Recently in FOOD & ENTERTAINING Category

Mother's Day Tablescape

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Mother's Day TablescapeWhat nicer way of treating Mom than to give her a special lunch or dinner. While flowery and sweet designs are nice if your mother has a bit more sophisticated tastes then she might want something rather more elegant a little less frilly.

This is a simple but elegant tablescape that was designed around the purple grape hyacinths that grow rampant through my garden in the spring. (These flowers were actually cut from my front lawn where they had escaped the confines of the garden.)

With touches of blue/purple and gold this tablescape has a regal feel to it.

How to Carve Apples for Halloween

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Carved apples for HalloweenWhile flowers and greenery are always great to have on the table as a center piece they seem a little too...tame for a Halloween meal (unless you use a plant like Venus Fly Trap).

Swap them out for an evening with these grinning apples. Apples are easy to carve and quick to do.

All that you will need are a few fresh apples, a paring knife and a little bit of time. Place un-carved apples in a bowl and your carved ones on top for an instant easy Halloween center piece.

Best of all you can eat you center piece when you are done with it!

Newspaper Baskets

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Tomatoes in newspaper basketA few years ago I put in three cherry tomato plants... three. They went wild and wouldn't stop producing. 

I wanted to give the extra tomatoes away to family and friends and needed little baskets that they would not have to return.

I came up with this newspaper basket that is ideal since it didn't cost me any extra money and could be easily recycled.

This little newspaper basket can be used for all sorts of small produce so keep it in mind the next time you have a bumper crop.

Orange Cat - Fruit Sculpture

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Cat made from orangeI will admit that I did not design this but as much as I searched I could not find an original source or instructions on how to make this orange cat so I did it myself.

Fruit and vegetable carvings are a great way to garnish a tray for a party or a special occasion. 

This silly cat would look great at a buffet on a tray of fruit salad, citrus desserts, or cut up oranges at a breakfast buffet.

You don't need a lot of fancy equipment to make this handsome fellow, a sharp knife and a small paring knife will do it.

Perfect for all the feline lovers that you know.
Birthday Cake with candlesBirthdays! The best days of a child's life. 

How do you celebrate the occasions without spending a ton of money?

Ask any adult and they will tell you that their best birthdays growing up had nothing to do with what they got but how they were celebrated.

Parties are great for kids but you want to have other ways to make your little ones birthdays special.

I have 25 ideas of how you can make your children's birthdays super memorable while still making it very easy on your wallet.

How to Cut and Peel a Peach

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Cutting peaches
Is there any other fruit that has so many saying regarding it? 

She's a Georgia peach, pretty as a peach, peaches and cream complexion.

While peaches are delicious their skin can cut tender mouths and for very young children it is best to peel them.

Peeling peaches is actually quite easy if you know the trick.

Canada Day Tablescape

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Canada Day flowersIf you are getting ready to have a lunch or dinner on Canada Day here are a few ideas that you can use to really make it pop!

Our family's Canada Day includes a Canada Day Parade, usually a swim when we get home and   dinner in the gazebo.

With Canada's colors being red and white it is easy to pull together a fun patriotic table.

How to Sew Bunting for Canada Day Decorations

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IMG_0566a.jpgI thoroughly enjoy decorating the outside of our home for Canada Day. 

Bunting use to be a very popular way to decorate and if you look through old picture of England, America and Canada during patriotic celebrations, houses and business where typically decorated with them.

The name bunting actually referred to the type of fabric that was used for the draped and flag buntings. I use nylon material so it can withstand the weather.

This is a fun project that you will be able to display with pride every year.



Making Ice Shapes for Summer Entertaining

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Making ice shapes for summer entertaining
Cold ice is a luxury that many of us just don't appreciate until we are in the middle of a scorching hot day and can't get any.

While most of us take ice for granted ice has only been available to the masses since about the 1920's when household refrigerators and freezers became popular.

While ice was available before this time it was pricey, the cost was more expensive than some meat and dairy products.

With our modern fridges and freezers ice is easy for us to make so why not use ice in interesting ways when you are entertaining during the heat of the summer.

Five Easy Cocktail Garnishes to Spiff Up Your Style

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Cocktail garnishesWhy is it that adding just a little something to a cocktail changes it from ho-hum to fabulous.

Don't get intimidated and think that you need  a degree in mixology to make a stunning cocktail.

You just need to know what you can pair with what, and, with a cocktail skewer and a few ingredients, you can be wowing you guest at your next party. Of course you can make these for mocktails as everyone enjoys a fancy drink.

Here are 10 simple but stunning cocktail garnishes for you to try

Frog Pickle - Fun Food Garnish

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Frog pickle
So why the frog pickle? 

I tend to do pool parties in the summer with outdoor buffets and I was just thinking on how I would like to decorate the platters while I was eating a pickle.

As it is I have been craving pickles lately, no reason for it, just am. 

Calorie wise pickles are a great snack food since a large pickle only has about 10 calories. 

I have used edible flowers and carved fruit in the past but I wanted to try something a bit different and whimsical. I think this fits the bill.

And how did I make this little guy?


Easter Place Card Printable

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Easter place cardDress up your Easter table with these sweet Easter place cards.

Place cards can add a touch of elegance to any table and if you are entertaining more than 8 it just makes it easier for everyone to find their seats.

I used an antique image of a hare for this  Easter place card.  Done in periwinkle it will add a splash of color to your Easter table.



Sliced appleHealthy eating is probably at the top of your list for your New Year's resolutions.

Of course you are not going to deprive your self of snacks but ideally that snack should be fast to grab, cheap, healthy and super easy to eat.

Even more you want to be able to take your snacks with you.

An apple fits all of these requirements but the trick of making it easy to eat is how you slice it up.

Apples are notorious for turning brown as soon as their flesh is exposed but there is a way of doing it that will keep them fresh for the day until you are ready to eat them.

New Years Eve
Out with the old and in with the new! There is no better way to celebrate the old year and look forward to the New Year than having a New Years Eve party!

You want it to be a bash but you also don't want to break the proverbial piggy bank. How do you have an amazing party that everyone will remember and that won't cost you a fortune?

Here is a list of 10 ideas that will make your party to the talk of the town the next day.

Festive Food Garnishes (Sweet)

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Festive food garnishes sweetEven the simplest dessert can look extraordinary when you add a garnish or do something interesting to the plate that it is on. It's what raises the look from nice to spectacular. 

Many of us have wonderful desserts that are family favorites that taste spectacular but tend to look a little boring when they are on the plate.

Restaurants spend a lot of time and effort to make their desserts look appetizing and have a kitchen full of simple trick that they use. 

With out much effort you can be plating desserts that will have everyone saying WOW!
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