Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Staying in is the New Going Out

Hey Everyone!

I had the incredible opportunity to celebrate Wedgwood's 250th anniversary in Washington D.C. with the amazing Jorge Perez. While there, I got to meet some fabulous, super-stylish bloggers, and dine at a 25 foot long table all set with Wedgwood's new Dynasty pattern.


Remember, this year, staying in is the new going out! Create a great home bar, and start a party pantry with funky napkins, place-mats, and dish ware. Choose a theme, get fresh, in-season food, invite all of your friends, and ENJOY!


Check out some of the blogger's who attended the celebration for more at-home party tips:

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Food for Thought

Hi Everybody!

Check out this fun video for some great entertaining tips and some of my favorite party recipes. Why wait? Let's celebrate!

video

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Keep it Cool at the End of Summer!

Hi Everyone!

I’m taking you behind the scenes as I talk about hosting a keep it cool party for late summer!





The heat at the end of the summer can definitely put a damper on home entertaining; you may not want to slave for hours in the kitchen, and your guests may not want the typical "hot" party food, which is why I recommend throwing a "Keep it Cool" late summer party.

With awesome, chilly items such as

Edy's Slow Churned Yogurt Blends and


POM Wonderful juice,


your party is bound to be a "cool" hit!

I absolutely love this POMtiki Smash recipe-
it's delicious and a great addition to any hot summer day!
2 oz. POM Wonderful- 100% Pomegranate Juice
1 1/2 oz. Rum
1/2 oz. Orgeat or Almond Syrup
2 oz. Unsweetened Pineapple Juice
*Garnish with a pineapple wedge and mint sprig

Some of my favorite recipes for a late summer party from my latest book, Simple Stunning Parties at Home, are my Go-To Guacamole, Coconut Shrimp Ceviche, and Chocolate Abstracts (to decorate the delicious Edy's Slow Churned Yogurt Blends)



Go-To Guacamole
Serves 6

This is an instant homemade appetizer for any time. Serve it with a big bowl of good tortilla chips and Homemade Fresh Salsa or your favorite store-bought brand.

3 ripe Hass avocados
Juice of ½ lemon
Juice of 2 limes (1/4 cup)
2 tablespoons chopped green chilis (optional-use them if you like it spicy)
Salt and pepper

Peel and mash the avocados in a large mixing bowl. Squeeze the lemon juice over the avocados to keep it from browning. Stir in the lime juice and chilis, if you like (or serve the chilis on the side), and season with salt and pepper to finish.


Coconut Shrimp Ceviche
Makes 16 bite-sized “spoon” hors d’oeuvres or 4 appetizer portions

Traditional ceviche is made from raw seafood that is “cooked”
by the citric acid in lime and grapefruit juice.

I’ve suggested cooked shrimp for this recipe in case you’re pressed for time,
but you can use raw shrimp if you prefer.
I suggest canned grapefruit because any skin ruins the texture of the ceviche.
¾ pound shrimp, peeled, cooked, and chilled
½ cup lime juice
½ cup canned grapefruit sections, cut into quarters
¼ cup coconut milk
¼ cup finely diced picked jalapenos
2 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
Salt and pepper

Chop the shrimp into small pieces. In a bowl, combine shrimp, lime juice, and grapefruit. If using raw shrimp, marinate for 40 minutes before adding the rest of the ingredients. Add the coconut milk and jalapenos and toss together. Stir in 1 tablespoon of the cilantro. Allow the mixture to marinate for 30 minutes in the refrigerator, then season with salt and pepper. Serve on Chinese soup spoons or regular tablespoons, garnished with the remaining cilantro leaves.


Chocolate Abstracts
Serves 6-8

The chocolate “abstracts” look very impressive and are easy things to make.

After you melt the chocolate, let it cool a little before making the abstracts. A plastic funnel will help you pour the chocolate into the squeeze bottle without making a mess.

4 ounces semisweet or dark chocolate chips
2 pints vanilla or coffee ice cream
¼ cup amaretto

Line a baking sheet that will fit in your freezer with parchment or wax paper. Place the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe container and microwave on medium for 20 seconds. Stir and return to microwave for another 10 seconds. Chocolate burns easily, so check and stir every 10 seconds until fully melted.

Pour the melted chocolate into a squeeze bottle. Squeeze the chocolate over the parchment paper, making abstract shapes. Leave a bit of space between each shape, for easy removal. Place the tray in the freezer for about 2 hours. Once the chocolate is set, use a spatula to remove it from the parchment. Chocolate abstracts may be stored for several days in the freezer between sheets of parchment paper.

When you are ready to serve dessert, scoop the ice cream into a bowl. Top with one of the chocolate decorations. Serve immediately, splashing amaretto over the ice cream at the table.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Throwing the Perfect Picnic!

Hey Everyone!

Last Wednesday, I had the awesome opportunity to spend my morning picnicking with weatherman Mike Woods in Central Park on GOOD DAY NY!

The day couldn't have been more beautiful- and more fun.

Picnics are one of my favorite ways to enjoy a sunny day,
so here are some of my easy-to-do tips, enjoy!

- Remember to always be environmentally friendly- I love recycled plates and utensils from Whole Foods, and Verterra flatware, which are made from fallen leaves! Vazu vases are also a great way to decorate, they re-usable, easily packable, and stylish.

- When picnicking in a group, get already prepared food! DINOSAUR BBQ is delicious, and one of my personal favorites! Whole Foods also has a great selection of both produce and prepared foods.

- If picnicking for two, feel free to splurge a little! Bouchon Bakery has great tote bags filled with food (Either breakfast or lunch/snacks).

Not everything has to be already prepared, however, and
I love making some easy, tasty treats to bring along.

One of my favorites is my MUDDLED BERRY LEMONADE:
Serves 6-8

Try to get the best raspberries. Their tart sweetness will work beautifully with the lemonade.

1 cup fresh raspberries, rinsed and dried

1 cup fresh strawberries, tops removed, halved

1 handful fresh mint leaves, stems removed

1/2 gallon (64 ounces) sweetened pink lemonade (or substitute regular)

In the bottom of a pitcher, muddle the raspberries, strawberries, and mint leaves with a wooden spoon. Add the lemonade and stir. Serve over ice in sugar-rimmed glasses.


CHECK OUT THE SEGMENT:


Friday, July 17, 2009

Looking for tips to spice up your summer barbecue? Check out my article on the Daily News about hosting a budget friendly evening with great food, drink, and decor ideas!
Learn what's in season, and in style, for your summer get-together, and ENJOY!

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Check Out My Fabulous 4th of July Ideas on epicurious.com

Independence Day is only 2 weeks away--why not host a fantastic bbq at your place, with some great food and fresh décor ideas for the 4th! I'm the guest entertaining expert on epicurious.com, so Check out the recipes here. I put together a menu of tasty, simple dishes like chicken and ribs on the grill accompanied by My Sweet & Tangy Barbecue Sauce.

These dishes are all great for a backyard get-together or a picnic in the park! Happy celebrating and happy birthday, America!

La Petite Blog features Karen's New Book!

Check out this great article from La Petite Blog which features four great books on entertaining, including Simple Stunning Parties at Home!

We've been so busy producing gorgeous events over the last few weeks--I promise I'll put up some great photos very soon!

Until then, have a party, and invite me!

Monday, June 1, 2009

Real Wedding: Nadia and Amit

Here are just a few moments from the wedding of two of my close friends. The bride's mother brought us back traditional saris from Bangladesh to wear to the ceremony...there were three days of festivities, beginning with the Gai Holud, which is a light-hearted gathering for family and friends.

The photo below shows guests applying turmeric to the bride and groom's faces, a tradition that dates back to ancient times when turmeric was used as an ingredient in beauty rituals. We "beautified" our already gorgeous couple, and then fed them sweets from bountiful trays and bowls that were set out before them.
The groom rode in on a white horse...

The bride, accompanied by her own drumline...

Quite a bridal entrance, no? Nadia is dressed in the traditional Bengali colors, orange and green, and she wore flower garlands around her neck and on her hands, along with the mehndi or henna tattoos on her hands and feet.

More photos to come!

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Good Fun with the Guys at Good Day Dallas!


I was in Dallas last week for the wedding of two of my very close friends, and while I was in town I stopped by Good Day Dallas to talk about budget-friendly entertaining ideas. In spite of having to get up at 5am after the wedding ended at 1:30am, it was a blast!
Watch the video here!

These are photos of me with all the guys from the station. They get up at 3:00 in the morning every day to bring Dallas the latest news and they do it with a smile!!! Thanks guys!!!

Design Sample--Hamptons Beach Club Wedding

For every party we create, our team produces a "design sample" to give clients the opportunity to approve and/or edit each element on the tabletop. For this wedding, the bride wanted a kind of easy elegance in the tablescape. We created three different versions of this type of arrangement, so that at the party, the room will have texture and light on many levels. This is a photo of the design sample meeting, which in our case, takes place about a month before the wedding. Isn't the color story beautiful?

I love the blowsy blue and green hydrangeas paired with the more exotic orchids, and the submerged woven steel grass in the vase adds an oceanic vibe.

We based our color story around a very chic, muted khaki pintuck tablecloth in taffeta, and added an amber goblet as an accent to the club's simple, but lovely glassware.

To add more interest at eye-level, we nestled resin (ecofriendly) coral, vases filled with white blooms, and blown glass votives in varying patterns, as well as taller floating candles. There's no such thing as too many candles! The effect will be breezy and effortless, and the addition of just a few of these tall pieces within the room will work beautifully with the soaring ceilings in the club. The verdict: everyone loved it! Can't wait for the wedding!

The bottom line: if you're planning a big, important celebration such as a wedding, make sure to include a design sample meeting in your contract. This way, you'll make sure everyone is on the same page, you'll have a chance to voice concerns or just approve the overall design, and you'll avoid surprises on the big day!