National Moscato Day
May 9th is National Moscato Day! Established just last year by Gallo Family Vineyards, you can celebrate the second annual National Moscato Day this year by uncorking a bottle of moscato and/or making one of the drinks below using moscato! Moscato remains the fastest wine varietal in the U.S. for the third year in a row. It’s created from the Muscat grape and is known for being a sweeter wine, great for pairing with cheese, spicy dishes, and fruity desserts. Moscato is also great for celebrating Mother’s Day, which is on May 12 this year! There are different types of Moscato:
- White Moscato – peach, honey and ripe citrus flavors
- Pink Moscato – red berries and orange blossoms flavors
- Red Moscato – sweet citrus and peach flavors with a red berry finish
- Sparkling Moscato – sweet and bubbly with fruit flavors depending on the type
You can also make cocktails and/or punch with the different types of Moscato, depending on your preference. Click on the links below for recipes.
If you’re throwing a National Moscato Day Party, try some of these tips:
- Set up stations for each type of Moscato in order to let your guests try each one!
- Pair your Moscato with different types of cheese (like Brie, Camembert, aged Parmesan, and Pecorino Romano). Slit a wine cork and slide a card in to label each cheese, letting your guests know which type of cheese they’re eating.
- Moscato and spicy food are a great combination. Serve your moscato with paella – you won’t have to make multiple dishes and it’s a meal within itself.
- Freeze Moscato into ice cube trays for later use or for your party. You can pop them into sparkling water in order to make a quick spritzer!
The Frankenstorm
Tonight is Halloween and NYC is definitely a creepy place to be tonight in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy! Halloween has seriously been impacted by the hurricane, with the cancellation of the 39th Annual Village Halloween Parade and countless events and parties. Can really do much when 20% of NYC is without power and without public transportation.
I created The Frankenstorm cocktail, which only seemed fitting for the situation here an all along the eastern seaboard. It is a modified Hurricane Punch (of course) with a bloody dripping rim. Green in color with a frothy head, the Frankenstorm looks like many New Yorkers feel tonight.
Happy Halloween to all and Cheers!
Ingredients
1 oz. Ketel One Vodka
1 oz. Blue Curacao
2 oz. Orange Juice
2 oz. Pineapple Juice
For the Rim:
Karo syrup colored with red food coloring
(dip glass rims in syrup and turn right-side up an allow to drip down the sides)
Garnishes:
green maraschino cherries
orange wedges
Instructions:
Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and add all of the ingredients. Shake vigorously to froth the pineapple juice and strain into an ice filled highball glass rimmed with sugar blood. Serve with a green maraschino cherry and an orange wedge.
Summer Eco-taining Essentials
Memorial Day is THE party kick-off event of the summer entertaining season. Get the party started right with my Summer Entertaining Essentials for Summer entertaining on-the-go or on demand.
I will share my picks for this summer’s entertaining must-haves that will take you through every summer holiday and every day summer entertaining whenever they pop up. Also, I will ensure that you’ll be entertaining in style as he brings the latest fashions to your tabletop with his “colors of the season” entertaining décor tips… And throw away those paper plates, for good, because I have great tips on environmentally friendly, sustainable entertaining for your summer eco-taining arsenal.
https://vimeo.com/42851366
Setting the table for the perfect summer entertaining on-the-go or on demand is as simple as 1-2-3!
First, start with the perfect bag of party tricks! I believe that keeping all your Summer entertaining essentials in one convenient and easy accessible place is key. My go-to Summer tote is make of Land’s End canvas and is the perfect eco-friendly Summer carrying bag made by Lands’ End. It is water resistant with plenty of storage for all your essentials.
Beach towels do double duty as picnic blankets or tablecloths. Fun vintage inspired pattern help set the festive tone. This beach towel, provided by Lands’ End is the perfect Vintage pattern tying in the color palette from the entire table.
Second, throw away those paper plates, for good! and opt for Bamboo plates, silverware, and serving pieces. These items, made by Core Bamboo, are made from 100% organically grown bamboo. They are finished with natural oils to make them food safe and the lacquer comes from natural cashew trees. If and when you do throw them away, they are 100% biodegradable and compostable, leaving you guilt free!
Thirdly, bring the hottest fashion colors to your Summer party with re-usable and disposable napkins. MY DRAP tear-off napkins are the only 100% cotton napkins on a roll that come in a variety of colors and sizes that can be mixed and matched for a mega dose of fashion colors. Guests get the feel of cloth napkins in a disposable that are good for the environment, making you “look marvelous” (and feel marvelous too)! The best part about these napkins is they can be washed and reused up to six times!
The perfect compliment to the MY DRAP napkins is the Table Chameleon Napkin Rings, which I designed and produced and are the perfect summer entertaining essential! The Table Chameleon Napkin Rings are designed to bring a bit of character to your table in whatever way you please with a variety of colors and styles. Easy to use, the 3/4″ thick hand-cut acrylic rings are held together with magnets and feature inserts in four different designs – London, Ada, Saturn and Miami – in the colors, red blue, orange, and green. To switch out the inserts, there are four simple steps: slide, slip, snap and create! All you have to do is slide the pieces apart, slip in the insert, snap the two pieces together and create the look you want for your table! For more information or to purchase The Table Chameleon, go to my website!
To be the ULTIMATE Eco-tainer, make sure you party like a Local-vore!
A local-vore is a person dedicated to eating food grown and produced locally. There are a lot of reasons to eat locally grown and produced foods.
- Less resources (primarily fossil fuels) are expended packaging and easy transporting from Farm to Table.
- It supports the local economy – more money remains in our local community.
- It is healthier – processing and preservatives are less important since the food doesn’t have to travel so far.
- It is safer and thus local-vores are less susceptible to foodborn illnesses.
- It is more honest – honesty in terms of the food source and the growing/producing process.
- And last but not least – it tastes better!
Here are a few examples for shopping for like a local-vore that I incorporated into this segment by shopping right here in NYC:
Asparagus – NJ Native
Beef – PA Native
Mushrooms – NJ Native
Cheese – NY Native
Crab Cakes – NJ Native
Tomatoes – NJ Native
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Fall Leaves Tuiles Cookies
- 1 c all-purpose flour
- 1/2 c unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 2/3 c confectioners’ sugar
- 4 large egg whites, at room temperature
Sift flour into a mixing bowl, and set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium speed, until well-combined, about 2 minutes. Beat in egg whites, one at a time, beating for 4 minutes after each addition. Add the reserved flour, and mix until just combined.
Divide the batter in two, color ½ with yellow food coloring and the other with orange food color.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Cut stencils shaped like maple and oak leaves from plastic takeout lids. Place the stencils on a baking sheet lined with a nonstick baking mat. Form the cookies by dropping a ½ spoon of yellow and orange batter a thin layer of dough inside the open part of the stencil and spreading thin layer over the stencil.
After removing the stencils form, bake for 4 mins.
Quickly remove the cookies from the pan and using spatula, drape leaves over the egg carton to cool in to twisted shapes.
For links to all The Golden Harvest recipes and tips, click here!
“The Duel” — Recommended by Gomez Addams
Gomez Addams
Gomez is in love with his wife, Morticia and cannot resist the urge to sweep her up in his arms and kiss her anytime that he sees her. He loves to duel and is a master of the sultry tango, which he and Morticia practice nightly.
Cocktail:
The Duel
5oz Martini Glass Chilled
Ingredients:
3/4 oz Godiva Chocolate Liqueur
3/4 oz Godiva Chocolate Raspberry Vodka
1/4 oz Chambord
2 cocktail shakers
Fill a shaker with ice and pour in Godiva Chocolate Liqueur, shake until chilled. Strain the Godiva Chocolate Liqueur into the bottom of a chilled martini glass. Godiva Ligueur has a rich creamy flavor, that complements the chocolate essence of the light, delicious vodka. Fill the second shaker with ice and pour in the Godiva Chocolate Raspberry Vodka and Chambord, shake until chilled. To layer the cocktail, turn a spoon upside down and gently pour the Godiva Chocolate Raspberry Vodka over the first layer.
Food Paring:
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“The Black Rose” — Recommended by Morticia Addams
Morticia
Morticia, the beautiful wife of Gomez Addams and mother to Wednesday and Pugsley, enjoys spending her time in the garden, cutting the heads off her roses and leaving only the stems.
Cocktail:
The Black Rose
5 oz Champagne Flute
Ingredients:
1 oz Smirnoff Vodka
1 oz Pom Juice
½ oz Rose sherbet
Splash of Moet & Chandon Rose Imperial
Measure 1 oz of Smirnoff Vodka, 1 oz Pom Juice and ½ oz Rose sherbet into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake until the vodka and juice are blended. Strain the contents into a champagne glass and fill with Champagne on the top of the glass.
Food Paring:
Jack-O-Roons
Pumpkin flavored macaroons decorated with whimsical jack-o-lantern faces
Ingredients:
Payard Pumpkin Macaroons
Wilton Ready to Use Icing Tubes – Available in numerous colors
Purchase your favorite Pumpkin Macaroons from Payard or a local bakery. Using Ready to Use Icing Tubes from Wilton, decorate each macaroon with a whimsical jack-o-lantern face.
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“Pugsley’s Punch” — Recommended by Pugsley Addams
Pugsley
Pugsley is the younger brother of Wednesday Addams and son of Gomez and Morticia. Pugsley’s favorite past time is being tortured by his sister.
Cocktail:
Pugsley’s Punch
7 oz Punch Glass
Ingredients:
1 oz Apple Juice
1 oz Orange Juice
1 oz White Grape Juice
1 oz Pineapple Juice
1 oz Cranberry Juice
1 oz Sprite
Gummy Worms, Bugs, etc. for the ice cubes
Using an ice cube tray, place gummy worms and bugs into the compartments and then fill with water and place in the freezer until frozen. In a punch glass, filled with gummy ice cubes, combine even parts of each juice, top off with a splash of sprite.
Food Paring:
3 –D Creepy Cupcakes
Chocolate cupcakes with 3D candy eyeballs and skulls
Ingredients:
1 box Dark Chocolate Cake Mix
Eggs
Oil
Water
Dark Chocolate Frosting
Wilton Candy Melts – Available in numerous colors and flavors
Wilton Candy Molds – Skulls and Eyeballs
To Make Cupcakes: Follow the instructions on the back of the boxed Dark Chocolate cake mix, following the necessary steps to make the cupcakes. Once the cupcakes are baked and cooled, ice the cupcakes with the Dark Chocolate Frosting (you may use a decorating bag to frosten the cupcakes if that is easiest for you).
To Make Candy Skulls and Eyeballs: Melt chocolate in the microwave using the instructions on the packaging. Using the Wilton Candy Molds, fill each mold with the chocolate colors of your choice; refrigerate to harden. When hardened, slightly twist the tray to remove the chocolates.
Decorate each cupcake with the skulls and eyeballs and sprinkles.
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“Witch’s Brew” — Recommended by Grandma
Grandma
Grandma practices potions, spells, and hexes, but her craft has become a bit rusty with age. While not quite sure who’s mother she really is, the Addams Family treats her like one of their own.
Cocktail:
Witch’s Brew (warm)
Ingredients:
For spiced tea (serves 6):
4 cups Water
4 Whole Cloves
2 Cinnamon sticks
2 Whole All Spice
8 Juniper Berries
Pinch of ground Nutmeg
4 Lipton’s Tea bags
1 oz Pierre Ferrand Cognac (per serving)
Splash of Orange Juice
Coffee Beans (aka Beetle Beans)
Whipped Cream
To make the tea: In a saucepan, bring water, cloves, cinnamon sticks, all spice, juniper and nutmeg to a boil. Using a sieve, strain the boiling water into a glass pitcher and add four tea bags to the mixture.
To make the cocktail: Add 1 oz. brandy or cognac and 4 oz of tea to the snifter and garnish with a dollop of whipped cream and 3 coffee beans (aka beetle beans). Serve hot.
** To make non-alcoholic, omit brandy.
Food Paring:
Witch Fingers
Frightening candy fingers on pretzel sticks
Ingredients:
Pretzel Rods
Wilton Candy Melts – Available in numerous colors and flavors
Wilton Witch Finger Candy Molds
Melt chocolate in the microwave using the instructions on the packaging. Using the Wilton Candy Molds, fill each mold with a pretzel rod and the chocolate colors of your choice; refrigerate to harden. When hardened, slightly twist the tray to remove the Witch fingers.
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“The Vanilla Freeze” — Recommended by Lurch
Lurch
Lurch is the devoted family butler who does all the household chores except for the cooking. Lurch exists somewhere between the living and the dead, which is why it often takes him longer than most to get something done. He remains a faithful servant and companion to The Addams Family.
Cocktail:
The Vanilla Freeze
Ingredients:
½ cup vanilla ice cream
¾ oz Smirnoff Vanilla vodka
¾ oz Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur
Splash Orange Juice
Wilton Color Mist Food Color Spray – Green
To make the cocktail: Spray the goblet with the Wilton Color Mist Food Color Spray. Mix all the ingredients together in a blender on a low speed for 10-15 seconds. Spoon the mixture into a wine goblet.
** To make non-alcoholic, omit vodka and replace Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur with one packet of Land O’ Lakes or Ghirardelli white hot chocolate mix (1.5 oz).
Food Paring:
Spooky Candy Cookie Sandwiches
Halloween shaped sugar cookies with candy centers
Ingredients:
Ready to Bake Sugar Cookie Dough
Wilton Halloween Cookie Cutters
Wilton Candy Melts – Available in numerous colors and flavors
Non-Stick Cookie Sheet
Using a rolling pin and flour, roll out the sugar cookie dough to be approximately ¼ of an inch in thickness. Once the dough is rolled and flat, using the Wilton Halloween Cookie Cutters, cut the cookies and place them on a non-stick cookie sheet. Follow the baking instruction on the back of the packaging to ensure you are cooking them for the appropriate time and temperature. Once cookies are cooled, melt the desired Wilton Candy Melts and spread evenly on each cookie. Sandwich the melted candy with another cookie of the same shape. Decorate the cookie with the candy melts as desired.
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Orange Espresso Martini
Ingredients
- 1 shot of espresso
- 1 oz. Ketel One Orange vodka
- 1 orange peel
- ice
Directions
- Put the espresso, vodka, and ice into a shaker.
- Shake.
- Strain the mixture into a martini glass.
- Garnish the glass with an orange peel.
