When you find something you love, buy a lot of it.

That is what I did years ago when I discovered these beautiful goblets from the Dollar Store. Such a bargain, I bought about 30 of them.

They are chunky and never break, even when kids use them.

And even if they did break, so what? It’s not like it is your fine china.

I love making entertaining beautiful and affordable.

You can also make it very practical, like I did here by placing all the glasses randomly in a large bowl or basket.

A great idea for casual entertaining.

For a more elegant approach, a few weeks ago, it took me less than 2 minutes to put this together.

Cut whatever flowers you have in your yard.

Find a low-line tray.

Place your glasses on the tray.

Add and light 2 candles.

It’s beautiful.

I love a bargain and I also appreciate quick, easy entertaining tips.

What tips can you share that take just 2 extra minutes to make entertaining beautiful?

Spring is for sure in the air, as our family worked in the yard all weekend stringing lights, blowing, mowing, cleaning, planting … you name it. It takes work to get ready for spring and summertime entertaining, but once the hard work is done, it’s so worth it.

I cleaned off the back patio, making room for guests–any time of the day.

This time snipping fresh tulips from the front yard.

Pulling out a summery entertaining tray.

And fresh yellow napkins.

Sometimes I’m not too good with final garnishing and presentation details, because I know my guests are waiting and I want to serve the food while it’s hot. But I have learned to think ahead to the serving dishes that I may be using and to set them out in advance.

This time, it took me about 15 minutes to pull breakfast together and serve it to my guests on our back patio.

Easy Greek Scrambled Egg Pockets, served in this long white serving dish.

So easy to make.

Simple presentation.

Bright and cheery.

Fresh and summery.

Realistically we didn’t even use the plates.

You hear “the secret is in the sauce?” Well, how about, “the secret is in the serving dish?”

Don’t you find that the “right” serving dish can make or break the presentation of the food you are serving?

The other day at breakfast my husband reminded me of these simple words:

Baby, he said, a good plan for today is better than a perfect plan for tomorrow.

Those words really hit home for me, and I thought about all I share here on RE. I know many of us struggle with perfectionism when it comes to entertaining, but I wonder just when did the “P” word become so trendy?

What generation or era started this horrible (almost) disease, to ruin so many of us?

I wrote in my RE book how I met a lady on the plane who shared with me how she’d never have people into her home for dinner, because she didn’t feel her house was good enough. She got tears in her eyes as she told me she was worried that her son never learned about hospitality. It was a pain point for her, and I felt badly for her. The pain went deeper for her as she shared that her mom had done the same thing.

Things were never good enough.

So they missed out on deeper connections and making memories in their own 4 walls with people they cared about.

I wonder when perfectionism became so necessary …

-Was it in the 50s or 60s when America started watching more TV?

-Was it when we started airbrushing models in homes and staging beautiful kitchens and dining rooms?

-Was it later, when magazines and TV shows resonating “perfect” showed us we were “less” if we didn’t have our homes look a certain way?

(Canning jar idea, here.)

Baby, a plan for today is better than a perfect plan for tomorrow.

I meditated on those words for days, lest I teach my children this awful “trend.”

A plan for today …

-If I decide to invite last minute guests over for dinner, my messy house will just have to do.

-The menu that I decide to cook will be sufficient for the purpose of entertaining. Soul connection.

-I won’t need to run to the store to make “one more thing,” because I have to serve 5 courses.

-My table, simple as it may be, won’t be impressive, but it won’t be distracting, either.

It won’t be trendy.

It won’t be perfect.

But it will be tasty and meaningful.

When do you think perfectionism became “trendy” in our society?

Graduation. A time of reflection, excitement, sadness, and hope. Hope for the future that as a parent you’ve done the right thing and the best job, in raising your kid, and he will do fine.

It’s graduation time in our household as we get ready to graduate our middle son, Garrett.

Luckily I was on the ball and got my announcements ordered in a timely manner. Which, by the way, Garrett’s little sis took his Senior pictures this year!

Now I want to be able to sit down and enjoy writing out the addresses, and thinking about the families and friends who’ve been supportive to our son in his growing up years.

You can get some really simple, but classy, announcements on heavy card stock.

I thought these were a great reflection of our son, Garrett.

Also, if you have a few minutes, sit back, and listen to Katrina Kenison, as she recites portions of her book, The Gift of an Ordinary Day.

Maybe you have a child graduating middle school, high school, or college this Spring.

For sure it’s a sentimental, nostalgic, rewarding, magical time …

Enjoy!

Do you have a graduate in our household this year?

(This post is sponsored by Tiny Prints, but all opinions are my own.)

“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful; for beauty is God’s handwriting–a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower, and thank God for it as a cup of blessing.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

I want to wish all of my readers a wonderful Mother’s Day weekend. For those of us who are mothers, we have so much to be thankful for!

An older friend, who I greatly admire, gave me a beautiful card and a small, simple candle yesterday.

When to encourage
and when to protect,
When to ignore things
and when to correct,
When to hold closer
and when to let go –
There aren’t any rules for that …
mothers just know.

This day was made to honor mothers like you.

A little gift and a card.

So thoughtful.

I love friends who honor others by telling them that “they are a good mom.”

I know if my mom were here, I’d hear those words, as would others.

(My mom’s favorite tree was a Dogwood, the beautiful flower on her tombstone. This white-flowered tree in our backyard, was given to us from my friend, Pam.)

This weekend, I challenge you to tell at least 3 younger moms that you are proud of them, and that they are a good mom. Or tell them the qualities that you believe make them so beautiful.

Who encouraged your mother when you were growing up? Who encourages you, if you’re a mother now yourself?

It was after we got our kids off to their school prom that we came back, with another couple, for a late dinner.

I’d say it was last-minute, since we called them just a couple of hours before to make the invite.

It was such a lovely springy evening, the sun going down after a warm day, the party lights hung, freshly mowed grass and newly planted springtime flowers in the pots.

I realized late into the afternoon that I hadn’t even thought of a dessert. Not that we have to have dessert with each meal — we don’t. But being a weekend night, and since we hadn’t seen our friends in a while, I pulled out an old “salty-sweet” recipe called Butterscotch Brownies. You might think this recipe includes butterscotch chips–it does not. You actually make your own butterscotch. Do you know how to make butterscotch?

It’s the warm oozing combination of butter and brown sugar–dark brown sugar, that is.

On top of the gooey goodness, if you dust with sea salt (you can see it in this picture) it stimulates a whole bunch of new taste buds in your mouth.

I feel the best desserts have a little zip to them, other than sweetness, and that includes salt.

Which, by the way, you can get so many flavors of gourmet sea salts these days.

In specialty shops you can find just the right one that satisfies your taste for the perfect salty-sweet foods.

We were recently at The Meadow in Portland, Oregon.

My husband and I got lost in this unique store.

Back to desserts.

Salty sweet desserts don’t have to be over-complicated. In fact, with this recipe today, you won’t believe how easy it is, and perfect for entertaining! You make it up ahead of time, and right before serving, microwave each dish for about 30 seconds. Serve with a premium vanilla ice cream and your guests will be singing your praises.

Just give the “salt’ the credit.

Do you have a quick go-to dessert you make for last-minute company?

The winner of the pink KitchenAid blender for Mother’s Day is Michele Laramay (no blog). Congrats Michele!

For our first outdoor entertaining of the season, it was a beautiful day, but a chill was in the air.

We didn’t let it stop us, though. We moved the outdoor heater into the dining space and turned it on “high.” It was so warm and toasty.

I don’t stress over my table in the outdoors, do you? I really keep it as simple as possible, partly because I do not want to have to bring tons of dishes back into the house at 10 pm.

Throw on a tablecloth.

Add the plate, the napkin, and put the goblet on top to prevent it from blowing away.

Once we are dining together, the warmth of the conversation makes us forget all about the chill in the air. (Although sometimes we have jackets on!)

On this night we found ourselves sitting around the heater, as if it were a fire. It was fun and probably almost midnight when we came in … just the 4 of us.

Are you gearing up for outdoor entertaining? Do you prefer a real fire or do you have an outdoor heater?

(We found our heater at a yard sale about 5 years ago – a real bargain.)

How many times when we entertain do we forget something? Most the time it isn’t anything huge or essential, but it would have made the “entertaining moment” more special if we had only remembered.

I recently came across this very cool Entertaining Cheat-Sheet by Lulu Powers. I am including it here, to encourage you to either print it out or to come up with your own list that works for you.

Tape it inside your kitchen cupboards for easy access when you want to make sure you have “done everything.”

I do think entertaining is like a muscle, that the more you do it the easier it becomes. So eventually you may not need your little list.

By the way, if you are a reluctant entertainer, don’t forget you can also print out my 10 Commandments that can be hung in your kitchen to help remind you that entertaining is easy! (FREE print out, HERE.)

It has so much meaning and lifelong rewards that come from it.

Do you have a hard time remembering everything when you entertain, or what is your method for keeping track of what you want to accomplish?

The Cook for Your Mom Campaign encourages us to skip the crowded restaurants this year and make our mothers a home-cooked meal. If I could, I would, because it shows that your mom is really worth the time. By saying, “thank you, Mom,” you’ll also be teaching your children, passing down the gift of hospitality to them.

When I think of my mom, three words come to mind: hospitable, warm, and loving.

I wrote about her in my book, The Reluctant Entertainer, of which I’m giving away a signed copy today, a perfect gift idea for Mother’s Day. I was fortunate growing up, because my mother passed on to me the gift of loving people through hospitality. My mom didn’t get caught up in over-commitments or impressing others with over-the-top entertaining. In fact, she didn’t rely on TV, magazines, or the internet for entertaining ideas. She just used her beautiful elegant China, a few favorite cook books and aprons, and a closet with starched linens ready to be spread for her dinner guests. Mom just knew the heart of hospitality and she didn’t overcomplicate it: simplicity and love.

She was my role model years ago. And then when I was in my early 30s, breast cancer attacked my mom, and then ovarian cancer, eventually taking her life. I had 3 small children and it was a hard time in my life. (Mom passed away 9 months after this picture was taken.)

I’m thankful for many gifts that my mother passed down to me, and since “cancer” hit our family, twice, I appreciate that KitchenAid has supported the Susan G. Komen for the Cure with their Cook for the Cure Project by making donations off every pink appliance sold, and inspiring us to join the fight against breast cancer, for our moms, and for us all.

Today one lucky winner will win all 3 of these items:

-A pink 5-speed KitchenAid blender, which each one sold provides a donation to aid the fight against breast cancer.
-A Hip Hostess pink cafe apron (you can buy with a discount, details below)
-A signed copy of, The Reluctant Entertainer

The Hip Hostess is offering 20% off everything in The Hip Hostess Etsy Shop, or 20% off an entire order from The Hip Hostess website. What a deal to surprise our mom with a brand new beautiful apron! (Use promo code: PINKRE at the check out for both.)

You can purchase The Reluctant Entertainer for mom on Amazon, here, or if you want a “signed copy,” click, here.

How to enter to win the above 3 items:

Leave a comment describing who in your life has taught you the most about hospitality?

For additional entries:

Follow KitchenAid on Facebook and/or Twitter.
Follow The Hip Hostess on Facebook and/or Twitter.
Follow Reluctant Entertainer by: Email, RSS, Facebook, Pinterst and/or Twitter (@SandyCoughlinRE)
Pin on Pinterest
Share on Facebook (with a link)
Tweet This:

Win this lovely @KitchenAidUSA blender & @TheHipHostess apron on @SandyCoughlinRE #CookForMom Enter Here: http://su.pr/2SSJm4

Leave a separate comment for each entry ~ 12 possible entries per person!

*** CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED ***

This giveaway will close on May 9, 2012 at midnight. Winner announced on May 10 2012 on RE. US residents only.

KitchenAid provided the blender for this post, but all opinions are my own.

Sometimes I’m just a creature of old habits. That’s why once in a while it’s fun to shop with a friend, because you can get fresh ideas for new food items or techniques.

Since I started using my KitchenAid food processor more, I’ve been trying to be more cost effective with as many food items as possible.

For example, with 3 teens in our household, we go through a lot of deli meats. Mostly turkey, because the kids are all health-conscious and it has less fat and is better for you.

In the past I went for “convenient” and bought the pre-sliced turkey at Costco. Until I really looked at the cost.

Pre-sliced turkey breast – $6.79 lb.

Whole turkey breast meat – $3.99 lb.

My husband had a great idea, to add onion and celery to the meat as we slice it up, for better flavor.

This time I snuck in a cucumber.

Add the sliced meat to a Ziploc bag, date, and put in the fridge for all to enjoy.

Oh, and for the kids who don’t like the veggies, they are easy enough to pick out.

Do you ever get into a habit of buying out of convenience, or are you always a smart shopper?

Are you entertaining a crowd for Cinco de Mayo this weekend? Or have you been invited out?

For us, the latter. We’re happy to be biting into our friends delicious cooking, but we’re also contributing to the meal. I’ll be taking one of our family-favorite recipes that can used as a salad, or as a dip!

You hear, The Secret is in the Sauce, which is true for this recipe. It involves some prepping, and a tiny bit of cooking, but overall the time involved is well worth it.

Margaritas, bowls of guacamole and chips, tacos and the gathering of good friends are all signs of a successful Cinco de Mayo fiesta.

What’s your favorite Mexican dish to take to a party?

This recipe is included in my book, The Reluctant Entertainer, a great gift idea for Mother’s Day which is right around the corner! If you want a signed copy, go here. If you want to buy on Amazon, go here. The winner to the KitchenAid Stand Mixer giveaway is: Richella.

A few weeks ago, my friend Jeannie brought me a beautiful springy basket of flowers, and off to the side was a small paper-thin butterfly.

Butterflies are very elegant and I find them so fascinating, with their vibrant colors so spectacular, all created with different patterns, and the way they flit around so gracefully.

Phyllis Hoffman from Celebrate Magazine, creates party inspiration for every occasion, this month encouraging mothers, grandmothers, daughters, and sisters to come together for a lovely springtime luncheon for all ages.

If you notice, the theme throughout this elegant luncheon is butterflies. (Love the classy chair.)

The butterfly has long been a Christian symbol of resurrection, for it disappears into a cocoon and appears dead, but emerges later far more beautiful and powerful than before.

The butterfly is also a symbol of hope.

How beautiful is that?

Keeping the Mother’s Day theme in mind, Celebrate offers printables that are simple and helpful:

Pre-planned menu

Blank menu

Mother’s Day place cards

What’s cool is that you can come up with your own menu, or you can use some of their recipes. Or you can follow the recipe menu for this particular party found in the Spring 2012 issue.

So lovely!

Have you considered hosting a Mother’s Day Luncheon this year, and if so, have you ever used printables?

(Celebrate Magazine did not sponsor this post today, but they did do a lovely book review of, The Reluctant Entertainer, a nice gift idea for Mother’s Day. Thank you, Celebrate Mag!)

I cannot tell you how excited I am for our garden this year. Especially for basil that will be filling up our herb trough, bright in color, so heavily scented that I could bath in it. LOL.

Don’t you love the smell of fresh basil?

More exciting than the scent, though, is the recipe I’m sharing today. It’s so easy! And we can all use new, refreshing, easy appetizer recipes – perfect for last-minute get togethers or when you’re invited to someone’s house.

Bring an appetizer and wine! I love those words, especially when I have something so simple in mind.

Last weekend I made this simple appetizer for a party that we attended. For me, simple, light appetizers always taste better than heavy ones, so I made Goat Cheese Pesto Tartines.

Tartine: A French word that means open-face sandwich.

Basil season can’t come soon enough, but in the meantime, I used store-bought pesto.

It’s convenient and perfect for “last-minute” and honestly, not everyone has time to whip up fresh basil.

Do you make your own pesto or do you sometimes splurge and buy store-bought?

Spring has sprung in southern Oregon and it’s beautiful in our neck of the woods. I wish I could bottle up a little of our spring and pass it on.

But today, instead of sending the fresh flowers and sunshine, I want to send one lucky winner some happiness, delivered right to your front door.

A little springy something, I might add.

One lucky winner will win:

-Frosted Pearl 5-qt. Artisan Stand Mixer by KitchenAid
-A copy of my book, The Reluctant Entertainer
-One-of-a-kind apron from The Hip Hostess.

This beautiful KitchenAid Stand Mixer, in the new pearl white, is one of the new vibrant color choices that KitchenAid is offering in their high performance appliance collection, which also includes blenders, food choppers, hand blenders and hand mixers in Crystal Blue, Green Apple, Majestic Yellow and Tangerine.

Like all KitchenAid® Stand Mixers, Artisan® Series models have a power hub that accommodates more than a dozen attachments for making everything from pasta and ice cream to sausage.

My friend Debbie, owner of The Hip Hostess apron site, has been a part of RE since I started blogging back in 2006. This time she is giving away a beautiful apron just like the one I’m wearing, except with black rick-rack.

Isn’t it darling?

I love the fit. And you can get more custom designs by visiting The Hip Hostess Etsy Shop!

Check it out!

I’m happy to also give away a signed copy of my book, The Reluctant Entertainer. It’s a perfect gift idea — or if you are a reluctant hostess, you’ll find encouraging words in the pages, just for you!

ANSWER this question to WIN:

If you win this beautiful gift today, what will be the first thing you’d make with your new KitchenAid Stand Mixer (and of course, as you’re wearing your new apron)?

Optional Entries: (You must leave a separate comment for EACH additional entry to count)

1. Follow Sandy Coughlin on TWITTER (@SandyCoughlinRE)
2. RT the following:

Win @KitchenAidUSA stand up mixer & @TheHipHostess apron today @SandyCoughlinRE http://su.pr/1FzLKE #giveaway

3. Follow KitchenAid on TWITTER (@KitchenAidUSA)
4. Follow Sandy Coughlin on PINTEREST and PIN one of these photos from this post.
5. Like Reluctant Entertainer page on FACEBOOK.
6. Like The Hip Hostess on FACEBOOK.
7. Like KitchenAid page on FACEBOOK. Leave a comment on their wall telling them that Reluctant Entertainer sent you.
8. Become a NEW follower of RE blog (sign up for daily updates delivered to your email box; sidebar of RE, enter your email address)

Good luck, Friends! Contest will close Wed. May 2nd 2012, at midnight.

**CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED**

Frosted Pearl Artisan® Series Stand Mixer’s suggested retail prices is $399.99. KitchenAid is providing the mixer, The Hip Hostess is providing the custom apron, and I am giving away a copy of my book. I was not paid to write this post or host this giveaway today. USA residents, only, please.

I love Fridays. And easy posts that have simple entertaining ideas!

If you read my post earlier this week on how to make delicious granola, today I’m sharing a simple breakfast (or snack) entertaining idea.

It’s really fun for kids, especially with smaller portions.

Ingredients:
Greek yogurt
Honey
Granola
Strawberry (or fruit) for garnish

Take small (1/2 pint) canning jars (no lids).

Fill with Greek yogurt.

Drizzle with honey.

Sprinkle with 1-2 inches of granola. (Homemade is best!)

Garnish with a beautiful piece of fruit.

And serve on a tray with other fruit!

Happy weekend, friends.

What will you be doing this weekend?

I’ll be doing something really fun which I plan to share about later.

Also, come back on Monday for an exciting KitchenAid Stand Mixer giveaway with a couple other cool items!

Hospitality in our home is usually centered on food. With a very busy life, the best situation for connecting with people is around a meal.

But even if it’s just a glass of iced tea, or an evening with dessert – with our without a full meal – we’ve found that cherished time with friends is just about being together.

About a month ago we entertained, but this time instead of a formal meal, we made Rachael Ray’s Classic Bolognese and served it buffet style. It was perfect for adults, and perfect for kids, one tip being that you can hide the chopped carrots as you mix them into the spaghetti sauce.

And who would ever know there are chicken livers in this recipe? I’m telling you, even though they are optional, they MADE the flavor come alive!

We stacked the plates on the counter, put the food in one place, we gathered around and everyone filled their own dishes with pasta, sauce, salad, and homemade bread.

Our friends who came for dinner brought a level of excitement to our family. They are fun, full of life, ask lots of questions, and they really engage with our kids.

We turn up the volume of music, there seems to be a lot of laughter, but also serious talk of meaningful things, and in a sense, I’d say our evening “dripped with soul.”

Have you ever thought about this? That your family unit revolves around who you are as individuals and not around what you have?

It’s the people, the relationships, not the “stuff,” that makes for a great time.

Which, by the way, I was fortunate to have this exact conversation with Rachael Ray this past month in NYC at an event hosted by Rachael Ray and Ziploc Brand to promote the FreshOver program. I had to pinch myself over the fact that I was really talking to Rachael, but it was true! Many of my friends have asked me if she’s the “real deal,” and my answer is, “yes, yes, yes!”

We had similar views of entertaining, bringing friends together, the importance of putting our imperfections aside and focusing on the people. We actually talked about our gardens, too!

Here’s what Rachael shared with the group:

-Rachael Ray wanted to get involved in the Ziploc Brand FreshOver program because she’s concerned about the obesity epidemic in our country.

-She LOVES what Ziploc Brand is doing for families and that they care and have a heart.

-She’s an AVID Ziploc Brand user, including the new Perfect Portions bags.

-She encourages moms to go food shopping with their kids and suggests they teach their children to “pick a color” when shopping for vegetables.

Me with Rachael Ray, Audrey from Mom Generations and my Party BluPrint friends, Elizabeth and Dawn. (Photo Courtesy of Gary He)

Because of Ziploc Brand and Rachael’s approach to fresh eating, I thought you’d be interested in this recent survey:

The Ziploc Fresh Eating survey ranked the top-50 cities across the US on whether their residents tend to eat fresh and captured their attitudes towards eating fresh. Additionally, the results include other stats such as how often people eat fresh foods, what time in the day they are likely to eat junk food, whether or not they grow fruits and vegetables etc.

I thought it was a very informative and interesting study!

Also, don’t forget you can participate in the Rachael Ray Sweepstakes taking place until May 5th:

Ziploc is hosting The Great American FreshOver Sweepstakes from February 29, 2012 through May 5, 2012. Fans can enter on the Ziploc Brand Facebook page by “liking” the page, entering The Great American FreshOver app on the page and offering a FreshOver food idea, in the form of a recipe or tip in text. During the sweepstakes, fans will be rewarded with access to exclusive Rachael Ray videos and tips, weekly prize drawings, coupons and one lucky grand prize winner will win a trip for two to experience the ultimate culinary experience in America’s food capital – New York City. Grand prize winners will stay in New York City for three nights and four days, can eat at the most sought after “fresh” restaurants and swap recipes with Rachael Ray. No purchase or payment of any kind is necessary to participate.

Now, back to entertaining, this yummy Classic Bolognese recipe, inviting others in and showing hospitality … it’s something to really ponder.

Would you say your home life? drips with soul? And what kind of meal would you serve if wanting to accomplish a night like I shared above? Or how would you serve it?

A few months back I received a text from my friend, a mom of 3 little tikes who lives in Portland, with this picture, saying:

Fresh granola on my kitchen counter makes me happy.

We often send text messages to each other with pictures of food we are eating, cooking, sharing with others. It’s a way we stay in touch. I loved her granola pic, too, because deep in our hearts, we both love to make as much homemade foods as possible for our kids (3 under the age of 6; 3 over the age of 15).

Steph also inspired me to start making my own granola, and once I got into the routine, it not only provided a great snack (and breakfast) for the family, but it saved us a bunch of money!

Store-bought granola is way overpriced.

And often too sweet, according to my tastes. So you’re going to love this recipe today. Which, by the way, you can play around with the recipe and add in your favorite nuts or fruits, double up on the liquid if you need to.

My recipe is a generic recipe, but one thing that I learned was to not use Quick Oats, but to instead use the Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats. I hand-chopped my almonds and walnuts, because we like the larger chunks, and the first time I used cranberries and golden raisins. I basically mixed it all together in a big bowl, decided I needed more liquid, and doubled that.

I ended up cooking the granola at 250 for over an hour. You can cook it (stirring every 20 minutes) to whatever texture you like for your own household.

Another thought about granola: If you’re going through all the work of making it, make enough to keep your family satisfied! A small recipe only begs the question of:

Mom, when are you making more granola?

And guess who loves it the most in our family? Yup! Mom bags it up in Ziploc gallon bags for our college student.

It’s a simple little care package full of homemade love!

What’s homemade on your kitchen counter that makes your family happy?

I recently saw this easy DIY dinner party seating plan idea, for place cards, and it stuck in my head when you need the option of moving your guests for pre-planned seating. (I rarely use place cards unless I have 10 guests or more, otherwise it seems a bit stuffy.)

Gather
-2 colors of Post It pads (one color for ladies, one for the men)
-Scissors
-Note pad
-Pen

How it works
-Cut matching pieces of paper, leaving sticky part on one end, enough for your dinner guests.
-Draw on your note pad the size/lay-out of your table
-Write the names of guests on the Post It pieces
-Place names around the table until you come up with a “seating plan” that you like

Isn’t this a fantastic idea? I’ve penned it out on paper before, then I didn’t like it, and had to start completely over.

This way you can easily move the “guests” around, play with the way you want to seat your guests.

Boy, girl, boy, girl …

Or, girl, girl, girl, boy, boy, boy …

What’s your easy way of planning where your dinner guests will sit?

The last time we dined with our friends, we ate at their house and they cooked us a beautiful meal. Since it’s hard for them to get away (they have an autistic child), this time when we made plans to get together and I said, I’ll bring dinner!

Whatever the situation, I think it’s really fun when someone wants to come to your house and bring dinner, and then eat with you, too.

I call it “taking your hospitality with you.” It really doesn’t matter where we eat, or what we eat, it’s who we eat with that makes a difference.

I brought salmon to broil in the oven, fresh baked bread, and a baby kale salad – in a basket.

We sat out by their outside fire for about an hour (yummy appetizers) before heading in for dinner. Just before eating, I told my friend, Karen, that I needed to toss the salad.

The secret that I’ve found in serving baby kale is that it’s delicious if you allow the dressing to soak into the leaves for at least 30 minutes before serving. Most salads you’d never do that (the leaves would get soggy), but with kale, it’s slightly different.

Baby kale is unique; the flavor, texture, even the smell. I love it!

Here are the salad ingredients (below), which, by the way, always taste the salad dressing before tossing a salad. It might need more sugar, salt, etc.

Tell me about the last time you took a meal to a friend … did you stay and eat with them? What was the meal and what was the circumstance?

We are a “wrap” family for sure.

When it seems the fridge is pretty low on food, there’s always ingredients to make a healthy wrap.

I usually buy whole wheat tortillas, but sometimes I like to splurge on tomato or basil ones.

I’ve taught my kids to scope out the veggie drawer and just make it happen.

Be creative, make it bright and colorful (which makes it nice and healthy), and then drizzle your favorite dressing on top.

Heat, wrap, roll, and ENJOY!

Wrap ingredients:
Favorite meat, bacon, or salami
Favorite cheese (be creative, reach for a unique one you’d normally not add)
Avocado
Cucumber
Tomatoes
Red Cabbage
Fresh herbs

What are your family’s favorite wrap ingredients?

Today I’m sharing some of my friend’s favorite sandwich wrap recipes. I hope you are inspired with some new ideas with yummy ingredients!

Roasted Mushroom and Pepper Wrap from Aggie’s Kitchen

Buffalo Chicken Wrap from Bev Cooks

Grilled Apricot Chicken Wrap from Miss in the Kitchen

Hummus, Egg and Vegetable Breakfast Wrap from Savor the Thyme

Curry Quinoa Wrap from Healthy Happy Life

Raw Vegan Collard Wrap by Avocado Pesto

Healthy Shrimp Sandwich Wrap with Curry Yogurt Spinach from Cookin’ Canuck

Egg Wrap-and-Runs with Mushroom and Provolone from Three Many Cooks

Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps from She Wears Many Hats

Crunchy Spicy Hummus Wrap from Small Kitchen College

Cumin Roasted Sweet Potato and Black Bean Wrap with a Chilli Lime Yogurt Dressing from Maple Spice

Zesty Tofu Wrap from Dana Treat