Innholdsfortegnelse for Celebrate Simply Spring 2011 i Southern Lady

I cannot remember a time when we didn’t have my mom’s delicious sugar cookies during the holidays and anytime the occasion called for treats. They are not terribly sweet and are perfect for cutting in your favorite shapes. As a child, I thought that making cookies and icing them was the most fun in the world. Now that I have my grandchildren, Hays and Amelia, this recipe will be my favorite to make with them. Grandchildren get to cut out all they want. Hays is already helping Gigi make cookies! As you can see, fun is the word to describe our time together in the kitchen. And when Amelia is older, she will join in the flour-flying fun as well. Editor Linda Wright shares wedding photos from her daughter’s wedding.…

Mojitos Makes 4 drinks 1 cup loosely packed mint leaves ½ cup sugar 4 tablespoons lime zest (about 2 limes) 4 tablespoons lime juice (about 2 limes) 2 cups crushed ice, divided 1 cup spiced rum, divided 4 cups club soda, divided Garnish: mint leaves, lime zest strips In the work bowl of a food processor, combine mint leaves, sugar, lime zest, and lime juice. Pulse until mint is finely chopped. Divide mint mixture among 4 glasses. Add ½ cup crushed ice to each glass. Add ¼ cup rum and 1 cup club soda to each glass, stirring to combine. Garnish with additional mint leaves and lime zest, if desired. Serve immediately. To make a raspberry mojito, add ½ cup frozen raspberries that have been slightly thawed to sugar lime…

1 Keep the guest list small. To figure out the number of guests to invite, add two to the age of the child. For example, if the child is turning 5, I suggest seven guests total. 2 It’s all in the timing. Host your party between 1:00 and 4:30 p.m. and there’s no need to serve the children a meal—which can be additional stress and expense. Also, parties for the little ones are best kept to 90 minutes or less. 3 Use place cards for style and function. Decorative place cards help prevent arguments of who sits next to the birthday child, as well as provide kids with the joy of knowing a special place was designated just for them. 4 Combine a traditional theme and a unique color scheme.…

Several days before the Easter bunny arrives, have each child bring a dozen hard-boiled eggs and one of Dad’s old shirts to wear while dyeing the eggs. Cover the worktable with butcher paper, and set cups of dye down the center of the table. (You can find kits for dyeing eggs at a grocery store or craft store.) For a fancy finish, have plenty of stickers and jewels on hand so the little artists can embellish their egg-cellent masterpieces. Hippity-Hoppity Garland For one bunny you will need: 2 light purple paper dinner-size plates 1 pink paper salad- or dessert-size plate Scissors Stapler Hole punch Ribbon Staple the 2 ears to the top of the purple plate. Cut 2 ears from one of the dinner plates. Cut a bow tie from…

Mimi’s Sugar Cookies Makes about 3 dozen cookies ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened ¾ cup sugar 1 large egg ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon heavy whipping cream Colored Icing (recipe follows) Sanding sugar In a medium bowl, beat butter and sugar at high speed with an electric mixer until fluff y. Add egg, beating well. Add vanilla, and mix well. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Reduce speed to medium-low. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating well. Add cream; beat until smooth. Remove dough; wrap with plastic wrap, and chill for at least 2 hours. Preheat oven to 350°. Line baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside.…

Planning the party was half the fun. Who knew we had such jokesters on our staff ? the infamous whoopee cushion was given high priority. Cushions were tied to the back of each guest’s chair with ribbons and topped with an everlasting flower. Each salad plate held an apple with a worm garnish. the worm goes in, the worm goes out—but of course this worm is the gummy kind. Poppers, hand buzzers, and eight balls were placed at every setting as favors. For guests who thought it would be best to dine in disguise, glasses with funny noses and eyebrows were at hand as napkin rings. The food was another trick completely. A cupcake and a brownie are the basis for a miniature burger or slider. the cupcake is the…

Vanilla Bean Custard Makes 2 cups 2 cups whole milk 4 egg yolks ¾ cup sugar ¼ cup all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon salt ¼ cup butter 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and scraped, pod discarded In a large bowl, whisk together milk and yolks. In a medium bowl, whisk together sugar, flour, and salt. Add to milk mixture, whisking to remove any lumps. Place mixture in a medium saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring constantly. Simmer, stirring constantly, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until mixture coats the back of a spoon. Remove from heat. Stir in butter and vanilla seeds. Cool at room temperature for 30 minutes, stirring often. Cover tightly, and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or up to 4 days.…

Sangria Punch Makes 10 to 12 servings 2 (750-milliliter) bottles sangria 1 (12-ounce) can frozen limeade concentrate, thawed 1 (1-liter) bottle club soda, chilled ¼ cup raspberry-flavored liqueur In a large pitcher, combine sangria, limeade concentrate, club soda, and raspberry liqueur. Stir gently to combine. Serve chilled or over ice. Guacamole Makes about 4½ cups 6 large ripe avocados ⅓ cup finely chopped red onion ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro ¼ cup prepared or commercial salsa ¼ cup diced pickled jalapenos ¼ cup sour cream 1 teaspoon garlic salt In a medium bowl, place avocados. Using a potato masher or fork, mash avocados. Add red onion, cilantro, salsa, jalapeños, sour cream, and garlic salt, stirring to combine well. Cover, and refrigerate for 2 hours. Chipotle Salsa Makes about 4½ cups…

Techniques Two Marbleized Eggs Create marbleized eggs with a little vegetable oil and a dye kit available at hobby stores or drugstores. The finished product will be a surprise every time. Modern Eggs Graphic designs are easy to create with the help of tape and stickers in different shapes and sizes. 1. Following the directions on the kit, mix the desired colors in separate cups. Add about a tablespoon of vegetable oil to each color. 2. With a fork, swirl the oil. Place a hard-boiled egg on a spoon, and dip it in the color. Place on a paper towel, and let dry. 3. Dip the egg in a second color, and let dry. 4. Continue with as many colors as desired. 1. Cut electrical tape or other adhesive tape…

To announce your menu, purchase a wooden cutting board at a crafts store. Paint with chalkboard spray paint, and guild the edge with gold-leaf paint. Use chalk to list your culinary offering. For a simple appetizer, a hollowed-out yellow pepper holds creamy dip to spread on crackers. A chicken biscuit casserole is easy to make and can feed a crowd. A quick and fresh squash sauté takes only minutes to cook but has a sophisticated appeal with cheese, bread crumbs, and whole pecans. Elegant Chicken Cassoulet Makes 8 servings 3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled, drippings reserved ¼ cup chopped onion ¼ cup thinly sliced celery 1 (4-ounce) can sliced mushrooms, drained 1 (10. -ounce) can cream of celery soup 1 cup sour cream 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce ½ teaspoon…

Give ’em a Boot Use the boot template on page 106 to make place cards for your Derby Day dinner party. Add a name or an initial to the cutout boot. Tie the napkin with a ribbon, and attach the boot with double-sided tape. Mint Julep Makes 8 servings 2 cups water 2 cups sugar ½ cup roughly chopped fresh mint leaves 1 quart Kentucky bourbon Garnish: fresh mint leaves In a medium saucepan over high heat, combine water, sugar, and chopped mint; bring to a boil, stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat, and cool, about 1 hour. Pour syrup through a strainer over a bowl; discard solids. Fill 8 cups or frozen goblets with crushed ice; pour 4 ounces bourbon and ¼ cup simple syrup into…

The day of the wedding it rained cats and dogs. But Lauren was a calm cookie, and the smile never left her face. Finally there was a short break in the showers, and she and Michael ran outside with the photographer for a few quick shots. He caught them as Lauren raised her gown and Michael his slacks to keep them from getting wet. After the traditional service ended, they sighed a big sigh and hopped into an antique Mercedes to be driven to the reception. The party tables were set with blue tablecloths. For centerpieces, flowers were arranged in silver candlesticks of various shapes and sizes. An oasis cup fits into the candlestick to hold the flowers. White chair covers tied with green wraps continued the color palette. Food…

Kate Landers began planning children’s parties when a child herself, creating birthday celebrations for her younger sister Julia. Kate says, “I took more pleasure in planning fun-themed parties for her than I did in planning my own parties.” After college Kate managed a highend stationery retail business for more than three years. “I helped customers with invitations, custom party favors, and other amazing goodies for celebrations,” she explains. Kate later worked for a private event planner in Boston, helping her put together spectacular children’s parties. Then in 2009, with the help and support of family and friends, she took the leap and launched her own children’s party design business, Kate Landers Events, LLC. “I design and style small-scale events with an emphasis on oldfashioned charm, imagination, style, and sophistication,” says…

Boiled Egg Vinaigrette Makes 6 to 8 servings 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar 1 tablespoon stone-ground mustard ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil ¼ teaspoon salt 1 hard-boiled egg, finely chopped 2 pounds trimmed and blanched asparagus In a medium bowl, whisk together vinegar and mustard. Add olive oil in a slow, steady stream, whisking to combine. Add salt, whisking well. Add egg, stirring to combine. Serve over asparagus. Roasted Red Pepper and Potato Frittata Makes 1 (10-inch) frittata 8 large eggs ½ teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons butter 1 cup peeled and sliced Yukon gold potato, cooked until just tender ½ cup chopped roasted red peppers 1 cup grated Manchego cheese,divided 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives, divided 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, divided Preheat oven to 450°. In a large bowl,…

Menu Sauteed Spring Vegetables Makes Roasted Red Potatoes Boneless Leg of Lamb with Red Wine Sauce Coconut Swiss Meringue Nests Sautéed Spring Vegetables Makes 8 servings 4 large carrots, cut into ¼ -inch strips 3 tablespoons butter 1 tablespoon olive oil 3 (8-ounce) bags fresh sugar snap peas 2 yellow bell peppers, cut into ¼ -inch strips 2 teaspoons minced garlic ¾ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon ground black pepper In a small saucepan of boiling water, blanch carrots for 2 minutes; drain and set aside. In a large skillet, heat butter and olive oil over medium-high heat until butter melts. Add sugar snap peas, bell pepper, carrot, garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, or until crisp-tender. Roasted Red Potatoes Makes 8 servings 4 pounds…

Rather than the typical Easter lily, we’ve placed a white orchid in this moss-covered basket. A small nest holding tiny eggs is perched at one end of the basket, and straw bunnies and larger eggs are nestled at the other. A colorful plastic bucket holds sweet Easter treats in a variety of flavors. Tied with a bow and accompanied by a cuddly lamb, it will be a hit with the little ones at your house Easter Sunday. Vegetables looking as if they were freshly picked from Mr. McGregor’s garden fill a basket for your favorite cook. And who knows? If you’re lucky, maybe they will end up as part of your Easter dinner.…

Menu for Mom Orange juice Coffee Yogurt with fresh fruit and granola Eggs in a basket Bacon Serve in bed. Eggs in a Basket Makes 1 serving 1 slice soft oatmeal bread 1. tablespoons unsalted butter 2 large eggs, separated 1/8 teaspoon coarse salt 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 slice cooked bacon Fresh orange wedges Preheat oven to broil. Cut out a 4-inch round from center of bread slice, discarding scraps. In a medium skillet, heat butter over medium-high heat. Add bread cutout. Slowly pour in three-fourths of egg whites. Carefully place yolks on top of whites. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until whites are nearly firm. Place pan in oven for 20 to 40 seconds, or until egg whites are just…

Happy Hour Page 13–bowls with tray, Kohl’s Charming Children’s Parties Page 19–grass place mats, paper lanterns, Butterfly Craze; white dessert plates, by Rosanna from Layla Grayce; white chocolate–covered Oreos, Sweeties by Kim; pink polka-dot paper straws, the Sugar Diva; custom table linens, Sweet Tea and Linens Page 20–invitation and mailing label, Paper & Pigtails; ladybug pops, Sweet Shenanigans Page 21–ladybug cookies and cookie pops, the Cookie Jar; fondant ladybugs on the cake, Sweet and Edible; square ladybug cookies, Better Bit of Butter Cookies; pink and white polka-dot baking cups, Bake It Pretty Page 25–white gable favor boxes, Bake It Pretty; cupcake toppers and bottle labels, Paper & Pigtails; white individual cupcake stands, Hello Hanna Cinco de Mayo Pages 26-31–vases, Table Matters; all remaining items, Pier 1 Hop on Over Pages…