Thursday, May 15, 2014

"Glamping" is the new Camping


Memorial Day is approaching,  along with many more opportunities this summer to enjoy the great outdoors.  We are expecting friends from New Jersey to visit us this Memorial Day weekend, and they will be arriving in a large motor home.  Their impending arrival got me excited about the idea of Glamping!
I have never been much of a camper, but admired my high school girlfriends that made camping look like so much fun!  Growing up my Dad would rent a cabin at Bass Lake, near Yosemite.  Our family enjoyed a comfy cabin with a swimming pool, recreation room, crafting station, general store, houseboat rentals and even an ice cream and sandwich shop right there on our campground.
Needless to say, I was shocked when I accepted a friends' invite to go camping the summer after my junior year of high school.  Clear Lake sounded so inviting and time with my friends was highly motivating!  Imagine my surprise when we arrived at our campground and it was a flat piece of land with no amenities!  We had to sleep in #tents, and #hike to the nearest bathroom and bathe in the lake!  No electric outlets for our blowdryers or lighted mirrors to apply our makeup.  Despite roughing it, the weekend was so enjoyable that I attended a couple more of these #camping trips with my dear high school friends!
I am lucky enough to live on a lake and have embraced my "wannabe outdoorsy" style with a bit of glamour, a concept known as "glamping." Think wine glass instead of canteen, candle light instead of flashlight and sleeping oasis instead of sleeping bag!
Veranda.com

Select a glamorous spot with a great view.  Arrange some large pillows, blankets, flowers, candles and always a great book or two!  A great #glamping menu and a portable bar are essential to indulge in some deliciously chic food and drink!

Drinks and Desserts should be dressed up and scream "glam."
use cupcake liners turned upside down over a glass to keep the bugs out of your  drink!
serve drinks in Mason Jars with lids for ease of chilling/transporting

Blueberry Mojitos in Mason Jars
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/270778996318272631/
Glamping friendly desserts are less messy than S'mores, but just as yummy and maybe healthier since they all include fruit.
Strawberry Shortcake on a Skewer (store bought angel food cake or pound cake, strawberries and canned whipped cream)

Fresh Fruit in a Flute!  (ok, an ice cream cone, but flute sounds fancier!)

Cherry and Blueberry Pies in a jar are glamping friendly and can be made ahead!
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/270778996318272644/

Fruit Wands are perfect for all Glamping Divas!


http://www.pinterest.com/pin/270778996320230178/
OK, so we can't survive in the wilderness on drinks and desserts alone, so here are some dining suggestions for glamping that are more upscale than hotdogs/hamburgers.
















This picnic table has a wine trough in the middle to keep beverages cold and at your fingertips!  Definitely on my "wish list" for some backyard glamping!

this could be a fun craft project

a pretty lit up table is very glam!

This is an awesome "Glamper"

Hope your summer is full of Glamping Fun!

Please visit me at rwodecki on Pinterest.com to see all the pictures, recipes and fun ideas that I've pinned on my "Glamping" Board. 


Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Moms, Memories and Menus

Our Mom's have a special place in our hearts and we all have cherished memories that have become lifelong treasures.  Whether you're celebrating with your Mom or celebrating memories of your Mom, pick her favorite menu, set a fabulous table and toast to the treasured lady in your life.
My Mom and I have enjoyed eating out together since I was in high school.   I especially loved our lunches at The Magic Pan Creperie.   I loved our time together and we always ordered the same thing: Crepes St. Jacques, Orange-Almond Salad and dessert was a peach crepe.
  
A great memory I have of one of my Mom's visits with us in Indiana is setting a fabulous table lakeside and enjoying a great dinner with family and friends.  Although I don't remember everything that was  on the menu that day, I'm sure my mom does!
We are lucky enough to live at the lake and have this beautiful backdrop for our dinner parties.
candlelight and a warm breeze, is there anything better?
I
http://recipedoodle.blogspot.com/2013/09/bruschetta-with-tomato-avocado-basil.html

I recall Bruschetta with Tomato, Avocado, Basil and Mint,  Heirloom Tomato Salad: (3T EVOO, 2 T white wine vinegar, 1 large hothouse cucumber, thinly sliced, #3 heirloom tomatoes and 1 small red onion),  Sweet Potatoe Fries (vegetable oil for frying, #3 sweet potatoes peeled, cut lengthwise into 1/2 x1/2 inch sticks and sea salt) and Sweet and Spicy Pulled Pork:
 Sauce - 3 C ketchup, 1 C apple cider vinegar, 1 C worcestershire, 1C dark brown sugar, 1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard. Bring ingredients to a boil then simmer til sauce thickens.  Marinade and Pork: 2 C low sodium soy sauce, 1/2 C worcestershire, 1/4 C dark brown sugar, 8 crushed garlic cloves, 2 tsp dried red pepper flakes, 2  31/2 - 4 pound boneless pork butt (shoulder) roasts.  Whisk together marinade ingredients, pour into 2 gallon plastic bag, add pork, chill 1 day, turning occasionally.  Barbecue or roast in oven 2/12-3 hours.  Shred pork and serve with sauce.  Serves 10!

This Mother's Day I chose to celebrate my Mother with a lakeside brunch.  I set my table with fresh flowers and miniature garden statuettes, for a simple but charming touch.  
My mother's wedding colors were yellow.   Lilac is the color she "encouraged" me to select for my wedding colors.


hang a few lanterns from the trees,  using a sturdy ribbon,  for added charm

Lilac and yellow flowers accent the table setting.

Fresh flowers are an important part of any Mother's Day celebration and can be personalized to your  Mom.



miniature garden statuettes reminded me of my younger sister and me

 My menu features our favorite lunch.  I visited my Mom this past Christmas and she gave me the recipe for that unforgettable salad from the Magic Pan.

Orange-Almond Salad
1 head Romaine Lettuce
1C mandarin oranges, drained
2 Green Onions, chopped
1/4 C Toasted Slivered Almonds
Dressing
Whisk til Creamy:
1/2 C Vegetable Oil
1/4 C Tarragon Wine Vinegar
1 1/2 tsp Sugar
1/2 tsp dried Tarragon
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp pepper
3 dashes of Tabasco
Refrigerate 20 minutes or overnight



Coquilles St. Jacques Crepes
Makes 4-5 servings
1/3 C dry white wine
2 Tbsp green onions, chopped
1 C white mushrooms, sliced
1/2 pound Sea Scallops (large) cut into 1/4-1/2 inch pieces
3 Tbsp butter
3 Tbsp flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 C light cream or evaporated milk
2 Tbsp parsley, chopped
8-10 cooked crepes
1/2 C grated Swiss Cheese
Combine the white wine, green onions, mushrooms and scallops in nonstick saucepan and simmer 5 min
Melt the butter in a large skillet and stir in the flour and salt to make a roux (caramel colored mixture)
Pour in the cream and cook until a creamy thick sauce is achieved- stirring constantly.  Add the parsley and then the scallop mixture.  Fill center 1/3 of crepe with 3 Tbsp scallop mixture, fold crepe, sprinkle with cheese, place in 350 degree oven about 10 minutes or until cheese melts.

Crepes (makes 12-14 6 inch crepes)
4 eggs
1 C flour
1/2 C milk
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 C chicken stock
1 Tbsp melted butter/margarine
Combine all ingredients, except the flour, in a bowl and beat together.  Gradually add the flour and whisk or beat until a smooth batter is achieved.  Drop the batter in a small, preheated fry/crepe pan.  Swirl the batter quickly as you pour it into the pan to coat the pan with a very thin layer of batter.  The crepe will let go of the sides of the pan when it is time to flip.  Heat the flip side about 20 seconds.  Place between layers of waxed paper until needed.

Peach Crepes are an easy yet elegant dessert (we use canned peaches)
http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/peach-crepes


My Favorite Mimosa Recipe
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/169729479680498003/

Wishing you all a very special Mother's Day celebrating Mom's, Memories and a Fave Menu!

Cheers Mom!  I Love You!!!!



Saturday, May 3, 2014

Down and Dirty Derby-Bunco!



 





 Derby-Bunco Party!



Wow, what a fun #Derby evening with my #Bunco Babes!  Had a fun parade of Derby Hats,
 and enjoyed a crazy, fun Day At The Races!  We had a #photofinish between "Queen Kanga" and "Bourbon Babe," thoroughbreds for sure!"
Jane's Watermelon Square Salad was so good I made another  one today for my hubby to enjoy!   Watermelon Squares, feta cheese, balsamic vinegar with mint sprinkled over and sprigs for garnish.














The food was fabulous and I must thank my "snack helpers" for the Derby Worthy Delights-  Derby Pie, Watermelon-Mint Squares and Bourbon Balls!
Jane's Derby Pie was Derby-licious for The Win!  http://www.punchbowl.com/p/kentucky-style-pie-recipe


Gwen's Bourbon Balls were charmingly southern! (will get Gwen's recipe and post very soon)


I had so many menu choices that it was a  bit overwhelming to select  the recipes for my Derby theme.    My snack helpers were truly helpful in making my menu selections pictured above.   It gave me time to prepare more wonderful party foods!
Southern Gentleman Pasta Salad http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/broccoli-grape-pasta-salad-50400000115388/: Bow Tie Pasta made this salad a "must do" for the Derby!  Bow Ties on the wine glasses are from Oriental Trading Company.
The Triple Crown of Derby Salads: Country Ham Salad http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Winter-Blossoms-Often-Requested-Ham-Salad/Detail.aspx,  Benedictine Salad http://www.yumsugar.com/Wich-Week-Benedictine-Cheese-Tea-Sandwiches-1610066,  Creamy Chicken Salad (storebought with grapes/pecans/pineapple added to "doctor it up" a bit)  I served the ham salad with celery sticks, the Benedictine salad on thin white bread slices with a piece of red lettuce in between slices of bread and quartered into triangles; chicken salad served with wheat crackers.  In all the excitement I didn't get a pic of my serving trays so the above pic is courtesy of a magazine from Louisville Visitors' Center.
The featured drink, Wine Juleps,  highlighted the experience of a Day at the Derby!  I opted for this milder drink after having friends remind me how strong a true Mint Julep can be!  And….it was quite simple to assemble: a bottle of white wine, a bottle of ginger ale, crushed ice and mint sprigs.  Light and Refreshing!


Aside from the fabulous menu selections, I also had great fun with the Derby Decor!  (Did I mention I LOVE a theme party??)
fresh mint plant in sugar server from my silver tea set

found this Mint Julep glass from 1981 at local flea market

champagne bucket filled with roses,  Maker's Mark Kentucky Bourbon and prize winning horse (loaned from neighbor)

my husband's high school tennis trophies…glad I held onto them all these years!


found this print of Sea Biscuit at a local flea market

foyer table with ribbons (from neighbor's horse show competitions), roses, trophies, horses, bourbon and all things Kentucky Derby!

black and white checked table covering from JoAnn's Fabrics



Bunco "High" Table with Derby themed candy: "pay day" snack size candy bars, we all hope for a pay day when we bet on the horses, right?  And root beer flavored barrels, that reminded me of Bourbon Kegs :) 





"Junior Mint Juleps (Junior Mint Candy I presented in a  mason jar with a fun printable from HWTM.com)
I tested my artistic talent free handing the jockey jerseys for the high, medium and low tables.
Cute trophies were from Oriental Trading Company-my fave party supply catalog




Living Room Table Decor

Fun free printable from hwtm.com to make the "Hot To Trot" garland and my neighbor loaned me lots of her daughter's 1st Place horse ribbons from her Horse Show Days….lucky me!

Sofa Table showcased some chic Derby Fashion!


Chocolate Horse Pops were a fun find at the Louisville Visitors' Center.   Mossy Grass was the perfect covering for the serving table (JoAnn's Fabrics)

I had just as much fun planning, decorating and cooking for this Derby-Bunco as I did once the Bunco Babes arrived and the party commenced!
Jane's enjoying her winnings on "Millionaire Row"
(I glued large sized play money to a plastic fan)

We all had fun with the "Talk Derby To Me" picture frame (easily made with photo mat and stencil)


photo props are a good ice breaker

plastic jockey hats from party store were fun photo props



me with a couple of my "Fave" Bunco Subs

I planted rose bushes in black urns and added the racing jockeys to each planter.  "Welcome Race Fans" door sign to get the Derby Party off to a great start.

Derby Races had us "rolling" with laughter!  


This "Southern Belle" didn't place in the race - ha!  should have picked the name #CaliforniaChrome!  Congrats to Kentucky Derby Winner 2014!


Jane brought extra Derby Hats for a fun Derby Fashion Show!

Kimberly's Derby Hat looked so sweet next to the Bunco Binder that I couldn't resist a photo op

My Sweet Aussie Friend aka Queen Kanga

A Derby Diva enjoying her Wine Julep


I must thank my dear Bunco Babe, Kathy, for her thoughtful gesture - although totally NOT necessary…she brought me a box of Mint Julep Truffles and discreetly hid a gift bag for me.  Finding the sweet hostess gift the next morning was a happy surprise!  (We went to see Cher in concert together and so the Burlesque video is one I'm looking forward to watching this weekend) xo