We’re in the warm-weather groove in southern Oregon, which is the perfect weather for outdoor entertaining. Today I’m sharing a delicious summer appetizer: Apricot Ricotta Honey Basil Bites.

Apricot Ricotta Honey Basil Bites

Easy to prepare and fresh in flavor, especially with the basil and sweetness of the apricots. Add the balsamic glaze for the ultimate bite!  You may also want serve these on this lunch sandwich board. (more…)

The post Apricot Ricotta Honey Basil Bites appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

Friends, if you’re like me, your pantry gets a little disorganized this time of year, and sometimes you don’t know what you really have.

Cinnamon Orange Roasted Nuts

Which is why I’m sharing this delicious Cinnamon Orange Roasted Nuts recipe with you today.

Roasting a variety of nuts is a great way to make a healthy holiday snack, but also use up what’s in your pantry! You may also want to try my Sweet and Spicy Pecans Recipe!

For homemade gifts for the holidays, try my White Chocolate Peppermint Bark or Homemade Wholesome Hazelnut Spread or Easy Feta Cheeseball Appetizer! (more…)

The post Cinnamon Orange Roasted Nuts appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

Friends, we’re preparing for summer with Ryobi Outdoor Products, and it’s never been easier!

Happy first day of Summer!

The warm weather has hit, the days are longer, and we’re gearing up for summer plans, hosting and lots of outdoor activities.

Let’s start with a great appetizer or snack board! (more…)

The post Preparing for Summer with Ryobi Outdoor Products appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

Friends, did you know that May is Swiffer Pet Month?

We have always used Swiffer products in our home, and today I’m sharing how to fight the mess our four-legged friends make with the Sweeper and Swiffer Duster! It’s a fast and easy way to tackle messes, so you can always enjoy a clean home (and for us, get ready for company quickly) – and enjoy and love your pets more.

#ShedHappens

Let’s face it, when you have any pet #ShedHappens. But with Swiffer, I love that we can get fast and easy cleaning done with Swiffer products. Just ask us, Friends. We’re always in the outdoors with Haggis and Alder. Along with that comes big and little messes.

Earlier this week, we took our Whoodle (a Wheaten Terrier and Poodle mix), Alder, across the river on a long mountain bike ride. (more…)

The post Swiffer Pet Month with Alder the Whoodle appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

Friends, we’re coming out of winter, and we’re not talking about a normal winter, we’re talking about one of the worst winters in 20 years. We’ve enjoyed a few sunny days this past week, so beautiful, it got me in the spring-cleaning mood!

Being in a smaller house now, it doesn’t take me long to clean house (floors, windows, only 2 rugs to vacuum, 3 bathrooms). It seems to be my job, part of being an adult, I guess, even though my family will pitch in if I ask them! (more…)

The post Mountain Home Wood Floors #GottaSwiffer appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

Hey, Friends! Happy Taco Tuesday!

We are a taco-loving family for sure, and any chance to try something new, like today’s shrimp taco recipe, is always fun.

If you’re looking for some easy, simple taco recipes, here are a few … Flank Steak Tacos, Mini Chicken Taco Boats, and Crunchy Black Bean Mozzarella Tacos. (more…)

The post Thai Chili Lime Shrimp Tacos appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

Focusing on healthy eating, and enjoying the fresh produce of summer, earlier this week I made this Peach Mint Salad with Toasted Pinenuts for a family dinner, and everyone loved it.

We have 2 sets of friends visiting us from our hometown (Medford) in the upcoming weekends. We’ll enjoy some healthy meals at home, and probably eat out, too. The food scene in Sunriver and Bend is fantastic! So many awesome restaurants we want to try. We have to pace ourselves though, because eating out adds up quickly! (more…)

The post Peach Mint Salad with Toasted Pinenuts appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

I’ve found when your house is ready for company during the holidays, it’s much easier to do last-minute entertaining!

Getting the family and your entertaining space in tip-top shape is much easier when you have a system or a plan, that is for sure. But what about drop-in guests? How do you involve the kids, what food do you serve, and how do you quickly clean the space where guests will be sitting?

Tip-top shape means something different for everybody! My house was neat and tidy until I had kids (years ago). Then reality set in. It was a rare occasion that it was perfect and ready for company, because we were a real-life active family with pets and messes!

I realize now that there will be time to clean when our kids are all grown and out of the house, and it’s just my husband and me! For now, our house is lively, and I couldn’t be happier! (more…)

The post Sticky Toffee Cheese Gingerbread Cookies Dessert with 4 Holiday Tips for Your Home appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

Friends, Happy Tuesday! We have several dinner parties on the calendar for this month, plus we’ll be hosting Thanksgiving next week! When I start to feel that pressure of so much to do, I sit back, refresh my mind, and remember that every day is a gift. We’ve been given a certain amount of hours to get things done, and it’s up to me to be wise with my time, and organized.

Even though all the planning for entertaining takes time and energy, it’s actually very exciting and fulfilling when the guests show up and all the hard work has been done, and you can sit back and relax with your company, as soon as dinner is served–right?

Right for some, wrong for others. I’ve heard women share horror stories with me about how clean up after dinner parties is a nightmare. That ought not to be! (more…)

The post Dish Duty Plan with Scotch-Brite Holiday Clean-up Dinner Party Tips! appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.

I have to admit, the winter doldrums get me down. That is why exercise, getting out with friends for lunch, hosting people in our home, going to see movies (or better yet, renting on Apple TV or free on Netflix), doing things for others (visit, take meals), reading good books and listening to music, and getting lots of sleep are all important to me. I also try to stay organized and eat good food.

Having a game plan with “good food” for dinner is everything! Good food, as in healthy, so we don’t reach for fast and unhealthy!

I’m always happier when I know what is for dinner and I have the details worked out.

Swiss Chard and White Bean Soup.

I made a big pot of this soup one afternoon last week (thanks to Cooking Light December 2014 issue), and it was delicious.

It’s pretty basic–white beans, potatoes, lots of veggies and Swiss chard (that we still have in our garden!) (more…)

The post Swiss Chard and White Bean Soup Recipe appeared first on Reluctant Entertainer.