Jello for Grown Ups

For today's Food Inspired Friday I bring you…Jello!  Summer is here, and sometimes grown-ups need transportable adult beverages.  Jello shots don't have to be your average grape and cherry in a plastic cup - they're going gourmet!

On of my favorite blogs, Domesticate Me, shared a recipe for moscow mule jello shots.  She also shared the basic formula for jello success:

 1 cup alcohol + 1 cup non-alcoholic liquid + 2 envelopes gelatin= JELLO SHOTS

How pretty are these watermelon-lime squares?  This particular recipe has just a touch of alcohol, but you could always adjust if necessary! 

Blackberry Cosmo Jello Shots

I'm still a fan of a classic Cosmo - you can't beat the color of these squares. 

I'm having a hard time deciding which recipe I want to try first!

Chess Squares

When I go home to Greensboro, one of my favorite activities is sorting through my mom's recipe box and cookbooks.  She has quite a collection of what I would consider 'vintage' cookbooks and I stumbled upon this gem of recipe in a Junior League cookbook from the '70s. 

These Chess Squares could not be easier to throw together and would be a great project for the kiddos too. The ingredient list is super short and all you will need is two bowls, a mixer and this sweet treat will be oven-ready in under  5 minutes.

The results are a golden brown, buttery, creamy delight that anyone can put together in a snap. 

Ingredients:

Cake:

*1 box Duncan Hines butter cake mix

* 1 stick butter, melted

* 1 egg, beaten

Topping:

*1 box confectioners sugar (I used 3/4 a box for a little less sweetness)

* 8oz cream cheese, softened

* 3 eggs

Preheat oven to 325.  Stir butter and 1 egg into cake mix with a wooden spoon.  Press cake mix into a 13X9 pan. 

For the topping, beat together sugar, cream cheese, and 3 eggs.  Pour over the cake mixture.  Bake for 55-60 minutes.  Cut into squares when cool. 

Sarasota Wedding Weekend

I hope everyone is feeling rested and rejuvenated after the long weekend!  I spent the weekend in beautiful Sarasota at one of the best weddings i've ever been to. 

Friday night, we enjoyed a beach side dinner at the Ritz-Carlton Beach Club.  The sunset was incredible! 

These are three of my best friends from college days - reunited to celebrate Katie (far right) and Anthony. 

Saturday, the wedding and reception were held at the Ca' d'Zan, which is the former home of the Ringling family (of the Ringling Brothers Circus).  The weather could not have been more perfect as the sun was setting, with cool breezes off the water. 

Besides the view, I couldn't get over the food.  Every time I turned around a waiter was ready with a freshly stocked tray of passed hors d'oeuvres.  There were duck spring rolls, crab rangoon, shrimp cocktail, fresh bruschetta, brie and pear grilled cheese, fried ravioli, and even more if you can believe it.   I never had a chance to get hungry - my kind of party! 

The reception area was like a scene from the Great Gatsby.  The Edison lights were the perfect touch for this setting. 

 One of the most touching moments of the weekend was the father-of-the-bride's toast.  Katie's dad (her parents work for the government and have lived all over the world) reminded us all how fortunate we are to be able to celebrate together in such a beautiful setting, with so many freedoms allotted to us, because of those who fight for those freedoms.  It was a lovely nod to Memorial Day. 

Here's to a short week!

Pasta Salad

Is everyone ready for a long weekend?!  Memorial Day really snuck up on me, but i'm not complaining! I'm heading to Sarasota for a weekend of fun in the sun and to see one of my best friends get hitched.  

For those of you who will be hosting a party, I bring you the perfect pasta salad! There's nothing better than a great pasta salad at a picnic or barbeque.  I promise your friends will be impressed with your homemade version of a classic cookout favorite!

I greatly prefer a fresh vinaigrette based pasta salad to the mayonnaise-y counter part. The red wine vinegar in the dressing lends that familiar tang we all love, and the raw grated garlic packs just the right punch of flavor with a subtle heat.

 

Ingredients:
Dressing
* 3 tbsp. red wine vinegar
* 6 tbsp. olive oil
* 1 clove garlic, grated
* 1 tbsp. shallot, minced
* salt, pepper

Salad 
(add as much or as little of anything you like!)
* 12 oz pasta
* 1 c. cherry heirloom tomatoes, halved or quartered
*  1 cucumber, chopped
* 1/2 c. feta
* 1-2 tbsp. chopped basil, depending on taste


Prepare the pasta according to package directions.  While the pasta is cooking, prepare the dressing by combining all ingredients in a mason jar and shaking until well combined.  When the pasta is done cooking, drain, and toss with 3 tablespoons of the dressing, tomatoes, and cucumber.  Let the pasta salad cool at room temperature for ten minutes or so, then transfer to the refrigerator to finish chilling (about an hour and a half to two hours).

After the pasta is chilled, stir well, and add more dressing as needed (I ended up using about 3/4 of the dressing).  Toss the pasta with the feta and basil and serve.  Enjoy!

Party at the Picnic Table

A few months ago, my father-in-law gave us the most amazing picnic table.  It is absolutely huge and can easily sit 12 people.  Since the moment it landed in my back yard, I've been dying to host an al fresco dinner. 

Friday afternoon, with the forecast looking close to perfect, we decided to host a Moscow Mule social and dinner at the picnic table.  I thought the table came together perfectly and effortlessly with just a few colorful accessories, paper napkins, and some simple fresh flowers.

I recently bought these great stacking plates at C. Wonder -perfect for a utensil rest and a nice pop of color.  

I'm obsessed with these disposable linen placemats I found in Wilmington at Dragonflies - perfect for the picnic table.  I accidentally threw away the packaging so I can't find the brand, but i'll be buying more soon and will be sure to post. 

 Trader Joe's and Whole Foods usually have great deals on fresh cut flowers.  These hydrangeas were $4.99 and are still hanging in there 4 days later! 

We kept the menu pretty simple with Stonewall Kitchen Pork Tenderloin (pork tenderloin just keeps going on sale at Harris Teeter- I can't resist the buy one get one free!), squash casserole, grilled asparagus, and Pasta Salad. 

Simple votives provided a lovely glow as the sun went down, and helped keep some of the bugs away.

Cheers!