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    Happy Fridays: Labor Day Party Tips!

    September 2, 2011 | Posted by Kristen the designer

    I hope everyone is looking forward to a relaxing Labor Day weekend. The end of summer has arrived so soak up the rays while you can and enjoy the last of these wonderful long days. I’m sure many of you are putting together final preparations for Labor Day festivities and stressing over the details. The last thing you need during a holiday weekend is added stress from hosting duties. Fear not – I have some helpful tips below to make your Labor Day party easy breezy!

    Decorations

    Labor day is a great time for using those leftover decorations from Fourth of July parties, so don’t ever throw those out! The above options are all quick and easy crafts that can be done at home and for cheap. Labor Day is typically more about the food and drinks anyways, so keep the decor simple but festive. (clockwise from top left: pinwheels, star medallions, layered candles, firework bursts)

    The Menu

    Labor Day food is almost always some form of hamburgers, hot dogs and a side of potato salad. No need to ditch these staples, but maybe do something a little different to spruce them up. It’s also always nice to include a vegetarian option for friends not interested in a double stack cheeseburger but still looking for a full meal. Snack foods are essential so don’t forget to include a variety tasty options. (clockwise from top left: Asian Rotisserie Chicken Salad, Roasted Garlic Guacamole Dip, Perfect Veggie Burgers, Chicago-Style Hot Dog)

    Helpful Tips

    The wonderful Martha Stewart put together an entire list of helpful tips to save the day! The gallery includes some great ideas, a few of which I have highlighted above. The first is a method for quickly chilling a bottle of room temperature wine. The second is a simple caddy used to carry around grilling and party essentials so they don’t get lost and can stay in one place. The third are these adorable flower pots used to cover plates of food to keep them warm. And lastly, a way to windproof your table cloth to prevent guests from having to hold it down. Thanks Martha!

    Wishing everyone a very Happy Labor Day weekend…and a very happy Friday!

    Kristen the designerKristen the designer

    Guilt-Free Grilling for Labor Day!

    September 6, 2010 | Posted by Kristen the designer

    Don’t we all love celebrating Labor Day with a delicious cookout? Of course we do! But all of that greasy food can certainly set you back if you are trying to eat healthy. Here to save the day are a couple tasty, but healthy, cookout recipes! This way you can indulge in your favorite foods without the extra calories and sodium.

    Mediterranean Portobello Burger

    Servings: 4
    Total Time: 30 min

    Ingredients:

    1 clove garlic, minced
    1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
    2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
    4 portobello mushroom caps, stems and gills removed
    4 large slices country-style sourdough bread, cut in half
    1/2 cup sliced jarred roasted red peppers
    1/2 cup chopped tomato
    1/4 cup crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese
    2 tablespoons chopped pitted Kalamata olives
    1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar
    1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
    2 cups loosely packed mixed baby salad greens

    Nutritional info (Per Serving): 301 calories; 11 g fat (2 g sat, 7 g mono); 2 mg cholesterol; 40 g carbohydrates; 10 g protein; 4 g fiber; 795 mg sodium; 691 mg potassium.

    For cooking instructions please see preparation section here.

    Deviled Eggs

    Servings: 24
    Total Time: 20 min

    Ingredients:

    12 large hard-boiled eggs , (see Tip), peeled
    1/3 cup nonfat cottage cheese
    1/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise
    3 tablespoons minced fresh chives , or scallion greens
    1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
    2 teaspoons yellow mustard
    1/8 teaspoon salt
    Paprika , for garnish

    Nutritional info (Per Serving): 34 calories; 2 g fat (1 g sat, 1 g mono); 71 mg cholesterol; 1 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 3 g protein; 0 g fiber; 85 mg sodium; 31 mg potassium.

    For cooking instructions please see preparation section here.

    For more healthy cookout recipes and tips please visit Eating Well. (All photos courtesy of EatingWell.com)

    Kristen the designerKristen the designer

    Happy Fridays: Delicious No Cook Recipes!

    August 27, 2010 | Posted by Kristen the designer

    Even though school is back in full swing, summer isn’t quite over. There are still plenty of nice warm weekends to entertain and see friends and family! And with Labor Day right around the corner, I have assembled a list of quick and easy recipes to whip up for any special occasion. Even the pickiest eater can’t resist some of these :)

    Salads/Snacks



    Salads and snacks can sometimes make up the majority of s festive spread, so you want yours to stand out!

    My favorite recipe is for the Zucchini and Chicken Salad (bottom left):

    Prep Time: 30min
    Total Time: 30min

    Ingredients:

    1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil
    1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
    Coarse salt and ground pepper
    1 1/4 pounds zucchini, thinly sliced
    1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
    1 bunch (about 8 ounces) spinach, chopped
    1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
    3/4 cup chopped pecans
    1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
    1/4 cup chopped fresh mint

    1)  In a large bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup oil and lemon juice; season with salt and pepper. Add zucchini; toss to coat, and let marinate while cooking chicken.

    2)  In a large nonstick skillet, heat remaining tablespoon oil over medium. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Cook chicken until golden brown and opaque throughout, about 7 minutes per side.

    3)  Toss chicken with zucchini mixture, spinach, onion, pecans, Parmesan, and mint. Serve.

    Quick, simple, easy and delicious!

    Desserts:

    I have to admit this next recipe certainly caught my eye, and my appetitie! Tiramisu Sundaes make an excellent summer treat.

    Prep Time: 15min
    Total Time: 45min

    Ingredients (serves 4):

    1 cup heavy cream
    1 1/2 cups strong espresso, cooled
    3 tablespoons brandy (optional)
    8 store-bought ladyfingers (about 4 ounces)
    1 pint ice cream or gelato

    1) Whisk cream in a medium bowl until stiff peaks form; cover with plastic wrap, and place in refrigerator until ready to serve.

    2) Combine espresso and brandy, if using, in a medium bowl. Break 4 ladyfingers in half; dip into espresso mixture until soaked but not falling apart, several seconds. Arrange two halves in a layer at the bottom of each parfait glass. Top with a scoop of ice cream. Repeat with another layer of soaked ladyfingers, and top with a scoop of ice cream. Garnish each glass with a dollop of whipped cream and a sprinkling of chocolate shavings, if desired. Serve immediately.

    I hope this helped give you some yummy ideas for your next social get together or even a cozy evening in after a long week. As always I want to thank Martha Stewart for having so many great ideas on her site. Stay tuned for for next weeks Happy Friday post!

    ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARTHASTEWART.COM


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