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Is champagne ubiquitous for New Year’s just because it’s bubbly and festive? I hadn’t really thought of it before, but it must be, right? I love a good glass of champagne but I didn't know that until I actually ever had a glass of Dom Perignon. I was 22 so it’s not like I had to wait forever to get a decent glass of bubbles. Before that I’d had a glass of Cooks. Ok, possibly a bottle. But even typing that right now gave me a headache. Good champagne makes the world of difference.

Good champagne is really remarkable. Like life changing. Good champagne is so worth the money. Just don’t waste it on people who don’t like it. And don’t mix the good stuff. If you’re going to make it into a cocktail, then buy prosecco - same flavor profile, similar taste, not all of the sugar of cheap champagne, and WAY cheaper.

CHAMPAGNE RISOTTO

serves 4

1 shallot, chopped

1 clove garlic, chopped

½ cup butter, divided

¼ lb chanterelle mushrooms

2 tbs olive oil

2 cup Arborio rice

2 cup champagne

4 cups room temperature seafood stock

½ cup parmesan cheese

salt and pepper

8 large sea scallops

STEP 1

In a medium saucepan, heat 2 tbs butter & 2 tbs olive oil. Cook mushrooms over medium heat until tender.  Remove from the pan and set aside. (5 mins)

STEP 2

In the same pan, melt another 2 tbs olive oil with 2 tbs butter.  Cook shallot and garlic until softened (4 mins)

STEP 3

Stir Arborio rice into the pan and stir until all of the kernels are coated in oil.

STEP 4

Pour in one cup of champagne and stir constantly to deglaze the bottom of the pan.  When most of the champagne has evaporated, add the second cup and stir until that liquid has evaporated.

STEP 5

Pour in one cup of stock and stir until completely incorporated. When most of the stock has dissolved, add another cup of stock.  Continue until all of the stock has been added.  Season to taste with salt and pepper.

STEP 6

Remove from heat and stir in mushrooms, remaining butter and parmesan cheese.  

STEP 7

Bring a dry skillet to high heat.  Pat the scallops dry and season with salt and pepper.  Melt 2 tbs butter in the pan and place the scallops into the melted butter.  

Cook 1-2 minutes until browned.  Flip and cook 2 minutes on the other side.  Scallops are properly cooked when slightly firm to the touch.  

Can you tell I’m feeling nostalgic for our own house? Soon we’ll have a great new house that will be amazing - especially at Christmas - but until then, I’m posting these darling photos from our old house and how cute we were.

Our original house was a 1940’s with a few “mid century” architectural details. I leaned into the vibe and hosted a little family cocktail party with champagne cocktails and a really delicious fondue. Even without a mid century home, you can still host a fun little cocktail party with mid century vibes.

RASPBERRY CHAMPAGNE

1 scoop raspberry sorbet (about one ounce)

1 tablespoon chambord

champagne

raspberries

In each glass, pop a scoop of sorbet and a tablespoon of chambord. Top with champagne until full. Drop a raspberry in each glass.

THE BEST FONDUE

The trick with this fondue is that you need to keep it warm. It will set up if you let it get cold as we’re basically just dealing with warmed cheese.

8 ounces shredded gruyere cheese

8 ounces shredded swiss cheese

2 tablespoons flour

1 cup white wine

1 teaspoon brandy

1 teaspoon lemon juice

2 cloves garlic

Toss shredded cheeses with flour until totally combined.

In a large pot, bring wine, lemon juice, and whole garlic cloves to a low boil. Slowly add the cheese, whisking the entire time. Continue whisking until smooth. Stir in brandy and transfer to a fondue pot. Serve with sliced bread, cooked red potatoes, and honey crisp apple slices.

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Every year my mom hosts a little brunch/ coffee hour for her friends at Christmas. For years I rolled my eyes every time she tried to get my friends to come to the party too. I mean really? My cool friends - or worst, people I wasn’t 100% sure were friends - to come rub shoulders with some of her weird old birds?

But then last year my friends were there - my actual friends - and they liked some of her weird old birds. We had coffee and cookies and chatted and it was actually fun. So I decided you should all host one too. Brew some coffee. Invite every weird friend you know and celebrate the season together. It’s totally worth it.

Here’s how to pull it off:

1. Send your friends an email or write a note at least one week ahead of when you think you’re planning the party.

2. Aim for a weekday at 10am if most of your friends are at home during the day. A Sunday at noon is usually best if they are at work during the day.

3. Buy or make at least three kinds of cookies. A small variety in large quantity makes the biggest impact.

4. Brew a pot of coffee, a big one. And bring out the good china mugs to serve it in.

5. Prep everything the night before - like platters for the cookies, mugs, napkins - then just set out the cookies in the morning!

PEPPERMINT MARSHMALLOWS

Yes, these take a bit of time but it is so worth it. Homemade marshmallows are nothing like store bought. These are so much better. And nothing is better in hot cocoa than a peppermint marshmallow. Unless of course that’s peppermint schnapps. And the marshmallow on top.

4 packets unflavored gelatin

3 cups sugar

1 ½ cups water

1 cup light corn syrup

1 teaspoon peppermint extract

½ cup crushed candy canes or other peppermint candies

Powdered sugar

Butter the bottom of an 11x17 sheet pan and top with parchment paper.  Butter parchment paper and dust with powdered sugar.  

In a stand mixer, combine gelatin and ¾ cup water.  Let stand.

In a medium sauce pan with a heavy bottom combine sugar, remaining water, corn syrup, and salt. Slowly bring to a boil over medium heat. Continue to cook until mixture reaches the soft ball stage on a candy thermometer (about 240 degrees).  

Turn on stand mixer and pour in sugar mixture in a slow steady stream.  Leave mixer running on high speed for 15 minutes until mixture is light and fluffy.

Blend extract into marshmallow mixture and pour marshmallow onto prepared pan and smooth out to the corners. Evenly coat the top with crushed candy canes and dust with powdered sugar.  Let sit uncovered for 12 hours.  

Turn out onto a cutting board dusted with powdered sugar.  Butter and dust a knife with powdered sugar.  Cut marshmallows into 2” squares and dip each cut edge into powdered sugar.  Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.  

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The turkey may be the main event but that's no reason why the sides can't be fun too.  What's your favorite side dish?

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Years ago I hosted a pumpkin patch party at my in-law’s farm house. Everyone had tiny babies and they rolled around in the pumpkin patch and ate cookies. It was so darling. When I was looking back on some old photos I decided these were too darling not to share. Especially that little face of Lars?! Are you kidding me?

This party is also timeless. These babies can be tiny and eating sugar cookies or ten years old and let them carve pumpkins on their own. You can host this anytime and all of the kids will love it. Serve some spiked punch and the adults will love it too.

5 tips for a dessert bar

1. Create a backdrop. It makes everything look more professional & like you planned it. I used an old Pendelton blanket (I have a collection) but you can use almost anything.

2. Make your favorite desserts that you have tried a million times and you know they work.

3. Fill in with store bought favorites. I adore Trophy Cupcakes and can’t think of a reason why I’d make my own when Trophy is done and delicious.

4. Napkins! Plenty of napkins.

5. Have something that’s “non-dessert” like a bowl of apples or cheese sticks or something that can take down the sugar high.

When I was a kid Halloween was the best time of the year. We lived in a neighborhood that had very few children, but lots of adults who were happy to buy loads of candy. We scored. Every year my dad and the dad next door would take all of us out around the neighborhood. Living in Seattle meant that there were many years where it rained. When that happened, we all piled in the back of my dad’s Ford Explorer with the hatch open (it was the 90’s after all) and he’d drive us from house to house.

Halloween smelled like rain and leaves and whiskey (as a kid I didn't recognize the smell, but as an adult I’ve figured out what was in those flasks.)

As a kid, Halloween is full of magic and fun. The years between being a kid and having a kid are a little more ambiguous. There were parties and fancy dinners but the magic just wasn’t the same. If you’re lucky enough to have little ones around this Halloween, take advantage of it. Host a party, make a big batch of chili and revel in the magic and fun of youth.

Transform styrofoam balls with hot glue and candy corn. These last for years.

HALLOWEEN CHILI

serve 8

STEP 1

In a small bowl blend together cornmeal, sugar, cumin, salt, pepper, and chili powder.  In a warm pan cook spice blend with two tablespoons olive oil until aromatic (just a minute or two).  

STEP 2

Add onions and butter to pan and cook over medium heat until translucent. Add sausage and stew meat and cook, turning often, until browned. 

STEP 3

When sausage is completely cooked and stew meat cubes are browned on all sides, pour in 1 cup beef broth to deglaze the bottom of the pan.  Add the second cup if needed to retain some liquid in the pan.  

STEP 4

Pour in tomatoes, beer, beans, and bay leaf and bring to a boil stirring occasionally.  Reduce heat to low and simmer about 3 hours stirring occasionally to prevent sticking until stew meat is tender and flaky.

STEP 5

When ready to serve, break up stew meat chunks with a fork and season with salt and pepper if needed. Serve with cheese, sour cream, and fresh chopped onions.  

1 medium onion

3 cloves garlic

2 tablespoons butter

1-2 cups beef broth

1 pound sausage

2 pounds beef stew meat

2 bay leaves

12 ounces Pale Ale

1 - 8 oz. can garbanzo beans

1 - 8 oz. can kidney beans

1 - 8 oz. can pinto beans

2 - 9 oz cans tomato sauce

3 tablespoons cornmeal

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon cumin

¼ cup chili powder

½ tablespoon salt

½ tablespoon pepper

olive oil

Here’s how to pull off the perfect Family Halloween Party

1. Make a giant batch of chili. More people show up? No problem, add more beans & more stock.

2. Make or buy loads of cookies and treats. Not totally for the kids - but for the parents to snack on so they don’t dig into their kids bags (yet).

3. Cocktails! Set up a simple bar with gin, vodka, tonic, and soda water. A few bottles of red wine & beer will round out the bar.

4. Weeknight Family Halloween parties tend to wrap up around 8pm. Let friends know ahead of time that you’re putting your kids to bed at a certain time.

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Any reason at all to celebrate anything at all is a win in my book.  Halloween is right at the top of that list because it can be SO QUIRKY!  And quirky is the best way to celebrate anything.  I put together a quirky little Halloween that is so simple you can pull it off with almost no lead time.  Especially those rats!  Keep scrolling for a cocktail that does have to sit overnight (jell-o) but is ridiculously good (stick to one of those!) and a step-by-step of the rats that are really easy and really fun.

Here's why this is the coolest cocktail; the jell-o shot melts as it sits in the martini delivering, not only a 1-2 punch, but also a spooky 'bleeding' effect.  You can always skip the martini part and just serve jell-o shots (yum).  I make loads of jell-o shots so take my advice: 

1. Do not use cheap vodka.  You will notice.  Everyone will notice.  If the bottle is on the bottom shelf, then leave it there.  

2. Let sit overnight.  Do not rush these.  It won't set up as well and they get sloppy and weird.

3. Don't try to add more vodka.  There's plenty.  Remember this is still science and you need the right balance for these to set up. 

You know that when you've totally creeped out a three year old that you've done your job.  And when you can do it for about $5 at the dollar store - BAM!  You feel like a freaking genius.  The trick with these rats is to cut all the way through so the candle can touch the table.  When it does that, it gives it a more stable resting place than if it is attempting to balance somewhere inside the plastic rat.  

I hope you have a fabulous Halloween!  Let me know how you're celebrating and follow me on Instagram for all of the goods I'm serving up this year!

My birthday party continues!  There is no birthday party with out a cocktail.  At least at my house.  A cocktail makes the whole night sing.  My signature birthday cake is a Black Forest Cake and I was dying to figure out how to get those flavors into a cocktail.  So I did it.  

Happy Summer!  Are you celebrating something?  You should be, there's lots to celebrate.  Celebrate the kids who have graduated from school; celebrate the parents who made it through another school year; celebrate the baseball teams/soccer teams/volleyball teams that had a great season.  

You did it!  

We made it to another summer.  

To celebrate, I leaned into the pineapple trend that everyone is loving and turned it into an edible trend.  If pineapples are cute, then eating them has to be freaking adorable.  Right?  I made a simple little menu with teriyaki chicken burgers that can cook on the grill while everyone sips delicious coconut pineapple cocktails that can be spiked or un-spiked for the younger celebrators.  

TERIYAKI CHICKEN BURGER

serves 4

STEP 1

In a microwave safe bowl, combine soy, pineapple juice, ginger, garlic, and sugar.  Set aside.  If you’re making rice, start it now. 

STEP 2

Pour half of the pineapple mixture over the chicken.  Let rest 5 minutes, but no longer or the pineapple with begin to ‘cook’ the chicken.

STEP 3

Grill chicken about 3 minutes on each side until cooked through.  

STEP 4

Whisk cornstarch in the pineapple mixture and microwave at one-minute increments whisking between each minute.  Continue until slightly thick.  

STEP 5

Whisk together mayonnaise and sriracha.  Spread mixture on one side of the Hawaiian buns.

STEP 6

Layer chicken, pineapple, and lettuce on top of each burger.  Serve with rice.

4 chicken breasts, sliced into cutlets

1 can sliced pineapple rings

¼ cup soy sauce

Pineapple juice from the can

1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger

1 clove garlic

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 tbs corn starch

8 Hawaiian hamburger buns

¼ cup mayonnaise

1 tbs. sriracha

Iceberg lettuce

PINA COLADA SPARKLERS

In a tall glass scoop two to three scoops of coconut sorbet.  Top with Pineapple Dry Sparkling until the glass is full.  Float 2 oz. of dark rum on top for the adults in the group.

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