Blog | reluctantentertainer.com Reluctant Entertainer I Sandy Coughlin - Lifestyle, Entertaining, Food, Recipes, Hospitality and Gardening

Feb 9

Setting a Table for Two for Valentine’s Day

written by Sandy posted under love, seasonal & holiday

I recently thought back a few years to a unique Valentine’s Day I spent with my husband.

I changed it up a bit and served dinner in a different room, with an intimate setting.

We sat on the floor around a small table and enjoyed a quiet evening together – no kids! Yeah! (Although I can’t remember who watched the kids? Maybe our neighbor.)

Even though my husband and I have never felt like we’ve “had to” celebrate Valentine’s Day “on the actual day,” we’ve always prioritized date nights. So important for a healthy marriage.

If you’re looking for a new idea, something you can do at home (which saves a lot of money), why not get a babysitter and change it up a bit?

How to set a table for 2 for Valentine’s Day:

-Find a unique setting in the house, with a small table

-Pull out a fresh table cloth, perferrably white

-Set the table using special or wedding dishes

-Make the setting romantic with candles

-Think of an easy menu; add touches of red candy or flowers

-And don’t forget the music. You can find a favorite Pandora station with a wireless speaker that moves from room to room, so you’ll have beautiful background music.

Restaurants are awesome, but changing it up and doing something different at home adds an element of surprise!

Enjoy being with the one you love, on the day that works best for both of you, and create a NEW unique memory.

Have you ever done anything unique for Valentine’s Day? (That you can write on a family blog?!?)

I also love this “Let’s Go on a Date” idea from Shannon Brown. I’ll do anything to encourage date nights (just ask my friends, for 20 years I’ve talked about our weekly date nights).

5 Comments

Feb 8

Mary’s Nest Rehab Story from the FlyLady

written by Sandy posted under guest posts & blogging, hospitality & inspiration

Please welcome my guest, Mary, from Mary’s Nest today!

Once upon a time, Mary was a Washington attorney…until a sudden but wonderful turn of events found her married to a sweet guy 10 years her junior, pregnant at 40, and a new homemaker living in a small town outside of Austin, Texas.

My friend Mary’s blog, Mary’s Nest, is stories of her bumpy transformation from practicing law to perfecting homemaking. In a way, Mary has become a sister to me. Hard to explain, but I really love her … And every time she comments on RE, it’s always signed, Love, Mary.

So here’s Mary …

First, I want to thank Sandy for allowing me to grace the pages of her delightful blog. I have learned more from her about what it truly means to open your home to others than any of the plethora of books I have ever read about entertaining. And itʼs my hope, if youʼre hesitant to open your home to guests, that the story of my bumpy transformation from reluctant entertainer to welcoming hostess will help you realize that anythingʼs possible…

From Fussy Washington Attorney to Hill Country Hostess
When I was single, I prided myself on the fact that my home looked like a furniture store. It was immaculate and decorated to a T, without even a magazine out of place. To say I was a bit of a perfectionist would be an understatement! It was easy back then. Single and working as an attorney in Washington, DC, I found myself away from home for long hours. When I did return home, everything was the way I left it.

But one day, due to a serendipitous meeting at the airport, I soon found myself married, pregnant, and a new homemaker living in a small town in the Texas Hill Country. I was happy beyond measure but completely unprepared for what lay ahead.

Once our son was born, I was thrilled to be a mom, but I was also exhausted. Trying to cook three meals every day, wash an endless parade of dishes, clean a house that seemed to give birth to clutter, plow through mountains of wash, and most importantly care for a newborn baby were all things that were foreign to me…not to mention overwhelming. I wanted everything to be perfect but could barely get myself dressed in the morning let alone wash the floor! And when the pediatrician matter-of-factly reassured me over the phone that projectile vomiting from an infant was normal…I cracked. It was official. Our home was a wreck.

Entertain? Thatʼs Latin for Capital Offense
So I did what any sane person would do. I boarded up the front door, determined I would never let anyone set foot in our disaster zone of a house again. Unfortunately, my plan was thwarted by my fun loving husband. By the time our son was a toddler, my husband longed to be able to entertain. Against my better judgement, I finally acquiesced. Sadly though, he soon realized the error of his ways and was filled with regret.

In anticipation of the arrival of our guests, I barked orders at him like a shrew. “We have to clean up this mess now…how do we live like this!?!” Yes, he was filled with regret. And the sad thing about it all was that, yes, our home might have been messy, but it wasnʼt half as bad as this perfectionist thought it was!

Some time passed before my husband brought up the topic of entertaining again. Like childbirth, I think he forgot the pain and ventured another try at it. But the shrew reappeared and any future entertaining was put on hold…indefinitely.

A Happy Verdict In Sight
Luckily, there is a happy ending. Much to my husbandʼs relief, when my son was in pre- K, I learned about “FlyLady” from a handful of other moms. I was intrigued, but I have to be honest…It wasnʼt easy in the beginning. I wonʼt mislead you. My rehabilitation was a good year in the making. But the more I practiced FlyLadyʼs advice for “Fly Babies”, the easier it became to let go of my perfectionist nature and leave the world of CHAOS – Canʼt Have Anyone Over Syndrome – behind.

CHAOS – Canʼt Have Anyone Over Syndrome

And most important…both my husband and son have been all smiles with my transformation. Friends come and go, snacks and meals are served, feet are plopped up onto ottomans (and even the coffee table!), the dog sleeps on the couch, board games are pulled out of the closet, deep breaths are exhaled, and smiles abound. Weʼre all relived that the shrew was sent packing once and for all.

These days, I clean-up our “Hot Spots” (those areas that are magnets for clutter) after dinner and run the vacuum on Mondays in the heavily traveled areas of our home. If you ring my door bell in the middle of the day, youʼre likely to find things a bit out of place, but hopefully, overall, the feeling will be one of a welcoming air with a place to sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee with me by the kitchen fireplace.

The Heart of Entertaining
When it comes to entertaining, itʼs been more than just cleaning up a few Hot Spots that has brought peace to my domestic life. Itʼs also, Sandy, here at Reluctant Entertainer, whose writings have inspired me to be even more confident about opening my home to friends and family. Sandy encourages us to put the focus on making our guests feel welcome and comfortable…not worrying if things arenʼt perfect. It took me awhile, but Iʼve finally learned that itʼs not about me, our home, or the skill of my cooking…itʼs about the love and friendship that we offer to others.

My home is clean enough, the food is simple home cooking, and hopefully my guests feel welcome, relaxed, and look forward to returning.

Love, Mary
marysnest.com

Here are some great posts by Mary:
Secret to Easy Meal Planning
10 Top Kitchen Items to Simplify Your Life
Intuitive Cooking
10 Steps to Organizing the Kitchen

9 Comments

Feb 7

How to Host a Valentines Dinner Party and LoveFeast Plush Velvet Pumpkins Giveaway!

written by Sandy posted under giveaways & gadgets, parties & gatherings

Love is in the air! And most of us think about only spending Valentine’s dinners with our significant others. Which for me, is what I love.

But how about also hosting a party the “week of” Valentine’s Day for the friends you love?

Read more, below, but first of all I really want to thank LoveFeast Table for being a part of RE today!

I’ve done this several years in a row, and last year we were invited to our friends’, where we got to meet 2 new couples! It was awesome because I didn’t have to be the hostess, but got to be the guest!

Here are some simple tips for hosting a Valentine’s Dinner Party:

-Get together with your spouse and decide who you want to invite, and remember that just because it’s Valentine’s Day, the list doesn’t have to include couples! Think about your single friends as well.

-Make it as easy on yourself. Invite early so everyone can get the “date” on the calendar. Use Evite.com for new friends, because you can attach a map to your house. You include party details, add your guest list, click and send. It’s that easy!

-Is it possible to move your table to a new area? In my case, not really (though for summer outdoor entertaining, yes!) Change it up a bit and make it special!

-I used my wedding dishes (standard white) and of course, Dollar Store goblets, and added in red accents. And I also added the adorable HeartGrams (giveaway today, read more, below). Pretty decorating.

-Think of a simple meal you can either make ahead of time like lasagna or even spaghetti (Lady and the Tramp?), or one that only takes a few minutes like my QUICK Angel Hair Shrimp Scampi recipe found in my book (and so easy!) Buy fresh pasta and bread and you’re set!

-Ask your guests to each bring a bottle of wine or beverage of choice, or a light appetizer. You could even ask for a platter of strawberry-dipped chocolates to pass around while you’re rinsing the dishes and preparing for the next course: dessert!

-Store-bought desserts can be tantalizing if fresh and unique. IE, we have a store in Ashland, Oregon called Market of Choice. They have killer desserts that are perfect for last-minute parties, to just bring home, and serve on your own beautiful glass pedestal or serving platter.

-Conversation will just roll … it always does. Remember this dinner party is not designed for Valentine’s Day (you should be out with your sweetie!), but for the “week of.” Spread love, through encouraging words, and make your guests feel special!

Mix it up, both couples and singles, and just enjoy a great night together, with all the hearts, red and white touches, and a “love is in the air” attitude.

WHAT TO WIN:
One set of LoveFeast’s heart shaped velvet pumpkins (The HeartGram set comes with a 5in. Crimson and a 4in. Rose velvet, plush heart pumpkin. Each package contains apersonalize-able vintage inspired postcard and is tied with a satin ribbon. They are an excellent idea for an anniversary or any time you want to send a bit of love. You can read more about them, HERE.

HOW TO WIN:
Answer this question in a comment on this post.

If you were hosting a Valentine’s Dinner Party for 6 or 7, what would you serve?

EXTRA CHANCES TO WIN (1 extra chance each, please come back and comment and tell me):
Follow Reluctant Entertainer on Facebook
Follow LoveFeast Table on Facebook (Please tell them I sent you over!)
Follow LoveFeast on Twitter
Follow SandyCoughlinRE on Twitter
Tweet this:

Heartgram giveaway @SandyCoughlinRE thanks to @LoveFeast What would you serve for VD dinner party? http://su.pr/ALGUnZ #giveaway

Good luck, Friends!

US only. This post is sponsored by LoveFeast Table today. Contest ends 2/8/12 at midnight. Winner announced on 2/9/12.

66 Comments

Feb 6

Banana Walnut Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

written by Sandy posted under dessert, food & recipes

Birthday celebrations … it’s such a joy to honor another person and celebrate another year of life with them.

Which brings me to my post today about my Dad and Banana Walnut Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting.

My Dad turned 75 last month and as is our family tradition, every year my sisters and I join together to cook a family favorite German dish called Fleischkuechle.

We were happy to gather, to celebrate another year of our Dad’s life. Isn’t every year a gift from God?

I also knew that Dad loved banana cake, and guess what was sitting on my kitchen counter?

Yup – 5 ripe bananas just screaming to be mashed and baked into a delicious cake.

Pulling out my Mom’s church cookbook that she gave me for my 30th birthday, I thumbed to the “cake” section where I already had this recipe earmarked: Banana Walnut Cake with Cream Cheese frosting. I combined the recipes from 2 different pages because I had made notes in the book that these recipes were delicious together.

We layered the 3 cakes together differently this time, with lemon curd in between and the frosting on top. But many times I’ve also frosted the entire cake.

Either way, it’s pure yumminess!

And then my sisters and I served up the dessert …

What’s your “go-to” birthday cake to make for a special person? Do you ask them first what they like, or like me, use up what you already have in the kitchen?

Recipe: Banana Walnut Cake {ReluctantEntertainer.com}

Summary: Delicious served with Cream Cheese Frosting with walnuts on top.

Ingredients

2/3 cup butter, melted
2 eggs
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2/3 cup buttermilk
2 1/2 cup flour
1 1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 1/4 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
4-5 bananas, soft and mashed
1/2 cup nuts. chopped

Instructions

Cream together butter, eggs, and sugar. Add vanilla and buttermilk.
Mix dry ingredients together and add to the creamed mixture.
Add bananas and 1/2 cup chopped nuts. Mix well.
Pour into 2 (or 3 small) well-greased cake pans.
Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.
Cool for 15 minutes and remove from pans. Frost the cake and serve!

Preparation time: 10 minute(s)

Cooking time: 35 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 8

Recipe: Cream Cheese Frosting {ReluctantEntertainer.com}

Summary: Spread onto banana cake and serve. Spread the leftovers between graham crackers and freeze.

Ingredients

3 oz. cream cheese
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. grated lemon rind
1/2 cup walnuts, finely chopped

Instructions

Add ingredients together except for walnuts. Sprinkle walnuts on top of cake before serving.

Preparation time: 5 minute(s)

14 Comments

Feb 3

How to Get the Dishes Done After a Dinner Party

written by Sandy posted under hospitality & inspiration, household tips & kitchen remodel

The meal had been served and my sisters and I jumped up to bus the salad dishes, to remove them from the table and out of the way.

It was a special dinner party for my dad as we tightly packed in 17 people around several tables pushed together to make one.

I rinsed the dishes quickly and put them in the sink, and then sat back down to enjoy the rest of the meal with my guests.

After dinner, we removed the dinner plates and served up birthday cake. But before I sat down, I quickly rinsed those plates and loaded everything into the dishwasher.

Then I hit START.

I know that everyone has their own routine for doing the dishes while entertaining.

A. Let the guests bus the dishes.
B. Only you or your spouse bus the dishes.
C. Load them in the dishwasher as you use them.
D. Only load the dishes after the meal is completely over.
E. Never do any dishes until the last guest has left.
F. Make sure every single dish is washed before you go to bed.
G. Anyone can help with the dishes after the meal.
H. Anyone can help with the dishes at any time during the meal.
I. Only load what fits in the dishwasher, put the food away, and do the rest in the morning.

I’m sure I’m forgetting a few scenarios, but here’s what I do:

I bus/load as I go. It just makes it easier. And when the last guest has left, I’ll empty the dishwasher if the cycle is complete, and start one last load, OR, finish it up in the morning. This isn’t so much out of laziness; we’re usually just so tired. We like our guests to stay as late as they want, and by the time everyone has said their good-byes, it’s usually far past our usual bedtime. It’s not a dreaded feeling, but a happy feeling of, “awww, what a great time!”

There will always be more dishes to do, but we don’t always have our friends and family close at hand.

I feel it’s more important to enjoy our guests.

After this particular party, I did 2 final loads the next morning.

I had dishes on the counter that were hand-washed, and the glasses and plates that came out of the dishwasher.

After putting everything away, my counters looked nice and fresh, like this. (That’s my “purdy” lemon tree in the far right corner.)

Do you like getting the dishes done right away, or do you leave them for later? Choosing betweein A – I (above), what is your normal routine when hosting a dinner party?

25 Comments

Feb 2

Healthy Game Day with Pepperidge Farms and Stuffed Endive with Walnuts and Honey Appetizer

written by Sandy posted under appetizer, food & recipes, parties & gatherings, sponsored post

There really is a way to bring some wholeness and goodness to one of the most popular snacking occasions of the year – The Big Game- known in our household as Super Bowl Sunday, and that’s by creating a menu with less fat and great tasting recipes and tips!

Last week I shared my veggie platter with Swiss Cheese Onion Dip recipe, served with Pepperidge Farms Baked Naturals® Cracker Chips collection, that includes Simply Multi-Grain and Simply Cheddar varieties.

I believe guests really appreciate a healthy alternative to classic game-day recipes (the typical potato skins, delivered pizza, chicken wings, indulgent dips, etc.).

So today I’m sharing another recipe which would be perfect for a Game Day menu: Stuffed Endive with Walnuts and Honey Appetizers, served with a bowl of Pepperidge Farms Baked Naturals® Cracker Chips. (Recipe below, inspired by my friend, Kristin, I used pecans instead of walnuts.)

Why serve Baked Naturals® Cracker Chips?

Because they are a unique snack that delivers wholesome goodness with a great tasting crunch, yet 50 percent less fat than the leading potato chip, the newest Cracker Chips flavors—Simply Potato and Cheddar & Sour Cream Potato—are an ideal alternative to potato chips (a hard-to-avoid snack… Until now!).

An alternative to potato chips? I’m so jazzed about this new, healthier product!

So what would my menu look like, if hosting a Super Bowl party?

First of all, I find that if everyone contributes, it’s really helpful. Being the hostess, of course I’ll fill in the gaps and make sure we have enough food, but delegation really helps take the pressure off of a reluctant entertainer. And also, we should focus a little on health and portion control (not always easy to do on rare, occasional celebrations).

Game Day Menu Ideas:
Smoked Turkey Mango Chili
Cheddar Jalapeño Cornbread Muffins (She Wears Many Hats)
Spinach and Edamame Salad (Bev Cooks)
Pasta Salad Skewers (Cooking During Stolen Moments)
Healthy vegetable tray
Swiss Cheese Onion Dip
Classic Hummus
Many bags of Baked Natural Cracker Chips
Mediterranean Stuffed Mushrooms (Aggie’s Kitchen)
Endive Filled with Blue Cheese, Walnuts, and Honey (recipe below)
Desserts brought by other guests, although I will be making these yummy Lemon Meringue Bites!

Whether entertaining a starting line-up of close friends, or simply keeping your own “home team” satisfied throughout the game, we want to see how you plan to entertain as football season comes to a close!

Will you be delegating part of the menu for Super Bowl? And how will you add a “healthy spin” to your menu?

Recipe: Stuffed Endive with Walnuts and Honey {ReluctantEntertainer.com}

Summary: I added chili powder for an extra “kick” to these delicious bites.

Ingredients

8-oz. package cream cheese
8 oz. Blue Cheese
1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp. chili powder
2 c. walnuts, chopped (I used pecans)
1/4 c. butter
1 1/4 lb. or so (about 10 small endives or 4 large)
Honey (for drizzling)

Instructions

Let cheeses soften to room temperature. Mix together with a fork until smooth: cream cheese and bleu cheese.
Mix together the sugar and chili powder; set aside.
To prepare the pecans, in a skillet, on medium heat, slowly brown the butter and sugar/chili powder mixture until sugar’s melted. Add the nuts and stir constantly until golden.
Turn the caramelized nuts out onto wax paper, spreading to avoid clumping. Let cool.
Prepare the endive by cutting the ends off and separating the leaves. Spread each leaf with the cream cheese/ blue cheese mix, arranging on platter as you go.
Garnish the leaves with the caramelized pecans. Drizzle each piece with honey.
You may need to warm the honey slightly if it’s too thick.
Add fruit or crackers to the middle of the platter. Serve.

Preparation time: 10 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 12

(I am being compensated by Pepperidge Farm® for my time and materials used in the Pepperidge Farm® Baked Naturals® Cracker Chips post.)

8 Comments

Feb 1

Super Bowl Half-Time Classic French Onion and Apple Soup

written by Sandy posted under food & recipes, parties & gatherings, Soup

I love experimenting with recipes, adding something “different” to an already-established recipe. Like adding a couple of crisp Granny Smith apples to French Onion Soup. Yum! Back in December I was blessed to get a 13-Cup Food Processor from KitchenAid and I love it!

Slicing onions with this appliance was such a slick process!

Also, we add apples to gratin, potatoes, salads … so why not add to soup?

When I made this recipe for my family, I was thinking ahead to Super Bowl Sunday. This is a recipe where you could make the soup the night before, then heat it up, dish into individual servings, add the croutons, cheese, and bake.

I like the idea of timing it just right – pulling the individual servings from the oven to serve during half time.

French Onion Soup is such a classic recipe. Sort of like the Super Bowl, which has been around for almost 50 years.

I’d say their both classic!

Put napkins on a platter.

Place a dish on each napkin.

And a spoon for each serving.

Enjoy!

I’ll be sharing more healthy Super Bowl ideas tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Have you thought about serving “soup” on Super Bowl day?

Recipe: French Onion and Apple Soup {ReluctantEntertainer.com}

Summary: Use a food processor for quick slicing of onions and cheese. Allow enough time for the onions to caramelize to get the sweet flavor.

Ingredients

4 Tbsp. unsalted butter
16 cups sliced onions (about 4-5 pounds)
1 tsp. pepper
2 Honeycrisp apples, peeled, chopped into small pieces
3 rosemary sprigs, removed from sprig and finely chopped
3 bay leaves
1/2 cup white wine or dry sherry
1/2 cup apple cider
7 cups beef broth
10 slices sourdough bread, cut into 1″ cubes
2 cups Swiss cheese, grated

Instructions

Melt the butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat; add the onions and heat for 5 minutes.
Continue cooking for 50 minutes, or until onions are caramelized.
Add pepper, apples, thyme (finely chopped), and bay leaves and cook for a few minutes to soften the apples.
Add the wine, broth, cider, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and cook on low for 45 minutes. Discard the bay leaves.
Preheat the broiler; arrange the bread cubes on a jelly roll pan and broil for 2 minutes, or until toasted (both sides).
Preheat the oven to 500. Ladle the soup into small ovenproof soup bowls (10-12).
Divide the croutons evenly on top of each bowl. Sprinkle cheese on top of each dish.
Place the bowls on a jelly roll pan. Bake at 500 for 8 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
Serve hot.

Preparation time: 10 minute(s)

Cooking time: 2 hour(s)

Number of servings (yield): 12

6 Comments

Jan 31

How to Create Special Family Memories by Cooking Favorite Foods

written by Sandy posted under family life & faith & friends, hospitality & inspiration

One of my family’s traditions during the winter months is for my sisters and me to prepare a birthday dinner for our Dad.

This year he turned 75, which made the dinner party very special.

My family looks forward to this evening, year after year, not just because it’s “Grandpa’s birthday,” but because they know we’ll be eating one of our favorite German dishes, Fleischkuechle.

-We set the date.
-Plan the exact same menu every year.
-We delegate the dishes.
-This year it was “adults only.”
-Set the table for 17!

And then we enjoy our time together.

This recipe (meat mixture of beef and sausage wrapped in dough; boiled; served with bread crumbs and pickled beets) originated on my Mom’s side of the family, and has been a tradition in our family for almost 50 years (my age, probably longer!) I really need to research how far back this recipe goes. I’ve never posted the recipe because, to be honest with you, what makes it unique and “tasty” is cooking it together with my sisters.

I wouldn’t want it any other way. (That’s us about 5 years with our daughters.)

Or want to eat it any other way.

It’s a favorite meal that comes around once a year.

Cooking favorite foods together is an important aspect of creating family memories, wouldn’t you agree?

We transform the house with good smells, lots of steamy windows (we boil the Fleischkuechle in 2 large pots), and we sing along to Pandora (3 girls, 3-part-harmony).

Each family has their own traditions for celebrating what’s unique to them. Our family loves Flashkeglia, which is practically gone as soon as we set the bowls on the table. We actually joke around and “count” how many we’ve eaten. In a sense we make it a game, and we always hold a few back for breakfast the next morning.

What “food” family tradition does your family celebrate?

This was the special gift we bought our Dad this year. My Dad and Mom (and Ginny) are 3 gifts in life who have taught me a lot about hospitality. I have one hanging on the wall in my dining room. And you can, too, by checking out RED LETTER WORDS website.

12 Comments

Jan 30

Lemon Lovers and Mini Lemon Meringue Bites

written by Sandy posted under dessert, food & recipes

I love all things lemon. The freshness of the scent, the beautiful bright color, the resemblance to the warmth of the sun, and for the palate: lemon-flavored desserts!

I really love lemon meringue pie – that tart/sweet filling, the perfect complement of lightly sweet meringue – yet I seldom make it.

So I was thrilled to make these little lemon tasty treats, and I thought they’d be perfect for Game Day coming up this Sunday (otherwise known as Super Bowl Sunday).

There are only a few ingredients, very easy to make, and a great way to get your kids in the kitchen.

Give them the task of pressing the cookie dough into the mini muffin pans and then scooping the meringue on top!

My favorite lemon curd is from Trader Joe’s, but did you know it’s actually very easy to make?

With this recipe today you’ll notice that each creamy bite is packed with serious lemon flavor.

Oh, and don’t forget to broil on “LOW.” I actually broiled my first batch on “HI” and they got a little toasty!

Enjoy!

What sweet treats will you be making for Super Bowl Sunday?

Recipe: Mini Lemon Meringue Bites {ReluctantEntertainer.com}

Summary: Lemon flavored mini meringue pies served with either lemon curd or pie filling.

Ingredients

12 oz. refrigerated sugar-cookie dough, chilled
4 egg whites, at room temperature
1/2 tsp. cream of tarter
Pinch of salt
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup lemon curd (or pudding), chilled

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350. Coat a mini muffin pan with cooking spray.
Place 2 tsp. of chilled cookie dough in each cup, and either press the sides up or use a mini tart tool, forming a cup.
Bake for about 8-10 minutes until the edges are golden. Allow to cool; do not remove from the muffin tins.
To make the meringue, beat the egg whites in a clean, dry bowl until frothy, and then add the cream of tarter and salt. Beat on high, gradually adding the sugar. Beat until glossy about 4 minutes.
Fill each cooled cup with 1-2 tsp. lemon curd (or pudding). Using a small scooper, add a scoop of meringue to each filled lemon cup.
Broil on LOW for about 1 minute.
Remove from the broiler and let rest for 10 minutes. Gently loosen the edges and transfer to a serving platter.

Preparation time: 10 minute(s)

Cooking time: 10 minute(s)

Number of servings (yield): 12

15 Comments

Jan 28

How to Tie Paperwhites with Fishing Line & KitchenAid® Winner!

written by Sandy posted under decor & creativity, giveaways & gadgets

Paperwhites … mine are growing nice and tall in the punch bowl I planted them in a few weeks back.

I love the crisp white of the flower.

It’s a good reminder that spring is on its way, as I walk by our piano and see these beauties standing nice and tall.

But … what’s the secret to getting them to stand so tall and pretty, without falling over?

F I S H I N G L I N E !!!

Clear fishing line.

Tie a piece around the middle.

You can barely see the knot.

And no one will even know!

If you planted bulbs this winter, have you thought about using fishing line, how are the bulbs growing, and would you share a picture of them over on my Reluctant Entertainer Facebook page?

I’m so happy to announce the winner to Nester’s Winter Giveaway Day who won the KitchenAid® 13-cup Food Processor:

Congratulations to …

Debbie Smith