perfectly aligned

perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Categories: Soups, Fish and Seafood, Veggies and Sides, Desserts, Dinner Party, Posted on March 1, 2012 by Sandy Bergsten
Sometimes things just come together. The right people. The perfect meal. The planets. This past Saturday was one of those cosmically aligned nights. At twilight our guests arrived and with drinks in hand we ventured out to see the crescent moon forming a perfect triangle with Venus and Jupiter. Easy to enjoy this stellar company because all of the
continue reading →

friendly fire

perfecting the “done before they arrive” dinner party- a work in progress
Categories: Appetizers, Soups, Meat, Desserts, Dinner Party, Wine Line, Posted on November 5, 2011 by Sandy Bergsten
Blue jeans, a roaring fire and just one other couple. Now that’s my kind of Friday night. After a flurry of business it’s great to be able to let down your hair and soak in your company. It’s also a perfect opportunity to do a test run on any key components for next week’s dinner for twelve.
continue reading →

rains it pours

perfecting the “done before they arrive” dinner party- a work in progress
Categories: Appetizers, Soups, Dinner Party, Posted on October 29, 2011 by Sandy Bergsten
Entertaining can be a bit like dating. One minute you’re happily adjusting to a short dry spell when suddenly you get hit with a deluge. The floodgates open here for the next eight days. Time to grab an umbrella and put the “done before they arrive” plan in high gear. This weekend we are invited to a dinner party at a bed and breakfast
continue reading →

work your instrument

what’s for dinner- cooking for two
Categories: Salads and Dressings, Soups, Veggies and Sides, Desserts, Dinner for Two, Posted on October 10, 2011 by Sandy Bergsten
The programmers for the Today show are a sly group. They purposely put a guilty pleasure hook to transfix their 7:30 AM viewers. Many a morning I’ve caught my cute hubby loitering in the kitchen catching the latest tidbit in the ongoing sagas of Charlie Sheen, Casey Anthony, Arnold Schwarzenegger…This morning the hook-du-jour was Michael Jackson’s
continue reading →

focus on the positive

perfecting the “done before the arrive” dinner party- a work in progress
Categories: Appetizers, Soups, Fish and Seafood, Veggies and Sides, Desserts, Dinner Party, Posted on September 30, 2011 by Sandy Bergsten
The other night we had some dear friends over for dinner that have some significant dietary restrictions. When I first surveyed the list Billy Preston’s “nothing from nothing” ran through my head. Then I spied this past Sunday’s New York Times Week in Review on the kitchen table. Mark Bittman’s lead article broke my abstraction
continue reading →

it’s getting chili

what’s for dinner- cooking for the fam
Categories: Soups, Dinner for Two, Supper, Posted on September 12, 2011 by Sandy Bergsten
Maybe it’s because the Wolverines trounced the Fighting Irish in the last two minutes in the Big House or perhaps it’s the snap in the weather but lately I’ve had a hankering for chili. Nothing says fall (or winter) like a steamy, meaty bowl.
continue reading →

accept with pleasure

perfecting the done before they arrive dinner party- a work in progress
Categories: Salads and Dressings, Soups, Breads, Pizza, Tarts, Dinner Party, Wine Line, Posted on July 10, 2011 by Sandy Bergsten
Many dinner guests ask if they can bring something. Don’t be shy- take them up on their kind offer. Consider your weak suit (or as I say to my consulting clients your “growth edge”). Personally I love when a guest brings dessert or an appetizer. With those bookends out of the way
continue reading →

big chill

perfecting the done before they arrive dinner party- a work in progress
Categories: Salads and Dressings, Soups, Dinner Party, Posted on July 9, 2011 by Sandy Bergsten
Tomorrow night is essentially a soup and salad supper with a few embellishments. One of the best things about serving gazpacho is that it really should be made in advance. It needs about a day in the frig for all the flavors to properly meld. Thank goodness for Trader Joe’s. They have so many components that allow you to compose a beautiful dish
continue reading →

setting the date

perfecting the done before they arrive dinner party- a work in progress
Categories: Salads and Dressings, Soups, Breads, Pizza, Tarts, Dinner Party, Eating Out, Posted on July 8, 2011 by Sandy Bergsten
Sometimes it’s easier to plan a spur of the moment party than trying to get one on the books weeks or months in advance. More often than not the busiest of folks can find a last minute opening in an otherwise over-scheduled calendar. Happily one of these synergetic moments is happening for us this Sunday night.
continue reading →

going to extremes

what’s for dinner- cooking for two
Categories: Salads and Dressings, Soups, Fish and Seafood, Dinner for Two, Posted on May 31, 2011 by Sandy Bergsten
What’s a girl to do? It’s nearly impossible to preplan a season menu given the way these temps are fluctuating. What was I thinking roasting a dinner last night? I literally melted in front of my 450 degree oven, the outside mercury reaching 98. Who would have guessed, given the morning walk called for mittens.
continue reading →

Page 5 of 6 pages ‹ First  < 3 4 5 6 >