Alfresco Dinner a la Lulu

A lovely alfresco dinner with a roaring fire, lights over the table on a dimmer from Target.  A checked table runner was used on the sides with the wood showing down the middle with simple gerber daisies in ball jars. Also I used a ball jar for the water on the table that had place cards attached. A brown tag with chalkboard paint. The lemons we got from the clients lemon trees as well as the rosemary placed on top of the napkin.

We put a big board out filled with cheeses, meats , olives, chickpeas, mustards, cornichons, baked proscuitto.  I think adding herbs (note the rosemary around the grapes) it just takes it up a notch.  I love honey and doused some of the St. Angel cheese which is crazy delicious that I got at whole foods.

The Olives we put in a small sauce pan and covered them with olive oil , lemon and clementine strips and some hot chile fakes.  Brought to a boil and turned off.  Let cool and poured the olives into a bowl with a little of the oil, the chili flakes , and lemon & clementine rind with a sprig of rosemary.  The rest of the olive oil we set out with some grilled bread and people used it to dip there bread in.

I love fried sage sprinkled with salt.  I could eat it like potato chips and that is what I did here on the corner of the board.  In the blue bowl is baked chick peas which are delicious to eat like some nuts.  Drain and rinse off the chickpeas.  Dry on paper towel.  Put on a cookie sheet with a little olive oil cumin, salt and pepper at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.  Shake after 7 minutes.  Everyones oven is different so cook them until you think they are crispy enough.

The different meats, I had them slice at whole food.  Very thin.  The tomato crostini were grilled bread with buratta,roasted tomatoes (which I roasted baby tomatoes for 25 minutes at 350 degrees with a little olive oil salt and pepper.  Took out and let cool.) sprinkled with torn basil and sprinkled with malt on salt flakes, balsamic demi glaze.

This was a rose party where they tried all different kind of Rose’s.  The host wanted to put out a little tequila bar for those who may have not wanted Rose.  Which I thought was fun and all the guests seemed to sip tequila and enjoy trying all the different roses.

Set Sip Serve and Angeleno Magazine Feature

[show_shopthepost_widget id="222471"]

I had the pleasure of being featured on setsipserve.com alongside Mary Alice Haney, the personality behind the new high end, luxury clothing line, Haney.

"On this night for Mary Alice, Lulu Powers, The Entertainologist, created a beautiful dinner party with a chic colorful table. Lulu has designed the most fun, creative party tents/canopies that she set up in Mary Alice’s backyard where we all gathered to enjoy Lulu’s “Sneeky”. From there, we all got to sit at the dining room table that was filled with eclectic small vases holding colorful flowers. Lulu is a genius when setting a table. Her flair for originality comes out in the details such as the gold objects on each of our plates."

Lulu's Tarragon and Mint Frozen Lemonade with Vodka

INGREDIENTS:

1 Can or 12 oz Frozen Lemonade 1 1/2 Cans vodka (use the can as your measuring cup) 1/2 can chopped cucumber 1/2 can pulled tarragon 1/2 can pulled mint 1 can club soda

DIRECTIONS:

Step 1: Put the lemonade,vodka,cucumber,tarragon,mint and ice into a blender and blend well.

Step 2: Pour the contents into a pitcher, add the club soda and stir

Step 3: Pour over a glass filled with ice, and add a fun straw, a slice of clementine,cucmber or whatever fruit you have on hand. Enjoy!!

*Recipe Courtesy of Lulu Powers

*Photo by Stefanie Keenan

Lulus Spinach Kale Bites with Sweet Potato Aioli Adorned with Armenian Labne

INGREDIENTS

For Kale Bites: 1 medium chopped onion 2 cloves minced garlic 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 2 Tbsp. salted butter 6 ounce fresh baby spinach (5 oz. of frozen) 2 cups packed fresh kale 2 scallions thinly sliced 1 egg 2/3 cup panko breadcrumbs, plus extra for coating ( I toast Udi’s bread then put in food processor and pulse for gluten free) 3⁄4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese Salt and pepper to taste Dash of Cholula (my fav hot sauce) more if you want Olive oil cooking spray

For Sweet Potato Tapenade: 3 Sweet potatoes baked and peeled 3/4 cup almonds 2 cloves garlic 3/4 cup parmesan 1 lemon juiced and zested 1/4 cup canola oil or olive oil Salt and pepper to taste Optional: 1 stp or more of Cholula

For Armenian Labne: 1/2 cup lane or sour cream 1 tsp pomegranate molasses 1/2 tsp Za'tar

INSTRUCTIONS

For Kale Bites: Step 1: Preheat Oven to 375 Degrees F

Step 2: In a frying pan, heat and melt butter with olive oil. Add onion and garlic. Saute until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add spinach and kale and cook until they wilt, about 1 to 2 minutes.

Step 3: Place cooked contents into a food processor along with scallions and pulse for several seconds. Transfer mixture to a medium bowl.

Step 4: Add one egg, ⅔ cup breadcrumbs, and Parmesan cheese. Mix with a spoon until well combined. Add salt and black pepper to taste and a dash of Cholula.

Step 5: In a small bowl or flat dish, put some bread crumbs. Take a teaspoon full of the spinach and kale mixture into your hand. Make small ball with your hands. You can use mini ice cream scoop too. It’s up to you to decide what size you would like to make them.

Step 6: Gently roll ball into panko bread crumbs to coat evenly.

Step 7: Lightly spray baking sheet with cooking spray. Place the spinach and kale bites onto baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes. Serve warm

For Sweet Potato Tapenade: Step 1: Put everything in the Cuisinart but the sweet potatoes.

Step 2: Pulse till chunky, then add peeled sweet potatoes. Pulse to your likeness.

Notes: Bake sweet potatoes and pull skin off when hot, it’s easier. Add the sweet potatoes when they are warm. It seems to mix better this way and enhance all the flavors.

For Armenian Labne: Step 1: Mix all together

To Serve: Put a dollop of the sweet potato aioli on your spinach kale bite and finish with the armenian labne. Please substitute if you do not have the Za’tar and maybe add finely chopped scallions or chives.

*Photo by Stefanie Keenan

Check out the spread in Angeleno magazine below featuring Kale Salad with Mint Pistachio Pesto

Pesto: 2 cups Mint 1 cups pistachio Zest and juice of 1 lemon

Pulse the pesto ingredients in a good processor.

Salad: One head of kale, washed, dried, and julianned.

Toss kale with one tsp. olive oil, one tsp. lemon juice, salt and pepper. Add pesto and toss.

Stevie's Salad Dressing: 1 cup olive oil 1/2 cup white balsamic vinegar 2 tsp. Dijon mustard 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce 1 lemon juiced 1 tsp. Tabasco 5 cloves garlic, pressed

Pull out a glass jar, add ingredients, and shake, shake, shake!

Sally's Quick Scrumptious Weekend Treats

"There is nothing like a soirée thrown by my childhood friend Sally Horchow" She is an incredible host. As I watched her walk around the party making sure everyone had a sneeky (a spicy Sally or glass of rose) asking if everyone was good. That's a good host. You want your guests to have a great time. C'mon everyone likes to feel they are being taken care of.

Sally is bringing back the Fritos along with her crab dip which was scrumptious. Simple prosciutto wrapped melon, and s’more bites.

Hey put some Fritos in a bowl with a big spoon and your good to go. Fritos are  ol school. Recently I was served Fritos in an ol silver gravy boat with a ladle looking spoon. First thought: chic presto bingo you have a "snack" for your guests. All it takes is keeping a bag of Fritos in your pantry.

Sally's Scrumptious Crab Dip

1 lb lump crabmeat

1 can quartered artichokes

2 8 oz. pkgs cream cheese, softened

1 cup mayo

Juice of 1/2 lemon

Tabasco to taste

Sea salt to taste

300 degrees in the oven for 20-30 minutes (stir halfway through) Serve with Fritos!

Sally's S’more Bites

3 tbsp butter

1 bag (10oz) marshmallows

6 cups rice-crisp cereal

1 cup melted semisweet chocolate chips

71/2 rectangular graham crackers (or 15 squares)

1 cup marshmallow creme (such as fluff)

In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in marshmallows and cook, stirring until smooth, 2 minutes; remove from eat. In a bowl, combine marshmallows with cereal; mix well. In the bottom of a 9”x 13” pan, spread half of the cereal mixture into a thin, even layer. Top with warmed chocolate. Place graham crackers in single layer over chocolate, breaking crackers as needed to fit; top with creme. Spread remaining half of cereal mixture over creme; lightly press to cement layers together. Let s’mores sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes before cutting and serving.

Spicy Sally Sneeky

1/2 lime

1/2 oz 100% agave tequila

2oz pineapple juice

1/4 oz agave nectar or simple syrup

3 fresh jalapeño slices, divided

2 to 3 sage leaves

Club Soda (optional)

Squeeze lime into cocktail shaker and add tequila, pineapple juice, agave nectar, 2 jalapeño slices, and sage. Muddle, add ice, and slake well. Strain into a Collins glass filled with ice. Top with Soda if desired. Garnish with remaining jalapeño slice.

*single serving

Blackberry Cooler

1 cup coconut water

5 blackberries

1 Persian cucumber

3 mint leaves

3 ice cubes.

Put in a blender and blend.

Pour into a glass with ice cubes.

Garnish with frozen grapes , blackberry and fresh mint

optional: vodka, gin, tequila, or agave if berries are tart.

Cucumber Spiked Vodka

Today is the first day of June and I'm spending this glorious day outside, sipping on one of the simplest, most refreshing sneekys!

Screen Shot 2014-06-01 at 7.57.06 PM

Cucumber Spiked Vodka

This is ridiculously easy to make and you can prepare it in large batches, making it perfect for parties and hosting!

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups coarsely chopped seedless cucumber
• 1 bottle vodka

Steps:

• In a food processor or blender, puree cucumber.
• Pour vodka and cucumber into a pitcher. Stir well.
• Refrigerate until chilled. Strain and serve.

Happy Cinco de Mayo: The biggest Sneeky Day of the year!

This is the biggest Sneeky Day of the year.  I love all of these recipes!  It’s a simple way to treat your friends to a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta. You can't have a fiesta without the proper table attire, so I've put together this quick list of Cinco ready decor to make it easy for you! [show_shopthepost_widget id="30664"] Guacamole (makes 3 cups)

• 2 plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/3 cup chopped cilantro
• 1 small jalapeno, seeded and chopped
• 3 avocados, peeled, pitted and chopped
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste

In a bowl combine tomatoes, onion, cilantro and jalapeno. With fork coarsely mash avocado; add to tomato mixture. Stir in lemon juice, salt and pepper. Place plastic wrap directly on surface until ready to serve.

Taco-shot_sm

SWEET AND SPICY TACO MEAT

• 1 MEDIUM RED ONION, FINELY CHOPPED
• 5 CLOVES MINCED GARLIC
• 2 TABLESPOONS OLIVE OIL OR BUTTER
• 2 LBS GROUND TURKEY
• 1 POUND GROUND BEEF
• 1 PACKAGE SWEET ITALIAN SAUSAGES
• 2 BUNCHES SCALLIONS, THINLY SLICED
• 1 BUNCH CILANTRO, FINELY CHOPPED
• 3 TABLESPOONS CUMIN
• 2 TABLESPPONS LAWRY’S SALT
• 1 TABLESPPON GROUND PEPPER
• 1 TABLESPPON TOBASCCO
• 1 TABLESPOON CAYENNE
• 1 JALAPENO, FINELY CHOPPED
• 2 CUPS ORANGE JUICE

IN A LARGE SKILLET SAUTE ONION AND GARLIC IN 2 TABLESPOONS OLIVE OIL OR BUTTER, OVER MEDIUM HEAT, FOR ABOUT 3-5 MINUTES, STIRRING FREQUENTLY. ADD GROUND TURKEY, BEEF, SWEET ITALIAN SAUSAGES AND COOK STIRRING UNTIL BROWNED. ADD SCALLIONS, CILANTRO, CUMIN, SALT, GROUND PEPPER, TOBASCCO, CAYENNE, JALAPENO, ORANGE JUICE AND COOK UNTIL LIQUID EVAPORATED. REMOVE SKILLET FROM THE HEAT.

p_102080515

Infante -  sshhhhhh! (pictured above)

•  2oz reposado tequila
• 1/4oz orgeat
• 1/2oz fresh lime juice

Shake and strain over fresh ice. Spritz with rose water. Grate fresh nutmeg on top.

p_102080505

p_102080502

Oscar Inspired Cocktails

In honor of the 86th Academy Awards this Sunday, March 2nd, I'm serving up sneekys inspired by each Best Picture Nominated film. Host a viewing party with easy appetizers and these sneekys. With all the great films nominated, there's sure to be a sneeky that speaks to everyone. Cheers!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

12 Years a Slave : Blackberry Royale

In 12 Years a Slave, Solomon Northup tries to fashion a pen and ink out of wood and blackberries in a desperate attempt to reach his family in the North. I'm serving up a refreshing pitcher starring blackberries.

• 1 cup fresh blackberries
• 2.5 oz créme de cassis
• 1 lemon
• 1 bottle (12 ounces) ginger beer, chilled
• 4 cups ice
• 1 bottle (750 ml) chilled dry sparkling wine

1. In a large pitcher, combine blackberries, créme de cassis, and 1 tablespoon from half the lemon. Stir to combine, lightly pressing on berries to release juices.
2. Add ice to pitcher. Fill with ginger beer and sparkling wine and stir gently to combine. Slice remaining half of lemon in thin slices and add to pitcher as garnish.

Gravity : Kahlua White Russian

For a movie that has audience members thrilled and on the edge of their seats, George Clooney provides some comic relief by saying he knows where the Russian stash their vodka on board the Russian satellite. Inspired by the small role vodka plays in the movie, I'm serving up White Russians.

• 2 oz Kahlua
• 1 oz vodka
• 1 oz cream or milk

Philomena : Buck's Fizz

There are several food moments through Philomena as Philomena proves to be enthusiastic about food and drinks. The one that stood out to me is when she is offered a Buck's Fizz cocktail on the flight to Washington D.C.

• 1 (750 ml) bottle champagne
• 0.5 liter squeezed fresh orange juice

Chill your Champagne & Orange Juice. Select a tall and elegant shaped champagne glasses! Pour about one third of orange juice into the glass first and then top up with champagne.

Nebraska : No Frills Beer

Beer plays a big role in the film Nebraska. Bruce Dern consumes a great deal of beer throughout the movie and is drunk once or twice. For beer buffs I recommend a good American craft beer such as Brooklyn Lager.

Her : Grand Cosmo

This movie was a little difficult to come up with a sneeky. I was ultimately inspired by how sentimental and romantic it was so I'm serving up this sweet, classic cosmo.

• 0.5 oz grand marnier
• 0.5 oz Belvedere Vodka
• 0.5 oz cranberry juice
• 0.25 oz fresh lime juice

Dallas Buyer's Club : Skinny Man Margarita

A skinny margarita for Ron Woodruff, an AIDS patient who smuggled unapproved pharmaceuticals into Texas when he found they improved his symptoms and distributed them to fellow patient. Cheers to you Ron!

• lime wedge
• 1/2 cup kosher salt
• 3 oz. (90 ml) tequila
• 1 oz. (30 ml) lime juice, freshly squeezed
• 1 oz. (30 ml) agave nectar
• ice

Combine the silver tequila, lime juice and agave nectar in a cocktail shaker. Add ice to the cocktail shaker and replace the lid. Shake the drink until the ingredients are well combined. Pour the drink into salted  glasses.

The Wolf of Wall Street : Money Maker Martini

A lavish twist on a classic martini to accompany a movie based on a beyond lavish lifestyle.

• 1.5oz Vodka
• 0.5oz Chambord
• 0.5oz pineapple juice
• 0.5 oz champagne

American Hustle : After Party (pictured above)

• 6oz Basil Hayden’s Bourbon
• Juices of 1 lime
• 4 slices jalapeno
• 4oz pomegranate juice10oz. agave nectar or simple syrup
• Seltzer on top

Muddle lime juice, jalapeno, and simple syrup. Add pomegranate juice, bourbon, and shake well. Strain into ice filled Collins glasses. And top with seltzer. Garnish with lime wheels and pomegranate seeds.

*Recipe courtesy of Huffington Post