Monday, 10 February 2014

Beef Tenderloin Steak with Duxelles & Morney Sauce + A Valentine menu!





Let's surprise your loved one with a romantic dinner at home! Creating a dinner that says, "I love you", with every tender fork full!

Is there anything more romantic than a Valentine's dinner at home? Here's your chance to show off your domestic skills, if only for a day, set a pretty table by the fireplace (if you have one), light the candles, pick the music you both like and plan a simple yet elegant dinner. Doesn't that sound good? A lovely dinner is more appreciated these days than any present you could ever give.  Let's start the plans together! 

Friday, 7 February 2014

Easy Dark Chocolate Creme Brulee!



Cupid Approved!

To me Valentine's Day is all about chocolate, roses, sexy clothes (or not:-) and Champagne! I can't think of anything better than this easy yet rich dessert to celebrate the day!

Wednesday, 5 February 2014

How to make Burlap place mats! Valentines or any day!




I love the rustic natural look of burlap, and it seemed to fit perfectly into our island paradise cottage look. So, before we left Seattle amongst lots of other Valentine projects for my Grandchildren I whipped up these beautiful place mats with matching cocktail coasters. You can embroider, stencil or paint a design onto the burlap. I love adding a personal touch to my table settings and you can easily do this!! Really!

Monday, 3 February 2014

Cucumber salad with caramelized shallots



This salad gets it's unmistakable sweet salty crunch from caramelized shallots, an addictive staple in Vietnamese salads.

Thursday, 30 January 2014

Superbowl wrap up!


NFL Superbowl XLVIII


The biggest Sunday in football is around the corner. If you want to score the MVP (most valuable party) award by serving up a killer menu just serve up some of these favorites!


Monday, 27 January 2014

Mini taco bites!! Superbowl!



Seahawks! Yes folks ...MY TEAM IS IN!!! I couldn't be more excited! IN fact my entire family seems to have gotten into the spirit! Everywhere I go in the Seattle area, I see flags, tee shirts and even houses decorated in the team spirit colors! Yes, WE ARE IN!


Pic 1-My 93 year old Mother holding her Great Grandson (just afew hours old) both in their Seahawk gear! Pic 2- Amy, my daughter in law in the hospital with a custom made hospital gown I made for her the day before and her newborn son, Cooper Owen. Pic 3- My brother Bob with his Great Nephew Cooper!
It's time to get serious! The big game is days away! We need a menu plan, we need recipes....Heck WE NEED A PARTY!!! We're closing in on Super Bowl XLVIII  and Sunday's big showdown between the Denver Broncos and my hometown team, Seattle Seahawks. This game calls for a party filled with plenty of great finger foods, some Cheddar Bay Biscuits and a slow cooker filled with White Chicken Chili. And to keep you away from bags of frozen hot wings and tubs of pre-made dips and salsas, I'm giving you some new recipes and a wrap up on Friday of old favorite's that are perfect dishes for your Super Bowl party fare!!

Thursday, 23 January 2014

Skinny Cheddar Biscuits!




Last week end was a huge football weekend for Seattle and I got caught up in the excitement with our local team, the Seahawk's, who as it turns out, are going to another Super Bowl!! Yahoo! We had one more hurdle ahead of us, the seemingly insurmountable San Francisco Forty-niners.