Tag Archives: entertaining

Celebrate National Cheese Lover’s Day with Casa Noble and The Cheeses of Europe #TequilaFromage

19 Jan
Tomorrow, January 20 is National Cheese Lover’s Day!  I don’t know about you but I definitely fall into the Cheese Lover category and was excited to celebrate with Casa Noble Tequila and The Cheeses of Europe, featured at The French Cheeseboard in NY.
Since becoming a parent, finding time to go out with friends and family has become a challenge.  Fortunately, they all understand and don’t mind coming to us- which means entertaining guests.  Last week my brother-in-laws and a few friends stopped by for an impromptu visit.  It was the perfect opportunity for a tequila and cheese tasting.
DSC_0802
Samples were provided for this post which were great for entertaining at our Tequila and Cheese Tasting.  What I received (with corresponding tasting notes) included:
  • 1 bottle Casa Noble Crystal
  • 1 bottle Casa Noble Reposado
  • 1 bottle Casa Noble Anejo
  • 1 pound of Imported Mimolette Cheese aka Boule de Lille: Eighteen months old so it would qualify as Vieille. During the 17th century Colbert denied importation of foreign goods so the French started making their own version of a Dutch cheese, Edam. Produced in Nord Pas-de-Calais, pasteurized cow milk, colored with Annatto. Very mild flavor with little aroma.
  • 1 pound of Fourme d’Ambert: This cheese can be made with raw or pasteurized cow milk; this one was pasteurized. The blue mold is added to the curd then the cheese is pierced to promote veining during ripening. Natural rind, smooth and creamy paste, rather mild for a blue, crumbly and moist, with a pleasant aroma of cow and cellar.
  • 1 Pound of Époisses:  A wash-rind monastery style of pasteurized cow milk, from Burgundy, also produced in Champagne-Ardenne. At first the young cheeses are washed in a brine solution then gradually Marc is added to the wash. Semi-soft, pungent, and a favorite of Napoleon.
  • 1 pound of Comte Cheese: With small, scattered holes called “eyes,” Comté has an intriguing, complex flavor that can include hints of apricot, chocolate, butter, cream, hazelnuts and toast. Enjoy Comté in cubes, on a sandwich, melted in fondue, or grated and sprinkled on your favorite dishes.
When I received the samples, my initial thought was Tequila and Cheese, really? I would have never thought to pair the two but everyone seemed to enjoy them together.  Luckily, I had some help on how to pair the two, here’s how:

 

Picture 16

Casa Noble Crystal paired with Mimolette              Image from The Baddish Group

Picture 15

Casa Noble Reposado paired with Époisses                     Image from the Baddish Group

Picture 18

Casa Noble Anejo paired with Fourme d’Ambert             Image from The Baddish Group

 We had a wonderful night catching up and had a lot of fun Celebrating National Cheese Lover’s Day (early).  The leftover cheese was also wonderful in salads and on sandwiches.  Celebrating tomorrow or entertaining soon, these delicious cheese are perfect for the occasion. And why not try them with a little Casa Noble (as long as you are of the legal age and drink responsibly)?
Cheese left over?  The perfect ingredient for any salad!

Cheese left over? The perfect ingredient for any salad!

For more information about Casa Noble, click here.  You can also find them on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/CasaNoble, Twitter (@Casa_Noble), and Instagram (@casanoble)
For more information about Cheeses of Europe, click here. You can also find them on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/cheesesofeurope, Twitter (@CheesesOfEurope), and Instagram (@CheesesOfEurope)
For more information about The French Cheeseboard click here.  You can find them on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/Frenchcheeseboard, Twitter (@FrenchBoard), and Instagram (@FrenchBoard)
Disclaimer:  I received samples for the purpose of this post.  Thank you to The Baddish Group, Casa Noble, The French Cheese Board, and The Cheeses of Europe for the opportunity to celebrate Cheese Lover’s Day with you.  All opinions expressed are my own.  Information in italics came from a press kit.  Always remember to drink responsibly and be of legal age.

 

 

Appetizers For Your #HolidayMenu

18 Dec

The Holidays are here and the New Year will be here shortly after. It’s time for parties, family gatherings and lots of Holiday cooking.  I recently had the opportunity to work with California EndivesNudo Olive Oil, and Rios de Chile Wine to come up with some starters for the Holiday season.

DSC_0464

Endive is a great alternative to bread, chips, and crackers.  Because our Holiday meals are so heavy, having a lighter/ low carb starter is a great alternative to loading up on chips and dip.  There are endless ways to use endive. You can put them in a salad, spread your favorite dip on them, or “stuff” them.  These two starters will please your guests this Holiday season:

DSC_0476

Endive Stuffed With Cranberry, Quinoa, Butternut Squash & Goat Cheese

This recipe is so simple to make.  Chop butternut quash into small cubes.  Make the quinoa according to instructions however use chicken stock instead of water to give it added flavor. While the quinoa is cooking, use a little Nudo Olive Oil, water, and fresh garlic to saute the butternut squash, cover for a bit to cook.  Add salt & pepper to taste.  Once the quinoa and butternut squash are finished cooking, mix together in a bowl, adding in the cranberries and goat cheese.  Spoon into an endive leaf and plate. Drizzle a little Nudo Olive Oil on top and enjoy.

DSC_0472

DSC_0482

DSC_0494

Taco Endive Boats With Sriracha Sour Cream:

Another easy recipe and I had most of the ingredients at home already.  Cook ground turkey with fresh garlic, onion, cayenne pepper & a bit of Nudo Olive Oil. While cooking, chop avocado into small cubes. When the meat is done cooking, mix in corn and cheddar cheese.  Spoon into endive leaves and top with avocado. In a small dish (I used an egg cup), mix sour cream & sriracha to taste.  Spoon a small amount of sriracha sour cream on your “taco boat” and enjoy. These are also perfect for football Sundays.

DSC_0495

DSC_0500

Once your appetizers are complete, set out on your table and enjoy with a glass of Rios de Chile Sauvignon Blanc.

DSC_0489

Click here for more great endive recipes!

About California Endive: Endive is a member of the chicory family, which includes radicchio, escarole, frisee and curly endive. It has a crisp texture and a sweet, nutty flavor with a pleasantly mild bitterness — great served raw or cooked.  Click the image to learn more.

About  Nudo Olive Oil: Ideal for drizzling, dipping and holiday cooking. Nudo Olive Oils are produced in the Marche region of Italy so it is easy to impress your guests with the freshness and flavor of 100% Italian olives.  Click here for more information or to order.

About Rios de Chile Sauvignon Blanc ($10):  It comes from the Central Valley Region of Chile.  Tasting notes say that it is a very fresh wine with an intense aroma of tropical fruits with fine mineral notes and citrus accents.  It has a lively palate and pleasing finish.  I am no wine expert which is why I used the tasting notes.  I really enjoyed the taste and thought it was refreshing, especially after being in a hot kitchen.

 

Happy, Healthy Eating This Holiday Season!

 

Disclaimer:  I did not receive compensation for this post.  I received samples of products to come up with sides or starters for the Holiday season.  All images unless noted are my own.  All information in italics came from the home site linked in the about sections or from press.

Holiday Entertaining Event With Momtrends

15 Dec

20121214-171038.jpgI don’t entertain very often. In fact hardly ever. I love the thought of having a great party but I never know where to begin when it comes to picking a theme, how to decorate or what and how much to serve. I need someone to do it for me because I have a hard time making decisions (Thank goodness for my mom and the wedding planner when I got married). My family will be coming up Christmas Day and my husband and I will be in charge of organizing decor and food! Thank goodness for the Momtrends Holiday Entertaining event I went to at The New Traditionalists gorgeous showroom!  It was so beautiful I want to redecorate my apartment with all their custom-made furniture!

20121214-171029.jpgAt the event, Elizabeth Mascali and Dawn Sandomeno of Partybluprints spoke about how to plan a party. Tips shared- find your inspiration, choose a color, keep it simple, keep in mind the vibe and don’t forget about decorating the space (chandeliers) above the table. In the image to the right, you will see an all white table set up with the Heavens as their inspiration. To get the heavenly look angel wings were added to all the glasses.  A little sparkle on the place card frames and snowflakes dangling in the chandelier above added a beautiful touch when it caught the light.  For the kids, use a mitten for utensils and use some of your favorite decorations for the table.   If you need help for your next event check out their book Plan to Party, which shares everything you need to know for entertaining from start to finish with menu ideas and grocery lists included! I may have to throw a party soon!

Picture 2With keeping it simple in mind, I was very excited to meet Loren from Sweet Loren’s. I have a holiday party this weekend I offered to bring dessert to but don’t have much time to bake. I will definitely be running to Whole Foods to get the delicious ready bake brownies and one of the cookies. There are so many yummy cookie choices; bold espresso chunk, chewy oatmeal cranberry and heavenly chocolate chunk. There is also a nutty peanut butter oatmeal cookie that was amazing but will not be baking at home because of my daughters allergy. Note that the dough is made in a faculty that contains nuts. And even though cleaned, not recommended for children with allergies (more for me). To add festive flare, Loren suggested adding sprinkles.
20121214-171102.jpgIf you don’t entertain much like myself and love going to parties, Momtrends showcased great gifts for the hostess which included rewined candles, a Dabney Lee monogrammed bottle cover and serving tray, as well as a Gaiam recycled paper frame. My favorite of the night to give as a gift or add a little fun after dinner is the game Typecrush. I became addicted after the event and it is a must for after my Christmas Day dinner.

Thank you to Momtrends and all who sponsored the event.  To see the Momtrends recap and a list of all the sponsors, click here!

Happy Entertaining or Party Going this Holiday Season!

Get Crafty With Driscoll’s Berries This Holiday Season!

8 Dec

20121208-112056.jpgHoliday parties have started and ideas for decorating and entertaining are always on my mind.  My girls love berries but I have never thought about using them for decorating.  Just before Thanksgiving I had the opportunity to attend a Driscoll’s Berry crafting event with my youngest daughter to jump-start the Holiday season with ideas for entertaining. Before crafting began, guests ate a yummy brunch. The menu included some of these “berry” delicious recipes:

Melissa Klein, Editor of Celebrations.com, led a Berry Tree craft session for adults after brunch.  The tree was very easy to make and my daughter periodically took a break from her craft to help me.   The Berry Tree makes a bright and beautiful centerpiece for a holiday party or dinner.  Melissa also suggested stringing Driscoll’s blueberries to make a garland to add to the tree.  Click here for directions to make a Berry Tree for your next Holiday gathering.

20121208-112104.jpg

While adults were making trees, the kids were making adorable Rudolph cupcakes.  All you need is a chocolate frosted cupcake, red m&m’s, sugar eyes, pretzels, melted chocolate to hold antlers, eyes and nose in place and a chocolate covered Driscoll’s strawberry for the head.  A fun activity to do with your child(ren) and their friends to bring to a holiday bake-sale or a kids holiday party.

20121208-112112.jpg

For more Holiday fun and recipes check out Driscoll’s and Celebrations (click links)!  Have a Berry Crafty Holiday Season!

Enter the Driscoll’s Holiday Sweepstakes by clicking the image below!

Picture 7

Disclaimer:  I was not compensated for this post.  I got to take home the craft I made and received a gift bag for attending the event.  Some of the photos used came from the Driscoll’s and Celebrations facebook pages.  Opinions expressed are always my own.