Bon Appetite: Salmon Kebabs

If you are looking for an amazingly flavorful and healthy recipe great for entertaining you can not miss this one. I did not attempt this recipe myself, but a family member (and amazing cook) found this in the June 2013 issue of Bon Appetite magazine and gave it a whirl. It was possibly the best salmon recipe I have ever had. Find the showstopper @ Salmon Kebabs

xOxO -  M

Removing Glass Rings on Furniture

Entertaining is fun, but there are times when your home is in need of a little extra post party care. Sometimes, hot and cold drinks leave rings on unprotected furniture. These pesky marks can be difficult but here is a great way to remove water marks and have your furniture looking as good as new. Forget rubbing mayo or toothpaste on the discoloration.

Instead, reach for your hairdryer!

Put it on a high heat setting and blast the mark. Almost immediately you will see the circle disappear. Depending on how intense the mark, it may take 10-15 minutes of direct heat for full effect. Once the mark is completely removed cover the area with a light coat of olive oil to condition and you are ready for your next soiree. Introduce your friends and kids to coasters and avoid the hassle all together.

xOxO - M

Event Venues: Black Ankle Vineyards Mt, Airy, MD

Happy Memorial Day! I hope you all are thoroughly enjoying your MDW and spending some quality time with the people you love. This afternoon I had the pleasure of visiting one my favorite places: Broken Ankle Vineyards of Mt. Airy, MD. After a lovely tasting ($8.00/person) we strolled around the rustic property snapping fun pictures. This is a great place to drop by on a lazy afternoon for a picnic, glass of wine and game of Scrabble. It is also a fantastic event venue option. Capacity limits max out at 100 individuals and rentals include the use of 24 indoor/outdoor tables, 100 chairs, stemware, several event spaces including patios and garden areas. Pricing is available on their website: www.blackankle.com. Just as lovely as the view, are the wines this mighty little vineyard produce. Modeled after the vineyards of Bordeaux  France, the character of Black Ankle's wines are sophisticated and yet refreshingly simple. I can not wait to visit again soon! Please enjoy some of our snap shots and consider Black Ankle for your upcoming event!

xOxO - M

Mason Jar Cocktail Tub

Is it just me or has the Mason jar turned into a household staple? They are an inexpensive and environmentally conscious alternative with a vast variety of uses, one of which I  have highlighted below. Get an inexpensive drinking tub (Homegoods!) and uses mason jars to premix some cocktail favorites. This will give you more time to spend with your friends and family during the party. When ready simply shake and serve. Make sure if using carbonated mixers that you have a tight seal on the lid to avoid beverages going flat. Another thing to keep in mind is the color of beverages. Make sure each is a separately identifiable color to avoid confusion.

They are also great when using large glass beverage dispensers! Place Mason jars on a table with a sign that says "Your glass for the night for whatever tastes right!"

xOxO - M

Response Cards

Fun Wedding response cards are trending right now! Here are three ideas to get your wheels turning:

My personal favorite is the Newly WedLibs-style card. These are fun keepsakes for the couple and allow friends and family the ability to share in your celebration preparations! You can even put these cards on display at your reception for guests to laugh over.

xOxO - M

Calculating Cakes!

Purchasing or baking a cake for an event and  want to know how much you will need? Here is a quick reference to consider when getting ready for your celebration!

Square Cakes:
6" Square = 18 Servings
8" Square = 32 Servings
10" Square = 50 Servings
12" Square = 72 Servings
14" Square = 98 Servings

Round Cakes:
6" Round = 12 Servings
8" Round = 24 Servings
10" Round = 35 Servings
12" Round = 56 Servings
14" Round = 78 Servings

xOxO - M

Farmers Market - Strawberry Fields

Your local farmers market is about to start up again if it hasn't already. Find your local market by visiting a wonderful nationwide site: www.farmersmarket.com. Spinach, Strawberries, Sweet Cherries and Cabbage are late May favorites in the state of Maryland. You can find what is in season in your area by consulting www.fieldtoplate.com. Any time you can buy local (and organic) you are not only only supporting your states agricultural industry but your are purchasing foods that are healthier. While filming Food Inc., Robert Kenner said he specifically wanted to film strawberry farmers applying pesticides to their fields. "The workers wear these suits to protect themselves from the dozens and dozens of known dangerous pesticides applied to strawberries," he said. "When I saw this, I thought to myself, if this is how berries are grown, I don't really want to eat them anymore. I haven't been able to eat a non-organic strawberry ever since." Unfortunately,  Food Inc. was unable to capture the shot for the documentary. For more information on Kenner's findings visit his website: www.fixfood.org.

xOxO - M