perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
I’m not sure about you, but with a houseful over the holidays breakfast can really throw me for a loop. It doesn’t matter how well prepared I am, it’s as if the clock moves double time. I never quite get it together, and then all of a sudden, my ho ho ho begins to slip into a mumbled bah humbug. I am always on the quest to turn the first holiday
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entertaining with style- making it work for you
So excited for my first Chicago party. My youngest, who is in business school at Northwestern, wanted to invite some of her classmates over to meet me and see the apartment before they took off for their summer internships. With my husband and I driving back across the country the week before, time was going to be too tight to pull off a proper
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Having loved ones return home is such a happy time. I love planning the dinners, stocking my freezer with hors d’oeuvres, and decorating my mantle. Each year my goal is to plan far enough ahead so that I can truly enjoy the holidays without getting stressed. But there’s one thing that tends to undo me- days of breakfasts for a crowd. Morning fare
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food detective
Best thing about Brooklyn? Hands down our grandson, and his equally amazing parents. Next, the views from the Brooklyn Bridge. Close third, 1 Hotel’s avocado toast. What tops a great dinner? A surprisingly delicious breakfast. 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge is an incredible waterfront oasis. The nighttime panorama from their rooftop bar is worth the
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food detective
Many of you will be reading this on June 13th, the day my bi-monthly email blast goes out and wonder what the heck is she doing making cheesecake when her daughter is getting married in three days! I assure you I didn’t wake up at 5 AM to make these little bites. I made them the week before. Experimenting in the kitchen is one of the ways I unwind
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food detective
I came of age at a time when it was considered chic to dine on quiche and crepes. There were entire restaurants devoted to this fare. I loved the savory creamed chicken crepes, the studded quiche with its flaky crust, and the crocks of cheese capped French onion soup. But just as jumpsuits and wide-collared shirts went out of fashion, quiche seemed
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food detective
This is probably the most incredible breakfast sandwich… ever. Best part you can make all the components a couple hours ahead of time, then it’s just a quick griddle until you plate it up. And while it’s uncommonly light and airy it’s actually pretty sturdy, so you can take this toasty on the road. If you feel the need to add a meat serve it on
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food detective
One of best parts of the holidays can be the ebb and flow of loved ones into your home… dinners crowded around the dining room table, sandwich fixings splayed across the kitchen counter for lunch, and then there’s breakfast. Let’s be honest- that first meal of the day be a real challenge. Almost every morning my Norwich terrier and I share an egg.
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food detective
As the countdown for the eclipse approached, I wondered how best to mark this extraordinary event. The moon was scheduled to block out the sun at 2:28 on Monday afternoon. Not the time I typically entertain. Then an idea came to me the night before just like a flash in the dark. With my Amazon procured ISO certified glasses in hand, I asked my
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food detective
I am completely smitten with these sweet potatoes. I could eat them every day. Truth be told, some days I do. The play between the puff inside verses the crunch outside is heavenly. Then to push it up a notch, these hot wedges get a drizzle of sriracha crème fraiche. Think sweet heat. You’ll be amazed how easy they are to make. Since sweet
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Wherever I find myself, I’m happiest with a full dining room table. As a former professional chef and caterer I want to share what I’ve learned over the past three decades of entertaining. On this site you’ll find tricks of the trade to help even the most harried of you pull off a seemingly seamless fête. Come join the conversation! read more →