Paperwhites … mine are growing nice and tall in the punch bowl I planted them in a few weeks back.

I love the crisp white of the flower.

It’s a good reminder that spring is on its way, as I walk by our piano and see these beauties standing nice and tall.

But … what’s the secret to getting them to stand so tall and pretty, without falling over?

F I S H I N G L I N E !!!

Clear fishing line.

Tie a piece around the middle.

You can barely see the knot.

And no one will even know!

If you planted bulbs this winter, have you thought about using fishing line, how are the bulbs growing, and would you share a picture of them over on my Reluctant Entertainer Facebook page?

I’m so happy to announce the winner to Nester’s Winter Giveaway Day who won the KitchenAid® 13-cup Food Processor:

Congratulations to …

Debbie Smith

What an exciting honor, to be a part of The Great American FreshOver Project with Ziploc® Brand, launching this month.

As a home entertainer, I’m always on the lookout for ways to keep things fresh in the kitchen. I’ve written for the SCJ.com Family Economics blog in the past, and I’m excited about this new project which will show American families everywhere that eating fresh can also be convenient.

That’s how my family eats fresh.  For us to be able to teach others, fresh really needs to start in our kitchens, in our homes, and with our kids.

Ziploc® is committed to helping families find easy ways to eat fresh, but here’s the FANTASTIC NEWS:

Ziploc® has now partnered with Food Network personality Rachael Ray, who’s helping launch this national campaign and who will be sharing her recipes and secrets for preparing fresh foods.

I can’t wait to learn more of Rachael’s tips!

I appreciate how Rachael doesn’t claim to be a chef, but proclaims that she is a “cook.” I feel the same way, although my kids at times think I am a chef. HA!  Our college-aged son Elliot loves my cooking and recently I made a huge pot of rice, quinoa, beans, and ground turkey (with yummy spices) and sent a couple of Ziploc® Brand bags plus 2 pans of enchiladas to college with him.

Lucky boy.

Elliot’s learned the value of eating healthy, but he had to be taught. It doesn’t come naturally to kids, that is for sure.

Fresh food, divided up, some frozen, some used right away, some sent to college.

To learn more, there will also be other campaign items on the Ziploc® Facebook page.

Finally, as a part of the FreshOver mission, Ziploc® will be donating to Rachael Ray’s non-profit organization – Yum-O!, which is dedicated to helping children across the country develop positive attitudes towards eating fresh. I love this!

Families can support the cause by “pledging” to start their family’s FreshOver project by “liking” the Ziploc® Brand Facebook page, downloading Rachael’s exclusive FreshOver Recipe Guide on Facebook.com/Ziploc.

With every download, up to a maximum of 50,000 downloads, between 1/1/12 and 12/31/13, Ziploc® Brand will make a $1 donation to Rachael Ray’s Yum-O! organization on the fans behalf, for up to a maximum $50,000 donation. To further support Yum-O!, Rachael Ray and Ziploc® will donate an additional $200,000 during the same time period, no matter how many guides are downloaded.

Lastly, there are going to be some cool giveaway opportunities: A year-long supply of Ziploc® Brand Products!

Can you even imagine?

Do you ever cook healthy meals for your family, doubling the recipe and saving half for future use?

*I have partnered with Ziploc^® and am being compensated for my posts. However, my opinions on the product are my own.

A few weeks ago, I spotted a bag of shelled English peas at our local Costco.

The memory of peas for me goes back to 4th grade, as we were gathered around our family table with a well-balanced meal cooked by my mother (she always included a vegetable, although many times they were a little over-cooked).

Our meal started off every night with a family prayer.

The next thing that happened was a little embarrassing to me at the time.

In my 10-year-old state of mind, and looking back, being rather cocky, I had the bowl of peas in one hand and was teasing everyone as the bowl was circling the table, above the other foods, Anyone want peas? Anyone want peas?

And then you guessed it.

The bowl of peas was dropped and peas went everywhere … everywhere … and my Dad was not happy. I was scared to death as I saw thousands of little peas rolling around on the dining room floor.

I was not sent to my room without dinner, but I’m sure I had to do the dishes that night.

I never forget this story when I think of peas.

But back to the glorious bag of shelled peas that I lucked out on finding in Costco, and then made into this delicious soup that my family devoured. (I’ve gone back several times to Costco and they do not have the peas now, bummer!)

What’s your memory of “peas” as a child?

Have I told you how much I love my “contour silver” 13-Cup Food Processor by KitchenAid®?

And if you are the lucky winner, you will, too!

And how excited I am when “giveaway day” rolls around over at Nesting Place? If you haven’t visited Nester’s place for one of her giveaways, head on over now and take a peek at ALL that you can win, including this KitchenAid® 13-Cup Food Processor!

I’ve really been enjoying my 13-cup Food Processor since Christmas, because it’s designed for precise slicing.

Here I am slicing 5 pounds of onions for my French Onion and Apple Soup (recipe to come on RE and it’s really yummy! and a good one to make for you and your sweetie for Valentine’s Day).

By sliding the switch, you choose the width you need for slicing, thick or thin!

There are also different blades you can use for either soft or hard foods. Brilliant!

Some other features are:
-The 3-in-1 Ultra Wide Mouth Feed Tube adjusts to three different widths for processing foods horizontally or vertically.
-Two Work Bowls – The BPA-free 13-cup (3.1 L) work bowl, 4-cup (0.9 L) mini bowl and lid allow the processing of large or small batches quickly.
-All the parts are easy to clean and dishwasher safe.
-Comfort design side handle for easy viewing.
-Optimized speeds for better results.
-Heavy duty base.

Today you may be the winner and YOU’LL GET TO CHOOSE YOUR OWN COLOR!

WHAT TO WIN:
KitchenAid® 13-Cup Food Processor; externally adjustable slicing disc, reversible shredding disc, multipurpose blade and mini blade; dough blade; BPA-free 13-cup work bowl and 4-cup mini bowl; 3-in-1 ultra wide mouth feed tube; storage case – $249.99 value.

HOW TO ENTER:
1. Leave a comment telling us what recipe you will make first if you won this 13-cup Food Processor and what color you’d choose?

-Silver
-Red
-Black
-White

Optional Entries: (You must leave a separate comment for EACH additional entry to count)
2. Follow Sandy Coughlin on TWITTER (@SandyCoughlinRE)
3. RT the following:

Win a 13-cup @KitchenAidUSA food processor @SandyCoughlinRE today, via @TheNester http://su.pr/2aQJjN #giveaway

4. Follow KitchenAid on TWITTER (@KitchenAidUSA)
5. Follow Sandy Coughlin on PINTEREST and PIN one of these photos from this post.
6. Like Reluctant Entertainer page on FACEBOOK.
7. Like KitchenAid page on FACEBOOK. Leave a comment on their wall telling them that Reluctant Entertainer sent you.
8. Become a NEW follower of RE blog (sign up for daily updates delivered to your email box; sidebar of RE, enter your email address)

(This giveaway is sponsored by KitchenAid® but they did not pay me to write this post today. And remember that you can enter as many giveaways as you’d like over at Nesting Place. Giveaway ends Thursday, Januray 26, at midnight. Contest is open to US residents..)

One of the things I love about hosting casual get-togethers with friends is just that: They’re casual and easy.

Super Bowl is just around the corner, so I’m thinking ahead to my menu and how I can keep it healthy and light.

Bring out the dips and chips, but in our household, also the veggies. I looked through my vegetable drawer and decided that along with serving Pepperidge Farms Baked Naturals® Cracker Chips, I’d display a large platter of healthy, ready-to-eat vegetables.

Stick with a theme color – I chose green!
Asparagus (make sure it’s blanched and ready for eating)
Broccoli
Green onions
Green pepper
Granny Smith apples
You could also add blanched green beans, pickles, and cucumbers

How to display
I pulled out my standard large white platter and used “espresso cups” to stand some of the veggies in. Not only did the platter add more room to pack in the vegetables, I also added a different color of riddicio leaves to make the platter look pretty and appetizing.

Think light and healthy
Instead of standard chips and dips that can be so unhealthy for us, make your own dips (you’ll know the exact ingredients), and buy healthier crackers/chips.

Pepperidge Farms Baked Naturals® Cracker Chips are a great guilt-free game day snack for you to consider.

My family loved the multi grain flavor!

Delegate dishes
It’s okay to let your guests know to bring a “healthy dish” on game day. You never know, they may be very grateful for the request (if they are watching their diet).

I’ll be sharing another new fabulous healthy recipe with you next week, but in the meantime I’d love to hear more about your game day plans for next week.

Are you hosting or will you be attending a Super Bowl party?

Do you have any go-to snacks for game day, or any tips for making great-tasting dishes that you won’t feel guilty about eating?

(I received a stipend from Pepperidge Farms to write this post today.)

“If thou desire the love of God and man, be humble, for the proud heart, as it loves none but itself, is beloved of none but itself. Humility enforces where neither virtue, nor strength, nor reason can prevail.” -Francis Quarles

A few years passed without seeing a particular family, and it took almost a year to get a date on the calendar where all of our kids would be home and together. Over Christmas break our two families came together for what someone peeking in would say was a rather “lively” or “energetic” meal.

The other night, my husband and I were reminiscing about our time together over the holidays, how impressed we were with all the teenagers sitting around our dinner table, so polite, so full of zest, with a zeal for life–and actually, very humble about their many accomplishments. A few came back from college, a couple still in high school, we didn’t have to tell them ahead of time how to behave, to put their cell phones away, to interact with other people, to engage in the conversation, or how to be a part of the evening. All of the kids knew what to do, were free to voice their opinions, and participated in the evening in many ways.

We shared college stories, literature, spiritual matters. Pandora was playing, kids were singing, the piano and violin played late into the evening … we spent hours together on a Saturday night. Later we knew this evening would be a memory our family would never forget. Taking it a step further, maybe even a spiritual moment. I know it was for me; maybe for all.

We barely got started with the dinner–I think we were on the salad course–when already there were so many common interests that a person could not finish two sentences without someone else chiming in.

This is where the spoon came in.

We resorted to passing a spoon, which meant the person holding the spoon could speak. In some cultures, you may have heard of “passing the stick” in the same regard.

Passing the Spoon: The person whose hand is holding the spoon gets to hold court–to speak, without being interrupted. Everyone else listens, holds their comments or ideas, and waits. It’s a way to bring order to conversation, which we needed. What we gained was, by focusing on one person at a time, the “spoon” allowed even the quieter person to get in on the conversation.

Paul and I counted the years of parenting for both families put together–almost 40 years.

Forty years of parenting … that is a lot of hard work, perseverance, prayer, teaching–put into our kids.

Forty years, well-worth the energy of every minute spent guiding and directing, loving and disciplining …

Have you ever used the “spoon” approach to conversation around your dinner table?

I pulled our last jar of fruit from the pantry this week.

Homemade canned fruit, that is.

I’ve been trying to be disciplined lately and not run to the store for every little thing we run out of. And I’ve been trying to teach my teens the same thing.

No fresh apples or bananas? Head to the pantry, kids!

This week I grabbed our last jar of home canned cherries. It actually made me sad, because I’m not sure that I will can cherries this summer. I love them, but the rest of the family is not crazy about them. I’ve been able to cook with them on occasion, but this time I grabbed the last jar and made myself breakfast.

I love to make a “shake” in the morning with fresh fruit, or whatever fruit I can find.

I’ll be canning peaches, pears, applesauce, lots of jams and relishes this year (yes, I’m dreaming of summer.)

But probably not cherries.

If you are a canner, what is your family’s favorite fruit?

Hospitality is an important piece of life that we should all be savoring, and teaching our kids about.

A month ago I hosted a small dinner party with 7 adults when, just when I thought things were going “perfectly,” the fire alarm went off. You should have seen my husband and me rushing around, fanning the smoke detector, opening every window and door, yelling at the dog … yes! I let something burn in the oven. I looked up and saw my guests’ faces staring at me; it was rather humorous! We went on to enjoy an incredible evening, but I will admit, it did take me out of my “entertaining mode,” for a short amount of time.

I’d love for you to join me over at Simple Mom’s today where I’m sharing 7 Ways to Practice Imperfect Hospitality … Visit, HERE.

Oh, and Tsh just announced all of the contributors to Simple Mom blog for 2012. Check out this post on who the writer’s would invite to “their ultimate dinner party.”

I laugh when I think about the relationship between love and food with my family. They are always intertwined!

Especially with my teen boys, I can always feel their love when I pull a yummy dinner out of the oven. Arms wrap around me, telling me how much they love me. I know FOOD is their love-language, at least with me.

Good Food = Love.

The heritage we’ve had with good food, and the stories that go with many of the meals served in our home, includes an appreciation translating into nurture and love.

The “fresh aroma” is always enough for me to get some good Mommy Hugs.

Do you get Mommy Hugs with food, or feel appreciation from your family when you cook a healthy meal?

Today I’m sharing a delicious meal I made over winter break when my kids were all home. It was fast, easy, and I used Dave’s Gourmet Butternut Pasta Sauce.

Today I’m sharing my thoughts on entertaining and exercise, and how they work together. I’m really interested if you feel the same way.

I’m passionate about entertaining, inviting people into our home to share a meal and soul connection. It’s powerful what one night with friends and meaningful talk can do for a person. It brings encouragement. Encouragement means to “bolster one’s courage.”

It think of Eleanor Roosevelt’s quote:

“We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face… we must do that which we think we cannot.”

Obviously, you don’t have to exercise at all to have people in to your home, but one thing I’ve learned is that I’m a much happier hostess when I take care of my body and exercise – regularly. (Above photo on an early morning walk.)

I won’t go into the many reasons why we all need exercise, except to say that if I’m going to have energy for others, I need energy myself.

(My friend Jenny’s Labradoodle and Goldendoodle, Bella and Finnegan. Aren’t they cute?)

It also helps build relationships while exercising with friends.

Exercise actually brings energy to my body, soul, and mind.

Body – We all know the implications of exercise and health.
Soul – When I “share life” with my running partners, it’s good for the soul.
Mind – When I’m out by myself exercising I can pray, meditate, and focus on good thoughts.

It all works together for good when we have company over. I’m more pleasant with my family ahead of time, I’m more organized in my mind as to what needs to be done, I can focus and plan, and then it all comes together to make a HAPPY HOSTESS and a happy event.

Do you think exercise benefits your life and relationships?

Years ago I posted a slow cooker breakfast casserole idea on RE, but it’s now buried in my archives. Time to revive the idea and post a new recipe, one I tried this last weekend with my family.

You prepare it the night before, turn on the slow cooker, go to bed, and when you wake up, breakfast is ready!

By the way, here’s a little trivia on the difference between a crockpot and a slow cooker. I found it to be interesting.

Back to the yummy recipe …

We love gouda cheese, and the flavor was really good in this casserole.

I also baked my own potatoes, cooled, peeled and shredded them for the recipe. It’s much less expensive than buying frozen.

Do you ever make your own hash browns, or do you always buy frozen?

Our friends have come to the end of their second week of vacation in Chile, taking their 3 little kids and staying with missionary friends and experiencing life with the Chileans. I asked Steph if I could highlight some of their adventures, especially when it comes to food.

Enjoying ONCE: One of my favorite things is that the Chileans eat their larger meal in the afternoon, around 1 or 2 pm. They then have siesta (rest time), and everything opens back up for business around 3 or 4. In the evening, they have what they call ONCE, a light meal of tomatoes, avacados, bread, eggs, carrots. Often times people get together for ONCE, and it just seems so simple, so easy. I am totally doing it when we get back to the States. What is absolutely proven to me is that you do not need to make an elaborate meal–just put out some food items on the table and enjoy the people you are with.

Farmer’s MARKET (Feria): We’ve made it every Tuesday and Friday to the farmer’s market (or Feria). We walk there with empty bags and hoof it home with full bags. It is amazing to have all the fruits and vegetables that you are used to seeing in the summer. The strawberries are just coming to an end, but so good. The first time we went, we took the kids and ate our way through the market. At the end, the kids were covered in strawberries. It’s so fun to interact with the local farmers. One very key ingredient to their cooking is squash; they grow the biggest squash! You decide how big of a hunk of squash you want, and then they get out their knife and start sawing off a piece. It is delicioso.

A new TABLE: The kitchen at the house where we are staying is tiny, with no counter space. My husband and friends spent one day to build a bench. The hardest part was finding a store that would sell them the wood they needed, and stay open long enough to make the boards. They were at one store, ready to buy the wood, but then it closed for siesta. So they had to come back the next day. It is crazy to have the money ready to buy, and then, “Oh you’ll have to come back”. A little taste of Chilean life.

Cerdo Boca: One night at dinner (or Once) our son was telling a story and talking with his mouth full. I told him in Spanish to close his mouth. I said, “Cerdo Boca.” One of our new friends laughed because what I just said was “Pig Mouth.” What I should have said was “Cerrado Boca.” Oh so close! Our oldest daughter brings this up almost every day, she thinks it is so funny.

Our friends dreamed and saved for years to take their family to another country, for their family to experience a different way of living.

For some, even a “better” way of living.

All three of our children have been to Mexico on mission trips to build houses, but not our family of 5 experiencing it together. One day …

Have you ever taken your family to experience life in another country? And how does a lighter meal around 3-4 sound to you?

“Don’t agonize. Organize.” – Florynce Kennedy

When things around me are organized, then I feel organized and motivated.

On the other hand, when I’m disorganized and surrounded by clutter, well you know the rest of the story. I agonize!

When it comes to the kitchen, the fridge, the pantry … it gets out of control really fast in my household. How about yours?

I think it’s because we’re a really busy family, I work part-time, our kids have kitchen duty every day so things don’t always get put back in “their place.”

I invited my talented friend, Sam, over with her label maker. She willingly came to help me out, pulled everything out of the pantry, looked at dates and did a lot of tossing, and put everything back in … it’s “place.”

She had a plan before she even arrived!

Unfortunately, without a plan, pantry shelves can quickly become a disorganized mess, making it difficult to find items you need, and really frustrating the kids.

How to organize a pantry with a label maker

1. Pull everything out of the pantry.
2. Check dates as you pull items out and either toss, or set aside on the bar or table.
3. Organize by groups of foods, ie., rice, pasta, beans, soups, sauces, etc.
4. Wipe out the pantry with hot soapy water.
5. As you put the items back in, decide what should be put into baskets or containers.
6. BRING THE FOOD ITEMS TO THE FRONT that you use the most.
7. Label each section to make it easier on other family members.
8. Group small things in baskets, paper items in baskets, and put lightweight items or things you rarely use on the top the shelves.
9. Put snacks and cereals at eye-level for kids.

I’d like to talk about why it’s important to bring to the “front” of the shelves the items you use the most.

We are a bean family and my children have learned creative ways to use a can of beans.

I like to bring the healthier items to the front so they are accessible and will be used.

Remember, be organized–you have to have a “plan.” And to stay organized you have to “stick to the plan.” Also, here’s a post from last year on expiration dates. Now that brings up a whole other subject, but do you fudge on expiration dates?

It’s a brilliant idea to bring an “expert” over to help with large projects that may seem overwhelming. Or even a friend with a second opinion.

And I just may be calling my friend Sam over again for a New Year’s “sprucing up.”

Do you have an organizational plan for your cupboards, or do you live in happy chaos?

When we examine our families, we’re likely to find the roots of who we are.

Last month I received a very special Christmas gift from my sister, Di, one that I’m reminded of daily because it’s in my dining room, in black letters, up high on the wall. And the cool thing is, the 3 of us girls have the same vinyl words on our dining walls. (My sisters and I at Christmas.)

The family prayer on my Dad’s side of the family, one we sing every time we are together, is scripted out in black vinyl ink, stretched across one wall in my home.

The words remind me of my grandparents and family. I’m not sure where this song/prayer originated from, except I grew up singing it with my Dad’s family, and later my Mom’s family incorporated it into large group prayers.

One of my early memories of this song was at a family reunion in Turner, Oregon, where my Grandfather and his large extended family (the ones who were still living; he had 20 brothers and sisters–yes, 2 mothers) gathered together for a weekend of celebration.

Before each meal, we’d sing the Friesen prayer.

God is great and God is good, And we thank Him for our food …

Hundreds of family members gathered. I was young; I probably only intimately knew a handful of cousins, but the experience was impacting and binding.

My dining space before I added the vinyl wording.

My niece, Lisa, the creation behind the project.

The final “Amen.”

The finished product.

When we examine our families, we find the roots of who we are.

And those roots anchor our kids.

And their kids.

And their kids’ kids.

Written words can capture the senses, and they give us a feeling of belonging.

Do you have anything in your home that, as you walk by a certain room or space, reminds you of family?

(My niece is very talented and has her own little biz going over at Dabrowski Designs. We did not use a company as she created this herself. She also used a straight line laser level to get the “perfect” line.)

Mm-m-m … chocolate and Heath candy. Mix the two together and it’s a great dessert to take to a party.

Sometimes our family gets invited out spur-of-the-moment, or I’m working or already have plans for the day and I don’t have much time to spend in the kitchen on a family meal.

I call these my “In a hurry brownies.”

Take a high-end brownie mix and use the “cake-like” recipe off the back. (Which usually means add 3 eggs instead of 2.)

Add 1/2 package of Heath English Toffee Bits.

Sprinkle walnuts on top.

Bake, serve warm with Vanilla ice cream.

You can even drizzle chocolate sauce on top with whipped cream if you really want to make it fancy (and add the calories).

What do you take when you need a last minute dessert for a party to feed a crowd?

I’m crazy about the “fresh feel” of January and putting all the Christmas stuff away, tidying up, thinning out, simplifying … it just feels good.

My husband and I went to a few after-Christmas sales and I picked up my annual fresh Paperwhites.

What are Paperwhites?

Paperwhites belong to a group of Daffodils that are easily grown in a pot or vase indoors. Their large clusters of pure white flowers arch above graceful, blue-green foilage, and their perfume fills a room with fragrance. Paperwhites require no preparation and are absolutely foolproof. When bulbs are planted in early December, they will flower in 4 to 6 weeks.

Mine were planted the last week of December, so I’m counting down the days!

Now the fun part for me is that this year I planted them in a … tah-dah … punch bowl.

My cousin passed down to me her punch bowl set with 12 dainty cups, which actually match my Dollar Store goblets. I love how she had me in mind when she was thinning and cleaning through her stuff.

Yes, I was looking for something big, pretty, and that would hold all of the bulbs (I planted 3 boxes).

I love how the lip comes in, and it will hold them nice and tight as they grow taller and taller.

Follow the directions on the box.

They started looking like this.

But in 5 days time, grew to look like this.

I wanted to post about this now, because there’s still time to grab some after-Christmas sales and get your bulbs planted.

Maybe in your punch bowl, now that the holidays are over!

Let’s all share pictures of our beautiful bulbs in about 6 weeks, okay? (Here’s what I “re-potted” last year, not Paperwhites, but pretty!)

I’ll be sharing mine!

Do you plant winter bulbs in December or January, and what are your favorites?

During the coldest days of winter it’s nice to infuse the house with yumminess and pull bread out of the oven for the family.

One of the tricks of harvesting zucchini in the summer months is to blanch and freeze it, usually by measuring it in 2 cup increments (and placing in a Ziploc bag), because it’s so plentiful in the summer months and excellent for baked goods in the winter months.

The process of freezing squash is actually simple, but just takes time and discipline to use up all that zucchini growing in your garden.

Here’s a tip: If you freeze the zucchini before blanching it, the enzymes in the zucchini will keep working even when frozen and could lead to discoloration and loss of flavor and consistency.

So back to a cold winter morning when all of our family was home for the holidays, including our foreign exchange student from China, which was so enjoyable. We indulged in a loaf of zucchini bread …

Some put butter on their warm piece, others, peanut butter, Nutella, or my favorite … Almond Butter.

Made with organic products and spelt flour … the loaf did not last long in our household.

What’s your favorite “spread” to put on a warm piece of bread?

After Christmas we hosted a small gathering in our home for our daughter, who’s headed to Carnegie Hall in 2012 with a group that she plays violin with. It’s an exciting time for our family!

I’ve already been in the entertaining mode, but since Christmas was passed, I wanted to add an element of freshness and greenery.

I fell in love with the lemon cypress plants at our local grocery store and the price was right to have them inside, decorated, and then be able to plant them outside in larger pots in a few months.

To get ready for about 25 people in our home, I pulled out the white dishes that I’d be using for the spread.

Paper napkins and plates from the Dollar Store.

I added green ribbon to the plants and placed them in a white dish (since I will be planting these in our courtyard, I did not want to buy pots for the plants, an additional expense.)

Placed them around the house.

Used pictures of old-violin-days.

We brought out our daughter’s first violin that she started playing at age 4.

A memorable night, we were grateful for the gift of music, old and new friends, and the effort our daughter put into her concert.

How to care for lemon cypress trees
From what we’ve been told, these pretty little plants need a TON of water. But I took some info from the web on how to take care of them if you want to read up on them before you purchase them. They are so bright and cheery and really fun to decorate with!

Indoors
Keep your lemon cypress tree near a window where light is plentiful. During colder months, consider using a light box to give it light. Keep the soil moist, especially during the winter. According to Indoorplantcare.com, new lemon cypress owners often make the mistake of watering their trees using only tap water. The lemon cypress needs water with properly measured fertilizer for nutrition.

Outdoors
Lemon cypress trees are accustomed to a fair amount of heat. About 68 degrees is best. Caring for a lemon cypress outdoors requires maintaining a frequent watering schedule and ensuring that the tree is properly fed and trimmed. Indoorplantcare.com suggests planting lemon cypress in a somewhat acidic mixture of compost. Adding a little clay or sand to already fertile soil will keep your lemon cypress growing year after year.

Are your Christmas decorations down, and how do you plan to refresh things up this month?

Dining with one’s friends and beloved family is certainly one of life’s primal and most innocent delights, one that is both soul-satisfying and eternal. – Julia Child

Tonight at midnight, we’ll be celebrating a brand new year on Reluctant Entertainer.

I want to thank my readers for their love, support, enthusiasm, and comments in 2011. I appreciate you!

The New Year provides a catalyst for recalling the good times, doesn’t it? We reflect back on the year and we look forward to what’s to come.

The thread of celebrations run through our homes, and for many, it’s focused the most around our dinner tables, where so much of “life” takes place.

In this post, I want to share some positive memories and good times that I had in 2011 with the friends and loved ones who helped create them.

Just for fun, I want to look back to some of my favorite published posts.

The real miracle of food around the table

If your gathering lacks pizazz and Cranberry Hazelnut bread

Butternut mushroom bread pudding

A cry for help that “I don’t want to entertain”

NYE party and chocolate dipped bacon

Teaching our kids that imperfect is good with Oreo Truffles.

Folding or hanging tablecloths?

Does having a history with friends make entertaining easier?

Roasting tomatoes and whole wheat pasta

Not-too-fancy Lemon Curd ice cream

How to end a party with style and grace

Girls having fun with Risotto with Butternut Squash

Getting strawberries planted in the ground early

How to set up a holiday buffet

Wow your guests with Red Beet Chili

Do you fudge with expiration dates in your pantry?

How to make cake flour

Forcing branches on your kitchen counter

Balcony Girls, chocolate sauce, and the Theatre of Bullying

Hospitality and story about Virginia

8 tips on gardening in the city

Flexibility with teens and Buttermilk Coffee Cake

My house is too clean?

Setting a beautiful Easter table

The perfect boiled egg

Benefits of entertaining 2 nights in a row

Wild mushroom and white bean tart

Serving and giving at a dinner party

My son set the table and it wasn’t perfect

How to store fresh picked strawberries

Teen party with mini pavlovas

How to make a fruit and flowers centerpiece

Growing seeds with an AeroGarden

One hot summer’s night … (and 30 Days of Summer Entertaining)

How to stencil a cake

Pork Chops with Glazed Apricots

Chicken and Beans Nacho Casserole

How to mix and freeze herb butter

Mashing pinto beans

5 part series on how to can jam

Roasted balsamic strawberry bruschetta

How to take a meal to a family in need

What is a blogging conference?

More relaxed when everyone pitches in

Nutella Berry Bruschetta

Summer pulled chicken pizza on pita bread

Mini caprese bites

How to cook a large houseboat meal

How to create a centerpiece using lavender

Old-fashioned peach cobbler

Prawns with avocado and mango salad

Using a secret ingredient when cooking dinner

How to thank a hostess

Zucchini noodles with parmesan sauce

Canning peaches with a friend

Technology versus people

Sisters in NYC

Even in a messy house

Turkey bacon meatballs

What is discontentment?

Again, a huge thank you to all my readers in 2011! You’ve encouraged me to keep writing, cooking, and sharing table experiences.

Happy New Year, Friends!

What was your favorite post on RE in 2011? What would you like to see more of on RE in 2012?

If you’re gearing up for a New Year’s Eve party, here’s a little inspiration from a post I wrote last year.

It’s about how to invite and delegate, create and borrow, be organized and think ahead.

It includes easy flow and name tags, conversation and music ideas, and … tah-dah … what to wear!

You can read all about it, here.

Also, one year ago, I knew that my NYE dinner party would be a part of this beautiful new book, Where Women Cook: Celebrate! It was a blast to put it all together (in the month of October). And I’m grateful for my friends who participated.

My hope and dream was that by sharing my annual dinner party, others would be inspired as well.

Laughter, sharing stories, acceptance, and the connection to existing and new friendships form the basis of hospitality. Feelings of inadequacy, unrealistic expectations, fear of failure, and the lack of time all conspire to steal the joy that comes from opening one’s home to others.

“Fear is often a jail cell locking us in so that we don’t form friendships.” Friends bring zest to life. Without friendships, we become lonely, isolated, and smaller than we want and need to be.” – Where Women Cook: Celebrate!

One of the recipes I shared for dessert at this dinner party was Chocolate-dipped Bacon.

Yes. Chocolate. Dipped. Bacon.

If you’re having a party this year, try this on your guests. They will love you.

Ending the year of 2011, and looking back on many hospitable moments with great friends, brings beautiful feelings of joy and nostalgia.

As I’ve said throughout the year, entertaining is all about the people.

Will you be hosting a NYE party this year or participating in one?

The winner to the Sierra Mist giveaway is Ann from Cooking Healthy for Me. Congrats, Ann! And our friend, Tim Tidball, took the pictures above for the book!

Also, I have something very NEW to share! In 2012 I’m partnering with Ziploc Brand. I’m also excited that there will be giveaways and lots of great tools and tricks from Ziploc but the FUN part is that I’ll be working with a celebrity partner! Stay tuned for the official announcement next month!

*I have partnered with Ziploc® and am being compensated for my posts. However, my opinions on the product are my own.