wedding registry: summer entertaining

Good Morning!  Summer is around the corner, and every bride needs a few staples on her registry for entertaining outdoors on a warm night.  Here are a few of my favorite picks:  

Tear Off Napkins

 perfect for outdoor entertaining and much cuter than a paper towel.  Throw them in the wash when you are done and use them again and again!

tear off napkin

Catch-All Tray

There is nothing worse than trips in and out of the house when you are trying to relax with guests.  Make sure to include a large catch all tray to make carrying all of your entertaining essentials easier.  

catch-all tray

Mason Jar Mugs: 

Perfect for icy lemonade at your next garden party or luncheon.

mason jar mugs

Drink Dispensers

A fun way to let guests serve themselves. The only hard part is deciding what to serve...

glass drink dispenser stand

Chalkboard Drink Dispenser Labels

A cute way to make sure no one gets spiked lemonade instead of regular.  Throw them in a drawer with some chalk when you are done and re-use them again and again!

chalkboard drink dispenser label

Galvanized Steel Bucket

The best way to keep drinks cold!  Register for at least two - one for alcoholic beverages and one for waters, soda, etc. to make your entertaining a little easier.  

galvanized drink bucket

xo,

barefoot contessa: tuscan mashed chickpeas

Good morning!  As promised in yesterday's post, here is one of the delicious appetizers I made for our long weekend in the mountains.  My mother-in-law has been raving about the newest Barefoot Contessa cookbook, Foolproof, and I flipped through her copy while we were in the mountains.  One of the recipes that immediately caught my eye was this delicious spread.  I had to make a few changes/adaptations since I didn't have all of my kitchen gear (against Ina's firm directions), but it still turned out great and was a definite crowd pleaser.  Give it a try next time you need a quick, warm appetizer.  

Tuscan Mashed Chickpeas

Recipe from Barefoot Contessa Foolproof

Ingredients:

• 2 (15 oz.) cans chickpeas
• 1/2 C. chicken stock (I used chicken broth)
• 3 Tbs. olive oil, plus extra for serving
• 2 ripe, medium tomatoes, seeded and diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced (I used the pre-minced kind from the grocery store)
• 1/4 C. parmesan cheese (I actually forgot to add this in the original taste test and it was still delicious.  So, if you are dairy free- feel free to exclude.)
• 3 Tbs. minced parsley
• 2 Tbs. lemon juice
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper
• Grilled Country Bread

Directions:

1. Pour chickpeas into a collander and rinse them under cold water.  Drain well.  Place chickpeas in the bowl of a food processor.  Add the chicken stock and pulse until the chickpeas are coarsely chopped but not pureed. (I used a blender very briefly and it turned out great.)
2. In a medium saute pan, heat 3 Tbs. of olive oil over medium high heat.  Add tomatoes and saute about 3 minutes, or until tomatoes are soft.  Add garlic and saute 1 minute more.  Add the chickpeas, stirring to combine with the tomatoes and garlic.  Cook for about 5 minutes or until warm throughout.  
3. Transfer chickpea mixture to a bowl and add chopped parsley, parmesan, lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste.  Drizzle with olive oil and serve warm or at room temperature with grilled country bread.

Grilled Country Bread: heat a gas or charcoal grill and toast bread for 2 minutes each side, until it's lightly brown.  (I did this on a griddle pan and just pressed down on the bread with a spatula to create a flatter, more grilled look.)

Enjoy!

xo,

wedding invitation timeline

Today is my last first day of school...EVER!  How crazy is that?  I feel like I should have a new outfit planned and have my lunchbox and backpack all shined up.  The reality is that I am still unpacking from break and I have no idea where my backpack has decided to live while I have been away.  Such is life!

In other exciting news, today marks the first of a series of "entertaining" posts on Wednesdays.  I thought I would start with a series on invitations this month.  I figure if you don't spread the word you won't have anyone to entertain!  

Today I am starting big- with wedding invitations!  One of the most important things to remember with a wedding invitation is that you need to give people time to plan so they can attend your event.  Whether you are hosting a small BBQ in your backyard or a lavish wedding for 300, it is important to let people know in advance of the big day.  The timeline will vary depending on the type and size of your event, but generally you want to give people as much notice as possible.

Keep in mind, this timeline is approximate and can be adjusted to fit your event.  The only guideline that should be adhered to as closely as possible is sending the invitation 6-8 weeks in advance of the actual wedding.  This gives people time to plan for travel, time off of work, childcare, etc. and gives them a chance to make celebrating with you a reality!

xo,