Tag: party food

spring charcuterie board with california avocado three-bean salad

spring charcuterie board with california avocado three-bean salad

This post was created in partnership with The California Avocado Commission. All opinions are our own.

We know exactly how you feel. The epic spring party you’ve been planning for months is happening soon (like tomorrow-afternoon-soon), and you still have no idea what to make… but at least you know what to wear! Your outfit is looking fabulous, so your table should look fab, too. That’s where we come in. Introducing our Spring Charcuterie Board with California Avocado Three-Bean Salad. With no cooking or baking involved, this easy appetizer is here to make your event stress-free, beautiful, and delicious.

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baked brie with honey and toasted pine nuts

baked brie with honey and pine nuts

This post was created in partnership with Dagoba. All opinions are our own.

Last week we drove 1,006 miles in two days. We spent the holidays at the house where Ryan grew up, in the quiet neighborhood of Tigard just outside Portland, Oregon. The plan was to fly there, spend time with the family through Christmas, then help Ryan’s dad by driving his car to Los Angeles to sell it down here. Portland is perfectly picturesque this time of year, especially since it snowed on and off while we were there. It was just enough to dust the trees, make the ground sparkle, and provide a magical white Christmas—which has only happened a few times during the sixteen years we have been together. Every holiday season, Ryan’s mom Peggy makes a batch of fudge to pass out to the neighbors, and on Christmas Eve, we bundle up and walk around the snowy neighborhood, admiring the decorated houses and festive lights, while knocking on doors to deliver sweet treats to lucky recipients.

baked brie: easy, quick, and always a crowdpleaser
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pumpkin cranberry crisps

pumpkin cranberry crisps

I (Adam) like horror movies, but there is one in particular I will never watch again. No matter what you say, or how you try to convince me, I promise you that the words “They’re Heeeere” will never pass through my ear canals again, nor will the sight of a static-filled television screen be in in the presence of my violated pupils. I couldn’t sleep for a month after watching Poltergeist, and now anytime there is a thunder storm, I can’t experience it without counting the seconds between lightning strikes and remembering that terrorizing scene. Granted, I was eight when I saw it in the theater for the first time, but that film has scarred me for the rest of my life. Ryan saw it as an adult and claims that it is a horror/comedy, so he can go ahead, watch it, and laugh as much as he wants—so long as I am out of the house, because there is absolutely nothing funny about a creepy clown hiding under your bed and attacking you when you’re all alone in your room in the middle of the night. “Comedy” isn’t the first word that comes to mind when I think of that. Every Halloween we like to make fun treats and watch scary movies… just not that one. Since the holiday falls on a Monday this year, people will be celebrating all weekend long, and we came up with a simple and delicious snack for the festivities: pumpkin cranberry crisps that are easy to make and so addicting, they are frightening!

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deviled eggs

deviled eggs

There are a variety of recipes for deviled eggs to choose from, but the one we are sharing today is a classic from the definitive American cookbook, The Joy of Cooking. This dish has seen countless variations over the years since its humble beginnings in ancient Rome, and now just about every country has its own take on this festive appetizer. You can find the most plain recipes with two or three ingredients as well as modern versions using eclectic flavors like wasabi and pickles. Our deviled eggs use just a few basic ingredients: the golden yolks are combined with fresh parsley and chives, gently blended with tangy dijon mustard, minced shallots, and a spoonful of smooth mayonnaise, then mixed together into an elegantly creamy filling seasoned with a splash of white wine vine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, and a pinch of cayenne giving these wicked hors d’oeuvres a devilishly irresistible bite.

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