Prep Work

In honor of Sawyer’s birthday today, I’m blogging his favorite thing… Mommy’s Guacamole!! It’s not necessarily authentic, but it is de-lish and I’ve received many a compliment over the years when friends come over for taco night.

What You’ll Need

3 Lrg Ripe Avocados

2 Tbls of Sour Cream (I use Lite)

2 Tomatoes (diced)

Lemon Juice (1/2 a lemon)

Garlic Salt (yep, we Okies put it in everything) – to taste

Chili Powder (the Secret ingredient) – to taste

Score!

Slice Avocados in half and remove the seed. Use a knife to score a diamond pattern into the avocado and scoop it into your bowl. FLASHBACK: When I was 16 I worked my way through Junior year at a deli and my boss was OBSESSED with not throwing a way even a speck of avocado because they’re so expensive. Thus, I became really good and scraping out every last morsel. Thus the avocado spread at that deli became known as “Avocado Gold” because it was so sacred.

Get to Mashin'

Use a fork to mash up all the avocado pieces. Add in sour cream, lemon juice, and tomatoes and blend well. Add in garlic salt and chili powder to taste, blend well. *PS – If you’re making this in advance, leave an avocado seed in the guacamole (at the bottom of the bowl) and it will keep the guacamole from browning.

Drinking Corona actually make you a better cook!

Here are a handful of whites that i love and keep in the wine fridge. None of them are too expensive, and all of them will make you happy.

Santa Margarita - Pinot Grigio

Santa Margarita is an old favorite, it’s a bit crisp and a bit dry for a Grigio.

Chateau St Michelle Chardonnay

This Chardonnay has a slightly oaky flavor but not too harsh (I HATE a really Oaky Chard) and it’s one that Dave loves too!!

Firestone Riesling

You know how you go to a wine tasting and snoots all around are waxing poetic about bouquets and floral notes and chocolatey bases? This Riesling is so light and delicate you really can taste the peaches, the strawberries, the fruity finish. You’ll feel so cultured and fancy as your shout out the flavors. It’s a bit sweet, but so lovely.

Sit Here

Whenever you’re having a dinner party, I highly recommend you take 30 minutes out of your planning and create a little something extra for the table. We were having a get together recently with a little Asian flair so I pulled 6 of these together for the spread. I printed the menus in red ink and used a stamp to create the fillagree on the corners and the name card.

The menu was tucked inside the napkin on top of the plate and just above that was the place card. It was simple, but it really did at a pop of color to an otherwise basic table.

What's For Dinner

Cutie Super Heros!!

Yesterday we celebrated my baby’s 2nd birthday (I can’t believe how quickly two years have gone by) with a Super Hero themed party. It was a ton of work (I’ve never had so many kids in my house before) but everyone looked adorable in their homemade super hero costumes, and I was happy that Sawyer’s party was big and happy just like his personality!

Here’s what we ate!!

Ka-Boom Cobb Salad

Charged Up Chicken Strips

I served the salad de-constructed (if you will) so it was easier for guests to choose just the toppings they like. It was accompanied my homemade buttermilk ranch dressing and homemade balsamic vinaigrette . The chicken strips were a huge hit because they were crunchy (even though they’re baked) and the little ones loved them! You can find the recipe here.

Mighty Meatloaf Sliders

Pigs n' a Cape

I opted for Meatloaf sliders instead of regular ones because A: I REALLY love meatloaf and B: It was more interesting. These were SO good!! The pigs n’ a cape (my superhero slant on pigs n’ a blanket) were gone before I could even try one myself. I guess they were good. ; )

SuperHero Cupcakes!

Dessert Table

"Supermom" enjoys a LARGE glass of Wine

Ready to Serve

My mom has been making this salsa for years. It’s the perfect topping for tacos, or if you’re from Bakersfield like I am, also the perfect topping for Tri-Tip. It only has a few ingredients, and is the simplest thing in the world, but guest still inevitably look at me like I’ve walked on water whenever I produce this… as if making fresh salsa is beyond the realm of possibility for someone outside a Spanish speaking country.

Colorful Collection

Here’s what you’ll need…

3 Fresh Tomatoes – Diced

1 Bunch of Cilantro – Clean and remove stems, chop the remaining leaves

1 White Onion – Diced

1 Jalepeno – remove seeds and finely dice

1 Lemon

Salt (I prefer garlic salt, but that’s because I’m an Okie)

Mix together tomato, onion, cilantro and jalepeno. Squeeze lemon juice out on top of the salsa (if you have white vinegar a splash will help to bring out the flavors of the veggies). Add salt to taste and mix together. You can serve this immediately but you’ll flavors will more pronounced if you give it an hour in the fridge first.

My Main Squeeze

Can You Salsa?

Baked Chicken Strips

This week is a mad dash to finalize all the details of Sawyer’s 2nd Super Hero themed birthday party on Sunday… mad dash because I have “real” client’s events to produce and am trying my best to squeeze in my own personal event into the mayhem.Food is always a key ingredient at any of my parties and I’ve been trying to dream up some fun recipes that will please Superheros ages 6 months to 85 years old!!

This recipe came to me out of necessity. My father is the KING of Costco and buying food in bulk, and so he brings giant boxes of Honey Bunches of Oats (Dave’s favorite cereal) every time he visits us… needless to say, we’ve got Bunches coming out the wazoo! When I decided to do a baked chicken strip, I dreamed up this creative coating. It’s salty, it’s sweet, it’s got almonds… but most of all it’s got a good crunch without having to fry it in oil. It sounds crazy, but I swear, it’s really good!!

Ingredients

Boneless skinless chicken tenderloins (or breasts cut into strips)

One large egg

2 Cups of Honey Bunches of Oats Cereal (with almonds)

Salt and Pepper

Directions - Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Season Chicken with salt and pepper, put to the side. Pour cereal into a ziploc bag and crush using a wooden spoon (this is a fun job for little ones). Pour cereal onto a paper plate. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg until yolk and white are blended. Now dredge the chicken one my one, in the egg mixture. Shake off excess egg and place chicken into crushed cereal coating both sides. Place coated chicken on a foil lined baking sheet (use a little cooking spray so it doesn’t stick) or a Silpat sheet. Cook for about 15 – 20 minutes or until chicken is white all the way through. Serve with bbq sauce!

Up Close and Crunchy

Before

I received an unexpected call a few weeks ago. A client I hadn’t heard from in 5 years called and asked me to pull together an event for her daughter’s birthday. 5 years ago we had worked together to pull off a fantastic Bat Mitzvah and now that little girl had grown up and is headed off the college and this would be her birthday and her going away party. I was truly touched. It’s so neat to have gone full circle with this family and to have seen the beautiful woman that little girl turned in to.

As it happens, that “little” girl is headed off to NYU this week so the school’s signature deep purple was the inspiration for our event. Since Hydrangeas are in season and so rich in color right now that became the base for my centerpieces. You’ll also spy tart green roses, purple stock and green apples (as in, the BIG apple). They floral really came out beautifully and was the perfect pop of color for the backyard celebration. I just had to share befores and afters and maybe inspire your next purple themed party!

After

Fresh and Easy

I knew that this type of salad existed, I mean, I’ve seen it at the occasional fiesta-ish buffet but it never occurred to me to make it myself. Though, as you well know, corn is in season, and the going rate is 6 ears for $1 at the local grocer… are you kidding me?? Fresh, in-season, and super cheap… I can’t help it, I keep buying it by the truckload. Which means, I have to keep dreaming up new ways to prepare it, and thus: fresh corn salad made it’s way into our kitchen.

What You'll Need

First I took my three ears of corn and cleaned them up. Then I used a sharp knife to cut the kernels off.

Cutting the Kernels

In Action

Now I mixed the fresh corn kernels with one can of black beans (wash the beans thoroughly so the bean juice doesn’t kill the flavor of your salad). Add one red bell pepper thats been diced and season with the juice of half a lemon and salt to taste. Mix it together and serve. No cooking, no stove, no grill, just you a knife and a few fresh veggies and you’re ready to shake things up in the corn department! Ole!

Fiesta Forever!

Bit o' Honey

Oh yes, you read that title correctly… this is in fact one of the most decadent, yet simple appetizers I have in my arsenal. Simply toast a sliced baguette, top with fresh goat cheese and candied walnuts then drizzle with truffle honey. The crunch of the baguette paired with the tang of the goat cheese and the rich earthy flavor of the truffle will blow your mind!

Don’t have truffle honey? Don’t know what it is or where to find it?? Luckily for you it’s one of the best sellers at the Chic Boutique. Click right HERE and buy your own jar for $36. What’s that you say? $36??? For honey?? YES, it’s got truffles in it which are running about $40 an ounce these days, so call it an investment in taste (pun intended) and buy two!!

How Charming!

If you’re like me, then you have a random collection of buttons that grows in size and assortment with each following year. This is a great use for all those buttons, and as per usual, it would make a thoughtful hostess gift OR is something you can use to brighten up your drinking accessories!

Button Wine Charms

What’s a wine charm you ask?? Well it’s a little bracelet your wine glass wears so you know which merlot or pinot belongs to which drinker.  These are so simple to make, even YOU can handle it!

Buttons and Things

What You’ll Need…

Assorted buttons and wire circle thingy-ma-bobbers (find in the jewelry department of your local craft store).

Line 'em Up

Simply string the buttons on to your wire (I color coordinated mine but you could use any combination) and when it’s full use pliers (or even tweezers will work, the wire is really light weight) to bend back the end a bit so the buttons cant escape!! Now simply attach to your wine stem and get to drinking!!

Bar Noir

The Red and The Black