Thursday, May 14, 2020

Memorial Day Picnic Recipes: Strawberry Country Cake, Frozen Grape Sangria, Creamy Potato Salad & Cucumber Salad


Courtesy of Food Network
Photo By: Alice Gao

Happy Memorial Day Friends,

Ina flavors this impressive country cake with sour cream plus lemon and orange zest. Spread generous spoonfuls of whipped cream and fresh strawberries between the cake layers and on top for a decorative picnic table centerpiece.

Get the Recipe: Strawberry Country Cake

Frozen Grape Sangria

Photo By: Kat Teutsch

A light summer wine, like Pinot Grigio, is best for this white sangria. Freeze only the green grapes before assembling the drink –– this makes for a refreshing cocktail that isn't overwhelmingly cold.

Get the Recipe: Frozen Grape Sangria

Creamy Potato Salad

Photo By: Antonis Achilleos

Add some kick to this quick potato salad by stirring in some horseradish.

Get the Recipe: Creamy Potato Salad

Cucumber Salad


Ellie's refreshing cucumber salad is an easy addition to any picnic or cookout.

Get the Recipe: Cucumber Salad

Bon Appétit...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Memorial Day Picnic Recipes: Poppy-Seed Potato Salad, Spiced Burgers with Cucumber Yogurt, Pat's Picnic Potato Salad & Potato, Tomato, Corn and Basil Salad


Courtesy of Food Network
Photo By: Con Poulos

Happy Memorial Day Friends,

Try this mayo-free take on potato salad, made instead with an easy dressing of Dijon mustard, poppy seeds, oil and vinegar.

Get the Recipe: Poppy-Seed Potato Salad

Daikon-Carrot Salad

Photo By: Con Poulos

Use a vegetable peeler to slice carrots and daikon radishes into ribbons for this refreshing salad.

Get the Recipe: Daikon-Carrot Salad

Spiced Burgers with Cucumber Yogurt

Photo By: Antonis Achilleos

A light, refreshing yogurt sauce made with cucumber and cilantro is just the thing to cool down these curry-flavored burgers.

Get the Recipe: Spiced Burgers With Cucumber Yogurt

Pat's Picnic Potato Salad

Photo By: Alice Gao

Pat mixes boiled red-skinned potatoes with a quick homemade pesto sauce for a hearty picnic side that's good served cold or at room temperature.

Get the Recipe: Pat's Picnic Potato Salad

Potato, Tomato, Corn and Basil Salad


Summer salads don't have to come with a high price tag. Dave's delicious version uses seasonal ingredients, which will save you money.

Get the Recipe: Potato, Tomato, Corn and Basil Salad

Bon Appétit...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Tuesday, May 12, 2020

Memorial Day Picnic Recipes: Coleslaw, Cornbread Salad & Fried Chicken


Courtesy of Food Network
PPhoto By: Alice Gao

Happy Memorial Day Friends,

What could be better than the tried-and-true combination of fried chicken and coleslaw on a summer's day? For the best results, try preparing the slaw the night before the big cookout –– that way, the cabbage and carrots have time to soak up the tangy dressing.

Get the Recipe: Coleslaw

Cornbread Salad

Photo By: Con Poulos

Assemble this salad as you would a trifle. Layer store-bought cornbread with corn, tomatoes, peppers, cheese and more.

Get the Recipe: Cornbread Salad

Fried Chicken


Serve Ree's crispy, perfect-every-time fried chicken at your Memorial Day barbecue, then be ready to make it for every summer get-together thereafter — it's that good!

Get the Recipe: Fried Chicken

Bon Appétit...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Monday, May 11, 2020

Memorial Day Picnic Recipes: Antipasto Salad, Curried Chicken Wraps & Crunchy Lemonade Drumsticks


Courtesy of Food Network
Photo By: Matt Armendariz

Happy Memorial Day Friends,

Giada gives classic pasta salad an Italian twist, tossing traditional antipasto ingredients like salami, cheese, peppers and olives with fusilli.

Get the Recipe: Antipasto Salad

Curried Chicken Wraps

Photo By: Alice Gao

Ina adds cashews to her curried chicken salad for a bit of salt and crunch. Plan ahead by cooking the chicken a day in advance and allowing it to cool overnight –– this will make it easier to shred on the day of the big cookout.

Get the Recipe: Curried Chicken Wraps

Crunchy Lemonade Drumsticks

Photo By: Con Poulos

Treat skin-on drumsticks to a fragrant lemon-buttermilk marinade for at least 4 hours up to overnight before breading and baking them. It's best to dip the drumsticks in mayo before rolling them in panko to ensure the breading sticks.

Get the Recipe: Crunchy Lemonade Drumsticks

Celebrate the holiday weekend with picnic-friendly main dishes, salads, slaws, desserts and drinks.

Bon Appétit...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Sunday, May 10, 2020

Happy Mother's Day!


Hi Friends,

Dedicated to all our wonderful Mothers from your friends at Interior Design - May you enjoy as you are celebrated this Mother's Day with warmest thoughts and special wishes.

A Mother's Eyes

A mother's eyes so often shine with laughter, joy, or tears....and with the pride of seeing children blossom through the years. A mother's lips give kisses, cautions, praise, and good advice. She shares her faith and values through hard work and sacrifice. A mother's hands are busy trying to meet her children's needs, but quick to give applause whenever one of them succeeds. Throughout her children's lives, a mother plays a vital part. She is their shining star, their inspiration, and their heart.

Happy Mother's Day!

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Live well,
Yvonne

Friday, May 8, 2020

Throw Mom a Colorful Alfresco Lunch...


Courtesy of Sara Westbrook and Brittany Egbert

Happy Mother's Day Friends,

Take the Party Outside. Celebrate all of the mothers in your life with a beautiful lunch served outdoors. Try something fresh this year with a citrus theme. We'll show you how to carry the theme through your dishes, centerpieces and menu — plus, download our coordinating printable invitation and menu card. Floral design by Robin Mathis of Twigg Botanicals.

Easy DIY Invite


Aqua is a beautiful complement to this party's citrus theme. Download these blank invitation, then fill in your own party details. Add a sophisticated finishing touch with a yellow grosgrain ribbon laced through holes punched in the top. To secure, tie the ribbon in a knot on the front or back-loop it.

Create the Perfect Setting


No Mother's Day get-together is complete without fresh flowers. Double up the arrangements to fill the table with color and fragrance. No plastic picnic furniture here — make Mom's day even more special by bringing your dining table and chairs outside so everyone can comfortably enjoy time spent together outdoors.

Add a Little Zest


To create your centerpieces, soak floral foam in water overnight then place in containers. Attach floral stems to picks then insert in wet foam to create a mounded arrangement. Once you're happy with the flowers' placement, add freshly cut oranges, lemons or limes to complement the party's citrus theme. Tip: Add the cut fruit to your arrangements just before guests arrive so they will look fresh.

Make Your Centerpiece Pop


Adorn the base of each centerpiece with mounded fresh citrus. An inexpensive way to add color, this is also an easy trick for emphasizing the citrus theme while visually anchoring each centerpiece.

A Simple Setup


Mother's Day is a special occasion, so break out your best silver, dishes and glassware. Don't be afraid to mix and match patterns and styles; dig into your stash of vintage plates or your grandmother's classic pieces. Layering white or cream dinner plates with a colorful mix of salad plates keeps the table fun and interesting. Napkins adorned with playful rings finish the look.

DIY Menu Card


Citrus adds a fresh flavor to many of Mom's favorite dishes; entice your guests with a menu full of oranges, grapefruits and lemons. Use our ideas or substitute your favorite recipes. Download and print our blank menu cards — just fill in your courses, then place a card on each plate.

Yummy Drinks Don't Have to Be Fussy


Save time and pre-party stress by serving bottled beverages. Position a large ceramic pot near the table and fill with ice. Add a selection of sparkling citrus sodas, lemonade and tea and allow to chill. Guests can grab a cold drink as the party gets underway.

Citrus Salad


To create the salad: Toss mixed greens, lightly candied pecans, avocado, golden raisins and blue cheese crumbles. Top with dressing created by combining 1/2 cup unsweetened grapefruit juice, 1/4 cup water, 1 envelope Italian salad dressing mix and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a lidded container. Shake ingredients to mix and chill before serving.

Orange Glazed Rolls


Give your favorite roll recipe a delicious twist by mixing orange zest into the dough and glazing the rolls after they have baked. For the glaze, mix together 1 cup powdered sugar, the juice of one orange and 1 tablespoon orange zest. Generously brush warm rolls with the glaze.

Roasted Asparagus


Always a crowd-pleaser, this healthy dish is especially tasty in the spring when fresh asparagus is in season. To create: Wash and trim 1 pound of asparagus spears. Pour 2 teaspoons olive oil into a baking dish, add asparagus and toss in oil. Sprinkle spears with kosher salt and shaved Parmesan cheese then bake for 20 minutes at 375 degrees F. This dish can be served hot or at room temperature.

Sweet Ending


Finish off your Mother's Day meal with a lemon- or lime-inspired dessert, like these elegant bite-sized lemon bars. Serve stacked on a footed platter or cake plate for a sophisticated touch.

A Gift for Mom


All moms love to be pampered: Surprise your guests with tangerine colored nail polish and a gift certificate for a pedicure. Add a sweet handwritten note to create a gift that is sure to please all the moms in your life.

Gather the girls and make Mother's Day unforgettable with an elegant outdoor lunch. Bright, citrus colors pop while a delectable menu will invite guests to linger.

Bon Appétit...

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Live well,
Yvonne

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Host a Multigenerational Mother's Day Lunch...


Courtesy of Katie Meyers
Photography by Cheyenne Mojica Photography

Happy Mother's Day Friends,

A Three-Generation Mother's Day is all about showing Mom just how special she is. This year, expand that gratitude to your grandmother, too. Plan a homemade lunch complete with all their favorite recipes, then let Grandma and Mom share their favorite stories for a sweet, nostalgic day that's all about them.

Set the Scene


Cover the table with a white linen tablecloth, then add a burlap runner topped with lace as a subtle nod to the vintage-inspired theme. Add a feminine touch by building on a foundation of pretty pastel hues.

Eclectic Mix


Pull out antique china, tea cups and glassware passed down from previous generations. Get creative by mixing and matching different patterns and settings. The more eclectic and colorful, the better.

Pretty Place Settings


Stack plates with antique silver flatware passed down from Grandma, or pick up some budget-friendly serving pieces from a local flea market to add into your existing modern mix. Here, we used family heirlooms that stem back four generations.

Lovely Details


Tying a simple ribbon around flatware adds a special touch to any traditional setting. Take it to the next level by tucking in a sprig of lavender or any small flower to coordinate with the pastel color palette and reap the added benefit of a beautiful fragrance in the room.

Special Servers


Display family heirlooms on the buffet even if they serve a completely different purpose. An antique silver pitcher can act as a beautiful vase for spring florals.

Antique Accents


Collect old-fashioned items from around the house and put them to use as a reminder of previous generations. Great Grandma's button collection can be repurposed as vase embellishments. To give a small glass vase a vintage feel, simply wrap jute twine around a glass and secure with tape. Using a hot-glue gun, fasten buttons to the outside of the twine.

Dress the Part


Little ones will love wearing vintage-inspired aprons to match Mom and Grandma when rolling out dough or mixing up fresh ingredients.

Easy Apps


Create a menu that's chock-full of delicious appetizers. Modern crostini takes the place of traditional cheese and crackers. Not only do crostini get little ones involved by sprinkling simple ingredients on top, but these bite-sized portions won't ruin anyone's appetite. Get the recipe >>

Quality Time


Get Grandma's help with the cooking by asking her to share beloved family recipes that can continue being passed down for years to come. Then, allow the entire family to get in on the cooking.

Mini Fruit Cobblers


A favorite family recipe like triple berry cobbler can be made into miniature portions by baking in individual ramekins. Get the recipe >>

Simple Sweets


Save yourself some time and serve a few store-bought treats in addition to your favorite family recipe. Sweets get dressed up when displayed on pretty serving pieces such as vintage cake stands or saucers.

Lavender Lemonade


A simple lemonade bar is instantly dressed up by adding just one thing — lavender sprigs. Try serving lemonade and sparkling soda in vintage carafes or milk bottles that keep in line with the vintage theme.

Peek at the Past


Now's the perfect time to pull out old family photographs from generations past. Everyone can gather around and listen to family stories as Grandma and Mom pour through photos, notes and old mementos.

Craft Time


Enlist Dad to help make centerpiece vases that double as a tribute to Mom for her special day. Get the step-by-step instructions >>

Vases for Mom


Vibrant spring flowers become the star of the show when displayed in handmade vases for Mom. Pick up a ready-made bouquet from the local flower market, or form your own arrangement to add a splash of color to the table. Get the step-by-step instructions >>

Make It Meaningful


Create a special gift for Mom by framing a special handwritten recipe card from her mom or grandmother. If you don't have an old family recipe, download our free printable recipe card and fill it in with a family-favorite dish. Get the step-by-step instructions >>

Special Surprise


Surprise Mom with her framed recipe card all wrapped up and embellished with a bow. Display Mom's new special keepsake somewhere prominent so she is reminded of her favorite cooking memories every time she enters the kitchen.

Sweet Reminder


Display Mom's new special keepsake somewhere prominent so she is reminded of her favorite cooking memories every time she enters the kitchen.

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This Mother's Day, invite family over for a vintage-inspired lunch to celebrate special women of all generations. Display family heirlooms to set the perfect tone for honoring mothers and grandmothers from past to present.

Bon Appétit...

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Live well,
Yvonne