Blackberry and Lemon White Wine Spritzer

According to the weather channel, a good portion of the country is in for a seriously oppressive heat wave this weekend (woof!).  While it would be great to make the most of this super sunshine and hit the beach, I'm stuck in the city this weekend figuring out different ways to keep cool.  While there are certainly plenty of other ways to beat the mega heat this weekend, a cold and refreshing cocktail certainly makes the list!  Specifically, my latest go-to cocktail creation - a blackberry and lemon white wine spritzer!  

Beer is too filling in my opinion and while I am a major red wine enthusiast, this weather is just way too hot for red wine drinking.  Instead, this weekend I am opting for a cool and refreshing white wine spritzer with a fabulous new twist!  Combining two of my favorite things (Napa Cellars Wine and Spindrift Blackberry Seltzer) with a little hint of lemon and a few frozen blackberries has resulted in a drink that is not too sweet and a most delicious flavor profile.  If you are in the market for a new cocktail recipe this weekend, I highly recommend trying this recipe. 

Ingredients

• 1 Bottle Sauvignon Blanc
• 4 Cans Blackberry Spindrift Seltzer
• 12-18 Frozen Blackberries
• 4 Ice Spheres
• 2-3 Lemons

Instructions

1. Place one sphere ice cube into each tumbler or glass
2. Pour 4oz of wine into each glass
3. Fill the remainder of the glass with Spindrift Blackberry Seltzer
4. Squeeze the juice of 1/4 of a lemon into each glass
5. Garnish with 3-4 frozen blackberries and a slice of fresh lemon
6. Serve and enjoy!

Creating an All-in-One Hors D'oeuvre Platter

I'm constantly evolving and fine tuning my entertaining style.  Of course I love trying new recipes, hosting different groups of people and on occasion, even coming up with different themes for some of my get togethers.  While the party presentation is certainly important, it's equally (if not more) important that I create a sound, efficient and effortless (in appearance), operational process for every gathering. As a hostess the last thing you ever want to do is spend the party running around and looking frazzled.   Your guests have come over to spend time with you, so you need to make sure that you do just that.

In an effort to minimize the time I spend clearing a cocktail/hors d'oeuvre spread before serving dinner, I have developed an all-in-one hors d'oeuvre platter.  This platter is made up of all of my favorite go-to cocktail party foods with the added benefit of only having to serve and clear one dish!  I am really kicking myself that it's taken me so long to figure this out.  Fab summer veggies, hummus, two different cheeses and even those tasty cocktail nuts can be served on one platter! Less time making trips to the kitchen to add and/or clear food means more time with your guests.  Cocktail parties made even easier!  What's not to love about that?!?

See below for full details on this All-in-One Hors D'oeuvre Platter.  

Food Details

• Trader Joe's Herb & Garlic Brie
• Trader Joe's Formaggio Lagorai (mild, semi-soft cow's milk)
• 34 Degree's Poppy Seed Crisps
• Watermelon Radishes
• Mini English Cucumbers
• Sugar Snap Peas
• Endive Leaves (Red & Green)
• Organic Red Grapes
• Purple and Orange Carrots
• Marcona Almonds
• Fresh Dill
• Lemon Hummus (garnished with fresh thyme)
• Red Pepper Hummus (garnished with chili flakes)

Wine Details

• Napa Cellars Syrah Rose (*A perfect pairing with this spread and time of year)

Entertaining Essentials

• CB2 Large Cuatro Platter
• CB2 Marta Tasting Glasses
• World Market Event White Wine Glasses
• Caspari Emerald Damask Cocktail Napkins
• Sur La Table Cheese Knives

Heirloom Panzanella Salad Recipe

Nothing beats the taste of fresh summer produce!  Literally this is probably what I look forward to most with the start of the summer season.  Whether your enjoying the delicious array of berries that are now in season or the abundance of fresh herbs like basil, summer is the best time of year for enjoying all things fresh and colorful. 

In an effort to come up with a recipe that best celebrates the array of delicious summer flavors, I spent some time researching recipes in hopes of finding inspiration.   All I can say is that it was time well spent, because I came across the most fabulous collection of Panzanella Salad recipes and could not have been more excited to create my own.

My Heirloom Panzanella Salad recipe is really a meal in and of itself - carbohydrates, protein, dairy, fresh veggies and healthy fats.  In addition, this recipe is super easy to make (minimal cooking involved) and can keep for up to 3 days in the fridge (making it ideal for meal planning and entertaining).  Here is how I went about creating this most delicious seasonal dish:

Ingredients

• 1 Loaf Fresh Italian Bread (cut into 1" cubes)
• 1 Lg Heirloom Tomato (cut into 1/2" cubes)
• 1 pkg Mini Heirloom Tomatoes (sliced in halves or quarter pieces)
• 1c Fresh Basil (sliced into strips)
• 1/2 Red Onion (sliced into thin strips)
• 5 Mini English Cucumbers (cut into 1/4"semicircles)
• 1 Jar Capers (drained and rinsed)
• 1 8oz Ball Fresh Mozzarella (cut into 1/4" cubes)
• Sweet Mini Peppers (about 1c of sliced pieces)
• 1/2c Olive Oil
• 4 Tbs Red Wine Vinegar
• 2 tsp Dijon Mustard
• 1 Shallot (finely chopped)
• 1/4 tsp Freshly Cracked Pepper
• 1/2 tsp Kosher Salt (+ more for seasoning bread)
• Spray Olive Oil (about 3-4Tbs)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees fahrenheit
2. Place bread cubes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper
3. Spray tops of bread with olive oil and then sprinkle with kosher salt
4. Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes until golden brown
5. Meanwhile, in a very large bowl (like this one) combine onions, capers, peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, basil and mozzarella.  Then set aside
6. In a small bowl (or glass measuring cup, which is my preference), combine 1/2c olive oil, red wine vinegar, mustard, shallot, pepper and 1/2 tsp salt
7. Pour vinaigrette over mozzarella/veggie mixture and toss
8. Add toasted bread cubes (once slightly cooled) to the vinaigrette coated veggies and slowly toss until all ingredients are sufficiently incorporated.
9. Allow the salad to sit for at least an hour before serving so that the flavors have time to blend together.  

*I love serving this salad alongside freshly grilled steaks or packing this salad for a picnic with friends.  

Host a Chic Pizza Party

This past weekend I hosted a casual-chic pizza party for a small group at our home.  We had a great time catching up with our friends while enjoying delicious wine, homemade pizza and of course cheering on our beloved Washington Capitals! 

I loved that this small party gave me the opportunity to play hostess and (of course more importantly) the perfect excuse to tablescape!  In order to achieve a balance of casual and chic, I my table setting needed to be a mix of formal and informal.  A centerpiece filled with sunflowers paired with my new favorite navy and white Williams-Sonoma napkins provided the casual spring elements that helped to balance out the more formal crystal and gold elements.  Below I have shared a breakdown of both the table and menu details to show you how I achieved a party that was the perfect balance of both casual and elegant. 

Table Details 

• DIY Herb Bouquet Place Cards
• Pier 1 Dark Brown Rattan Placemats
• Reed & Barton Soho Crystal Highball Glasses
• World Market White Wine Glasses
• Williams-Sonoma Buffalo Plaid Napkins
• Pillivuyt Basketweave Dinner Plates
• Chilewich Dahlia Coasters
• CB2 Bronn Taper Candle Holders
• Centerpiece Flowers: Sunflowers (Trader Joe's)

The Menu

• Hors D'oeuvres: Sprouted Kitchen's Curry Roasted Almonds
• Entree: DIY Homemade Pizza
• Salad: Kale Salad with Avocado Dressing, Roasted Almonds and a slice of Clothbound Aged Cheddar
• Dessert: Blueberry-Lemon Whoopie Pies 
• Wine: Napa Cellars Sauvignon Blanc (Pictured) and Napa Cellars Zinfandel

Every aspect of the party was super easy to create/execute, especially since I had taken the time to have everything done ahead of time (everything cooked/made/set with the exception of assembling and baking the pizzas).  Being super organized is really the key to hosting a successful gathering.  Regardless of size, if you are collected, organized and adequately prepped for your party, hosting will be an absolute breeze!