Recipe Box: Quickie Quarterback Rowdy Reuben Beer Dip

What does the SuperBowl mean to me? Cooking. Lots of cooking – which, let’s be honest, usually means I get to my Super Bowl parties around halftime.

‘Cuz with a friend in town, a brunch date and 2 parties to attend yesterday, that doesn’t leave a girl a lot of time. Hence, I whipped up two of my #QuickieQuarterback dishes, beginning with this one. And, y’all, it was a hit with guys and girls alike!

Reuben Beer Dip with rye crackers. You heard me. Yep. Reuben sandwich in a bowl. And it was delicious. It was SO good, my friends didn’t even mind a bit that I was late to the festivities, and it even brought a little post-Halftime glee.

Dawn Do? Try putting dippers, that accompany dips, in muffin tins. Perfect for separating and showcasing dippers for impromptu entertaining!

Recipe Box: Quickie Quarterback Rowdy Reuben Beer Dip

 Quickie Quarterback Rowdy Reuben Beer Dip

1/2 lb. Shredded Corned Beef

1 8-ounce Philadelphia cream cheese, softened

1/2 c sour cream

1 1/2 c shredded Swiss cheese

1 1/4 c Sauerkraut, drained

1/2 c Kraft Thousand Island dressing

Dippers: rye crackers, toasts, tortilla chips and fresh vegetables

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place mixture in a baking dish, cover with foil, and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Serve with dipper and enjoy!

p.s. How much do we love that southern dishtowel? My sweet neighbor, Hope, gave it to me for my birthday!

 

xoxo,

BF

BF Asks: What’s your favorite SuperBowl or tailgating dip recipe?

Cocktail Corner: The Moët Sunset Starlet Golden Globes Cocktail

Toast the Golden Globes this Sunday with a #SunsetStarlet Moët Rosé Imperial cocktail created by the fashion-foodie – and our new fabulous & fun friend – Elettra Wiedemann of Impatient Foodie. Made from a blend of Lillet, dry Curacao, orange bitters and topped with Moët Rosé Imperial, the Sunset Starlet is a citrusy and spicy refreshing companion to the glamour of the Golden Globes!

The Sunset Starlet *Photo ℅ Elettra Wiedemann of Impatient Foodie

Moët Sunset Starlet

by Elettra Wiedemann

– Makes 1-

 

INGREDIENTS

• ¾ ounce Lillet

• ½ ounces Dry Curacao

• ¾ teaspoon honey

  • Note that this is only measurement in a teaspoon, not ounces!

• ¼ ounce lemon juice

• 2 dash orange bitters

• Spritz of fresh clementine + twist

• Moet Rose Imperial

Combine Lillet, Dry Curacao, honey, lemon juice and orange bitters in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously. Pour over ice into a white wine glass, and top with Moët & Chandon Rosé Impérial to taste (we like about 2:1 ratio, cocktail base: Moet Rose). Garnish with a fresh clementine peel or orange peel.

The Sunset Starlet and friend


Recipe Box: “East Nashvilles” – Southern Breakfast Sandwiches, Featuring Hickory Farms Ham

There I was. The day after Thanksgiving with SO much Hickory Farms ham left!
What’s a girl to do?

Well, this girl had a birthday party to cook for, and I knew just what to do. Whip up some delicious southern breakfast sandwiches with that leftover ham!

Recipe Box: "East Nashvilles" - Southern Breakfast Sandwiches, Featuring Hickory Farms Ham

I was inspired by my days living in East Nashville and decided to bake some buttermilk cheddar biscuits, some homemade maple peach butter and sandwich the ham right there in the sweet spot in the center.

Perfect for breakfast, lunch or a nighttime party, these little guys disappear fast!

Usually, I have tons of food left over after a party, but not these guys. Every single one was eaten. People were RAAAAAVING! And they’re so easy to make, that I whipped another bunch up the following Monday for a voiceover session. Everyone loved them there at the studio, too!

So go ahead and get that Hickory Farms Spiral Sliced Honey Gold Ham ($85) and then get creative if you have leftovers! I sure am! So much so, that I’ll be featuring another recipe with it next week!

Dawn’s East Nashvilles: Southern Breakfast Sandwiches

Step 1: Bake Those Biscuits

Pa’s Buttermilk Biscuits

Makes approx 16 biscuits

*Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

5 c All-Purpose Flour

1 Tbsp salt

1 Tbsp Baking Powder

8 Tbsp Salted Butter, chilled and cubed

2 c Buttermilk, chilled

1 – 1 1/2 c Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Combine first 3 ingredients in a large bowl. Blend in butter, using a fork or fingers,  until mixture gets crumbly. Add buttermilk and stir until soft dough is created. And, y’all, that dough will be sticky! Add in cheddar and make sure it’s well distributed throughout dough.

Drop dough with an ice cream scoop, 1 in apart onto Silpat-lined baking sheets.

Bake for 15 – 20 minutes or until golden.

*Let biscuits cool.

Step 2: Whip Up That Homemade Maple Peach Butter.

Dawn’s Easy Homemade Maple Peach Butter

1/2 c Softened Salted Butter

3 – 4 Tbsp Peach Jam or Preserves (depending on how peachy you like it. I like it SUPER peachy!)

1 tsp Maple Syrup

Mix until well-blended and smooth.

Step 3: Butter those biscuits.

*After biscuits have cooled, cut biscuits in half and slather on the peach butter on each biscuit half. 

Step 4: Cut up that ham.

Cut ham into round or square pieces, using kitchen scissors. Sandwich 2-3 small slices of ham in between buttered biscuit halves.

And that’s it, you’ve got East Nashvilles ready for eatin’!

High-Low 4/22/14: Easter & Ouch

Yet again, it’s time for the most popular column on BeautyFrosting – my High-Low. *So what exactly is a High-Low, you ask? High-Low is the BEST & WORST part of your day, week, month, etc. I started this tradition with friends & family after I discovered it through a movie decades ago. Not only is it useful for the sake of reflection but it is also an excellent way to communicate with your spouse, kids or friends over the dinner table. By introducing this tradition to folks, parents have told me that their kids have opened up more and friends have told me that their spouses have become more communicative. Try it for yourself and let me know what your experience is…

***

HIGH-LOW 4/22/14

Easter? Yay!!! Face burns? No bueno.

This week was a doozy (aren’t they all?) as it contained my favorite holiday – for which I hosted a garden party – and my not-so-fave as, well, my face got burned! And it all happened in one day. See? Doozy.

As my old boss used to say, Oy vey.

Up first? The high, of course. Here we go, here we go, here we go.

HIGH: My 3rd Annual Classic Southern Easter Dinner

My Easter table surrounded by friends. My cup runneth over...both literally and figuratively

I love having a houseful of people. To be honest, I feel most alive and happy when I am hosting a soiree at my house – surrounded by friends, indulging in delicious, homemade food and drinking wine and laughing. Add in some board games and I’m having the time of my life. All of that just does my heart good. And it definitely does my heart good to look around me and see the folks I hold so dear looking plumb happy.

Which is why I ignored a friend’s advice when he told me to skip hosting my annual classic southern Easter dinner this year (although he’s usually quite wise). With all I have going on, it just didn’t seem like the smartest thing to do. But I am so glad I did it!

There were old friends, new friends and enough food, wine and spirited conversation to go around. And I really appreciate that my guests who have attended each year said that they so look forward to it and it’s one of their most beloved events of the year. It might be a hefty task to take on when things are busy and bustling but anything that makes me feel so good simply can’t be a bad thing.

The theme this year? Ricky Nelson-Garden Party style. In the backyard with the tasel garlands, puffs on trees, birds and the bees. Oh, you know what I mean...

The reason I love this tradition so much is because it marries the best of the old traditions precious to my family – which reminds me of my younger days – with the new traditions that I’m creating on my own with my friends and surrogate family out here in LA. It is such a beautiful thing – and isn’t that what life’s all about?

As with everything, it’s all in the delicate details – and the delicate details are what delight me. I used my Nanny’s silver, made her Jello lime salad in her vintage jello mold and served the salad on her white and gold cake stand. I always feel connected to her when I bake but when I actually use precious family treasures that she owned for years, I feel especially connected to her.

Marrying the old traditions with the new ones. Pictured here is my Nanny's silver and my favorite new washable linen napkins from Haute Hostess (Left) and Jessie Steele (right)

We started out the day with a DIY Mimosa bar from One Hope Wine that was a hit! Guests could custom-make their own mimosas featuring One Hope Sparkling wine and select from a bevy of juices, fruits and mint to muddle, mix and design to their heart’s content. More on the Mimosa Bar (and how you can order the One Hope Wine Mimosa Bar Set) on Thirsty Thursday this week!

DIY Mimosa Bar featuring One Hope Wine Mimosa Bar Set - this was a HIT!

 

What else was served for dinner? Well, we always have a HoneyBaked ham, my Cowboy Corn Casserole, my Paris, Texas Green Bean Casserole, my Southern Pea Salad, Matt Marr’s Prized Deviled Eggs, mac & Cheese, turkey, salads and SO much more!

 

The Spread: southern fare galore!

 

As for the best part? Dessert, of course! I baked my annual Easter Bunny Coconut Cake (this year her name was Bedelia – yes, seriously), my Chocolate Cream pie, my Blackberry Cream pie and my Nanny’s ‘Nana Pudding. Holy goodness, it was all delicious!

But even more delicious than the food was the company. Thank you to each and every one of you who came and celebrated a beautiful spring day in my backyard. The memories will live on long after the food is gone – and the memories were downright magical.

The memories will live on long after the food is gone...

LOW: Ouch!

LOW: Ouch! Too many irons in the fire and something might catch ON fire! (p.s. That white stuff on my face? It's Silver Sufudiazine which helps burns)

 

I’ll keep this short. I burned myself. While busily setting the table, cooking, baking and decorating for Easter dinner, I spotted a Diptyque candle on fire in my living room. Nope. Not stressful at all. A fire extinguisher would’ve made a mess for such a small fire so I (dumbly?) decided to blow it out. Well, the hot wax splashed up and hit my face. It actually didn’t really hurt – probably because I was so focused on putting out the fire!

I’m fine  – and it could have been much worse but I did receive 4 small burns on my face – one second degree that’s requiring a bit of attention so as to prevent scarring. But thanks to my dermatologist, I’ll be right as rain in no time. And, again, even though I’m calling it a low, I know that there is much, much worse than having a few burns on your face. A good reminder to yes, keep all those irons in the fire but to keep your eye out for things catching on fire with all we have going on every day.

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: What was your High-Low this week?

 

 

Thirsty Thursday: BeautyFrosting’s Pineapple Upside Down Cake Champagne Cocktail

Last Thursday, I had a photo shoot here at The Cupcake Palace and, well, I wanted to socially lubricate myself a bit with a mid-day cocktail for the shoot. Don’t judge. I only had one and I must say it did make me feel a bit more photogenic.

I looked in the fridge for inspiration and inspiration found me: Dole Pineapple Juice, One Hope California Brut Sparkling Wine ($19.99) and Ole Smoky Moonshine Cherries. Add a little splash of vanilla extract (which chronic bakers like me always have on hand) and thus, this week’s Thirsty Thursday concoction was born.

So here is my little Pineapple Upside Down Cake Champagne Cocktail for you to enjoy – before a photo shoot, a fun-filled day or maybe even just while soaking in a foam-filled tub.

 

BeautyFrosting’s Pineapple Upside Down Cake Champagne Cocktail

Thirsty Thursday: Pineapple Upside Down Cake Champagne Cocktail (and I love these "Simply stunning…" napkins my Mom got me for Christmas from Homegoods - soooo fun!!)

4 ozs ONEHOPE California Brut Sparkling Wine 

4 ozs Dole Pineapple Juice

2 Ole Smoky Moonshine Cherries 

1 splash Vanilla Extract

Grab your favorite champagne flute (or, I suppose, a regular cocktail glass will do). Drop in a moonshine cherry at the bottom. Fill with 4 ozs pineapple juice and top with 4 ozs champagne. Add a splashStab a cherry with a party pic and place on top or rest on side of glass. Pineapple Upside Down Cake Champagne Cocktail in a glass.

Party for one, please.

xoxo,
BF

 

BF Asks: What was your favorite drink or punch this week? 

Cocktail Corner: The Golden Globes Moët Golden Night Cocktail by Aida Mollenkamp

Oh, how I love award season! It has filled me with glee, delight, suspense and excitement ever since I was a tiny girl! So you can bet I’ll be glued to the screen this Sunday night to see who will be taking home the coveted Golden Globes this year.

I had the pleasure of attending a Golden Globes luncheon at the Beverly Hilton this past Thursday to meet and chat with Miss Golden Globes 2014 herself, Sosie Bacon.

With Sosie Bacon, Miss Golden Globes 2014, at an intimate bloggers luncheon at the Beverly Hilton

 

The official cocktail of the 71st Annual Golden Globe Awards that they served sent me over the moon.

The official cocktail of the 71st Annual Golden Globe Awards: The Moët Golden Night Cocktail crafted by Aida Mollenkamp

 

Moët & Chandon were kind enough to share Aida Mollenkamp’s delicious recipe with me so I might enjoy it on Sunday while watching. And being me, I of course have to share it with you! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did on Thursday  – and be assured that I will be enjoying it again come Sunday!

To the Globes!

The Moët Golden Night Cocktail - photo courtesy of Aida Mollenkamp

MOËT GOLDEN NIGHT

Made to celebrate the glamour and glitz of the awards season, Moët Golden Night is a decidedly sophisticated cocktail of cardamom syrup, pear brandy, and Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut Champagne. Garnished with a “fan” of fresh pear slices, this cocktail is the perfect sipper to toast the festivities. 

 

Makes: 6 cocktails // Enough simple syrup mixture for 8 cocktails

Total Time: 25 minutes

Hands On Time: 5 minutes

 

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup unrefined granulated sugar

1/4 cup water

20 whole cardamom pods, crushed using the back of a knife or a mortar and pestle

1/4 cup pear brandy

1 (750 ml) chilled Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut Champagne

2 small ripe Forelle or Seckel pears, for garnish

 

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan, stir to dissolve the sugar, add the crushed cardamom pods and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Simmer the simple syrup for 5 minutes, then remove from heat and allow to steep and cool for 20 minutes.

 

Using a fine mesh strainer, strain the simple syrup, discard the seeds and pods, and place the simple syrup into a liquid measuring cup. Add the pear brandy and stir to combine. (The pear-cardamom simple syrup mixture can be made up to 2 days ahead and the Asian pears can be peeled up to 2 hours ahead.)

 

Just before serving, cut the pear off the core and slice pear lengthwise into 1/8-inch thick slices. (Separate slices into stacks of three and spread slightly to make a fan. If cutting slices ahead of serving time, coat them with a little lemon juice to prevent them from browning.)

 

To serve, add 1/2 ounce of the pear-cardamom simple syrup mixture to 6 white wine glasses or 6 Champagne coupes (this makes enough syrup for 8 cocktails). Add 4 ounces of chilled Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut Champagne to each glass, filling each glass about halfway. Garnish each glass with three pieces of fanned pear slices and serve.

 

Perfect pairing of pear, cardamom, brandy & bubbly

 

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: What will you be snacking on & sipping come Sunday night? 

Thirsty Thursday: BF & One Hope’s Spiced Apple Cider Mimosa

When I was trying to decide what my signature cocktail would be for my “Come As You Were…or WISH You Were In High School” birthday party, I was a bit overwhelmed. I wanted it to involve the bubbly (I mean what’s a birthday without champagne), have a wintry component (because my party this year was sandwiched between a slew of holiday parties) and be something that my guests would never forget.

That’s where One Hope Wine and Hope at Home stepped in to help.

One Hope Wine & Hope At Home saved that day…well, at least my party!

 

They have a slew of cocktail recipes and fab pics on OneHopeWeddings.com where you can find the PERFECT cocktail to accompany your perfect party.
For mine, I opted for the Apple Cider Mimosa.

One Hope's Apple Cider Mimosa

But to make it my own whimsical winter wonderland-fitting libation, I “tweaked” it a bit by substituting Captain Morgan Spiced Rum  in place of the scotch.

And you know what really made me feel good about it? For every bottle of One Hope California Brut Sparkling Wine ($18.99) sold, a hungry child is connected with 10 healthy meals. Drinking for a good cause? It’s like two of my favorite things on the planet just married one another.

It. Was. Perfect. Everyone was raaaaaving about it and asking for the recipe.

 

A few of my guests (Jennifer & Rahiel from Spoiled Little LA Girls) & I sippin' on our BF & One Hope Spiced Apple Cider Mimosas! Photography by Takahiro Watanabe Photography

More guests - Jen and Jennie - sippin' their One Hope cider cocktail… Photo by Guerrero Photography

 

Yep. It’s exactly what I wanted.

Enjoying my 2nd glass (!!!) of One Hope Spiced Apple Cider Mimosa. Don't judge, people. It was my BIRTHDAY!!! Photo by Guerrero Photography

So now you can enjoy it at your holiday or winter party!

If you need a little extra party guidance, Hope At Home has you covered. See, Hope At Home is magical when it comes to making a party pop. They offer private wine tasting parties where 15% of the sales go back to the non-profit or school of your choice. What could be a more fun – and philanthropic – way to celebrate this holiday season? And what a fun way to raise funds for your organization!!

 BF & One Hope’s Spiced Apple Cider Mimosa

 

BF & One Hope's Spiced Apple Cider Mimosa - photo courtesy of OneHopeWeddings.com

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total: 10
Serves: 1

Ingredients
1 tsp brown sugar
1 ounce spiced rum (I used Captain Morgan)
2 ounces fresh apple cider
4 ounces ONEHOPE Sparkling Wine
Apple slices for garnish

Directions
Combine brown sugar, spiced rum and apple cider in a flute.
Top with ONEHOPE Sparkling wine and garnish with fresh apple slices.

 

xoxo,

BF

BF Asks: What charity, school or organization would benefit from your Hope At Home wine tasting party?

Thirsty Thursday: Pampadour Summer Sangria

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending the “Be Parisian For A Day Event” hosted by Fournier PR. While eating macarons (yes, I’m serious)…

Macaron heaven at Be Parisian For A Day

and getting to know all of the new beauty products I’m destined to be in love with –

Being, well, Parisian...or at least trying to be...

 I spotted this:
PAMPADOUR. SUMMER. SANGRIA.

Pampadour Summer Sangria

So what is this sangria-making “Pampadour“, you ask? Well, I asked the same thing…and then I promptly signed up and became obsessed. It’s a social platform for beauty. Need more details? Here you go:  If Facebook married Pinterest and it was a marriage based solely on a love of beauty then you would have Pampadour. And luckily we do. By the way, that sounds divine, doesn’t it?
I’ve played a bit on Pampadour and let me tell ya – it is ADDICTIVE!!
But back to their sangria. It was delish and they were nice enough to send me the recipe.
It’s a refreshing warm weather beverage that’s just dying to be enjoyed with friends!

Summer happiness - also called Pampadour Summer Sangria - in a cup

Pampadour Summer Sangria:
1 bottle White Wine ( Pino Blanc or New Zealand Sauvignon – I personally prefer the $3.99 Espiral Vinho Verde from Trader Joe’s!)
1/2 c Brandy
4 c Club Soda
Sliced Plums, lemons, limes, strawberries, apples, tangerines
Serve chilled on Ice.
xoxo,
BFBF Asks: What’s your favorite sangria recipe? 

Thirsty Thursday: The Southern Beauty summer cocktail

What is more refreshing in summertime – watermelon, limeade or rum?

Well, thanks to this sweet summer recipe from Elizabeth Scokin of Haute Hostess, you don’t have to choose just one.

Her cocktail, The Southern Beauty contains all of these refreshing ingredients in one sensational summer cocktail – plus a surprising hint of mint.

The Southern Beauty - Haute Hostess's Elizabeth Scokin's sensational summer cocktail!

The Southern Beauty
My Haute Hostess cocktail recipe for summer parties al fresco

1 watermelon
1 large can of frozen limeade
handful of mint
crushed ice
light rum

Scoop out the inside of a watermelon and put pulp in lg ziplocs
Freeze overnight

In a blender put in one bag watermelon, 1/2 can of limeade,
handful of fresh mint, 1 cup of rum, 2 cups crushed ice.
Blend. Serve in martini glasses with sprig of mint.
Gorgeous cocktail. Great for a Non-alcoholic drink too without rum~

**
Try it out and check out her fab site, Haute Hostess, for some divine ideas for hostess gifts this summer!
I’m partial to the Missoni-style (light Missoni print lined with purple satin) Margherita apron. So if you’re visiting me, I’m not saying you should get it for me… I’m just saying I wouldn’t mind.

Haute Hostess Margherita Apron - a light Missoni knit with purple satin lining - perfect for summer entertaining

 

xoxo,
Dawn

 

BF Asks: What’s your sensational summer cocktail? Share it with me and you might have your summer cocktail recipe featured on BeautyFrosting’s Thirsty Thursday!

 

Thirsty Thursday: The Blackberry Bunny champagne cocktail

For my Classic Southern Easter Dinner this past Sunday, I wasn’t sure how I could top my Blackberry Patch Punch from last year’s fête.

But then it hit me! A champagne cocktail with the same blackberry sweet-tart taste was the perfect pre-dinner cocktail. Hence, The Blackberry Bunny was born!

Now, here it is for you to enjoy at your next spring or summer soiree!

Introducing...The Blackberry Bunny!

The Blackberry Bunny ( by BeautyFrosting)

3 ounces Chilled Champagne

1 ounce G.E. Massenez Creme de Mûre (Blackberry Liqueur)

1 ounce Chilled Trader Joe’s Blackberry Patch Juice

Combine in glass and garnish with a blackberry and mint sprig.

Sip and enjoy.