menu please

perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Categories: Appetizers, Breads, Pizza, Tarts, Desserts, Dinner Party, Posted on June 6, 2014 by Sandy Bergsten
Well the last week was filled with activity. Monday night a dinner in honor of our visiting floral design presenters. Thursday morning a surprise birthday brunch at our house for my husband’s entire office. Saturday night- cocktails and a buffet for Dave’s actual 60th birthday. Three parties, three menus, three guest lists, three centerpieces...
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reboot

perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Categories: Grains and Pasta, Sauces and Such, Supper, Dinner Party, Posted on April 29, 2014 by Sandy Bergsten
There are times when your battery is so low it’s unable to hold a charge. Last week my husband and I headed west to our house in the desert. It wasn’t until the third day that I realized how utterly drained I’ve been. This long winter has had more than it’s share of loss. Each time I’ve attempted to apply myself to some project I’ve succeeded only
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sweet ending

perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Categories: Desserts, Dinner Party, Posted on April 5, 2014 by Sandy Bergsten
It is with a heavy heart that I report that my dear sweet mom left this earth the morning of March 28th. She was the epitome of grace and elegance. Everything she touched made the world more beautiful. My mother was a purist. Perfection seemed to be her norm. I was so very blessed to live and learn by her side. Everything I know about entertaining
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spring forward

perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Categories: Soups, Dinner Party, Posted on March 17, 2014 by Sandy Bergsten
It’s time we set our clocks an hour ahead in anticipation of spring. And while the weather may not be cooperating there’s no reason our entertaining menus can’t oblige. Last Monday I hosted a dinner to welcome our national judges for my garden club’s photography show “Through the Seasons”. Despite the fact the Weather Channel’s ten-day line up
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fresh start

perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Categories: Appetizers, Cocktail Party, Dinner Party, Posted on January 12, 2014 by Sandy Bergsten
My husband and I returned to Ohio on the eve of January 6th. We left 74-degree highs in the California desert for wind chills plunging past 38 below. It was a literal shock walking out of the airport. Thankfully we had someone picking us up. Can’t image the state of the cars left at the open lots of Dayton’s International Airport. The next day
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live on living dayton

perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Categories: Appetizers, Cocktail Party, Dinner Party, Posted on December 17, 2013 by Sandy Bergsten
Last week I taped my first cooking segment on television… live. The folks at Dorothy Lane Market asked me if in two days I would do a piece on holiday entertaining for Living Dayton. I said sure thinking they would be coming to the DLM Cooking School. As it turned out it was at their television studio. I took a deep breath, focused all my nervous
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my cup runneth over

perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Categories: Appetizers, Cocktail Party, Dinner Party, Posted on December 3, 2013 by Sandy Bergsten
Thankfully Thanksgiving was a smashing success. The “oven ready” turkey I pre-ordered from Jensen’s that came cleaned, brined, seasoned, already in a bag, and in a pan, was seriously one of the best birds any of us had ever eaten. Not only did my daughter’s cute beau make a trifecta of scratch pies- sweet potato, pecan and buttermilk, he
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fill’er up

something in a snap
Categories: Appetizers, Cocktail Party, Dinner Party, Sources, Posted on November 26, 2013 by Sandy Bergsten
Can’t believe Thanksgiving is just days away. I am so excited to have a full house in the desert. But with that full house brings a lot of opinions. I’m being holiday- shamed into cooking an authentic entirely by scratch multi-dished meal. Really. Must we… Obviously “we” (meaning me) must. While I was sulking and pushing my cart up and down the
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major coup

food detective
Categories: Salads and Dressings, Dinner for Two, Supper, Dinner Party, Lunch, Posted on November 5, 2013 by Sandy Bergsten
Nothing beats Saturday night supper for four. As fortune would have it my husband and I were invited for such a dinner last weekend. And to up the ante, not only were our host and hostess delightful friends but incredible cooks. Simmering bolognese greeted us we entered, letting us know we were in for a real treat. But what caught me by surprise
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côte à côte

food detective
Categories: Veggies and Sides, Supper, Dinner Party, Sources, Posted on October 28, 2013 by Sandy Bergsten
The other day I was pushing my cart down the frozen food aisle at Trader Joes when my eye spied the most adorable carrots. These frozen little gems looked just like teeny pumpkins in a frost. I had a flashback to my catering days in the 1970’s when turned vegetables (or tournage de legumes) were all the rage. If you’ve never turned a vegetable you
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