Easy, Beautiful Cheese Platter

For all of the time we spend creating handcrafted dishes that we hope our guests will remember, the most popular and always appreciated dish at a party is the cheese platter. Easy to make and not too expensive, the most important part of the creation is presentation and variety.

At my most recent party I put this platter together. It contains good old reliable cheddar jack, dill havarti, brie, blue, and fresh mozzarella cheese balls. I added some nice dry salami for color and finished it all off easily with a box of Pepperidge Farms Entertaining Crackers, and a few extra rounds of toasted french bread left over from the mushroom bruschetta I served.

The dish is successful because it offers a wide variety of flavors, allows me to show off a favorite serving platter, and can be prepared quickly and without mess. If I had been feeling more adventurous and hadn't been deep frying homemade jalapeno poppers, I would have sliced a fresh apple to compliment the brie and havarti.

So the next time you are trying to fill out the menu of a cocktail party, don't forget the dependable standby, the cheese platter.

Perfect Scrambled Eggs

I love eggs all times of the day. They are a high in protein and easy to make dish. Light, fluffy, and and the perfect blend of butter and salt, even I can throw these together and still make it to work on time in the morning.

Recipe
3 eggs
1 tablespoon butter
Salt and pepper

Spray a small frying or saute pan liberally with nonstick cooking spray. Heat over medium-high heat. Crack eggs directly into the pan. Break up yolks with a rubber spatula. Sprinkle a light layer of salt and pepper over the surface of the eggs. Cook, constantly turning the eggs with the spatula. When the eggs are almost done, drop in the tablespoon of butter and continue cooking and turning the eggs until the butter is completely melted. When the butter is gone the eggs are done, no further seasoning necessary. The eggs will be hot, fluffy, and lightly coated with butter, perfect to eat alone or with a slice of toast.

Enjoy!

Small Spaces: Livin' in NYC

I like what this homeowner has done with his 178 square foot Brooklyn apartment. Although I'm not sure I subscribe to his 'the more stuff you put in the room, the bigger it seems'. I think a happy medium will prevent a small space from looking like a good candidate for an episode of Hoarders.



I do want that bed though. See the rest of the apartment here.

via Home by Sunset

images via The New York Times

Hanging Groups of Photos Easily

Nothing fills a wall with more personality that a grouping of family photos. However, many people find hanging the pictures challenging, especially when you are dealing with multiple sizes and frame types. Here is how to do it accurately and easily.

Supplies Needed:
Paper (I use freezer paper, like they wrap meat in, but any rolled paper will do, even some old and ugly wrapping paper, just use the white side)
Pencil
Scotch tape
Hammer
Nails (Invest in a box. They are cheap and a box will last you for years!)

Roll out the paper, lay a photo upside down on top. Trace around frame and cut out paper. Place your finger at the top of the paper where the middle of the photo hanger hits. Move the photo over until the edge of the frame aligns with your finger. Measure down to where the hanger is (or where the nail would need to go, however you want to think about it.) Draw a dot large enough to easily see on the paper. I also write a brief description of the photo so there is no confusion when it is time to hang. This also allows you to "theme" groups of pictures if you so choose.

After you have done this with all of the pictures it is time to go to the wall where you will be hanging them. Hang the paper in a pattern that you like with scotch tape. Using a small amount of tape makes them easy to move and adjust to get just the right layout. Once you have the papers in a pattern you like, hammer the nails right through the dot you made on the paper. Once all of your nails are in place, remove the papers one at a time and hang the pictures as you go.

When you are done you will have created a wonderful collage that will entertain your guests and beautify your home.

Perfect Lemon Chicken

I'm having a little party next Sunday so I started experimenting with foods that could be eaten with a toothpick, of course this would also make a great entree. Here is what I came up with:

4 chicken breasts
2 tbsp butter, 2 tbsp grapeseed or vegetable oil
6 tbsp flour
Cayenne pepper
Salt and Pepper
Juice of 2 large lemons, between 1/2 and 3/4 cup
4 tbsp sugar
Ground allspice
Cinnamon

Mix lemon juice, sugar, 2 shakes allspice, 2 shakes cinnamon, 4 shakes cayenne, salt and pepper; set aside.

Cut chicken into large cubes. Put flour, 2 shakes cayenne, salt and pepper in a gallon ziploc bag. Add chicken and shake to coat well.

Melt butter and oil over med/high heat in sauce pan. When it gets warm, add chicken cubes, picking them from the bag so as not to add too much flour. If the first one doesn't sizzle when it hits the pan, wait until pan gets hotter before adding the rest.

Cook chicken on all sides until it is golden brown. It should soak up all the butter and oil. Once it's golden brown, pour lemon juice mixture in and toss to coat. Cook until sauce thickens.

Serve as an appetizer or over rice as an entree. Enjoy!