Monday, September 29, 2014

The leaves are starting to change. Last Saturday night I was delighted to share a great meal in Charlotte with friends. We dined out as the weather was cool enough. Fall, I was excited to see Mother Nature appear in her most beautiful finery. Scarlet, crimson, gold, and pea green fill our heart with memories of childhood trick or treating, visits to the fair, and Thanksgiving with our beloved grandparents. I get excited by fall. It is fun and it gives us a time to slow down before the holiday rush...well, one might think.

We all know about Spring cleaning, but it is just as important to have a great session of Fall cleaning. I know, it is exhausting, but this will help prepare you for the upcoming holiday rush. What should you do? Follow these quick tips to get you set.

1. Straighten up your kitchen cabinets. This may seem simple or if you're like me, it can be arduous; however, it is well worth the work. Get rid of mismatched pots and lids, assess your bakeware, and tidy up your organization. As turkey time approaches, this clean up can only help you get ready for a festive and enjoyable holiday season. Make sure you inventory staples for that Thanksgiving meal...you never want to find you have no vanilla extract when preparing that sweet potato casserole.
2. Double check the linen situation. Once again this goes back to the holiday season, be prepared for company and overnight guest. During the season, you never know when one of your siblings may stay for a weekend, friends may stop by from out of town, or you could become the family's Marriott. Either way, making sure you have fresh towels is important. Equally important is the bedding. Make sure fluffy hasn't nibbled on the sheets or pillow cases. Change out the linens on unused beds. Finally, how are you for placemates and tableclothes? These exciting pieces are an important part of any holiday look and should not be ignored. If you are currently without table linens, begin your collection at a local antique store. Nothing adds dignity to your dining table like fine linens and cloth napkins!
3. Deep Dustin'.... This is a must. During the summer you brought a ton of material in from the lawn. Exciting, huh? As if that was not enough, your pets have gone through a shedding cycle, you brought some delightful mud in from a trip to the mailbox in the rain. All of the material has gone airborn and has been landing in great places. Hit all the important spots as you dust, table tops are just the beginning. Don't forget to check the legs and sides of furniture, lower side of furniture detailing ( spiders love to build webs on these), and picture frames and light fixtures.

You can continue to clean in your normal way, but just remember these tips before the Wednesday before turkey day!

Monday, August 11, 2014

FOOTBALL PARTY...A KEY TO GREAT FOOTBALL ENTERTAINING

As the smell of Scotch tape begins to fill the air of Wal-Mart, the fifth season is at hand... Back to School. It is a short season when children have organized notebooks, every parent has pinned 7,123 healthy school lunches to their boards, and I even get up in the morning to make breakfast instead of grabbing something in a foil wrapper on my way to work. It is a time of renewal...then something happens, air horns scream, face paint appears, and Saturdays become a time of celebration....

FOOTBALL SEASON has begun!

What do you need to make your Saturday Football Party great? Here are a few exciting dips and sundries to get your party going.

Revolutionary Dip

This delicious dip has Bunker Hill canned chili as its secret ingredient. Serve it hot with tortilla chips or pita chips.

1 can Bunker Hill Chili
2 packages cream cheese
1 8 oz bag of  shredded cheddar (divided)

Heat the first two ingredients in a microwave safe dish; I generally use a glass Pyrex dish. Heat in intervals of 45 seconds. When the mixture is combined well, add 4 oz of cheddar to the mixture. Stir the mixture well. Top the dip with the remaining cheddar. Place under a broiler until to cheese on top is melted...ENJOY!

You can also mix things up a bit with South of the Border Dip. Served with tortillas, it is amazing...

South of The Border Dip

1 small package of velveta cubed into 1inch pieces
1 jar of your favorite salsa
1can refried beans

Start by spreading refried beans on the bottom of a Pyrex baking dish. In a separate microwave proof dish combine velveta and salsa. Reserve some velveta to top the dip. Microwave the mixture  in 30 second intervals, stirring frequently, until cheese begins to melt. Pour mixture over refried beans. Top with velveta, I generally flatten out the cubes slightly to cover the surface evenly.  Bake at 350 for 20 minutes until cheese is melted.

More great ideas to come!