Reluctant Entertainer

8 ways to Prepare Tortillas for Mexican Dishes

We’re a Mexican-food family for sure. Anything with beans, rice, spice, tortillas … we love. And I’ve also found that for large group entertaining, hosting a Mexican themed party...

First BBQ of season | Reluctant Entertainer

Grilling

10 Essential Tools and Tips for Successful Charcoal Barbecuing

We’ve had our first glimpse of warmer weather in Oregon, with a few weeks of amazing sunshine. We’ve already had a taste of dining alfresco, with our first barbecue...

Flowers

How to Make a Tulip and Mint Tabletop

Happy May Day, Friends! I love gathering people around the table and feeding them. Sometimes we gather casually in our back seating area under our covered patio, especially this...

kitchen tips

Serving La Brea Bakery Whole Grain Bread at a Dinner Party

I love bread and my family loves bread, so we are a bread-lovin’ family! When it comes to a dinner party, the kind of bread I love to serve...

Carrot Orange Soup | Reluctant Entertainer

Dinner Parties

Serving Carrot Orange Soup at a Dinner Party

I love the combination of carrots and orange. So much that last winter I served it to my friends. The recipe today, with carrots and oranges, is in my...