Make Your Own Ice Cream Sandwich Bar

Summer temperatures are pushing thermometers to the limit and we're looking for ways to stay cool. A fun idea is creating a "make your own ice cream sundae bar"? All you need is ice cream, cookies and toppings......does it get any better? It can be as simple or extravagant as you wish.  

We enjoyed chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin and ginger snap cookies with toppings of mini chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, toffee bits and crushed peppermint.  I used chocolate chip cookies, chocolate ice cream with black cherries, and rolled it in the peppermint.

I love to display foods on my pretty trays

I found I had more ice cream scoops than I thought I had so I had one for each ice cream selection.

~I hope you have a great weekend and thanks for stopping~

Tasty Treats for your St. Patrick's Party

How do you celebrate St. Patrick's day?  In our house, we gather wearing our green shirts to enjoy a meal of corned beef sandwiches served with a choice of potato rolls or rye bread, a selection of swiss or american cheese, homemade potato salad, relishes of pickle slices and green olives.  The dessert spread is what we love most. My sisters pistachio cake topped with a dusting of powdered sugar, my fudge brownies, and creme de menthe brownie bars.  Beverages include Green River soda and Guiness beer. Our niece Teresa and her husband Bryan host our annual gathering with flair.  She has been a Trinity Irish Dancer since she was a little girl and for years we have loved watching her dance and walk in the St. Patrick's day parades.  Whether you were born Irish or not, celebrate the day with your favorite people with food, drink, laughter and love the holiday. ☘

May the road rise to meet you and the wind always be at your back. May the sunshine warm on your face, and the rains fall softly on your fields. 

Easy French Toast Bake for New Years Morning

 Serve with chilled orange juice or cranberry juice and chilled champagne for make your own mimosa and pitchers of your favorite bloody Mary mix with choice of toppings to make your own Bloody Mary.  Here is a recipe I'll be preparing for our family to enjoy on New Year's Day. The best part is you make the casserole the day before and refrigerate until ready to bake. You just pop into the oven and let the aroma fill the house until it's  done baking and ready to serve.  Serve with a basket of your favorite muffins and a large bowl of fresh tossed cut fruit. You have a beautiful buffet and it leaves you time to stay in your pj's and ease into 2020.

Baked Apple Cranberry French Toast Casserole

Makes 12 servings
Ingredients: 
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup melted butter
3 teaspoons cinnamon
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1 loaf Italian or french bread cut into 1 inch slices
6 large eggs 
1 1/2 cups milk
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
* Gluten free bread may be substituted for the Italian or french bread if your diet requires gluten free.

To make combine the brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a 13 x 9 baking dish you have sprayed with your favorite cooking spray. Add apples and cranberries and toss to coat well with the brown sugar and cinnamon.  Spread mixture evenly over the bottom of the baking dish.  Arrange the sliced bread on top.  Mix eggs , milk, vanilla and remaining 2 teaspoons cinnamon until well blended.  Pour over bread to soak bread completely.  Cover and refrigerate 4 - 24 hours.  Bake covered with aluminum foil in preheated 375 degree oven for 40 minutes.  Uncover and continue to bake another 5 minutes.  Remove and let sit for 5 minutes.  Serve warm.  Serve with warm maple syrup and a dish of whipped butter .  

                                                      

Create an Easy Ice Tea Bar for your Guests

~Easy Entertaining~

When hosting a barbecue for having friends or family, I like to offer this easy iced tea make it yourself bar. The set up is easy, looks inviting and frees your time to enjoy your guests.

I chose 3 of my favorite summer teas, placed 2 teabags of each into separate glass carafes and filled with fresh cold water.  Using the old fashioned style of making "sun" tea, I let the bags sit and do the work for about an hour.  Leave the bags in longer if you like your tea stronger. Remove and toss the tea bags, and refrigerate until you're ready to serve them.  Serve with plenty of ice, sliced lemons, limes, honey, pretty straws placed in a glass, spoons and tall glasses. 

Lipton is always a delicious tea!

Stash tea offers many caffeine free choices.

Barney & Sons Fine Teas is a favorite of mine.  I love this green tea with coconut served hot or iced.

Enjoy the moments🌻

The planning of a special birthday bash

Dad's 85th Birthday

We recently hosted a special birthday celebration for my Dad and it was fun from beginning to end.  Each and every birthday should be celebrated, and I feel it's the small and personal touches that make it extra special.  A good starting point is choosing a color scheme. Once you've decided the color, decide what your menu will be and if you will cater, cook your party foods or have guests help with specialty dishes. My Dad's favorite cocktail is a Manhattan, so I set up a make your own Manhattan bar in Dad's honor, and it was a huge success.  And for a special ending, have a sweets table with all of your guest of honors favorites! Below are a few things I did for our party and they can be incorporated into any special event you are hosting.

I liked black and gold because it's so classic.  And the colors went well with my Dad's Halloween birthday.

I found these chalkboard place cards with small easel holders on Amazon to place in front of my food dishes.

Disposable sturdy champagne glasses for our toast to Dad.  Everyone spoke a few words and it brought a lot of smiles.

Check out Etsy for personal signs and banners.

I ordered these take home treat bags from Etsy.

Everyone loved taking candy home from the 30's era.

Our make your own manhattan bar was a big hit!

We made this menu board online and had it printed at our office supply store, placed it in a frame and it added a nice touch to our dinner.

What would a party be without balloon bouquets? Party City is my go to for party products.

As the holidays are approaching, remember the little touches make a difference.

Thanks for stopping in:)

Memorial Day Entertaining Ideas

We have finally arrived at the first official weekend of the beginning of Summer season.   Here are a couple of easy ideas to help ensure your party will be fun for everyone.

Fire up the grill and barbecue chicken. Grill some rib-eye steaks, hamburger or cheeseburgers.  Create a simple Caprese salad plate with sliced tomatoes, sliced mozzarella, fresh basil and drizzled balsamic vinegar on top.  My "Patriotic Salad" below is simple and takes 5 minutes to put together.  Romaine leaves, raspberries, blueberries, Athenos crumbled feta cheese, toss in a bag of SunMaid dried cherries for a tart flare, glazed walnuts, and refrigerate until ready to serve. My favorite dressing for this salad is raspberry dressing. Just the right amount of sweetness.  I featured on a recent post a fun Make Your Own Sundae Bar we hosted recently and it's another fun idea for a picnic or Summer gathering.

Relax, Boat, Swim, Picnic, Read, Play Volleyball, Tag Football, Boccee, Roast                       S'mores, Catch Fireflies, Build a Bonfire and Tell Stories.  

                                    ~ Relish and Embrace the Moments~

Display your flag proudly

Have fun creating an appetizer platter 

Finally time to get on the lake

Festive cups dress up the signature drink

Our son in law is the best bartender

Red, White and Blue Salad 

Build your own Bloody Mary Station if your party begins in the a.m.

Your guests will appreciate relaxing in the hammock

Bring out the Skinnypop and wine to watch the sunset.  Perfect ending to a perfect day!

                                Enjoy a Happy & Safe Memorial Day Weekend

Pizza Fondue in the Slow Cooker

Photo courtesy of Taste of Home

Pizza Fondue is a favorite for all ages, all year long.  Holidays, football parties, whatever the event, it works.  This will make 8-12 servings.

Brown 1 pound ground beef, crumble and drain.

Combine 2 cans pizza sauce, 8 ounces grated cheddar cheese, 8 ounces grated mozzarella cheese, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon fennel and 1 tablespoon cornstarch to thicken.

Cover and heat on low for 2-3 hours.

Serve with tortilla chips or 1 loaf of Italian bread, cut into 1" cubes.  

Let the smiles begin:)

Happy Tuesday!