Memorial Day Mason Jar Strawberry Shortcakes/Back by Popular Demand

Making these desserts ahead of time is a great way of limiting others from too much exposure to food items this holiday. You can use mason jars or any glassware you have. 

Six (12 oz.) mason jars

1 Angel Food cake

6 cups sliced strawberries

2-3 cups blueberries

1 pint heavy whipping cream 

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup powdered sugar

**To make the whipped cream from scratch, place a large mixing bowl into the freezer for 10 minutes. Add the whipping cream and vanilla to the chilled bowl.  Whip the mixture on medium speed while gradually adding the powdered sugar.  Increase the speed to high and whip the cream until it holds its shape and appears stiff. (2-3 minutes).  Refrigerate until ready to use.

Or shortcut and use canned whipped cream or Cool Whip.  Works beautifully!

Slice the angel food cake into 2" cubes and layer angel food cake, sliced strawberries, and whipped cream and top with sliced strawberries.

Delicious! 

Easy Food Ideas

When the temps are scorching outside and turning on the oven isn't an option, try these simple ideas guaranteed to please even the finicky members of your family.

Set up a baked potato buffet.  Microwave as many baking potatoes as you need, and set up a toppings bar.  So much fun to make and who doesn't like being creative.  The possibilities are endless..bacon bits, shredded cheddar, sour cream,  butter, chopped chives, chili, salsa or crumbled goat cheese.  

Make up fruit and cheese kabobs ahead of time.  Use any favorite fruit cut into chunks and alternate on wooden skewers with cubed cheddar or Gouda cheese.  Apples, pineapples, oranges and pears are delicious with cheese.

Chicken quesadillas are an easy snack too.  Purchase a rotisserie chicken or use leftover baked chicken and shred.  Microwave refried beans and spread onto flour tortillas.  Sprinkle the chicken and shredded Monterrey jack cheese and top with another tortilla.  Brown and flip on a griddle or in a toaster oven until the cheese melts.   

Do you have any simple food ideas to share?

Had Enough Turkey? Set Up a Make Your own Panini Station

~Easy Make Your Own Panini Bar at Home~

Because Sandwiches are a universal comfort food, it's fun to play with different variations of them….so set up this awesome make your own panini bar, relax and enjoy tonight.

We all indulged in a bountiful Thanksgiving meal and have enjoyed the leftovers for days.  Here is a fun idea for supper tonight.

 I find my family and friends generally like to customize their food in a relaxed atmosphere . I love my Panini maker but if you don't own one, a griddle does the job just as nicely.  My Panini maker will fit 3 sandwiches.  The nice part is anything goes....I make up a large deli tray full of ham, oven roasted turkey and roast beef, provolone,  swiss and sharp cheddar sliced cheeses, put out baskets of wheat, sourdough,  multigrain breads and rolls and different toppings.  Fig spread, marinated artichokes,  sundried tomatoes, Nutella, a variety of mustards, mayonnaise, and butter.  It's fun to see the combinations your family and friends will come up with.  

For a sweet Panini, try strawberry, banana and Nutella.   Or chocolate chips and banana.  Brioche bread or sourdough best for dessert because of their heartier texture.

~Happy Tuesday~

What's in your Picnic Basket?

Here are a few of my "favorite" and easy ideas for planning your picnic this weekend.  

Make ahead slider sandwiches of any combo are easy and popular with almost everyone.  My favorite combos are ham and swiss or roast beef and provolone on small slider buns with honey mustard.  Put your sandwiches together, place on aluminum foil, and head in the oven at 300 degrees for 5-10 minutes, cool and transport.  Keep chilled until ready to eat.  I love these and make them year round.

Fruit kabobs you make that morning.  Use any fruit of your choice but I find halved strawberries, grapes, cheddar and mozzarella cheese cubed make delicious skewers.  Keep chilled until you enjoy.

Brownies!  Need I say more?:)

Grill crusty bread ahead of time, bring bruschetta topping either homemade or store bought (keep chilled), and place on the grilled bread for a tasty appetizer. Top with shredded mozzarella if desired.

Don't forget your picnic basket, cutting board, glasses, water, and wine!

I love make ahead dishes.  Cut up grilled chicken from day before and skewer with green grapes, drizzle with a little olive oil if desired and keep chilled until ready to serve.

I make these "caprese" appetizer skewers ahead of time and are so much fun to eat at an outdoor event.  Marinade grape tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese for a short time in a zip lock bag in fridge, skewer them on wooden skewers, keep chilled and enjoy. Sprinkle with dried basil if desired for extra flavor.

The "bags" toss game is perfect for all ages and easy to transport.

Bring paper bags, roll down the tops for putting your salty snacks in.  No fuss and toss away "bowls".

If you're planning on grilling on a portable grill, don't forget the condiments.

A favorite of mine for outdoor parties or picnics is the "Walking Taco".  Buy small Fritolay Frito bags to present in a basket, put chopped tomatoes, peppers, shredded cheddar, heated and stirred chili, and sour cream out for make your own walking tacos on top of the fritos.  Eat with a fork or spoon and enjoy.

Happy Picnics and enjoy the Weekend!

        

Special touches make all the difference when entertaining for Mother's Day

Color coordinated drinking straws for our orange juice and Mimosas

Celebrated gorgeous weather outside on the new deck my son in law built

Such a creative idea for donut holes and mini donuts

What a great way to use your glass cookie jar and cake holder

Fresh pastries displayed in a jar and cake dome.  And how creative is the donut tree?   Toothpicks placed in a Styrofoam tree and donut holes and cinnamon rolls on the toothpicks.  

Granola choices and fresh fruit for our yogurt parfaits

Our chalkboard "welcome" hung outside in a beautiful blooming tree

Gorgeous fresh flowers for the table

A special message from my daughter she framed for the table

A beautiful Mimosa bar

Make your own yogurt parfaits with granola and fresh blueberries, raspberries and blackberries

Delicious egg, prosciutto,  dried salami, mozzarella and basil grilled sandwiches

My daughter and son in law hosted the most beautiful brunch for our family for Mother's Day at their lovely new home.  Everywhere you looked was a special touch that made our brunch and time together so memorable.  I shared just a few of my favorites that can easily be incorporated into entertaining for any special occasion. I can't wait to use several of these ideas at the lake house.

My son cooked his "famous" grilled egg and salami sandwiches and they were delicious! Not pictures here were delicious home baked mini cheddar and bacon muffins and banana bread too.  

Hug or call your Mom and tell them you love them and may all the Mom's in the world have a blessed weekend xo

Grilled Cheese Bar for Fun Supper

~SIMPLE GRILLED CHEESE BAR~

When we are weeks into Winter with no sunshine, comfort food is calling my name.  Grilled cheese is always my go to when I'm in the mood to create a fun meal. It reminds me of growing up and Mom making our family of 7 grilled cheese for Saturday suppers.  We loved it with a side of tomato soup.  

Simple grilled cheese and tomato soup are still my favorites, but if you're looking to step it up a notch, setting up a Make Your Own Grilled Cheese station is fun and personal because everyone gets to make it their way.

-It's 9 easy steps -

1 -Do as much prep work ahead of time as you can. 

2 -Cook, cool and store bacon in fridge ahead of time if it's a topping of your choice.

3- Preslice apples, figs, pears, tomatoes and avocados.  Delicious on grilled cheese and the kids can help with prep work ahead of time.

4- A nice variety is tomato basil, 4 cheese, rye & sourdough. We live close to Panera so I like to pick up my breads and have them preslice for me. Or pick up your breads at your local supermarket. 

5- Arrange your cheeses on a large platter, cover and store in 

the fridge.  My favorites are Gruyere, cheddar, fontina & colby jack.

  

6- A simple platter of the cooked ham, turkey or  prosciutto for the meat lovers in your home for anyone who cares to enjoy on their grilled cheese. 

7- Have bowls of softened butter, mayonnaise and olive oil with basting brushes near the griddle to brush onto breads before toasting. And a couple of spatulas for turning the sandwiches. 

8- Lightly spray your large griddle (stovetop or electric) and preheat close to meal time.

9- Stack plates near the griddle so it's 1,2,3 assemble, grill and enjoy.

  

Enjoy and Happy Tuesday! 

Serve Yourself Burger and Hot Dog Bar

Lakehouselyn photo

Nothing says summer like hot dogs and burgers on the grill. A serve yourself bar is the simplest way to entertain.  With some make ahead preparations,  you can be a guest at your own party while your guests serve themselves.  

Basics like mustard, ketchup, pickles and relish of course.  

Crank it up with hot sauce, sliced tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, peach salsa, grilled peppers and onions, shredded cheddar, crumbled bacon, guacamole and don't forget the celery salt!

The day before this event, I  made the potato salad, macaroni salad, fruit salad and the day of, I put together baked beans in the slow cooker.  Serve it up with iced waters, beers, and our favorite, chilled Sangria.  You can make your own or buy bottled in the liquor department of your favorite market.

Happy Weekend

They Make It & I Bake It

I feel I'm a good cook and I usually feel confident trying out new recipes when we are entertaining.  However, I suppose each of us has found something that falls under our scope of perfection.  My first one is homemade pie crust.  My grandmother tried to teach me when I was younger, hailing it was the easiest and "anyone" could make it.  Wrong!  I could have thrown mine against a window and broken it....seriously!

Now for my pizza crust making ability.  It is edible and not terrible, BUT will I serve it when we have people over?  Probably not....

Enter our local supermarket, sentry foods fresh deli, where they make the freshest salads, sandwiches and homemade a pizza to order.  This has become our Friday night meal when our family comes up to the lake house to spend the weekend.  For our group of 8, we have different dietary requests, loves and needs.  I called ahead of time, giving the great people at the deli our orders, and pick them up ready to bake when our family arrives at various times.  

Our family has a gluten-free only member,  a cheese only during Lent on Fridays, a request for ham & pineapple on another, a pizza with tomatoes and black olives, and then the pizza for meat lovers.   

The plan goes like this: Text me when you are 10 minutes away.  Oven's preheated, pop in the pizza of choice, ready to slice and eat when they arrive.  

If you're having guests this weekend, shop around for a supermarket that will make your pizza fresh, or a pizza restaurant that will make fresh or par-bake so you can finish it at home.  Easy entertaining.  Thanks sentry foods. 

Happy weekend & thanks for reading Lakehouse Lyn! 

Easy Brunch for Playoff Weekend

Pancakes and Sausage

Make It Yourself Bloody Mary 

Bloody Mary

Blueberry Muffins

There's a lot of football watched on weekends at our cabin and I am always looking for an easy way to provide great food without a lot of fuss, so I can enjoy myself with our family and friends.  Brunch is a favorite meal of mine to plan and serve. Here are a few easy steps that won't stress you out.  It is all about relaxing and enjoying the moment. 

1.  Plan ahead as much in advance as possible.  When you get free time during the week, make muffins, quick breads, or cakes and freeze in freezer ziplock bags.  It's a time saver to use a mix and will taste delicious!  Have butter, jams and jellies on hand and ready to serve.   

2.  Make up pitchers of chilled drinks instead of individual drinks.  Bloody Mary's, sangria, orange juice and a pot or two of fresh coffee makes it easy to do it yourself. Setting up a drink area or drink station in a corner of the kitchen or on a small table will help prevent the eating area from seeming crowded.  

3. Toss together a bowl of fresh cut fruit.  Our family loves blueberries and they can be found all year long now.  Put fresh blueberries in your favorite waffle or pancake recipe and you have fabulous!  A great time saver is to make them ahead of time, allow to cool for 15 minutes or so, and freeze in freezer bags until ready to use.  Can be reheated on a foil lined pan at 300 for approximately 10-15 minutes or until warm.  Cover lightly with foil to prevent overheating and drying out.    

4.  Don't forget jams, jellies, syrups, butters, cream and sugar for coffee.  Provide  chilled champagne to make a mimosa with their orange juice.  

                   Enjoy yourself and happy weekend....