Happy New Year! Goodbye 2011!

I'd like to quickly thank our clients of 2011 for a great year! Being in business for a year and a half already and we have slowly grown,  and more than doubled our weddings/events in our 2nd year. We hope to double that in 2012! We have met some fantastic vendors in 2011, had weddings at some amazing venues and participated in our 1st photo shoot(would love to do more, contract us if interested!) Be sure to pick up your copy of the 2012 edition of Seacoast Weddings Magazine!

 So again thank you to our clients, vendors/venues, and friends,family and supporters. Here's to 2012 being our best year yet!

Now onto the fun stuff;New Year's drinks! Oh and a few simple but delicious recipes to accompany your drinks ;) First up is a champagne cocktail. I'm a big fan of the Chelsea Lately show. Her brother Roy(a personal chef) was on last night and made a perfect-sounding Peach Champagne Cocktail:

 Ingredients(makes 4)
8 oz peach nectar or fresh peach puree
4 tsp. fresh lemon juice
4 oz peach schnapps
4 oz chilled sparkling Champagne
2 cups crushed ice

In a pitcher combine the peach, lemon juice, peach schnapps and crushed ice. Pour the Champagne into the pitcher. Stir it up and serve.

After already shopping for my New Year's food/drink supplies, I'm going to have to go out again because this is a must try tonight!


Here's my go to drink and I must say I make it perfect(Kerry would agree)!

Danielle's Hot n extra Dirty Martini:

 

Ingredients

2 oz. Vodka

2 oz. olive juice

1 oz. extra dry vermouth

.5 oz. peperoncini juice

3 quick dashes of tabasco

Fill a shaker with ice, combine vodka,olive juice,vermouth,peperoncini juice & tabasco(in this order)

Shake, shake, shake vigorously for 40 seconds(very important!)

Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with 3 large olives and 1 peperoncini

 Now vodka brand is usually a preference, my favorite is Tito's, way better than even Grey Goose,which used to be favorite until I discovered Tito's Handmade from Texas!  (see older picture above) Tito's has a smoother texture than Goose and just tastes better to me. Try it, I bet you'll love it!

Next drink is super easy and my husband's favorite:Honey & Lemonade:

 Ingredients

2 oz. Tennessee Honey

5 oz. lemonade(Newmans Own Roadside taste best with this recipe)

Simply fill a shaker with ice, combine ingredients and "roll" back and forth in glass and shaker

That's it, easy huh?!

Mine has pink on top because my husband used pomegranate limeade(Trader's Joe's)

to make ice cubes!

Okay that's it for drinks, please share your recipes on our Facebook page. I love getting more for my stash :)

Now you need some food to go with your drinks, right? I like to make quick,easy but absolutely tasty apps and "picky" foods. Who really wants to be cooking all day? Here's my menu for the evening:

-Bite-sized Baked Brie:

Photo credit: Joythebaker.com

I have never made these but am today and they look fabulous! And yes, I am putting the popsicle sticks in(my kids will eat anything with a stick!) For the recipe click the photo above! 

-Mexican Layer Dip(every party has to have one of these!):

I don't have a picture, but I'm sure you've seen one and honestly they all look the same. 

Ingredients 

*(all items from Trader Joe's, but you can substitute)

 1 can Black Beans(I heat these up for 2 minutes)

1 package of guacamole topped with spicy pico de gallo

 about 20 green olives(sliced, you have to slice them)

1 cup lite shredded Mexican cheese

1 cup fat free sour cream

1 small can of sliced black olives(these ones are sliced for you;)

1 cup lite shredded Mexican cheese

Layer all ingredients in order I posted, it's so good!

Eat the dip with carrots, pita chips, and/or tortilla chips!

-Tropical Romaine Salad:

Ingredients 

 1/4 cup canned pineapple juice
    1/4 cup olive oil
  3 tBsp. red wine vinegar
  Salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1 large head of romaine lettuce, torn into bite size pieces
1 cup diced fresh pineapple
  4 lean bacon slices, cooked crisp & crumbled
  3 scallions/green onions, chopped (both white & green parts)

For instructions click the photo above. The original recipe calls for macadamia nuts, my oldest has a severe nut allergy so we omit these, but I'm sure the taste great in it! I just like how refreshing this salad is, especially in chilly New England.

-Provolone & Prosciutto stuffed Peppers:These I do not make, I could but I don't have time to core and marinate peppers! These are wonderful and can be purchased from your local butcher or Whole Foods. 

Now for dessert! I made Salted Sunflower Truffles!(sorry can not post recipe, it's my own secret :) But wanted to post a picture for you:

I know, I know what a tease! But how am I ever going to open my own cafe(10 year dream), if I give away all my best recipes? I will make them for you, if you ask nicely!

I will however share this:Champagne Vanilla Pudding

This dessert will make a gorgeous and tasty treat to ring in the New Year(with a special drink in the other hand of course!) 

I hope everyone has a fun-filled evening to ring you into a healthy, happy, and perfect 2012! Enjoy!