Who, What, When Wednesday: Use What Ya Got!

 "This is for all you girls about twenty-five
In a little apartment, just trying to get by
Living on, on dreams and spaghetti-o's
Wondering where your life is gonna go...."

--Martina McBride 

So.....You want to have a party on a budget? Great. You can have a party with a 6 pack of hard cider and bean dip as long as you "stage it" that way. Have everyone bring a dish to pass. It takes the stress AND financial burden off of you. Plus- people love to bring something. Let them! (Trust me it has taken me years to get this!) 

Start off with a great invite. Like I said before. GET CREATIVE. Start with a sheet of paper and make an envelope out of last Sunday's comics. Use what you already have in your house. 

Find a killer recipe based on items you already have on your pantry.... Check out http://myfridgefood.com/. The ads on this page drive me up the wall, but you can click on items you currently have stocked and it will bring up some recipes which is pretty cool. Or try a simple bean dip. Cheap to make! This one is especially delish: Black Bean & Cheese Dip 

http://vegetarian.about.com/od/saucesdipsspreads/r/beansconqueso.htm

Don't always feel like throwing a party means themed plates and cups and decor. If you're at home & you have a dish washer then open your kitchen cabinets. I am SURE you have something you can use. I created this table with a sheet of paper, a rubber stamp, a marker, a 99cent pack of Halloween vampire teeth, and some plates and pumpkin decorations I already had. 

http://quotepixel.com/picture/friendship/oscar_wilde/laughter_is_not_at_all_a_bad_beginning_for_a_friendship

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Hope you have a fabulous Hump Day! 

And find a reason to have the girls over this weekend!

Hugs'n'Kisses,

Sara

Tastes-Good Tuesday: Creme Brulee!!

Eleanor Roosevelt tells us: 

"Do one thing everyday that scares you".

There are a ton of things that scare me, but that would take a whole series of blog posts.....hmmm... Do I dare do 2 blogs at once?  So let's narrow this down..... 2 of the biggest frights in the kitchen: Creme Brulee & Souffles of ANY kind. Although, Souffles continue to scare me, I conquered my fear of Creme Brulee, and I KNOW you can too! My future Mother-in-Law knows how much I love Creme Brulee & got me an awesome kit for my birthday this year. It really wasn't that hard to make! Try it!!!

Here is what you will need:

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons of sugar (and 3tbsp more for the top)
• 3 large egg yolks
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Creme Brulee Torch

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.
2. Boil some water.
3. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine the heavy cream & 2 Tbsp. of sugar.
4. Stir occasionally until small bubbles appear around the edges of the saucepan. Then set aside.
5. In a bowl, beat together the 3 egg yolks & vanilla until smooth. 
   
6. Pour the cream mixture into the yolk/vanilla mixture slowly & just a bit at a time. 
   
7. Once it is mixed up, divide into 4 ramekins.
8. Place the 4 ramekins onto a cookie sheet.
9. Fill the cookie sheet with the boiling water until it hits about 1/2 way on the ramekins. ***Fill the pan once it is in the oven. Trust me on this. I did it before I put the ramekins in the oven, and it was a nightmare getting them in the oven with the water in the cookie sheet!!!!***
   
10. Place a sheet of aluminum foil loosely over the ramekins.
    
    
    
11. Bake until custard is set. This will vary like crazy from oven to oven. Start with 25 minutes, then check every 10 minutes. Mine took about 90 minutes (we are having some oven issues though). It will look like this when it is set: 
    
12. Chill for 2-3 hours.
13. Sprinkle sugar over each chilled ramekin to cover in a thin layer. 
    
14. Start up your torch & move the flame in a circular motion covering the entire ramekin. 
    
15. Sugar will start to melt and turn a golden brown color. 
    
16. Let it set. Celebrate! You, my friend, just made Creme Brulee! 
     
    
    
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    Hope you have a fabulous Tuesday! Let me know how your Creme Brulee turns out! 
    Hugs'n'Kisses,
    Sara

Mix-it-Up Monday: Bloody Mary!!

Football season is in full swing! Sundays are packed with jerseys, tasty treats, and brewski's. I cannot say that I am a football fan, but I can definitely say I am a football season fan! I just love the football parties honestly. I love seeing everyone else get excited about the game, and totally thrive off the energy. In Western NY, you have to be a Bills fan. It's just the way that it is. They aren't great, but the fans are golden! If Sunday Funday got the best of you (and you decided to take a "sick day"), this Bloody Mary may be the absolute best way to start your Monday!

http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/56/f2/ee/56f2ee10fa368ebda6d66ea299578c04.jpg

What you need for a Bloody Mary:

• Vodka
• V-8 Juice
• Horseradish 
• Cracked Black Pepper
• Cocktail Onions
• Dilly-Beans (made from my fiances garden!!!) 

  

  Yes, that is my over-sized jumbo cat. Don't judge. He likes food.

  
  

Directions:

1. Pour shot of Vodka over ice.
2. Stir in a 1/2 - 1 tbsp of Horseradish.
3. Pour in about 1 cup V-8.
4. Add some Black Pepper.
5. Garnish with your favorite snacks & ENJOY!
   

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 Cheers to you football fans! 

 Hugs'n'Kisses,

Sara

"Throw-it-Together Thursday": Halloween Decor

Halloween has to be one of the most fun holidays there is! Candy, Costumes and Pumpkin Carving?! What is there not to love?! Since there are officially only 35 days until Halloween, I decided I would put up my Halloween decorations while I was waiting for my girlfriends to arrive for a little Thursday night Girls Night. 

I completely forgot that my fabulous sister, Laura, had gotten me a frame for Halloween last year! What a great surprise!!! (Yes, she totally gets me and my love of all things Halloween!!!)  Anyways, I don't have any fun Halloween pictures printed out. I should say, any fun Halloween pictures printed out that I know where they are...... So. I made one. It took less than 5 minutes, and you can throw it together in no time. Or just in time for your girlfriends to arrive! :)

What you'll need:

• Sheet of white or off-white paper
• Stamp pad
• Halloween rubber stamps (Micheals has them. Some as low as a $1 a piece!)
• Scissors
  
  
  

Directions:

1. Cut the paper to the same dimension of your frame. (Trace the stock photo they put in the frame to make it easy on yourself).
2. Stamp a border around the edges of the paper.
   
3. Stamp a Halloween message or word. 
   
4. Stamp the larger of the 3 stamps & feel free to place it a bit off center. Makes for a more interesting photo! 
   
5. Put back into the frame & enjoy for the Halloween season (or until you get those pictures printed!) 
   
   
   
    "Clothes make a statement. Costumes tell a story!"-- Mason Cooley 
   
   
   
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   Have a great night! The girls are here!
   Hugs'n'Kisses,
   Sara
   
   
   
   
   
   

"Who-What-When Wednesday": The Bar

Wouldn't it be great if 3 martini lunches were still considered acceptable? I really think I was born in the wrong era.  I adore fine china, cordial glasses, cocktail sets, and dinner parties. "Treasure hunting" for these items is one of my all-time favorite hobbies. A good household sale is more exciting to me than you will ever know.  One fabulous thing about household sales is that they are usually stocked with some sweet bar-ware!

We all know that if you are having 1 guest over or 20 guests over, you are going to provide some type of cocktail/wine/soda. Why not do it in style?! Here is a little inspirtation to re-vamp your bar/bar cart & get sipping in high style. Enjoy the photos! (I sure am!!!) 

Happy Hunting! I'd love to see some of your treasure finds!

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Have a great night!

Hugs'n'Kisses,

Sara

"Taste's-Good Tuesday": Potato Soup!

A few days into Fall & it's already freezing in Western New York! Honestly, I love it! Of course, I am human and at some point this Fall/Winter you're going to hear me complain about the temperature and the shorter day light hours etc, etc, etc. However, I'm into it all right now! Sweater weather, leather boots, scarves, pumpkins, apple crisps, and SOUPS! Throw all good things in the crock and call it a meal. Easy-peasy! 
Think Fall parties- Soup, salads & tasty breads! All the prep is ahead of time, so you won't have to stop socializing to prep & everyone loves it!

I threw together this tasty Potato Soup & it was a hit! I thought I'd share!

What you'll need:

• 32 oz. Chicken Broth
• 2 Cups Buttermilk
• 1 Can Cream of Mushroom Soup
• 1 Cup French Onion Dip
• 1/4 Cup Bacon Pieces
• 2 Onions, diced
• 6-8 Potatoes, diced
• Pepper & Garlic Powder to taste

Directions:

1. Dice up the potatoes & onions. 
2. Throw everything together and turn on the crock pot. 
   
3. Go enjoy a Pumpking @ Southern Tier Brewery. Come back in 2-3 hours.
4. ENJOY!  :)
   

 
 

Moma- Andy Warhol Soup Clips! :)  

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Hope you had a fabulous day! And remember. Soup, Salad, & Bread. EASY party food.

Hugs'n'Kisses,

Sara 

"Mix-it-Up Monday": Caramel Apple Martinis!

Fall is my favorite! It is a complete sensory overload! One of my favorite fall combos: Caramel & Apples!
Stop at the store on the way home from work. Better yet. Stop at happy hour, and have someone mix this up for you...... Caramel Apple Martini!!!!

You will need: Vodka, Apple Puckers, & Caramel syrup.

 In a shaker full of ice, mix up 1part vodka, 2 parts apple puckers.

 Drizzle caramel along the rim of your martini glasses...It will run down the sides. This is great- makes for sips of caramel. YUMMMMM!

 Pour in the ice cold martini & ENJOY!!!!!!!!!

"My doctor told me to watch my drinking. Now I drink in front of a mirror." --Rodney Dangerfield

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Have a great day! Make this week fabulous!

Hugs'n'kisses,

Sara