Party Ready Pantry: Pesto

image via Food Network

Pesto is one of those things that is so simple yet so full of flavor! There are so many varieties of pesto out there but the easiest to find in the store is basil pesto. Basil pesto is the perfect combination of fresh basil, olive oil, garlic, nuts, and parmesan cheese. What makes it worthy of a party? It is perfect on its own but with just a little extra love..pesto change-o, you can have any number of drool worthy dishes to serve your guests. Just how versatile is it?

• Serve with some crusty bread for the perfect dipping sauce
• Drizzle over fresh tomatoes
• Mix with mayo for a flavorful addition to your favorite sandwich
• Combine with your favorite vinegar for an easy salad dressing
• Use as a base for a quick marinade
• Add to fish, chicken, steak, pork..you name it, pesto can made it special
• Stir into pasts for a light sauce
• Top off your tomato soup with a little pesto for a 4-star presentation

See what I mean? One jar of pesto can go a long way in making your food the star of the evening! Can't find it at the store? No worries. Pesto is really easy to make at home. Here is a great recipe from Food Network  to get you started.

Basil Pesto

Ingredients

• 2 cups packed fresh basil leaves
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• 2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino cheese (see Cook's Note)

Directions

Combine the basil, garlic, and pine nuts in a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add 1/2 cup of the oil and process until fully incorporated and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

If using immediately, add all the remaining oil and pulse until smooth. Transfer the pesto to a large serving bowl and mix in the cheese.

Freeze single portions of the pesto in an ice cube tray for easy storage and use.

Have a little more time to play with pesto? Check out some of these yummy recipes..

Pesto Veggie Manicotti

image via PeasAndCrayons.com

Pesto Plum Fontina Panini

image via IowaGirlEats.com

Pesto Zucchini Spaghetti



image via PerrysPlate.com



The Recipe Search is On with Gojee.com

I know what you're thinking.... do we really need another recipe search website? Normally I would say no but then I found Gojee. Gojee is completely different from the other searches out there. It searches through thousands of recipes by top food writers and the results are based on what ingredients you actually have on hand and what you like to eat. No more wasting time sifting through a ton of recipes only to find things that you hate to eat or ingredients that you could only find if you flew to India. The site simply asks what you have on hand, the things you crave, and the things you don't care to eat. The results are returned via gorgeous pictures of delicious food! You have to sign up for an account but this allows Gojee to keep track of all your likes and dislikes so that your search is truly customized.

Last night I did a search based on a craving for avocados and bacon then up pops a full screen photo of an amazing looking chicken, bacon, cream, mini taquito. Yes please! All the things I like and nothing I don't!



Gojee.com

 What will your cravings inspire??

Entertaining Tip of the Week

Happy Weekending!

Illustration by kates

DIY Powdered Sugar Plate Decoration

People never cease to amaze me with their creativity. Like this idea from the Paper Source blog. Lauren used food coloring and powdered sugar to make an ink that she then stamped onto plates. Really...how do people come up with this stuff! It's such a clever idea and an unexpected detail that's sure to impress your guests. I haven't tried this for myself but it is definitely on my list for the future.

MYdrap: Disposable linens get an upgrade!

This is the coolest thing I have seen in a while. Most of us don't have an entire collection of table linens readily available to suit each of our entertaining events but why would you? There are so many cute and super affordable disposable options out there. But what do you do if you want something a little bit more formal but don't want to splurge on a new set of linens that will probably end up collecting dust? You shop at MYdrap! MYdrap sells disposable linens that are made of 100% cotton fibers and have the feel of a nice button down shirt instead of the paper feel of other disposables. They are even biodegradable and recyclable. I have also heard that they stand up to a few trips through the washer before they are ready to be tossed. The coolest part...they come in a giant perforated roll like paper towels.  Pretty neat if you ask me.

School of Fish: Ceviche! Featuring Welton's Seafood Market

I once read that you shouldn't cook fish for a crowd and I think it's a bunch of baloney! I know the thought of cooking fish is intimidating for even a seasoned home-cook but there are plenty of recipes out there that are perfectly suited for entertaining. And the pay-off is huge! Fish is delicious and your guests will be super impressed.

If your still feeling unsure, I suggest finding a local seafood market. They will have the freshest seafood and will be able to answer your fishy questions. My hubby and I are super fortunate to have Welton's Seafood Market, just  steps from our house and we have learned so much there! John, the resident fish expert, is so knowledgeable and is always willing to give us a lesson on preparing fish.

photos by kate

One of my favorite fish dishes is ceviche and it couldn't be easier or more delicious. Ceviche is a traditional Peruvian dish that involves "cooking" raw fish in a citrus marinade.  Sound scary? Don't be afraid! Here is one of my recipes to get you started.

photos by kate

Easy Summer Ceviche (serves 2-3)

3/4-1 lb. of white fish such as red snapper or flounder cut into 1/2 inch cubes (shrimp and callamari work great too!)

7 limes, juiced (roll limes on cutting board or microwave for a few seconds to release the juices prior to cutting)

1 orange, juiced

1 peach, diced

1 avocado, diced

1/4 of red onion, finely chopped

1 jalepeno, seeded and chopped

1 tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro

salt and pepper

crackers or chips for serving

Combine the fish and the juice from the limes and orange in a glass bowl. Make sure the liquid covers the fish. Add more citrus juice if needed. Refrigerate for approximately 4 hours or until fish is opaque throughout. Drain the juice from the fish and add the remaining ingredients. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with crackers or chips.

The day before the party you can do all the necessary chopping so that on party day, all you have to do is marinate the fish and throw it all together.

The beauty of ceviche is its versatility. Here is another variation from Ashley of Welton's Seafood:

We used sheepshead and calamari, but any white, meaty fish or even shrimp is delicious. I especially love shrimp ceviche because, like the sheepshead, it's a little sweet!

For the shrimp and calamari I was told to steam it slightly, like 3 mins, before marinating it with the fresh lime juice. Some add deseeded and chopped serrano chiles & tomatoes before marinating, but I prefer adding them after for better texture. I also add chopped red onion, avocado, and cilantro. Then salt, pepper, and sugar to taste. I think lemon zest, fresh corn, and/or chopped peaches would be a nice touch too!

I hope you will give ceviche a try! It really is yummy:)

The Long and Short of It

I am obsessed with the supersized rectangular table trend I have been seeing everywhere! I just love how these long tables look all dressed up for a party. It makes such an impact having a tablescape that seems to stretch for miles! And what a feeling of family having everyone at one big table instead of divided among smaller round tables.

If you're blessed enough to have the room and the budget to swing this set-up at your next soiree, give it a shot and please invite me:) But if you're like me and have a place that is about as big as one of these tables, here's a little eye candy to dream about...



Long live this gorgeous trend!

What do you think? Do you like the long tables or do you prefer a different arrangement?

Photos via Project Wedding, Party Resources, Style Me Pretty, and Ruffled