holiday party ideas

thanksgiving has come and gone, and now it's time for the happiest time of year - the christmas season! everyone by now has most likely either been invited to a party or has decided to host one of their own. i have gatehered a few ideas for holiday parties from themes to recipes for those of you who have decided to be hosts.

[themes]

- cookie exchange -
this is a great idea for a girls night in. gather all of your girlfriends to exchange cookies and cookie recipes. get crafty with the recipes and write them down on pretty scrapbook paper with colorful ink for all the attendees.

- handmade ornament exchange - 
tell your guests to come with handmade ornaments to exchange. as the hostess, be equipped with your favorite do it yourself ornament instructions and supplies. after exchanging ornaments, gather everyone around and let the crafting begin! they will go home with two new meaningful ornaments. (find ornament instructions here)

- mistletoe and martinis -
 deck the halls with mistletoe and the bar with martinis! have a few selections of holiday martinis and mistletoe around every corner!

[recipes]

[yummy mummy blog]

Sparkling Cranberry Brie Bites
 makes about 16 

Sugared Cranberries Ingredients

2 cups fresh cranberries 

1 cup good maple syrup

1 cup granulated sugar

Directions

Rinse cranberries and place in a medium bowl. Heat syrup in a small sauce pan just until warm. Pour over cranberries when syrup is warm, not hot, or cranberries may pop. Cool, cover, and let soak in the refrigerator overnight. 

Drain cranberries in a colander. Place sugar in a large bowl or baking dish. Add cranberries in 2 batches and roll around until lightly coated in sugar. Place on a baking sheet until dry, about 1 hour. 

16 crackers

8 oz Brie cheese

cranberry chutney or cranberry relish

fresh mint for garnish

Assemble crackers with one slice of brie, a light layer of cranberry chutney, and 4 or 5 sugared cranberries. Garnish with fresh mint sprigs. 

[better homes and gardens]

Prosciutto, Spinach, and Pasta Casserole

Ingredients
 

2 2/3 cups dried bow ties, penne, or ziti (8 ounces)

2 medium onions, cut into thin wedges, or 5 medium leeks, sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon butter or margarine

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon anise seeds, crushed

1 3/4 cups milk

1 1/2 cups chicken broth

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 10 ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and well drained

2 ounces prosciutto, cut into thin bite-size strips

1 medium tomato, seeded and chopped

directions

1. Cook pasta according to the package directions. Drain; rinse pasta with cold water. Drain again.

2. In a large saucepan cook onion and garlic, covered, in hot butter about 5 minutes or until onion is tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in flour and anise seeds. Add the milk and chicken broth all at once. Cook and stir until slightly thickened and bubbly. Stir in Parmesan cheese. Stir in the cooked pasta, spinach, and prosciutto. Spoon the mixture into a 2-quart casserole.

3. Bake, covered, in a 350 degrees F oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until heated through. Let stand about 5 minutes. To serve, stir gently and top with chopped tomato.

4. Makes 6 servings

[martha stewart]

sparkling pear and cranberry cocktail

ingredients

2 tablespoons dry cranberries
1/2 cup organic pear nectar
32 ounces Moscato d'Asti wine
8 small sprigs fresh rosemary

directions

Put cranberries in a small bowl; add 2 tablespoons warm water. Soak until cool, about 15 minutes. Drain, pat dry, and refrigerate until serving.

Divide pear nectar evenly among eight tall champagne glasses. Add cranberries, and then gently pour the Moscato d'Asti into the glasses. Garnish each with a rosemary sprig.

                     

rugs, rugs, rugs!

this morning while perusing lonny mag  an advertisement for ABC Carpet & Home caught my eye. they have a phenomenal website and an even better collection of rugs. the Aquasilk collection is so beautiful that i could cry and the pricetags don't help the matter. ranging in price from $1,000 to well over $12,000 i can only dream of owning one. my apartment is outfitted in a color scheme of green, purple, and turquoise which are all jewel tones found in these rugs. oh, if only!

they are eco friendly and handmade in india from recycled silk saris.

if you wanna dream a little dream with me head over to their website.

diy thanksgiving tables

thanksgiving is fast approaching and whether you are a guest or a host this year it's time to start gathering decor and recipes to make this a holiday to remember. with the table being the center of attention i thought it would be appropriate to post some beautiful tablescapes and centerpieces. 

[design sponge]

this beauty is courtesy of design sponge. if you're ready to get crafty and tackle a floral design project they have the tutorial to get you started. i love the movement that the pheasant feathers add to this gorgeous centerpiece.

[pinterest]

i love the idea of using a pumpkin as a vase for a floral arrangement. mums, berries, and beautiful branches pair together to make a colorful work of art for your table. use a piece of burlap as a table runner and scatter a few pommegranates around for a festive fall table.

[birch and bird]

the birch and bird blog has provided us with this lovely neutral tablescape. paint pumpkins of different sizes white and add some interesting white vases in various sizes to create a lovely neutral tablescape. pair with white table linens in various patterns to add interest and finish off the look.

[one charming party]

this is a great tablescape for the sentimental soul. i love the idea of mixing in family photos with fall pumpkins. use a candlestick, wine cork, and paperclip to create the perfect stand for your family photos.

tasty tuesday

good morning all! i have decided to add a new feature to my blog each tuesday where i will share a new recipe. hence the title 'tasty tuesday'. in addition to my affinity for fashion, interior design, and all things pretty has blossomed a love for cooking.

after tying the knot a little over two years ago i decided it was time to tackle the wifely duties and test the theory that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. it's at least partly true i have concluded. :] i have enjoyed experimenting in the kitchen over the past two years and look forward to sharing some of my favorite tried and true recipes from cocktails to crockpots.

[Coconut Lime Chicken with Chiles]

1 LB boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut in bite size cubes

3 cloves garlic, minced

1-2 tsp curry powder

1 - 14oz can regular coconut milk

1 - 4oz can diced green chiles

1 lime, zest and juice

1/4 cup green onion, chopped

2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. add the chicken and garlic and cook until golden brown on all sides. (about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.)

add the curry powder and cook, stirring for 1 minute. add the coconut milk, chiles, lime juice and zest, bring to a simmer. let simmer for 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. season with salt and pepper. remove from heat, stir in green onions and cilantro. serve over basmati rice.

[recipe courtesy of Meal Planning 101 Blog]

*note: i used light coconut milk in an effort to cut calories, and although it was delicious i suggest using regular coconut milk. i think it would make the sauce more rich and creamy.