summer entertaining – In Good Taste

10 Beautiful Place Settings for Summer Dinner Parties

Maris Callahan — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 05:00:39 +0000

These 10 beautiful place settings for summer dinner parties range from fun an festive to easy and elegant; all the summer entertaining inspiration you need. I really, really like summer entertaining. If it were up to me, I’d have a dinner party every weekend, but of course in order to have that dinner party, I would need a beautiful penthouse condo — or maybe a beach house…or maybe both! Ha ha ha we can dream, right? I love to host because it means cooking and decorating and mixing cocktails and overall, making people happy in the moment because there isn’t much I can do about world peace, or racism or any of the other horrible things going on in the world, but when someone is holding a strawberry basil martini or sitting down to a coastal seafood dinner party, everything seems pretty perfect, even for a couple of hours. As much as I love cooking and menu planning, a dinner party is that much more special when you pull out all of the stops decorating a table. Now, before I lament on this, I’m going to fully disclose that in my tiny apartment, I don’t have an actual dining room table. I […]

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Frozen Negroni Slushies

Maris Callahan — Wed, 20 Jul 2016 05:00:33 +0000

This weekend, the heat index in Chicago is supposed to reach 110 degrees F. That’s pretty hot. It’s almost too hot to sit outside and sip a glass of wine, but it happens to be perfect weather for grabbing a frozen cocktail and hightailing it to the nearest swimming pool. In hot weather, you’ll want to batch up this frozen Negroni cocktail, a slushie version of the classic beverage. Though I only enjoy the occasional Negroni every now and again (i.e. when I’m at a restaurant, pretending that I live in Italy or somewhere more glamorous than northwestern Illinois), I’m well aware that the cocktail has somewhat of a cult following. There is an entire week dedicated to the might Negroni every June and it’s a mainstay on classic cocktail menus around the world. In the summer though, sometimes you want to shake things up a little bit, making it especially refreshing by whipping up a batch in the blender. As you’re enjoying the summer and all the lovely cocktails that the season brings, keep this frozen, boozy goodness in mind. Made with gin and equal parts Campari, and sweet vermouth, the Negroni is a simple and sophisticated cocktail that will make your summer that […]

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How To Host a DIY Crostini Bar: Crab & Avocado Bites

Maris Callahan — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 04:00:16 +0000

If you ask anyone for their entertaining staples, they’ll probably say cheese and crackers. I love cheese and crackers as much as the next person (don’t try telling me it isn’t a meal, either), but if you entertain often, it’s easy to start feeling like your go-to spread is a little ho-hum If you want to take your next party or date night to the next level, create a DIY crostini bar. No bread? No problem. Dare Crackers are the perfect base for your favorite spread and toppings, and my favorite combinations are insanely easy to make. I’m someone who loves to host, so I’m constantly reading magazines and blog posts about all sorts of fun and festive party themes. As much as I would love to host a nautical themed backyard barbecue for the Fourth of July or a Hamptons chic clambake on a beach somewhere, those plans are not in my immediate summer future. Simple ideas like this one though, are easily executed whether you’re hosting a a gathering for 20 or 10 or 1. ] Whether prepping for an extravagant party or an impromptu get-together, Dare’s variety of crisp crackers are sure to make each bite better. You can select your favorite from a complete […]

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