Father’s Day Entertaining
Falling on the third Sunday of June every year, Father’s Day is a celebration of fatherhood and male parenting. It can be difficult to find the best way to show your appreciation to your dad on this special day, but I’ve got some great ideas on how to entertain three different kinds of dads – the Power Dad, the Foodie Dad, and the B-B-Q Dad.
Power Dad
He’s a heavy hitter, who is always on the go and takes care of himself. He’s a fan of healthy and clean eating…or perhaps you want him to be! Make Dad the treats below to help him power through the day.
- MYO Smoothies
Make your own smoothies for Dad! They can be made in a blender, but I prefer to use the NutriBullet. It’s designed for nutritious drinks, completely emulsifies ingredients, is easy to clean, and I even travel with mine!
Click here for recipes of my favorite healthy smoothies. - MYO Cereal Bars
Rainforest Chewy Bars are easy to make and are a great source of whole grains, allowing Dad to power through the day. Made with Honey Bunches of Oats Greek Honey Crunch, these bars will put a smile on your dad’s face! Click here for the recipe.
Foodie Dad
The Foodie Dad loves to cook and to eat and is always looking for new recipes. With these pointers, you’ll be able to make Dad a healthy homemade brunch with the help of my favorite kitchen tool, an immersion blender! Click on the links below for recipes.
- Creamy Pea Soup with Prosciutto Bacon
- Green Goddess Sauce for Eggs Benedict
- The Perfect Salad Dressing
Made with healthy ingredients, this all natural salad dressing includes Pompeian OlivExtra Premium Mediterranean Blend (a blend of EVOO, grape seed oil, and canola oil), Pompeian Acai Pomegranate Vinegar (which is enriched with antioxidants), honey, Dijon mustard, and a little bit of salt and pepper. - Black Label Collins
A sophisticated brunch cocktail for the discriminating dad, the Johnnie Walker Black Label Collins. A refreshing and effervescent cocktail I call the MANmosa!
B-B-Q Dad
He loves to grill anytime and anywhere! No matter Dad’s preference, I’ve got tips for grilling three different ways with Dad. Click on the links below to see how you can grill each way.
- Keeping it Clean
A healthier option for lightly seasoning your chicken with a couple of my secret weapons from Sur La Table. - Brining
This technique will tenderize and improve the quality of less expensive cuts. - Marinating
Add more flavor to your meats while also tenderizing them.
Pro Tips: The Coleman NXT 300 Portable Grill will keep Dad grilling throughout the summer and into tailgating season. Use a meat thermometer to make sure your meats are cooked to the correct temperature!
Romantic Valentine’s Day Stay-cations
Valentines Day is the most romantic day of the year and the ideal time to plan a couples getaway to a romantic destination. What about those of us who can’t fly to our dream destination of choice or don’t have extra cash lying around so soon after the holidays?
I’ll show you how to create a romantic Valentine’s Day stay-cation without leaving the comfort of your own home and without the hefty price tag. I’ve created three Romantic Stay-cation themes based on three lover types; Languid Lovers, Sporty Lovers, Lover Lovers. Each dinner is comprised of food, drinks and décor inspired by the culture and landscape of each of the destinations.
A Tropical Stay-cation Destination for the languid lovers who love to lay around with each other, sipping on drinks wearing only a strategically placed lei. Click the link to see how you can cool off your hot night with exotic frozen drinks and savor the sensual tastes of the tropical islands.
A Ski Stay-cation Destination for the sporty lovers who love to cozy up to a warm fire and enjoy après-ski bites and nibbles without the hassle of suiting up…in ski clothes! Click the link to see how you can prepare hot cocktails to warm you up from top to bottom and how to satisfy your sweet and savory sides with a classic Fondue menu.
A City of Love & Lights (Paris) Stay-cation Destination for the lover lovers who love to fair l’amour en Francais. Click the link to see how you can prepare bubble cocktails that will tickle your palate and how to prepare a romantic picnic by the Seine-style menu.
Romantic Valentine’s Day Stay-cation: Tropical
The Tropical stay-cation destination is perfect for the languid lovers who love to lay around sipping on exotic drinks wearing only a strategically placed lei.
It’s a great excuse to have frozen drinks in the winter and you don’t even have to break out the blender.
Pro Tip: Use ready-to-drink frozen pouches from Parrot Bay. Use the strawberry daiquiri and pina colada to stay within the Valentine’s Day color scheme and you can even layer the two! All you have to do is freeze, squeeze, and pour.
Dress up your drinks with sexy skewers – chocolate candy-dipped fruits on a skewer. To make these, melt the candy dips in a bowl, dip fruits in it, let them dry and put them on a skewer!
Savor the sensual taste of the islands with easy-to-make foods that are perfectly sized to feed each other with…no eating utensils required!
Pineapple Chicken Skewers
- Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 4 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1.2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1.5 lb. uncooked chicken breasts , cubed
- 12 fresh pineapple chunks, approximately 1 inch
- 12 skewers
- Preparation:
- Heat the grill (or if it is too chilly outside – preheat the broiler)
- Mix the first seven ingredients in a medium bowl until well blended and add shrimp and pineapple to the mix, toss to coat. Marinade for 1 hour.
- Thread and alternate 2 chicken cubes and 1 pineapple chunk onto each of the 12 skewers.
- Grill (or broil 6 inches from the heat) for 5 to 8 minutes per sided until chicken is cooked through.
Shrimp Ceviche (serves 4)
- Ingredients:
- 2 ½ tablespoons superfine white sugar
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon chili paste or sauce
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ¼ cup minced red onion
- 1 ripe tomato, finely diced
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
- 1 jalapeno pepper, finely diced
- 1 pound very fresh medium-small shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 4 avocados, halved
- Plantain chips and root chips
- Preparation
- In a large glass or plastic bowl, dissolve the sugar, salt, and chili paste in the lime juice.
- Season with pepper and cumin.
- Stir in the garlic, onion, tomato, jalapeno and cilantro.
- Gently mix in the shrimp and then cover. Refrigerate for 4 hours.
- To serve, drain the excess liquid from the mixture and place in in avocado halves.
- Serve with a side of (long) plantain chips and root chips.
Passion Pops
- Ingredients
- 1 box yellow cake mix
- 1 20-oz. can of pineapple chunks
- 1 16-oz. can cream cheese frosting
- 1 bag of white chocolate candy melts
- toasted coconut
- sticks
- Preparation:
- Drain the and finely chop the pineapple, but keep the liquid.
- Bake the cake according to instructions, but instead of water use the pineapple juice.
- Let the cake cool, then crumble into a large bowl and add ½ cup of the chopped pineapple and just enough frosting to combine.
- Mix well and refrigerate overnight or for a couple of hours.
- Make 1-inch balls, then place them onto a baking sheet and insert a stick into each ball no more than halfway into the center.
- Transfer to the freezer for 15-20 minutes.
- Microwave the candy melts in a bowl and dip the cake pops into the candy coating.
- Add toasted coconut to the cake pop before the coating dries.
For decor, break out the beachwear, a beach towel, and to set the mood, place candles in glass vases with shells for lighting and play some of these tropical sounds from my Amazon playlist to get you “in the mood.”
Romantic Valentine’s Day Stay-cation: Ski
The Ski Stay-cation Destination is for the sporty lovers who love to cozy up to a warm fire and enjoy apres-ski bites and nibbles without the hassle of suiting up…in ski clothes!
To get things heated up, start with the hot cocktails! Pro Tip: These drinks can be made in the microwave!
Baked Apple Pie (serves 6)
- Ingredients:
- 30 oz. unfiltered apple juice
- 4 whole cloves
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 2 star anise pods
- 6 oz. Captain Morgan Spiced Rum
- Preparation:
- Put the apple juice in a large pot with whole cloves, 2 cinnamon sticks, and star anise pods.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then remove from the heat.
- Ladle the mixture into six clear coffee mugs and add 1 oz of brandy to each mug.
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
Hot Buttered Rum
- Ingredients
- 1.5 oz Captain Morgan Rum
- 0.75 oz Sugar
- 0.75 oz Lemon Juice
- 0.25 oz Maraschino
- Hot Black Tea
- Butter cubed
- Lemon peel and cloves for garnishing
- Preparation
- Place juice, sugar, maraschino, and rum into a pre-heated mug.
- Add hot tea.
- Stir and then float the butter.
- Garnish with lemon peel and cloves.
Satisfy your sweet and savory sides with a classic Fondue menu.
Cheese Fondue
- Ingredients:
- 1 clove garlic, cut in half
- 1.5 cups dry white wine
- 7 oz Comte cheese, coarsely grated
- 7 oz Raclette cheese
- 7 oz Gruyere cheese, coarsely grated
- Pinch of ground nutmeg
- Pinch of ground black pepper
- Pinch of ground paprika
- 2 tablespoon flour
- 3 tablespoons brandy
- Suggested dippables:
- Bite sized cubes of bread
- Bite sized pieces of roasted potatoes
- 1 inch cubes of seasoned blanched veggies
- Peppers, Carrots, Broccoli, etc
- Preparation:
- Rub the inside of a saucepan with the cut side of the garlic and then discard the garlic.
- Add the wine to the prepared pan and bring it to a boil.
- Reduce the heat so the wine is just simmering and add the cheese, nutmeg, black pepper, and paprika, stirring constantly until the fondue is melted and smooth.
- Keeping the heat low to medium, add the flour as needed to thicken, never boiling, the fondue for 15 minutes until it is thickened.
- Add the brandy and stir constantly for 1 minute.
- Transfer the fondue to a fondue pot set over a flame and serve it with cubed bread.
Chocolate Hazelnut Fondue
- Ingredients:
- ¾ cups heavy whipping cream, reserve ¼ cup to thin if fondue begins to thicken
- 4 bittersweet chocolate bars, chopped 3 ½ ounces each
- 2 tablespoons Bailey’s Hazelnut Liqueur (optional)
- ¼ cup finely chopped hazelnuts or almonds (optional)
- Suggested dippables:
- Biscotti
- Salted pretzel sticks
- Cubed pound cake
- Sliced bananas
- Strawberries
- Preparation:
- Heat ½ cup cream in a heavy non-reactive saucepot over moderate heat until cream comes to a low boil.
- Remove the pan from the heat and add chocolate and let chocolate stand in hot cream for 3 to 5 minutes to soften, then whisk the chocolate together with the cream.
- Stir in Bailey’s Hazelnut Liqueur (and chopped nuts) and transfer the fondue to a fondue pot with a flame. If the fondue becomes too thick, stir in reserved cream, 1 tablespoon at a time to get the desired consistency.
- Serve with your favorite dippables.
Bust out the fur rug and a plethora of candles to get your groove on. I made a faux fireplace with the candles. Set the mood with sultry sounds of classic love tunes a la Berry White with my Amazon Playlist below.
Romantic Valentine’s Day Stay-cation: Paris
The City of Love & Lights (Paris) Stay-cation Destination is for the lovers of love to fair l’amour en Francais.
Tickle your valentine’s palate with bubble cocktails.
Kir Royale
- Ingredients:
- Crème de Cassis
- Moet & Chandon Champagne
- Preparation:
- Combine 1 part Crème de Cassis and 5 parts champagne in a champagne glass.
French 75
- Ingredients:
- 1 oz. Tanqueray gin
- ½ oz. fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz. simple syrup
- Moet & Chandon champagne
- lemon twist for garnishing
- Preparation:
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
- Add the gin, lemon juice, and simple syrup, and shake.
- Strain into a champagne flute, then top with champagne.
- Garnish with a lemon twist.
Plan a romantic “picnic” by the Seine-style menu starting with a Fromage – French breads and a selection of the main types of French cheese.
I used one Brie for my soft cheese, Comté for the hard, and Roquefort for blue.
Make his and her cassoulets of your choice – a Traditional French Cassoulet or a Vegetarian Cassoulet.
Traditional French Cassoulet
- Ingredients:
- 16 oz. white beans (soaked overnight and washed)
- 4 chicken thighs (sautéed skin side down)
- 4 duck sausages (or hot dogs)
- 3 sprigs of fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary, tarragon)
- 4 strips of fried bacon
- 1 small onion (finely chopped)
- 3 whole cloves of garlic
- 6 cups of chicken stock
- bread crumbs
- salt and pepper to taste
- Preparation:
- In a small bowl, mix thyme, rosemary, and tarragon. Set seasoning mixture aside.
- In a large pot, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. In batches without crowding, cook chicken, adding more oil if needed, turning occasionally, until browned lightly on all sides, about 10 minutes.
- Transfer the browned chicken to a plate. Add sausage to the pot, breaking up with the sides of a wooden spoon, until it loses its pink color, about 8 minutes, while separately frying the 4 strips of bacon.
- Remove sausage from pot and drain some of the grease. Add onions and garlic to the pot.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened, about 6 minutes. Add chicken stock and stir. Add chicken, sausage, and fried bacon.
- Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over and mix well. Bring to a simmer, then add beans.
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Transfer to ramekin, then sprinkle bread crumbs over it.
- Bake in the oven for 30 minutes.
- Using a wooden spoon, gently press the thin crust that has formed on the cassoulet down under the surface.
- Continue baking until the cassoulet is simmering and a second thin crust has formed (about 30 minutes).
- Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Vegetarian Cassoulet (serves 6)
- Ingredients:
- 3 medium leeks (white and pale green parts only)
- 4 medium carrots, halved lengthwise and cut into 1-inch-wide pieces
- 3 celery ribs, cut into 1-inch-wide pieces
- 4 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 4 thyme sprigs
- 2 parsley sprigs
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 3 (19-ounce) cans cannellini or Great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 quart vegetable stock
- Preparation:
- Halve leeks lengthwise and cut crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces, then wash well and pat dry.
- Cook leeks, carrots, celery, and garlic in oil with herb sprigs, bay leaf, cloves, and 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper in a large heavy pot over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until softened and golden, about 15 minutes. Stir in beans, then water, and simmer, partially covered, stirring occasionally, until carrots are tender but not falling apart, about 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Toss bread crumbs with oil, garlic, and 1/4 teaspoon each of salt and pepper in a bowl until well coated. Spread in a baking pan and toast in oven, stirring once halfway through, until crisp and golden, 12 to 15 minutes.
- Cool crumbs in pan, then return to bowl and stir in parsley.
- Discard herb sprigs and bay leaf. Mash some of beans in pot with a potato masher or back of a spoon to thicken broth. Season with salt and pepper.
- Transfer to ramekin and sprinkle with garlic crumbs and bake in the oven for 30 minutes.
- Using a woden spoon, gently press the thin crust that has formed on the cassoulet down under the surface.
- Continue baking until the cassoulet is simmering and as econd thin crust has formed (about 30 minutes).
- Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Of course a French picnic spread wouldn’t be complete without macarons! You can order them online at Dana’s Bakery! The one’s pictured above are from Dana’s Valentine’s Day Box.
To spark a twinkle in your lover’s eyes, set the mood with lighting by putting small candles in a mason jar with rose petals and play my Amazon Playlist below!
Holiday Door Décor
‘Tis the holiday season and it’s time to deck the halls, tree…or other parts of your home!
Don’t have your Holiday decorations all wrapped up in a bow? Not to fear, I’m here with holiday decorating cheer for tips on decorating the most visited spot in your home…the front door, inside and out!
I’ll show you how to decorate your front door in one of the three themes; traditional, modern and free form. The outside of your door is the first thing guests see when entering your home, so why not make it the most festive spot as well! The inside of your front door is the last thing they may see; so don’t forget to decorate the inside to make a lasting holiday impression!
Click on the links below for details and instructions on how to decorate your door with ease.
The Traditional Door
Using holiday colors, you can decorate your door with a traditional pine wreath adorned with ribbons, bows, ornaments, and lights.
The Modern Door
With an empty wire wreath form, you can “fill in the blanks” with ornaments, holiday tchotchkes, toys, and decorative lights.
The Free Form Door
By using damage free clips, you can outline the shape of your choice with lights and then fill in the shape with ornaments to transform your front door into something festive.
Holiday Décor – The Modern Door
Outside:
For a more modern look, use an empty wire wreath form and “fill in the blanks” with ornaments, holiday tchotchkes, toys, and decorative lights.
Using a vibrant color pallet will give your décor a modern look. Work backwards like an upside down cake and layer your ornaments first, follow it up by lights, and then garland for a filler. Add fun ornaments that spark conversation (glittered of course) as your finishing touches. The more eclectic, the better, and since the theme is everything holiday, you can include Santa’s sleigh!
Secret Weapon: Use mini white cable zip ties to hold everything in place.
Inside:
To continue the conversation…
Use festive wrapping paper and removable crafting tape, create an over-sized greeting card on the inside of your front door and invite house guests to leave holiday messages. Use damage-free clips, to showcase greeting cards you’ve received from your family, friends, and neighbors around the oversized greeting card to make your holiday decor more personal!
Secret Weapons: Use Scotch Expressions Tape to add vibrant colors to your door…they’re also easy to reposition and removable. Use Command Clear Damage-Free Fridge Clips for easy removal at the end of the holidays.
Holiday Décor – The Free Form Door
The free form door is your chance to “deck the halls” without ruining your walls (or front door in this case)! Use damage-free decorating clips, to form your shape of choice, holiday-related of course, and place holiday lights into the clips to make the outline. Fill in the shape by hanging ornaments on damage-free hooks.
I made a festive faux Christmas tree with lights and filled it in with ornaments. You can also make a menorah with white and blue lights.
Free form décor is great for small living spaces where you don’t have enough room for a Christmas tree. It also allows you to be more creative and doesn’t need to be on your front door. You can use free form on any empty wall in your house!
Secret Weapons: Use Command Clear Damage-Free Decorating Clips and Command Clear Damage-Free Mini Hooks for easy removal. They also blend into your walls and décor.
Holiday Décor – The Traditional Door
Outside:
If you’re interested in a more traditional door, adorn a pine wreath with holiday colored ribbons, bows, ornaments, and lights. Just like a Christmas tree, start with the lights first, follow it up with ornaments, and finish it off with a ribbon garland and bows.
You can create any theme you would like and for ornament collectors, it’s a great and easy way to decorate. The global theme I used was inspired by ornaments I’ve collected from my travels, with the most recent being the piñata and sombrero from Mexico. You can also use items that you have left over from trimming your tree and decorating the rest of your house.
Secret Weapon: Use ornament hooks to wire on the ornaments and ribbon.
Inside:
Cut the leftover ribbon from the wreath into varying lengths. Tie bells and ornaments onto the end of each piece of ribbon and make a bow out of the other end. Apply damage-free clear mini hooks across the top of your door and hang one ribbon from each one.
Secret Weapon: Use Command Clear Damage-Free Mini Hooks for easy application and removal.
Clambakes To Go
Recipe from Stuart’s Seafood; Amagansett, NY
Ingredients (per person):
- 1 – 1 ¼ lb Lobster
- ½ pound of Steamers or 6 Little Neck Clams
- ½ pound Mussels
- 1 ear of Corn on the Cob
- ½ dozen Red Potatoes
Method:
- The clam bake comes layered in a disposable kettle that is ready for the stovetop, grill or beach fire cooking.
Celebrity Spotting: Stuart’s is a favorite of Gwyneth Paltrow and her mother, Blythe Danner. Jerry Seinfeld also has a house account at Stuart’s and comes in quite often.
How to make your own Clam Bake
Ingredients:
- 2 sticks (1/2 pound) unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup grated Parmesan, plus more for garnish
- ½ cup finely chopped mixed herbs, suck as parsley, chives, and thyme
- Kosher Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 4 pounds creamer potatoes
- 8 ears corn
- 4 pounds kielbasa, cut into pieces, 8 dozen hard-shell clams, such as cherrystone or littleneck
Method:
- Dig a shallow pit in the sand and line it with large stones. Pile wood on top of the coals. Burn the wood for 1 to 2 hours until the rocks are red hot; rake off the ashes. Set 1 cinder block on each corner of the pit to form the base; lay a barbecue grate on top to make a table.
- While the stones are heating prepare the herb butter: Mix the butter with the cheese and herbs; season it with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Place a thick layer of seaweed on the grate. Place a layer of potatoes on the rack and cover them with a thin layer of seaweed. Put the corn on next and then another thin layer of seaweed. Now put on the kielbasa and top it with a thin layer of seaweed. Next mound the clams on top and cover with a thick layer of seaweed. Cover the entire bake with burlap or a tarp soaked in sea water. Keep the tarp wet by pouring sea water over the top if needed. Cook until the clams open and the potatoes are tender, about 1 hour.
- Pull the husks back from the corn and remove the silk. Brush generously with the herb butter and garnish with grated Parmesan.
For more of Mark’s “Chic-rets” to Hamptons Celebrity Entertaining, click here!
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Hamptons Table Top Tips
I was asked to interview with KDHamptons.com about my famous tabletop tips for entertaining in the Hamptons. On top of my tabletop tips, I share my favorite Hamptons hot spots, restaurants, caterers, florists and many more.
To view the article, click here!
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Mother’s Day “Love Chain” Card and Setting the Table
Mother’s Day is a universally celebrated holiday and can certainly be considered one of the most sentimental. Play up the nostalgic nature of this day by creating a home made & fully customized “Love Chain” Card made by the entire family with photos and memories of special moments from childhood all the way up to present day. Mark’s design includes various shapes to choose from: flowers, hearts, boy figure, girl figure, note section and letters M-O-M.
- Simply print the downloadable template at here from your home or office computer, cut out the shapes and glue, tape or staple them together into a long chain. Decorate using crayons, markers, colored pencils, etc.
Setting the table is as easy as 1-2-3..
- A bright colored tablecloth in Mom’s favorite color sets the tone for brunch
- Mom’s favorite flowers make a touching centerpiece or individual bud vase with a single flower on a breakfast tray
- Personalize with table accessorize – my Table Chameleon napkin rings adapt to any table decor by inserting colored paper insert.
To purchase my Table Chameleon Napkin Ring, click here!
For more of my Mother’s Day recipes and tips, click here!
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Edible Easter Centerpieces
These edible centerpieces will add an extra sweet touch to your Easter tabletop!
This Honey Vanilla Easter House by Harry & David makes a great, edible centerpiece for your Easter tabletop and is the inspiration behind my Candy Coated Easter segment!
These adorable Sugar Cookie Candy Flowerpots are easy to create and make for a great centerpiece!
Method:
- Fill a flowerpot to the top with jelly beans, robin eggs or other candy.
- Using decorative sugar cookies that you make at home, or from one of my favorite brands, Cheryl’s Cookies, apply royal icing to the back of the cookies and place on long treat sticks.
- After the icing has dried, place the sticks into the jelly beans to create an adorable edible flower arrangement!
Candy Coated Jell-O Easter Egg Cakes
These candy coated Jell-O Easter egg cakes are the perfect treat for your guests. They not only are an adorable centerpiece, but they are also a sweet and delicious dessert that your guests will love! Click Here for the Candy Coated Easter Egg Cake Recipe!
Click Here for more sweet Easter ideas!
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Design Your Wedding Hamptons-Style! – Featured in HuffPost Weddings!
You can have a wedding with the sophisticated chic style of the Hamptons without putting yourself into debt. I’ve got five chic “over-the-top but understated” ideas that will bring the style of the Hamptons easily to your wedding.
#1: A beautiful floral arrangement is oftentimes the centerpiece of a great tablescape and hydrangeas are the unofficial flower of the Hamptons — they grow just about everywhere! Arrange several bunches of hydrangeas in a classic whitewashed vase with wisps of bear grass for a chic Hamptons-style centerpiece.
#2: A great way to add sophistication to the table is to monogram your plates. If you can afford to have personalized monogramed plates like the Hamptons elite, you can cleverly create your own monogram by printing it out on vellum paper. Add silver or gold leaf using Copy FX Paper (found at your local art store) with your home printer to transfer the design you made onto vellum paper. Lay these over your plates and your guests are sure to be impressed with your very own monogrammed plates!
#3: Every detail counts, and sometimes it’s the smaller ones like gold-rimmed glasses that will make your wedding seem truly chic. After all, it’s such a subtle touch your guests might think you always drink this stylishly.
#4: Table mirrors in various sizes will bring a classy shimmer to your tabletop. They catch the light and reflection of glassware and florals, which makes it almost as though you have a chandelier on top of your table rather than above it.
#5: Placing beach treasures such as sea glass, shells, stones and driftwood that’s been collected from beaches in clear glass candle holders to your table is another great way to add a touch of the Hamptons-style to your wedding.
To see this article on HuffPost Weddings, click here!
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Rainbow Wall Decor and Blarney Stone Pathway
Somewhere over the rainbow lies a pot of gold! To add some color to an already existing wall in your home is by making a paper plate rainbow. Using dinner, lunch and dessert plates in an assortment of colors, red, orange, yellow, blue, green and purple and double sided tape or thumb tacks or Command Hooks, you can decorate a plain wall with this rainbow that leads to the Pot o’ Gold Bar. You can purchase the paper plates at a local party supply store or by clicking here!
The Blarney Stone Pathway will great guests and guide them through the party stations much like the Yellow Brick Road in The Wizard of Oz. Using craft paper, cut stones and lay them on the floor with double sided tape for easy removal. To enhance the pathway, you can decorate the stones with traditional Irish sayings.
Here is a list of my favorite Irish sayings:
- May you have all the luck that life can hold- And at the end of your rainbows may you find a pot of gold.
- May good fortune be yours, may your joys never end
- Good times, friends and health to you… and the luck of the Irish in all that you do.
- Here’s a wish for a day that’s lucky all through from the likes o’me to the likes o’you.
- If you’re lucky enough to be Irish… you’re lucky enough.
- May you live as long as you want, And never want as long as you live.
- May you get all your wishes but one so you always have something to strive for.
- May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light, may good luck pursue you each morning and night.
- May the hinges of our friendship never grow rusty.
- As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction.
Now your guest won’t have to fly to Ireland and kiss the Blarney Stone to be blessed with he gift of the gab! To download my Blarney Stone Pathway, click here!
For more of Mark’s St Patrick’s Day recipes and tips, click here!
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Shamrock Whoopie Pies with Baileys and Creme de Menthe Filling
Cranberry Island Kitchen is the one and only place to purchase Whoopie Pies. These adorable shamrock whoopies are made with chocolate cake and filled with Baileys Irish Cream or Creme de Menthe icing for after brunch treat!
For more of Mark’s St Patrick’s Day recipes and tips, click here!
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Super Bowl XLVI with Billy Bush and Kit Hoover on Access Hollywood LIVE
Super Bowl is usually all about pizza, wings and beer, but I have decided to focus on a different Super Bowl fare for my Super Bowl Party. The theme for my Super Bowl XLVI is “Location, Location, Location!” in which I will be focussing on some home town favorites from Indianapolis, Indiana and the two competing teams, New York and New England.
I have decided to incorporate some hometown favorites from Indiana and infuse them with flavors from New York and New England. Three hometown favorites from Indiana are Pork, Popcorn and Pierogies and my guests will wash them all down with the hottest new 2012 bar trend, Beer Cocktails using the BeerTender, made by Krups, which is the perfect addition to any man cave.
Pierogies are celebrated each year with an annual Pierogi festival. Thousands of attendees gather together to taste the different flavors of pierogies topped and prepared with traditional flavors. One of my favorite things is a baked potato bar, so I have decided to create a pierogi bar with spices, sauces, and topping to create your own signature pierogi.
Pork is another hometown favorite in Indiana. I have prepared three different pork recipes all of which include one of my favorite Tabasco sauces; Chipotle Pepper, Green Pepper and Buffalo Style.
Orville Redenbacher invented popcorn in Indianapolis, Indiana. I have concocted six different popcorn recipes infused with hometown flavors from New York and New England.
For recipes please click the links below!
Pork Recipes
Tabasco Buffalo Style Pork Wings
Fried Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches topped with Tabasco Green Pepper Sauce
Beer Cocktails
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Super Bowl XLVI with Mark Addison on The Better Show
The Super Bowl is the most watched annual sporting event of the year and has been noted a defacto American National Holiday called Super Bowl Sunday. Each Year, Super Bowl is held at a different stadium throughout the United States and this year it is being held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
When planning a Super Bowl Party, football fans usually focus on the standard Super Bowl fare, wings, pizza, beer and seem to forget the host city. I have decided that the theme of my Super Bowl Party is “Location, Location, Location!” incorporating a mix of traditional New York and New England flavors with some home town favorites from Indiana: Pork, Pierogies, and Pop Corn!
I used three of my favorite Tabasco sauces to spice up Indiana’s favorite pork recipes: Tabasco Buffalo Style Pork Wings, Fried Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches with Tabasco Green Pepper Sauce and Chipotle Pulled Pork.
Pierogies are a hometown favorite in Indiana and are celebrated each year with an annual Pierogi festival. Using Mrs T’s Pierogies, which are found in the freezer section of your local grocery store, I created three great recipes that everyone will enjoy, Pierogi Pesto Bites, Zesties and Traditional Pierogies with Butter and Onions.
Indianapolis, Indiana is also the birth place of Orville Redenbacher Popcorn. Using traditional flavors from New York and New England, I created six delicious popcorn recipes: Deli Mustard, Everything, NY Pizza, Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie, Boston Baked Bean and Seafood Boil.
The hottest new 2012 bar trend is the Beer cocktail. Using hometown favorites from New York and New England, I created six beer cocktails that everyone will enjoy! The Tom Brady, Cape Ale, Berry Patriotic, Hail Manning Mary, Big Blue and Hopps to it!
Click here for links to all of my recipes!
Pork Recipes
Tabasco Buffalo Style Pork Wings
Fried Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches topped with Tabasco Green Pepper Sauce
Chipotle Pulled Pork
Beer Cocktail Recipes
Tom Brady
Cape Ale
Berry Patriotic
Hail Manning Mary
Big Blue
Hopps to It
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Holiday Party Entertaining Ideas
For this year’s holiday party, I have decided to organize my own Ice Champagne Cocktail Bar with Ornamental Hors D’Oeuvres Christmas Trees. My inspiration was drawn from luxurious celebrity vacation resorts in areas like The French Alps. The beautiful mountains with the snow caps have inspired me to do a MYO ice bar to mimic the ones located in Les Trois Vallees at the Kube Hotel and Cal d’Isere’s at La Folie Douce.
Using ingredients and supplies that are easily found in your home or from your local grocery store, you can masterfully create this theme for your holiday party or any other celebratory event.
Click the links below for step by step instructions, photos and all tips featured on Access Hollywood LIVE!
MYO Champagne Ice Bar
Sweet and Savory Ornamental Hors D’oeuvres Christmas Trees
Holiday Champagne Cocktails
Blue Hawaiian
Melon Mimosa
Pink Pebbles
Cos-Moscato
Amber Mimosa
Italian Mimosa
Savory Ornamental Hors D’Oeuvres
Holiday Olive Pastries
Holiday Garlic and Herb Croissants
Holiday Prosciutto Bread
Holiday Asparagus Spirals
Holiday Cheese Crisps
Stilton Cheese Ball Ornaments
Sweet Ornamental Hors D’Oeuvres
Holiday Sugar Cookies
Holiday Gingerbread Cookies
Holiday Cake Pop Ornaments
Holiday Cinnamon and Sugar Pastries
Holiday Chocolate Pastries
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MYO Champagne Ice Bar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcIHIAZc_OI
- Barefoot Bubbly - Moscato, Brut Cuvee, and Extra Dry
- Orange Liqueur
- Melon Liqueur
- Raspberry Liqueur
- Peach Liqueur
- Pomegranate Liqueur
- Hazelnut Liqueur
- Peppermint Liqueur
- Cinnamon Liqueur
- Blue Curacao
- Limoncello
- Elderflower Liqueur
- Orange Juice
- Pineapple Juice
- Cranberry Juice
- Grenadine
- Pomegranate Juice
- Grapefruit Juice
- Apple Cider
- Pear Juice
- Peach Juice
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Lavendar
- Drunken Cherries
- Drunken Cranberries
- Strawberries
- Grapes
- Lemons
- Oranges
- Raspberries
- Apples
- Cinnamon Sticks
- Drink Umbrellas
For more Luxurious Holiday Destination Party ideas and recipes, click here!
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Harvest Candles
Fall Harvest Candle holder, using edible materials, is a festive addition to any holiday table that uses natural ingredients that are reusable - you can make soup!
List of Materials Needed:
- 1 package Orange lentils
- 1 package Yellow lentils
- Walnuts in the Shell
- 24 Karat Edible Sheets
- Gold Hardware Paint
- Glass vases
- Non-drip Candles
Use a double glass cylinder to create a ‘sand art” like design with multi-colored beans and grains. (If you plan on reusing the beans for a soup, make sure to use varieties that require similar cooking methods) Layer the colored beans color by color, making patterns of uneven layers or creating pockets with dowels or strips of cardboard and back fill with a contrasting color.
Fill the center cylinder with a fine grain halfway then place some decorative walnuts into the four corners.
Add the candle to the center of the vase, pushing it down into the grains to complete the centerpiece.
Let the kid in you come out on this project or better yet, get the kids involved!
For links to all The Golden Harvest recipes and tips, click here!
Gold Gilded Plates
Gold Gilding plain white plates is a great way to spruce up your table with an easy design that is unique to the look of your tabletop. It turns a simple plate into an elegant piece. It is also a fun activity to get the children involved!
List of Materials Needed:
24 Karat Gold Luster Dust
Vodka
Confectionary Sugar
Paintbrush
Jar, Bowl, Painters Pallet, Etc.
To enhance simple white plates, paint a pattern of your choosing on to the rim of the china with a gold dust and plain vodka solution.
To make the gold paint, slowly add vodka to 24 Karat gold dust drop-by-drop until it is the consistency of water color paints. If you added too much vodka, not to worry, just let the vodka evaporate and start over again.
The only limit to this project is your imagination (and water). Paint a pattern, names as a place card or phrases on the china to welcome your guests to the table. The vodka will evaporate leaving the gold leaf design.
To remove, simply wash your plates as normal and the gold dust will wash away!
Try this technique on everything from baked goods to glassware – run away with your new found Midas Touch!
For links to all The Golden Harvest recipes and tips, click here!
Gold Gilded Fruit Decor
Gold gilded fruit is a great edible centerpiece, its a great interactive activity to do with your children and it is a great alternative to plastic fruit. After the party is over, you can repurpose the fruit to make a delicious Golden Apple Pie which is tres chic!
List of Materials Needed:
- Fresh or Plastic Fruit (apples, pears, pomegranates, walnuts in the shell)
- 24 Karat Edible Gold Leaf Sheets
- Sugar Glue
- Disposable foam paint brush
Recipe for Edible Sugar Glue:
- 1 part Vodka
- 2 parts Sugar
Heat the mixture in the microwave until smooth, there should be no grains of sugar visible in the heated mixture.
Clean and dry fruit. If you’re using fresh fruit, the firmer the better. (You can get the same look with fake fruit, if you want it to last)
With a disposable paintbrush, apply a thin, even coat of sugar glue solution. Let dry until tacky (about 15 minutes).
Press sheets of 24 caret gold leaf onto the fruit and roll over a clean cloth surface. Overlap sheets slightly, and remove any loose pieces.
Allow fruit to dry completely and arrange in a gold gilded glass bowl for a dramatic edible table decoration.
For links to all The Golden Harvest recipes and tips, click here!
MYO Ball Pit
Sourcing supplies:
Wading pool – 3 foot pool for $6
Play pit balls – 250 balls for $22
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