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Month: May 2015

Chocolate Almond Cake

Posted on by Admin General

Summer is here and we are all looking for entertaining tips and hints for effortless, stress-free hosting. With an easy make-ahead menu, refreshing drinks and simple, sophisticated table setting ideas any hostess can feel relaxed, enjoy the great weather and the company of good friends.

For inspiration, check out Victoria Amory’s menu, below. Recipes are featured in Palm Beach Entertaining: Creating Occasions to Remember and I’ve included one of my favorites here, along with a few tips on hosting a relaxed gathering.

Menu for Eight:

Champagne and Pink Grapefruit Cocktail

Blue Cheese and Caramelized Onion Tarts

Turkish Eggplant and Yogurt Salad

Parsley and Walnut Salad

Orange and Red Onion Salad

Shrimp Skewers with Cumin & Honey

Chocolate Almond Cake

Hostess Tips

  • Mix and Match

Summer entertaining is all about being relaxed.  Shop your closets and use items from your home to set an interesting, casual, yet elegant table.  Victoria has been known to repurpose golf trophies as silver mugs and her potted annuals add a casual elegance to “Lunch with the Ladies,” featured in Palm Beach Entertaining.   Using objects you already have makes the table original and personal.

  • Prepare ahead

Almost everything on Victoria’s menu can be prepared the evening before your party and finished just before guests arrive!  This allows for a stress free gathering the hostess can enjoy.

  • Save Time

Using store-bought frozen puff pastry for the Blue Cheese and Caramelized Onion Tarts will save you the trouble of making dough and rolling it out. These tarts are so delicious no one will ever know.

  • Serve in Style

Layer the Turkish Eggplant and Yogurt Salad in a shallow glass bowl and show off your layering skills!  An easy way to elevate your table decor is to also layer your serving plates, so place the glass bowl on an attractive platter sprinkled with a few flowers from the garden.

Orange and Red Onion Salad – A colorful and healthful addition to any quick and easy menu.
Champagne and Pink Grapefruit Cocktail; Blue Cheese and Caramelized Onion Tarts – Delightful and refreshing!

Yield: Serves 8

Smoked Salmon Dip

Posted on by Admin General

Salmon is always a party favorite. It is a versatile fish that can be presented in many ways, and most recipes can be done in advance.  Two of my make-ahead favorites are Gravlaks on Toast Points (Norwegian Salmon Canapés that can also be served as an appetizer) and Whole Poached Salmon, decorated with cucumber slices. Both recipes are featured in Palm Beach Entertaining: Creating Occasions to Remember.

Some hor d’ouvres can simply be assembled to taste, no recipe required. With a bit of cream, fresh herbs and creativity this luxurious fish can be taken straight from the pack in slices. Guests can’t resist slices of smoked salmon over cucumber rounds with a dollop of crème fraiche and caviar; or toast rounds topped with cream cheese, smoked salmon and fresh dill.

An easy salmon recipe that disappears quickly at every party is one I collected from Beth Rudin De Woody: Smoked Salmon Dip. It’s perfect for kicking off any event and can be made quickly.

Smoked Salmon in Cucumber Cups
Gravlaks on Toast Points recipe in Palm Beach Entertaining
Whole Poached Salmon Covered with Cucumber Slices. Recipe in Palm Beach Entertaining
Salmon on Toast Rounds

Yield: Makes 2 cups

Bring Your Dinner Party to the Next Level

Posted on by Admin General

It’s the little things that count; the smallest details can make a world of difference. Presentation can truly elevate the everyday. My friend Noreen Roth added handmade, crochet doilies to her place settings. The doilies were unique treasures brought back from a visit to Hungry, which prompted delightful conversation.

Taking your party up a notch – five quick tips:

  1. Plan your guest list carefully. Focus on seating arrangements. Aim for a crowd that will get along and interject new friends others may not know.
  2. Greet your guests with a signature cocktail.
  3. Serve a healthful dinner, with the exception of a decadent dessert. Guests are more likely to indulge and guiltlessly enjoy the sweet ending.
  4. Use recipes you trust and know are crowd pleasers. Good quality, simple foods are best. Try to avoid recipes that are overly complicated.
  5. Make it original. When designing your table add a personal touch by using items around your house or, as Noreen did, treasures from a recent trip. Objects that have stories behind them are great conversation starters.

It’s easy to get caught up in the magnitude of some parties so try not to over think it!  Everyone is there to have a good time. You should too!

Let Your Table Tell a Story: Personal Collections & Tablescapes

Posted on by Admin General

While each party is different and unique in its own way, every time you entertain is a reflection of you and your style—and the tabletop is a wonderful showcase for your talents. I love everything about entertaining, but staging the tabletop has to be one of my favorite aspects of planning a party.

I love using unexpected things from around my home to create the tablescape. It not only makes for a display that comments on my personal style, it’s also a great way to spark conversation among my guests. One of my collections saved the day when an event was unexpectedly moved to my house, leaving me with two days to plan!

I have been collecting teapots for 25 years. As a child, my Irish nanny and I shared tea every afternoon. I started the collection after she passed away, in part as a way to remember her and keep her close at heart. Today, I have about 100 teapots.

The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party held in Palm Beach is part of a formula for a fund-raising event I created more than 10 years ago to benefit the Armory Art Center. The ceramics artists at the center created teapots for our silent auction and they helped us with tabletop decorations. Many of the teapots in my collection are from the auction, some are thrift shop finds, and several are found treasures from our travels

When I became the last-minute hostess of a gathering for the donors and supporters of this annual event, I loved putting favorite teapots from my collection on the table and repurposing them as flowerpots. The teacups hanging from the pergola were found at a thrift shop and each guest went home with a cellophane-wrapped cupcake in a teacup (those I purchased at an odd-lot store). The colorfully “mad” hats placed high above highlight the whimsical and varied collection of teapots, and guests were given equally fanciful hats to wear. The whole arrangement was as entertaining and engaging as Alice’s trip to Wonderland.

Here’s my best advice to keep in mind when planning your next party’s tabletop:

  • From the menu to the mood, the décor of your table should be cohesive with the rest of the event. Use flowers, intricate objects, and collections that correspond with your event’s theme.
  • Give every guest something lovely to look at. I like to place small items around the table, whether it’s votive candles, single stems in petite vessels, or baskets of candy, so everyone can enjoy the tableau.
  • Height is an often forgotten yet important element to consider when creating a tablescape. Keep flowers, candles, and other decorative elements below eye level or be sure they are thin and don’t block your guests view. You want your guests to be able to see across the table and converse freely.
  • If you are using a big centerpiece, make sure that there are other opportunities to visually involve your guests, like detailed place cards, napkin rings, or intricate chargers.
  • Always remember, unless you’re having Emily Post over, it doesn’t have to be perfect. The tabletop is just another way to channel your creativity, it can be as simple or complex as you’d like.

Ladies Locavore Lunch

Posted on by Admin General

Last Saturday at my home in the Hamptons, Sara Gore and I hosted an impromptu Ladies Lunch. It was such an enjoyable way to kick off the season. As we prepared for our guests’ arrival we talked about three key elements of creating an occasion to remember: great food, a fun welcome drink. and my favorite part – designing the tablescape.

Tablecloths, runners, and placemats are brilliant ways to lend color and texture to the table. Using a trick I learned from my friend Kara Ross, I created a runner from fabric remnants. Cost effective, unique and totally unexpected. A theme really ties an affair together so I added a few whimsical elements inspired by the fabric’s color palette – hydrangea blue. And, since summer is the season for beautiful blooms the design included some handpicked beauties from my garden punctuated by lanterns and candles.

Together, we garnished the hors d’oeuvres, prepared a welcome drink, set the table and got ready to share a taste of the Hamptons with our girlfriends. The menu featured the mouthwatering dish pictured here, as our main course: Seared scallops with watermelon and papaya served over crisp salad greens and drizzled with a balsamic reduction.

Inspired by fresh, local produce and a few garden herbs, here’s a peek at the complete menu. Be sure to tune in to Sara’s show Open House on NBC to see the tabletop and join the fun! Our segment is set to air the weekend of 6/13-6/14. In NYC area: 6/14, 8:30am on NBC 4; In Miami: 6/14, 6am on WTVJ; In LA: 6/13, 7pm on KNBC;Check local listings for other cities.

On the Menu

Pama Lemonade, Whispering Angel Rosé and Watermelon Lemonade

Lobster Salad on Buttery Crostini & Truffled White Bean Dip with Crudité

Green Gazpacho soup with Homemade Croutons

Seared Scallops with Watermelon & Papaya

Blueberry Buckle & Hydrangea Cupcakes

For recipes from this lovely locavore’s ladies lunch check out Hamptons Entertaining: Creating Occasions to Remember. And, be sure to tune in to Open House for tips on setting a Hamptons inspired table.