Simply Stated

Transforming Leftovers

KateParker — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 10:09:17 -0400

I hate seeing food go to waste - especially when I'm the one who took the time and effort to prepare that food. When planning menus for parties, I'm always thinking about what I'll do with the leftovers - which items are good (or better) after a day or two in the fridge, and which can be easily transformed into new dishes.

The perfect example: Black Bean and Corn Salsa. I made a huge batch of it last weekend for a Fourth of July cookout, and while we consumed plenty of it on the Fourth, the recipe yields a hearty portion and we continued to eat it for - count 'em - three days in a row. How did I not get sick of this dish? Two reasons: 1) It's refreshing and absolutely delicious (with crisp, basic ingredients you don't get sick of) and 2) I mixed it up!

My Salsa has fresh grilled corn (cut from the cob), black beans (rinsed and drained), red and green peppers, jalapeno pepper for heat, diced onions, tomato, cilantro, lime juice, and a splash of olive oil. All chopped up and mixed together. There's an even easier version (that's quite similar) here.

The no-brainer leftover go-to when dealing with these ingredients is one of my favorite easy dishes: quesadillas. I simply heat some oil in a pan, place one flour tortilla in, spread some shredded mexican or cheddar cheese across the top, then spoon in a hearty serving of the leftover salsa, top with more cheese, another tortilla, flip, cook, and voila - dinner in 5 minutes.

If you cooked a few too many burgers on the grill the night before (like I did last weekend), you can crumble the cooked burger meat into the quesadilla as well. Sidenote: I always over-estimate the number of burgers to serve at a cookout (one of my eternal hostess flaws - I make too much!), so this is a great way to not let that meat go to waste as well. I also use it in quick pasta sauces. But I digress...

Salsas like this are also great for instantly transforming your average breakfast into a more brunch-worthy dish. I do a mexican scramble with this leftover salsa as well. Just put the salsa in your skillet first (with butter) so it heats up while you beat the eggs, then add eggs and scramble. I serve this with a spoonful of the cold salsa on the side and a dollop of sour cream.

And finally - Fiesta Salad. This is basically what I call all salads that I throw together at the last minute using whatever I have handy, and let me tell you - Fiesta Salad always manages to turn out quite yummy. With this salsa, I just chop up some fresh romaine, drain any juices off the salsa, toss it in, top with cheese (crumbled goat is my favorite here), and throw in a few tortilla chips (broken up) for crunch. You can dress it simply with a little olive oil and balsamic tossed in, or mix together some sour cream, lime juice, and olive oil for a creamier dressing.

You really can stretch certain dishes with only a few pantry/fridge staples - tortillas, cheese, eggs, lettuce - and the best part is: your family won't even realize they're eating leftovers.

Okay, time to spill 'em: what are your favorite tricks for making use of leftovers? Please comment below.

Include original recipe and instructions for the leftover transformation below and I'll publish some of my favorites in a future post - after testing them out in my own kitchen of course!

Celebrating the Fourth: Festive (and Easy) Food and Drink

KateParker — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:59:21 -0400

The Fourth of July is quite possibly my favorite Holiday. There's nothing like a summer day spent celebrating our freedom as Americans with friends and family. I love getting everyone together for a festive meal and some celebratory cocktails before heading out to watch the fireworks.

Aside from the incredible guide to easy summer drinks, dips, and desserts put together by Real Simple's food team, here are the "go-tos" I'll be turning out this year:

Watermelon and Feta Salad - my guests rave every time I serve this dish, and it couldn't be easier to make.

It's very refreshing - the perfect compliment to burgers and corn on the cob, which I'll also be serving.

Why not mix it up with one of these inventive burger variations?

A Fourth of July meal wouldn't be complete without corn on the cob. I like mine grilled with butter and salt. This recipe calls for parsley, which is a nice extra touch.

While I'm not interested in serving a spread of exclusively red, white, and blue food (which risks looking forced and over-done), I do like to keep these colors in mind when selecting dishes. Done in a subtle way, it can add that extra touch of festivity to your party.

This incredible desert is the perfect example; a friend of mine made it for a dinner party last week, and it was an instant hit. It's the best-looking - and most delicious - red, white and blue dessert I've found.

Three-Layer Berry and Brown Sugar Pavlova

On to the drinks...While the Boyfriend claims that every "true American" drinks Budweiser (not Bud Light) on America's Birthday - preferably out of the "Redcoat Can" (sidenote: what is this?) - I like to offer my female guests a watermelon cocktail.

I call them Pink Ladies, and while they don't readily admit it, most men at the party end up trying one, loving it, and asking for more. I think it's the sweet-tart combo of the watermelon and lemon that makes it so addictive. I add some lemonade mix (powdered) while blending to give it an extra kick.

And when it comes to dressing the table, I keep it simple this time of year. I'd rather be out enjoying some time on the water than fretting over an elaborately coordinated table setting. The colorful food and drink I'm serving takes care of making things look festive. I'll grab some sparklers at the grocery store and anchor them in a sand-filled vase as a centerpeice (for easy post-dinner lighting), and probably set out a few mini-flags and Uncle Sam hats from the dollar store.

How are you planning to spend the Fourth of July? Any favorite dishes or drinks? Share them here.

4th of July Cocktail Recipes

JenniferSbranti — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:52:00 -0400

Looking for a festive cocktail to serve this weekend? Here are 5 fun, patriotic signature drink ideas from 'round the web:

1. Fourth of July Cocktail from Guy Fieri
A thin slice of jalapeno or serrano pepper adds a fiery kick to this tequila-based cocktail, which gets it's pretty colors from cranberry juice, watermelon schnapps, and blue curacao.
{via Food Network}

***

2. Strawberry Sucker
Strawberry schnapps, vodka, and club soda make up this sweet & fizzy afternoon drink. Add a skewer of blueberries for a splash of blue!
{via Rachael Ray}

***

3. Watermelon Mint Cooler

Ingredients
• 4 cups seedless watermelon chunks (about 1 pound)
• 1 1/2 cups lemonade
• 1/2 cup fresh mint
• blackberries for garnish (optional)

Directions
In a blender, puree the watermelon and lemonade; strain if desired.
Stir in the mint and serve over ice.
For an instant cocktail: Stir in 1/2 cup vodka or tequila before serving.
Garnish with a blackberries.

{via Real Simple}

***

4. Patriotic Margarita
This pretty drink gets it's striped look from a layer of blue HPNOTIQ Liqueur topped with a red layer made from strawberry puree, dark rum, coconut milk, pineapple juice, fresh lime juice, and crushed ice.
{via Coastal Living}

***

5. Red, White, and HPNOTIQ Blue Martini
Blue liqueur and grenadine give this citrus vodka-based martini it's patriotic flair. Garnished coconut adds a touch of white!
{via Bar None Drinks}

***

What signature drinks are you planning to serve for your 4th of July party?

Fresh Summer Garden Party Finds

JenniferSbranti — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:00:00 -0400

Have a special occasion to celebrate with the girls this summer like a wedding shower, bridal luncheon, or milestone birthday? Take advantage of the warmer weather and take the party outdoors with a colorful, backyard garden soirée!

Keep the planning process easy and start by seeking out stylish floral partyware to inspire your theme, then find favors, drinks & decor that compliment the look. There are lots of great partyware patterns and color palettes available right now that are perfect for summer! Here are a few of my personal favorites:

Pictured above: 1. Floral Fashion dinner plates, napkins, & beverage napkins + solid orange utensils; 2. Decorative Floral dinner plates, dessert plates, lunch napkins, and beverage napkins; 3. Tonkin plates, dessert plates, and beverage napkins + solid pistachio utensils.

Add some festive { & affordable} flair to your garden party with paper lanterns, paper daisies, tissue poms, and hand fans...

Pictured above: Sorbet and Little Girl Pom Kits from the Etsy shop PomLove, and Paper Daisies and Paper Lanterns from Luna Bazaar.

Drinks are another great place to introduce color. I'm loving this "shot glass smoothie" idea {via Brides.com} – especially for hot summer days! Serve up flavors that match your party palette - such as berry, mango, and lime – as a refreshing before-meal snack or healthy dessert alternative.

When it comes to cocktails, opt for something simple and fruity, like this Pink Martini featuring gin, guava nectar & orange juice.

{smoothie photo courtesy of Great Performances}

Last but not least, send guests home with a floral-inspired party favor. (These finds are so cute they'll pull double-duty as party decor at the event!)

Pictured above: Blooming Favor Boxes by Etsy shop So Inviting! in shades of Pink and Yellow/Orange, and Felt Favor Bags and Couture Wedding Dress Cookies with floral sashes – both from Beaucoup.

Paper Love: Whimsy Press

JenniferSbranti — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:51:10 -0400

For all my fellow "modern paper" lovers - here's something that should make you swoon! Whimsy Press – the fabulous online shop that started out with amazing designer gift wrap and expanded into much, much more - from notecards and wine tags to eco-chic totes and baby onesies – is having an amazing summer sale: 60% off EVERYTHING! (Coupon Code: 2009)

I'm a huge fan of using stylish gift wrap to create affordable DIY table runners, napkin rings, favor embellishments, and "vase wraps" for parties, so a great sale like this makes the party even that much more affordable!

Pictured above: just a few examples of Whimsy's double-sided Everyday Wrap Sheets.

Pictured below: Whimsy's Gift Bags in the chic Palm Beach and super-sweet Cupcake designs.

These Matchbook Notepads are a fantastic idea for party favors - especially at the sale price of only $3.20 each! They're available in several different designs, including the Palm Beach, D-vine Inspiration, and Love is Lovely patterns below.

Also pictured above: 50-page Journals. At only $4.80 each as per the sale price, these designer notebooks would also be great as party favors – or just stock up on a few for your hostess gift stash!

Whimsy's Paper Placemats are another smart & easy way to dress up the table. Regularly $9/per set of 8 - you can know pick them up for only $3.60/set! Click here to check out all of the available designs - which range from holiday to everyday.

There are so many more items worth checking out at Whimsy Press - from Hostess Gifts to Eco-Friendly picks to a special collection for Dog Lovers. Vistit www.whimsypress.com to check everything out... (and don't forget to use the code "2009" for your discount!)

Last-Minute Father's Day Ideas

KateParker — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 19:34:12 -0400

It's Friday night, Father's Day is on Sunday, and you haven't gotten him a gift yet. You're not alone.

I'm no stranger to the last-minute gift scramble; there's still plenty of time to go out and snag something special for the Dad in your life. It's too late to order online, but most will find one of these stores nearby (and all sites have a Store Locator tool so you can). Best of all, since we're nearing the end of June, many stores have already started to mark-down their summer items, so it's easier to get a bargain.

Here are a few Dad-specific suggestions, all under $30 (and a few that are free!):

Get Him Grilling

Williams-Sonoma Mesh Grill Top Fry Pan, $30. He can saute all sorts of smaller, chopped-up veggies and sides in it while he grills the meat - so Dad can take charge of the entire meal for once.

Sur La Table Stainless Steel Herb Grill Grid - on sale for $24, and an easy way to "fancy up" grilled meats with fresh herb flavor.

You say he doesn't have a grill? Get him one: the Weber Smokey Joe model is a good starter - small and inexpensive, it's $29 at Walmart. You can't beat that.

Who's Thirsty?

Pick up a sixer of his favorite beer, and present it cold in this Six Pack Tote from Built NY - only $23, it saves you from wrapping paper and will be used for years to come. This Camo pattern would be a big hit with any huntsman (and it's manly enough to compensate for the fact that you're basically giving him an insulated man-purse for his beer...).

Don't know what his favorite beer is? Looking for something to sip while breaking in the new grill gear? Check out our affordable Summer Wine and Beer Suggestions, or mix-up your own specialty cocktail for Dad using Stirrings drink mixes.

They've got a line of "classic" cocktail mixers (and recipe suggestions) that are absolutely delicious; the Dark and Stormy is my personal fave. This is also a case of the no-wrap gift - the packaging/label is attractive enough that you can simply hand it over as is (note to self: also makes a great summer hostess gift).

Made With Love

And if you don't have the time (or the money) to purchase one of these items, why not go back to basics - serve him up some breakfast in bed with a homemade card and a big hug. Pull out his favorite sections of the Sunday paper. Set the DVR to record the US Open for him. Ask if there are any things on his "to do" list that you can take care of for him. It's these little gestures that will add up to big appreciation. After all, that's what Father's Day is about - reminding Dad just how much you appreciate him.

Got any great Father's Day ideas? Share them here.