A Tasty Tradition: My Annual Classic Southern Easter Dinner

Posted on April 1, 2013 by BeautyFrosting

Easter is my FAAAAAV-OOO-RIIIITE holiday! So every year I have a classic southern Easter dinner for my surrogate family of friends here in Los Angeles. It’s a wonderful way to remember my roots and to honor the legacy of ladylike entertaining that my Nanny and Mother have taught me.

The ultimate multi-tasker: Whipping up some whipped cream & sipping a glass of Primitivo

Friday was a busy day spent making lists, shopping and preparing the kitchen for a weekend of cooking and baking!

Making my list and checking it twice!

As a child, I was fascinated with a Bunny cake that my mother made for my brother years before I was born. I always felt like I missed out on it by being born 7 years later. I used to just stare at that picture. It’s probably one of the reasons I fell in love with baking so much.

I have been wanting to try to make it for years and decided that this was my chance!
I baked it on Saturday and was THRILLED with the results!

The recipe my Mom followed on the left & my cake - Bernie The Bunny - on the right

Easter Sunday started with a Make-it-Work moment! To accommodate seating for 15, my catering & part prep helper from TaskRabbit – Jennifer – and I brought in the table from outside. Once in, we realized that we needed to make the coffee table the same height as the other two garden tables. So improvise we must! And we did! With beautiful results!

Cookbooks, tabletop books and magazines under the legs made the tables equal height. Yay! Seating for 15!!

Make it work!

Easter-inspired floral arrangements were put together in a jiffy using the charming candies of Easter. Layering pastel M&Ms with pastel peeps and setting a smaller vase (or glass) inside a larger one created the perfect Easter centerpieces!

Peeps & pastel are the focal points!

So what was the finger-licking lineup for Easter dinner this year?

The finger-licking lineup!

*We had to start with a signature Easter cocktail, of course! This year – in continuing with the Blackberry theme for Easter – was The Blackberry Bunny! It was refreshing with champagne, cream of blackberry liqueur and Trader Joe’s Blackberry Crush juice topped off with a blackberry and sprig of mint!

I asked my friends to bring vegetables, salads, appetizers and wine since I had the starches and fats covered!

The fixins from my friends

So Hope tossed together a cheery Chicken Lentil Salad. Vanessa brought a scrumptious Strawberry & Avocado Kale Salad. Dave manned some beautiful Bacon-wrapped-Goat Cheese-stuffed-Dates. Jennie put together some primo Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus. Jose and Lindsey had us set on vino and Amy and Dave brought champagne. And my sweet friend Rebecca – in town from Chicago shooting a pilot – brought 3 bunches of BEAUTIFUL tulips!

Rebecca brought 3 beautiful bunches of tulips that matched my tulip dress from Anthropologie!

Here are the dishes I just had to have because no southern Easter dinner would be complete without ’em!

*Delightful Deviled Eggs (mayo, cream cheese, tabasco, lemon juice, yellow mustard, dijon mustard, sweet relish & cornichons)

Easter dinner, southern fare, southern food, homemade, southern cooking, Easter menu,

Delightful Deviled Eggs

*Southern Pea Salad (peas, sour cream, mayo, worcestershire sauce, cheddar and onions)

Southern Pea Salad

*Cowboy Creamed Corn (buttermilk, corn, diced chiles and cream cheese)

Cowboy Creamed Corn

*Cheddar Green Bean Casserole (green beans, cheddar, buttermilk, sour cream, mushrooms, cream of mushroom soup and French’s Fried Cheddar Onion Rings)

*Texas Ranch House Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes (buttermilk, Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning, cream cheese and sour cream)

My favorite dish had to be my Nanny’s Lime Green Jello Salad (lime jello, cream cheese, pineapple and pecans). I used her original jello mold to create it. It even still has her “HAYES” label on it from when she used to take it to church functions! I was thrilled when it came out perfectly. The mold has interchangeable designs that imprint into the mold depending on the holiday. Easter’s design is a tulip!

Nanny's Lime Green Jello Salad in her original jello mold!

And the Dessert Table reminded me of old church socials at my grandparents’ church in Albany, Oklahoma:

The dessert table!

*Chocolate Bunny Cream Pie with Homemade Salted Buttermilk Crust – there wasn’t a crumb left!

Chocolate Bunny Cream Pie - Good to the last bite!

*Nanny’s Favorite Pineapple Cream Meringue Pie with Salted Buttermilk Crust – my meringue came out beautifully but the inside was a little runny. Oh well! It still tasted divine!

Nanny's Pineapple Cream Meringue Pie

Sour Cream Chocolate Easter Basket Cupcakes with Sweet Cream Cup Frosting – these are such an easy treat to make for Easter! I love making them for my friends, neighbors and agents!

Sour Cream Chocolate Easter Basket Cupcakes!

Bernie The Bunny Cake (coconut cream cake with coconut cream buttercream frosting)

Meet my co-host...Bernie The Bunny!

Bernie The Bunny and our little friends, Nora and Lucy!

And no southern affair would be complete without sweet tea!

These are the beautiful faces I got to look at all afternoon!

I went to bed with a belly - and heart - full of sugar, thanks to these sweet faces!

This was my favorite Easter yet! I couldn’t have picked a better group of friends to share this precious day with me. And as I gave the toast right before we dug in, I could feel my Nanny there with us! She would’ve been proud…well, except for the Pineapple cream pie.

Easter Perfect Punch: BeautyFrosting’s Blackberry Patch Punch

Posted on March 28, 2013 by BeautyFrosting

Yet again, it’s time for my favorite holiday!! EASTER!!!

Last year, my Blackberry Patch Punch was a HIT!!

BF & Blackberry Patch Punch - Easter 2012!

When I was preparing the menu for my Classic, Southern Easter dinner, I thought it would be so nice to have the perfect Easter punch. I looked online but there were no fitting recipes. See, when I think Easter, I think purple.
So I thought of blackberries and mint and, ta-dah, a new recipe was born.

Since I had adults, non-drinkers and children at my dinner, I kept it unspirited but added mixing options on the side. If you want a spirited version, I highly recommend making it a Bourbon Blackberry Patch Punch! Delish!

Tanya sipping her Blackberry Patch Punch

Try it and, as always, let me knw your results and thoughts!

xoxo,

BeautyFrosting’s Blackberry Patch Punch

64 oz. Trader Joes’ Blackberry Crush Juice

1 bottle Cost Plus World Market Blackberry Pomegranate Soda

1/2 gallon Limeade

2 – 2 Liter Ginger Ale

2 tbsp. Vanilla Extract

Blackberries & Mint Sprigs to garnish

Combine all in a punch bowl/pitcher/server.

Garnish mixed punch with mint and blackberries. Set aside some to garnish glasses.

Serve each glass with mint and blackberry

And, if a cocktail is desired, add a bottle of bourbon to the mix. Or, if entertaining all ages, put the bourbon, as an add-in, on the side.

Super easy, super lovely and super tasty in no time at all!

Thirsty Thursday: BeautyFrosting’s Blackberry Patch Punch

Posted on August 30, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

: BeautyFrosting’s Blackberry Patch Punch

When I was thinking of the loveliest punch for Labor Day I immediately thought this! I originally tried it back at my Classic Southern Easter dinner and it was a huge hit!

Try it and, as always, let me knw your results and thoughts!

xoxo,

: BeautyFrosting’s Blackberry Patch Punch

BeautyFrosting’s Blackberry Patch Punch

64 oz. Trader Joes’ Blackberry Crush Juice

1 bottle Cost Plus World Market Blackberry Pomegranate Soda

1/2 gallon Limeade

2 – 2 Liter Ginger Ale

2 tbsp. Vanilla Extract

Blackberries & Mint Sprigs to garnish

Combine all in a punch bowl/pitcher/server.

Garnish mixed punch with mint and blackberries. Set aside some to garnish glasses.

Serve each glass with mint and blackberry

And, if a cocktail is desired, add a bottle of bourbon to the mix. Or, if entertaining all ages, put the bourbon, as an add-in, on the side.

: Tanya sipping BF’s Blackberry Patch Punch

Super easy, super lovely and super tasty in no time at all! Happy Labor Day weekend!
Stay safe and take care out there, lovely friends!

xoxo,
BF

Easter Recipe: BeautyFrosting’s Blackberry Patch Punch

Posted on April 12, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

BeautyFrosting's Blackberry Patch Punch

My Blackberry Patch Punch was a HIT!
When I was preparing the menu for my Classic, Southern Easter dinner, I thought it would be so nice to have the perfect Easter punch. I looked online but there were no fitting recipes. See, when I think Easter, I think purple.
So I thought of blackberries and mint and, ta-dah, a new recipe was born.

Try it and, as always, let me knw your results and thoughts!

xoxo,

BeautyFrosting's Blackberry Patch Punch

BeautyFrosting’s Blackberry Patch Punch

64 oz. Trader Joes’ Blackberry Crush Juice

1 bottle Cost Plus World Market Blackberry Pomegranate Soda

1/2 gallon Limeade

2 – 2 Liter Ginger Ale

2 tbsp. Vanilla Extract

Blackberries & Mint Sprigs to garnish

Combine all in a punch bowl/pitcher/server.

Garnish mixed punch with mint and blackberries. Set aside some to garnish glasses.

Serve each glass with mint and blackberry

And, if a cocktail is desired, add a bottle of bourbon to the mix. Or, if entertaining all ages, put the bourbon, as an add-in, on the side.

Tanya sipping BF's Blackberry Patch Punch

Super easy, super lovely and super tasty in no time at all!

Easter Dinner Recipe: BeautyFrosting’s Coconut Pina Colada Cake

Posted on April 11, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

BeautyFrosting's Coconut Pina Colada Cake

This is always a HUUUUGE hit! And I refer to it as Vanessa’s cake as I first came up with the recipe in 2002 for my dear friend (and roommate at the time), Vanessa’s birthday celebration.

I was out of town for a wedding, in Dallas, and this was my attempt to make up for missing her shindig.

p.s. It worked! See below.

BeautyFrosting's Coconut Pina Colada Cake Recipe

Coconut Pina Colada Cake

Preheat oven to 350.

1 pkg Extra Moist White or Yellow Cake Mix

1/4 c Crisco Oil

3 eggs

1 c (8 oz) Sour Cream

1 tsp Almond extract

1 (8 1/2 oz) can Cream of Coconut (in cocktail mixer aisle) – set aside 2 Tbsp for frosting

1 c Coconut

In a large bowl, combine cream of coconut, oil, sour cream, almond extract and eggs. Mix completely.

Add cake mix and mix until smooth.

Add coconut and mix until distributed evenly.

Pineapple-Rum Filling

1/2 tsp Salt

4 tablespoons Cornstarch

1/2 c Sugar

1 (20 oz) can Crushed Pineapple, packed in juice

3 Tbsp Unsalted Butter

1/2 c Malibu Coconut Rum

In saucepan, Combine salt, 3 tbsp cornstarch and sugar

Add pineapple (with juice) and mix.

Cook over med-high heat until mixture is boiling, constantly stirring

When boil is reached, stir constantly for approx. 5 minutes until mixture is thickened and looks creamy.

Reduce to low heat and add butter.

Add coconut rum.

Dissolve 1 tbsp. cornstarch in a little cold water until dissolved into creamy mixture.

Add to pineapple mixture.

Stir until smooth, dissolved and thickened.

Let mixture cool and store in fridge until ready to use!

(Also, great for pie filling, ice cream topping and more!)

Pina Colada Frosting

1 (8 oz) package Cream Cheese, softened

1/2 c Unsalted Butter, softened

4 c Confectioners Powdered Sugar

1/2 tsp Salt

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

2 Tbsp Cream of Coconut

1-2 Tbsp Heavy Whipping Cream

1/2 c Angel Flake Coconut

Combine cream cheese, butter and salt in bowl. Mix well.

Add in vanilla and cream of coconut.

Add confectioners powdered sugar 1 cup at a time.

Add in whipping cream to desired consistency.

Mix in coconut.

More coconut can be used for a thicker, less spreadable frosting.

Garnish with pineapple slices, cherries and umbrellas for a festive Pina Colada cake

with jelly beans for the perfect Easter cake.

BeautyFrosting’s Buttermilk Lemon Chess “Peep Pie” Recipe

Posted on April 9, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

Hi beauties!
I hope your Easter and Passover were memorable!

My “Classic Southern Easter Dinner” was such a lovely time.
There’ll be more details on that tomorrow but, for now, I wanted to give you a little taste.
And by taste I mean my Buttermilk Lemon Chess “Peep Pie” recipe.

BeautyFrosting's Buttermilk Lemon Chess Peep Pie

BeautyFrosting’s Buttermilk Lemon Chess Peep Pie

1 c Sugar

3 tbsp. All-Purpose Flour

3 large eggs (beaten well)

1/2 c Unsalted Butter (1 stick), melted

1 c Buttermilk

1 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract

3 Tbsp fresh-squeezed lemon juice

1-2 Tbsp Lemon Zest

Preheat oven to 425.

You can either make a Shortbread cookie pie crust, a Cornflake pie crust (recipes below) or use a frozen pie crust to keep it simple.

Filling:
Combine flour and sugar. Mix well.

Add butter, eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, lemon juice and lemon zest.

Fresh-squeezed lemon juice is super easy with a juicer!

MIx completely until smooth. There will be bits of lemon zest.

Pour into pie crust of choice.

Bake at 425 for 10 minutes.

Turn down oven to 350 and bake for 30-35 minutes longer.

Filling will be puffed up a bit and a little jiggly.

Remove from oven and cool so it firms a bit.

At Easter or in Spring, top with yellow duck Peeps.

Best served warm! But chills beautifully, as well.

A little slice of lemon-y, Peepalicious heaven!

Shortbread Cookie Pie Crust

1 c Butter

1/2 c confectioners’ sugar

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners’ sugar until light and fluffy. Stir together flour and baking powder; blend into butter mixture. Press into a 9 inch pie plate

Bake at 350 for 12 to 15 minutes, or until edges are golden.

Use pie guard to protect edges while baking pie, OR,

Let cool before filling with prepared filling.

Corn Flake Cereal Crust

6 Tbsp (3/4 stick) Unsalted butter, melted

1 1/2 c Cornflake Crumbs

1/4 c Sugar

Combine butter, sugar and corn flake crumbs.

Press into a 9-inch pie pan/dish.
Bake for 8 minutes.

Remove from oven and let cool on rack for 10 minutes.

Use pie guard to protect edges while baking pie.

I’ll have a full rundown tomorrow and recipes will be going on for daaaays!!

Enjoy.

And,as always, if you try a BeautyFrosting recipe out, please shoot me a note or a pic letting me know how it went. I love that!

xoxo,

BF Asks: Have you ever had chess pie before?

Happy Easter and Happy Passover, beauties!

Posted on April 6, 2012 by BeautyFrosting

Hi beauties,

Happy Easter and Happy Passover, friends!
Celebrate with those you hold dear: indulge in comfort food, eat delicious treats, drink from the punchbowl of life see the beauty in everything you see, and, most importantly…
Be grateful for everything you have right now. Here. Today.

*BeautyFrosting will be busy preparing for her Classic Southern Easter Dinner so we will be on hiatus until Monday morning (4/9). But rest assured that there will be lots of fun menu items, recipes and fun for Saturday Social Hour next week! And recipes throughout the week!

Classic Southern Easter Dinner Invite by Shindig Shoppe (http://www.etsy.com/shop/ShindigLA) :
But for now, enjoy some lovely, Spring-loving holiday weekend images:

xoxo,

BF Asks: How are you celebrating Easter/Passover?