint julep cups that pulled everything together. I hope you enjoy it! . . .
Monday Menu: Mardi Gras Weekend
On Thursday, I am heading down south for a Mardi Gras Beach Weekend with some of the ladies in my family. I had this mini vacay in mind when I created this menu; it is not for one night, but rather the whole weekend! I will be bringing the fixing for milk punch and mini king cakes, but we actually eat out more than we cook. However, if we were, this is exactly what I would insist on. This menu includes a delicious cocktail, a Friday night casserole, Saturday's lunch, a . . .
Eating Seasonally
I was perusing etsy.com over the weekend, and I came across this adorable poster on seasonal eating. Growing up with a garden-loving mom, I appreciate fresh, seasonal ingredients more than most. Choosing fruits and vegetables at their peak season can make all the different in your meals and your wallet. Click here to purchase! Here is the Fig + Cotton's advice on what to pick up at the grocery store or farmer's market each season. Winter (Dec. - Feb.): apples, beets, . . .