My Barbeque Must Haves

Rather late than never.... Barbecue season is upon us. I wanted to share some of my summer outdoor entertaining must haves.

Pottery Barn- Galvanized Metal Rivet Tiered Stand All your BBQ condiments, napkins, extra  utensils or just layers with flowers or cut up fruit. Makes a perfect centerpiece for any backyard event.

Red Envelope- Personalized BBQ Grill Set Don't get between a Man and his grill, this is a great gift for the Grill Master in your life or a hostess gift.

Frontgate-Super Chill Insulated Bowls Warm fruit salad? Nobody wants that or droopy green salad? This is a great way to keep your salad cool, fresh and crisp on those long outdoor summer evenings.

Pottery Barn-Monogrammed Outdoor Pillows Anything monogrammed, I'm one happy lady. But how beautiful are these outdoor pillows? Pile them on some outdoor patio furniture, will keep your guests comfy all night.

Target-Anchor Truefit 7Pc Bakeware Set I live and breathe by these. I marinade meat in them, then bring out to the BBQ for husband to put on the grill. Keeps everything compact, clean and neat with no spillage.  It's also great for oven to table baking, and for salads.

Horchow-Melamine Hot Dog Trays Platter hmm, I just had to put this in here. Cuteness alert. Individual hot dog plates.

Horchow-Striped Outdoor Tablecloth Teflon coated,  love the chic factor looks like fabric but teflon coated. just a quick wipe and your done, No more scrubing those tuff grease stains or mustard spots.

Hope your enjoying your Summer!

Blueberry Streusal Muffins

Some people are egg people, others are bagel with a shmear of cream cheese. Well besides the fact that I love the aforementioned, I ladies, and gents am a Blueberry Muffin Person. Its a type of person in a class of our own. You see there's something about a tall steaming cup of coffee sitting next to a jumbo blueberry muffin still slightly warm, with a crunchy streusal topping. 

Pause. Please allow me to clarify. Jumbo is simply not a word, but rather the main event. You need to take your time when you eat a blueberry muffin. its that sorta thing. A small average size just won't cut it.
A few weeks ago I sent some muffins over to a friend. Let's just say she joined the blueberry muffin team hope you will to.

Blueberry Streusal Muffins
1 1/2 cups  flour
3/4 cup white sugar
1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. baking powder

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 egg

1/3 cup milk

1 cup fresh blueberries (dusted with flour)

streusal

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 cup butter, cubed

1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400 degrees, line muffin pan with cupcake liners.               

Combine flour, sugar, salt and baking powder set aside.  Combine wet ingredients, oil, milk and egg . Mix this with flour mixture. Fold in blueberries. Fill muffin cups almost to the top. (I used an ice cream scoop to divide the batter evenly)

Struesal: Mix  sugar, flour,  butter, and cinnamon. Mix with fork, and sprinkle over muffins

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until done

Neutrals Tablescape For Small Table

A dear friend of mine called me this morning, asking for tips on setting a small table for the upcoming holiday. With the children's toys taking up much of the real estate in her once upon a time dining room, all she is left with is the kitchen table. On a tight budget, and with her husband's allergy to flowers in consideration this is what I came up with. She's all the way in Belgium, so I set my table for some inspiration with odds and ends from around my home.

What are some of your favorite color combinations when setting a table? 

Sources:

Table Linen & Place mats-Horchow

White China- Eastside China

Soup Bowls-Crate and Barrel

Faux Floral Wreath-Home Goods

Bird Urn-Home Goods

Stemware-Gift

Silverware- Reed & Barton

Garden Theme Tablescape

With all the baking and cooking underway, now it's up to my favorite part. Dressing the table, layers of colors, textures and of course the flowers!

Grass table runner-Local Greenhouse-Make sure you line the bottom of the grass runner with a plastic tablecloth, u don't want any grass stains or any mud on your table cloth.
Watering cans for vases-Target
Place setting flower pot containers-Target-filled it with plants from the local greenhouse, you can always plant in your garden or a window box afterwards. Also a great little gift for your guests to take home.
Place card holders-Target- originally garden markers, found it in the dollar section
Glasses-Crate and Barrel
China-Lenox Butterfly Meadow
Lanterns-Home Goods
Topiary-Home Goods

Apple Crumble with Almond Crunch

This past weekend I had a conversation with the 6 green apples starring at me on my kitchen counter. Yes, you heard right we had a conversation. There was no possible way they were all going to be eaten before they went bad. We discussed it, and decided they will fulfil their apple crumble destiny.

What I absolutely adore about this recipe it has many names, depending on what fruit I have on hand. Raspberry and peach, blueberry, strawberry rhubarb, cherry and my favorite pear. It can be dressed up any which way you want, you don't like almonds? then add some walnuts. Or if you ain't a nutty person, leave them out altogether. Regardless of the combination, its will be scrumptious either way.

I like to serve it warm out of the oven with vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel. Ahh! the simple pleasures.  Apple a day, keeps the doctor away...  make this dessert, nobody is staying away.

Apple Crumble with Almond Crunch
Crumble:
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped almonds
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup oil
1 egg , beaten
pinch of salt

Filling:
6 apples, peeled,cored and chopped
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
pinch of salt
3 tbsp. margarine
1 tbsp. cornstarch

Combine all ingredients to form crumble. Scoop 1-2 tbsp. on the bottom of each ramekin or press half the mixture on the bottom of a 9 inch pan. set aside.

In a saute pan melt margarine. Add remainder of ingredients until apples are soft and liquid is evaporated, about 15 minutes. Spoon apple filling over crumble mixture  and finish with remainder of crumble on top.

Bake at 350 degrees  for 30 minutes for ramekins or 45 minutes for 9 inch pan.

Three Cheese Spinach Lasagna Pinwheels

Where to begin? To tell you all about my love for spinach?  Rather how about confess that I ate the whole plate?  Decisions, decisions what's a girl to do.

Let's state some facts. Shavous is  a few days away.

Don't have patience to hang out in the kitchen all day, when the weather outside is gorgeous?

Want a delicious, satisfying dish that's simple to prepare?

Last but not least, Ingredients you probably have at home and you can whip this up anytime, and freeze for later use. Now calm down, The recipe is coming, I know you want it.

Three Cheese Spinach Lasagna Pinwheels
1 box lasagna noodles
1 15oz. container ricotta cheese
3 eggs, beaten
1 32 oz. bag frozen chopped spinach, thawed and thoroughly drained
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. onion powder
dash of black pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
1 jar favorite marinara sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese. for topping

Cook lasagna noodles in a large pot of boiling water with 1 tbsp. salt for 8-10 minutes. Rinse under cold water and set aside.

To prepare filling. Combine defrosted spinach,eggs, ricotta, parmesan and spices mix well.

Lay out each lasagna strip place a few tablespoons of spinach cheese mixture and roll up. (Make sure to keep edges clean for a beautiful presentation). Follow with remaining lasagna noodles. Pour some marinara sauce on the bottom of your baking dish. Add each lasagna roll up on top of marinara sauce and make sure pasta fits snugly in the pan. Finish with remaining marinara sauce and sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top.

Bake at 350 degrees covered for 20 minutes. then uncover and bake additional 10 minutes.

Chocolate Hazelnut Cheesecake Truffles

Day #2 of Cheesecake Truffle Madness, here we go!

This truffle has a combination of white and milk chocolate. I know like one ain't enough? Please don't forget the sweet delicate cream cheese filling, and the crunchy hazelnuts. Play around with the combinations, another one of my favorites is adding some creamy peanut butter instead of the white chocolate in the filling. Finishing it off with some salted peanuts on the chocolate shell.

What is your favorite truffle combination?

Chocolate Hazelnut Cheesecake Truffles
12 oz. Cream Cheese
6 oz. white chocolate, melted
2 tbsp. heavy cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3/4 cup powdered sugar

Garnish
chopped toasted hazelnuts
Milk chocolate, melted

Combine in mixing bowl cream cheese, vanilla extract and powdered sugar; mix until creamy and smooth. Add heavy cream to melted white chocolate mixture and add to cheese mixture. Place mixture in the freezer for 5-6 hours or overnight to harden.

Prepare a parchment lined baking sheet set aside.

Using a small ice cream scoop or melon baller, scoop mixture and place on parchment lined baking sheet. To smooth out the truffles dampen your wands with a drop of water and smooth out any rough edges. Place back in the freezer for a few hours or overnight.

Dip each truffle into melted milk chocolate, then add some chopped hazelnuts. Store in refrigerator in air tight container until ready to serve.