Browsing Tag

FOOD

ENTERTAINING, RECIPES

Easy Entertaining: A Cute DIY Bridal Shower Favor

Love Is Sweet Cookie Mix

As someone who has hosted a bridal shower, I understand how easy it is to overlook the shower favor. With so many details to stay on top of, who can blame the poor host?

If you’re looking for bridal shower favor inspiration, here’s a sweet idea. While a lot of people may not have time to embark upon a DIY bridal shower favor, I was super impressed with the “Love is Sweet” Cookie Mix my friends cleverly made for a recent shower. You see, the bride-to-be is known for her baked goods, so this was both sentimental and cute. Apparently, the ladies hosting the shower got together one evening and made the favors assembly line style, so it wasn’t too taxing. Once done, they added a cute label on the front, baking instructions on the back and a cute piece of fabric with a ribbon on top.

Here are a few recipes I found that look good for replicating this DIY Bridal Shower favor. As you’ll see, clever bloggers have adapted them for Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, and more!

A Christmas take from Celebrating Sweets, but you could easily swap for one or multi-colored M&Ms: https://celebratingsweets.com/mm-cookie-mix-in-a-jar/ 

Crafting Chicks have an oatmeal M&M cookie mix, with printable labels too! https://thecraftingchicks.com/oatmeal-mm-cookie-mix-jar-neighbor-gift/

The Real Coake Family have an Easter cookie jar version with M&Ms and sprinkles that would be so cute for a Bridal shower: https://www.realcoake.com/easter-mason-jar-cookie-recipe/

The Happier Homemaker has a Valentine’s Day version with M&Ms and a printable label: https://www.thehappierhomemaker.com/valentine-cookie-mix-in-a-jar-with-prin/ 

Simple and sweet, you could easily use this idea for a holiday, baby shower, bridal shower or hostess gift. Enjoy!

RECIPES

Home Cookin’: Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

Now that we’re having consistently cooler weather, I am craving homemade soup. I’ve never been a fan of brothy, chunky soups, but thick pureed soups are right up my alley. Featuring creamy butternut squash, broth, a mix of comforting spices and a hint of tart granny smith apple, this soup is incredibly easy to make. In addition to being delicious and flavorful, did I mention that it’s also healthy?

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EVENTS

Saturday, Dec. 10: Eat Boutique Holiday Local Market and SoWa Holiday Market

‘Tis the season for fun and festive events. Fresh off a lovely wedding in New Hampshire at a cozy venue complete with a roaring fire, 15 foot Christmas tree and rustic-chic holiday decorations galore, I’m ready to embrace the holiday season. Lucky for me (and you!), there are two great holiday themed local markets to enjoy this weekend: The Eat Boutique Holiday Local Market and SoWa Holiday Market.

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ENTERTAINING, RECIPES

Easy Entertaining: Cucumber Water

Cucumber Water

Life’s about simple pleasures, right? Whether you entertain a lot, or are looking for a new way to ‘spice’ up your daily H2O, I’ve got an idea for you: cucumber water. Inspired by my former roommate Gabi, adding a few thin cucumber slices to a pitcher or glass of water generates wonderful results. The water is not overwhelmingly cucumber flavored, the taste is more like an essence. Somewhat luxurious and spa-like, yet incredible simple, there’s a wow factor associated with cucumber water. Just ask my mom’s book club (hi mom!).

Have you ever tried cucumber water? If so, what did you think?

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RECIPES

Home Cookin’: Caribbean Succotash

Caribbean Succotash

The first hints of fall may be in the air, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready for the changing of the seasons. Inspired by a Jamaican recipe in Bon Appétit’s January 2011 issue, I recently whipped up a scrumptious vegan-friendly Caribbean Succotash. Made with a mix of fresh and frozen vegetables, including lima beans, carrots, zucchini, corn and cucumber, this dish is incredibly quick and easy to prepare.

Though the ingredients are fairly simple, what makes this dish extra special is the wonderful combination of fresh thyme, unsweetened coconut milk, cayenne pepper and nutmeg. Not sure about you, but I’m clearly not clever enough in the kitchen to dream up that recipe combination! I am, however, clever enough to test and share this recipe with my dear blog readers!

While I don’t want to post the recipe on my blog for copyright reasons, please view it here on Epicurious. I can, however, share a few tips that helped me prepare this recipe. I omitted the onion and red bell pepper due to heartburn issues (boo hoo). I also found it helpful to use frozen lima beans and corn, in addition to pre-shredded carrots from the grocery store to save time. I also opted for light, unsweetened coconut milk to lighten up the dish a bit. My last tip is to chop the cucumber and keep it in a separate tupperware container if you’re planning to enjoy warm leftovers of this dish, as I don’t like the idea of microwaving cucumber.

Tips and swaps aside, the end result was fantastic and I’m sure the original recipe is equally incredible. Creamy with a subtle sweetness from the light coconut milk, the hints of cayenne, nutmeg and fresh thyme really round this dish out. I also love dishes with a good amount of crunch to them and the coconut milk sauce does a nice job of dressing the veggies without rendering them mushy after a few days in the refrigerator. I’ll be making this recipe again the next time I need a tropical boost. Hear that old man winter?

Buon Appetito!

For more of my recipes, click here.