This appetizer is effortless to make and is such a crowd-pleaser. It’s a classic that everybody loves, perfect for any occasion! I bought the blinis at my local grocery store to make it even easier. However, you can make them at home.
The DILL CRÈME FRAICHE you can make the day before and store in the refrigerator. Recipe below.
Assemble: Spread the dill crème fraîche on a blini. Coil on a piece of salmon, top with chives or dill.
Calling all Nutella lovers!! We are absolutely obsessed with Nutella, and we love anything with it. This vanilla, strawberries and Nutella buttercream cake is soooo good and beautiful. It’s perfect for Mother’s Day!
–Vanilla box cake: choose your favorite box cake, and prepare the batter according to the instructions. Split the batter into two round 8″ cake pans, and follow the instructions to bake them.
–Strawberries: put them in a strainer and rinse with cold water. Remove the green stems and slice them in half (vertically).
–Nutella buttercream recipe: the original recipe is from Sugar & Sparrow.
Cream the butter on medium-high until it’s creamy and light in color, about 5 minutes.
Add the powdered sugar a few cups at a time, scraping down after each addition and making sure each cup is fully incorporated before adding the next one.
Add the Nutella and beat on med-high for a full minute.
Turn the mixer to low and add the vanilla, milk, and salt.
Mix for another 1-2 minutes, scraping down the bowl and paddle as needed, until smooth and fully incorporated
Calling all Lime lovers. This semi-homemade cake is easy and quick to put together. It’s light and packed with fresh flavors—the perfect ending to a summer dinner.
Start by baking two boxes of lemon supreme cake mix accordingly to the box baking instructions. We divide the batter in 4 round cake pans (about 9”). Allow cakes to cool completely in the pan. The cakes must be completely cool before frosting and assembling.
Now, it’s time to make the frosting!! In a large bowl, using a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment beat the whipping cream on medium speed until it begins to thicken. Keep mixing, add the condensed milk and the confectioner sugar. Increase to high speed, and beat until the cream is very stiff, and stands in firm peaks on the beater when it is lifted from the bowl.
Stop mixing and slowly add the lime juice and using a French whisk mix all together. Your lime Chantilly will be ready!
Let’s assemble the cake! Turn the cakes down and using a large serrated knife, slice a thin layer off the tops to create a flat surface. Place the 1st cake layer on your cake stand. Spread about 1 and 1/2 cups of frosting evenly on top. Top with the 2nd cake layer, and evenly cover the top with another 1 and 1/2 cups of frosting. Do the same with the 3rd and 4th layer.
After the last one, spread the remaining frosting on top and around the sides using an icing spatula. Use a bench scraper to smooth out the frosting on the sides of the cake. Decorate the cake with lime and mint.
Bake the 2 boxes of lemon cake mix accordingly to the box baking instructions. We divide the batter in 4 round cake pans (about 9”);
Allow cakes to cool completely in the pan. The cakes must be completely cool before frosting and assembling.
Frosting
In a large bowl, using a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment beat the whipping cream on medium speed until it begins to thicken. Keep mixing, add the condensed milk and the confectioner sugar. Increase to high speed, and beat until the cream is very stiff, and stands in firm peaks on the beater when it is lifted from the bowl.
Stop mixing and slowly add the lime juice and using a French whisk mix all together. Your lime Chantilly will be ready!
Assemble
Turn the cakes down and using a large serrated knife, slice a thin layer off the tops to create a flat surface.
Place the 1st cake layer on your cake stand. Spread about 1 and 1/2 cups of frosting evenly on top. Top with the 2nd cake layer, and evenly cover the top with another 1 and 1/2 cups of frosting. Do the same with the 3rd and 4th layer.
After the last one, spread the remaining frosting on top and around the sides using an icing spatula. Use a bench scraper to smooth out the frosting on the sides of the cake.
It is no secret that we love fresh flowers at home. They quickly brighten up any space and makes it more inviting. If you are new to flower arranging, the idea of creating your own bouquet can be a little overwhelming. But don’t get discouraged!! With the right tools, flower arranging can be fun and simple.
If this Spring, you feel inspired to start creating your floral arrangements, make sure that you have some basic tools on hand. And don’t forget: The first step to mastering a skill lies in the dedication and practice you put into that new hobby.
There are a lot of florist’s tools right there. But to make it simple, we have listed some of the basic tools that we use in our arrangements:
Floral clippers
A good pair of floral clippers is key to creating a flower arrangement and ensuring that each stem is cut correctly to allow the flowers to drink water.
Pruners
Thicker stems and branches can be a problem without the right tool. The branch cutters are similar to floral clippers but can easily cut and clip more rigid stems.
Floral Tape
Floral tape is a must-have! They come in different colors and can be used for wrapping stems and lining vases. We use the clear tapes more often than the green ones, but both work great.
The clear floral tape is helpful to create a grid on top of the containers to help flowers stay in place and add support. We replaced the floral foams with clear tape and the chicken wire, and we don’t regret it! The green waterproof tape can be used to secure the bases of stems together.
Chicken wire
They are also called ‘wire mesh’ or ‘wire netting’. Like the floral tapes, the chicken wire adds support to the arrangement and gives you control over the structure of the arrangement. They can be bent to help guide and hold your arrangements in large containers.
Flower Thorn Strippers
This tool is easy to remove thorns and leaves from the stems, especially from roses. Begin by pulling down gently down the stem of a rose. It is important, to begin with, enough space down from the rose head to prevent it from falling off.
Moss
Add green or Spanish moss for a more finished look at your potted arrangements, terrariums, and baskets. Don’t use the moss in a vase of water with flowers; use it in an arrangement that doesn’t sit in vessels of water. If using the green sheet moss, make sure to saturate it before using it.
Spray bottle
After we complete an arrangement, we finish it with a light mist of water to hydrate the blooms, especially the hydrangeas.
Optional: If you have a lazy Susan, prop your vase on it to easily move around your vase and check all sides.
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Easter is a time to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, so it’s important to gather with our family and friends. We love creating a special tablescape for this holiday! Follow along to learn how we put together this one.
This tablescape is simple and easy to replicate. You don’t need something over the top to create a festive decor. Here, we accessorized the table with bunnies and medium-sized decorative easter eggs. They can be found almost at any store during this time of the year. Check the bottom of this post to shop. Since we used so many easter accessories, we kept the flowers simple. Remember, less is more!!
For the flowers, we used a spring classic, Hyacinth!! They are an early spring blooming bulb and are widely available in stores during this time of the year. They are incredibly fragrant with a sweet scent.
The pastel gingham pink linen napkins complemented the hyacinths and the flower vase’s pink shades. We love this pattern for Easter. We made the place cards a little more special with a spring feel by adding yellow spray roses. They are miniature standard roses easily found at stores. Using a hole puncher, punch a hole in the top of the place card.
Who doesn’t love chocolate!? We placed a few Lindt Chocolates on each place setting. After all, Easter is not complete without chocolate.
Looking for a last-minute dessert for your Valentine’s Day gathering!? Or just a cute and yummy one to make it to your kids!? Look no further; it doesn’t get easier than this one. Brownie paired with chocolate ganache, it’s decadent, delicious, and a super-easy dessert. After all, Valentine’s day is not complete without chocolate!! Top it off with strawberries and serve on an adorable heart bowl. Voile, you got yourself a Valentine-inspired dessert.
I used Ghiradelli’s Double Chocolate Brownie mix, but feel to use your favorite brand. There is nothing like a warm brownie fresh out of the oven. However, you can even skip this step and use store-bought brownies.
Homemade chocolate ganache it’s super easy and quick, requiring only two ingredients. It’s also incredible versatile with endless uses. You will need semi-sweet chocolate bars and heavy whipping cream for this recipe. Make sure to use high-quality chocolate bars and avoid chocolate chips as they will not melt into a good consistency. It’s important to note that if you let the ganache cool, it’s not pourable anymore but spreadable; therefore, don’t let it cool too much for this recipe.
In a heart-shaped bowl, place pieces of the brownies on the bottom, pour the chocolate ganache (recipe below), top it off with strawberries and garnish with mint.
Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day? If you plan to set the table for the occasion, here is a simple but adorable inspiration for V-day. I’ve linked most of the things I have used on this table and similar ones. Check the end of the post for info.
When I went into Citarella, these hot pink flowers spoke to me, and I couldn’t get my eyes off them. I was in love with this shade of pink, and I knew they were the ones. I then decided to go with the blue-pink color combination for my valentine’s day tablescape.
I used a blue patterned tablecloth from Julia Amory; she has a beautiful selection of table linens. When using an impactful tablecloth, I keep all other elements clean and simple; there is no need for too many flowers or decor. A patterned tablecloth can be very impactful and transform any table decor.
For the plates, I selected Juliska’s Berry & Thread French Panel Collection dinner and salad plates. I love this design and the off-white color; they are versatile and can be used on many occasions.
I picked napkins that were clean and simple, these blush linen ones from Pottery Barn coordinated nicely with the blue patterned tablecloth. Candles!! They make any setting cozier and more intimate. I love them! These candlesticks are from Crate and Barrel and are always a show stopper. Small blue bud vases as a final touch decor. Valentine’s Day is not complete without chocolate!! I added Godiva heart-shaped dark chocolate to every setting. A little something sweet to make V-Day more special.
Valentine’s Day is coming up in a few weeks! Whether you are celebrating with your significant other, kids, family, girlfriends, or by yourself, here is a cheese board inspiration. Perfect for a gathering or a night in!!
Start with the board! We love a white cheeseboard for the occasion; they look more feminine and make the strawberries and macarons pop. This one is a pottery charcuterie platter from Dresden & Company and is about 14″ wide. You can find a similar one here and more on the bottom of the page under “Shop The Post.”
Next comes the cheeses!! For this board, we selected Manchego, Brie, St. Agur Blue Cheese, and heart-shaped Swiss Cheese (this one was mainly for decoration purposes). However, feel free to choose your and your guests’ favorites -the sky is the limit!! For most people, due to the wide variety, selecting cheese can be a little overwhelming. We sliced the manchego to give more dimension to the board and kept the brie and blue cheese in their original form. For the heart-shaped swiss, use a mini cookie cutter (1.5″) to cut through it (we used the regular sliced swiss cheese).
Crackers!! We love the original crisps from 34 Crisps. They are so thin yet so crunchy and pair so well with so many different types of cheese. Plus, as a bonus, they are lower in calories than most crackers. The other must-have crackers that we always have on our boards are the Lesley Stowe ones. They are so savory and look beautiful! They have a variety of flavors, and they are all so delicious. Both brands you can find at most grocery stores.
Condiment! We kept this board simple and only added honey. Is there anything better than a small bite of brie on a cracker and topped with honey? It’s so simple but so tasty! One of my favorite combinations.
Fruits! Strawberries are the most “Valentiney” fruit; don’t you agree!? We couldn’t leave them out. They pair so well with the brie and honey.
Nuts! We are absolutely obsessed with truffled almond nuts. They are divine and one of those foods that you can’t stop eating. We also love how their color complements the board’s color scheme.
Sweets! After all, it is a savory and sweet board, and it is a valentine-inspired cheeseboard. To me, macaroons are a good idea, anytime, anywhere, and at any season. They are one of my favorite desserts. I also love their shape and the different colors available. Valentines is not complete without chocolate!! These Godiva heart-shaped ones are the perfect addition to the board.
Lastly, garnish with rosemary for a little pop of green!! So easy and super quick to put together! Happy Valentine’s Day! Lots of love!!!
You and your friends deserve a few hours of fun, right?? This February 13th, make your closest friends feel special by throwing a Galentine’s Day party!!! This informal soiree should be casual and stress-free. The trick is to prepare everything beforehand and keep it low-key. The point is to have fun and relax!!!!
1- Decor and set-up:
Don’t stress over every detail! There is no need to re-create a florist flower arrangement; just get a few flower stems at the grocery store and put them in a vase. This will be enough décor for your get-together.
Parties always end in the kitchen, right? So, let’s start there too!! Set-up the food and drinks on your kitchen island. Don’t have one? A kitchen table can fill in as an alternative, or you can bring the party to your living room and set the food up on the coffee table.
2- Food:
Don’t make things complicated! This event is more about socializing than trying to show all your cooking skills (we are sure you have lots….but save it for another gathering). Take advantage of the great selection of cheese, meat, nuts, and dips at grocery stores and create a charcuterie board. Better to focus on finger food that doesn’t require utensils.
If you still feel like creating something that looks fancier but requires just a few steps, you can try our Goat Cheese Balls, and why not a Mediterranean Quinoa Salad. They take a minute (ok…maybe a few minutes) to make, and your friends will love it.
For the sweet eaters, you can buy a pre-made dessert or make some of our favorite desserts:
They are all very easy to prepare and require zero cooking skills!!!!
3- Drink
Water, white wine, red wine, and champagne should be enough! Leave it on a big bucket full of ice so the guests will feel comfortable helping themselves. But if you want to go a little bit over, have vodka, rum tequila, and a couple of fruits and let the girls create their own drinks.
4- Vibe
This event should be a release of all the stress from your busy lives. Have some music playing in the background for an ambiance. In the end, this get-together is meant not only for your guests to relax and have fun, but you also deserve it.
This Mediterranean quinoa salad makes for a quick lunch or dinner, and it can be served as a side dish or enjoyed as a meal on its own. This salad also keeps well if you make it ahead of time, so it’s a great recipe for when you are entertaining, so you can prepare ahead of time
What’s in this salad?
Quinoa – The protein-packed quinoa brings a nice texture and is the “heart” of this salad.
Turmeric and curry – These two spices are easily accessible, packed with tons of flavor, and full of health benefits.
Feta cheese – The feta’s creamy texture and salty taste will bring this salad to a whole new level.
Black olives – You can skip it if you are not big on olives. We love it, so we always add it to this salad.
Mint – In our opinion, mint is a MUST in this salad.
Tomatoes and cucumbers – they will give a nice texture and crunch to the salad
Olive oil, salt, and pepper
Some tips:
Cook the quinoa ahead of time and let it cool completely before tossing the salad together.
Adding the turmeric and curry to the water before you cook the quinoa will give that yellow tone to the dish.
We prefer adding olive oil, salt, and pepper as the dressing, as the turmeric and quinoa will already give lots of flavor to this salad. If you prefer using a more elaborate sauce, you can use an Italian dressing.
Try this recipe and let us know what you think!!
Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
This Mediterranean quinoa salad makes for a quick lunch or dinner, and it can be served as a side dish or enjoyed as a meal on its own.
