I’m so excited that outdoor dining season has arrived!! I would eat every meal outside if I could. We’re having a warm spring here in northern California, and we were able to have dinner on the deck last night with a few friends. I made this spring-inspired flatbread which was great and easy for a casual dinner. We served it with a salad and wine. Delish!
Green Gimlet Cocktail for St. Patrick's Day
With all the rain we’ve been getting here, the forest has never been so green! The moss up our many stairs is brilliantly emerald. I can feel spring coming and, along with it, better weather for outdoor entertaining.
Coming from a family with Irish roots on both sides, we celebrated St. Patrick’s Day at home annually with a big family meal. For dessert, my mom always made Blarney Stones, a disgustingly sweet and delicious treat that my grandmother also made for her growing up. It involves Twinkies being coated in icing and rolled in peanuts (!)…I might have to continue that tradition with Ezra when he’s a little older. My family recently came to visit (that’s my little brother Ryan sitting next to me!) and we had some festive spring drinks on the deck that are perfect for a St. Paddy’s Day gathering. I put all the fixings out for this Green Gimlet which makes for a fun and interactive cocktail hour. We started with 2 oz (¼ c) of our local Hangar 1 Straight Vodka, then added juice from one lime and ice, and garnished with lime and cucumber slices, plus fresh mint. The result is crisp, refreshing, and cheerfully green. (And I bet it pairs nicely with a Blarney Stone ;) The recipe above serves 1, but you can easily multiply it by 8 for a pitcher.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
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This post was done in partnership with Hangar 1 Vodka as part of the Fresh-Picked Vodka campaign. We like Hangar 1 because it’s high quality, tasty, and made nearby. I also love that it’s made by a woman who started her career in art.
My cookbook for kids is out!!
As of February 2016, my 2nd cookbook, The Forest Feast for Kids is now out!!! It was so much fun to make and I’m so excited to share it. It’s an adapted kid-focused version of my first book. The Forest Feast for Kids includes the most kid-friendly favorites from The Forest Feast, along with 20 new recipes, plus ideas for kids’ parties and easy-to-follow instructions on techniques, measurements, and other helpful kitchen aides. One of my Forest Feast goals is to get families cooking in the kitchen together and this book will do just that!
It’s available via these links:
Abrams | Amazon | Target | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | Indigo | Powells | Books-A-Million
Tag recipes you make online #forestfeastkids and tag me @theforestfeast. Happy cooking!
Holiday Cocktail Party
Happy Holidays from the woods! I love this time of year at the cabin when we get to make fires and be cozy. For some seasonal festivity, I decorated our mantle with fresh greens, limes, persimmons and candles. Hanukkah started last night and we had a little gathering to kick it off. On the menu: Zucchini Latkes and Holiday Cider Mules, plus a spread of cheese, crackers, fruit, nuts, chocolates and other bite-sized goodies.
Latkes (potato pancakes) are a traditional Hanukkah food, and mine are made a bit lighter by using half grated zucchini. (I use the fine side of the box grater for both.) These are great for entertaining because they can be made ahead and served warm or at room temperature. Just add the toppings before serving. They work well as finger food so you can skip the silverware and simply put out small plates and/or napkins.
I have always been crazy about copper, so when I saw these copper mugs at Pottery Barn, I had to do a holiday twist on the Moscow Mule. Mine has added sparkling apple cider and a colorful, seasonal garnish. (For a non-alcoholic version, just leave out the vodka and it’s still delicious.) It’s a festive drink for a party and can easily be made in a pitcher or punch bowl, or by the serving. I also used their copper julep cups to hold breadsticks and to make mini bouquets which are the perfect size for a bar, buffet or table centerpiece. For cocktail parties, we also usually serve wine, beer and a couple of non-alcoholic options like juice and sparkling water.
What are your go-to holiday appetizers and drinks? Cheers to a happy, safe and peaceful holiday season!
This post was done in partnership with Pottery Barn. Additional source links: red checked tablecloth, pillar candles, wooden 3-tiered tray, victorian tumblers, Tortoiseshell old-fashioned glasses.
