Baby Shower

We had a very cute Baby Shower for my friend Jen. She's having a baby girl and that was a great excuse to have a brown/pink theme (one of my favs).

My inspiration for the food part was cupcakes! I figured that everyone woman needs an excuse to eat a really good cupcake. We used Ina's recipes for the chocolate peanut butter cupcakes and the coconut cupcakes wow were they good! We also had chocolate with pink frosting (they were really cute w/sprinkles) and white with chocolate frosting. We kept it mostly in the brown/pink theme.

Ina's Croissant Bread Pudding

We had some leftover (read stale!) croissants from the bridal shower last week. Eric remembered this recipe from Ina and decided to try it out today. We rarely make dessert unless we are having guests over so this was a serious treat. We topped it off with a carmel rum sauce and holy smokes- good stuff!

Dinner this week:

Honestly- I don't follow these recipes too closely (click on links), they are more of a jumping off point for me...

Steak Fajitas {Tyler's amazing mariade! Worth trying- also awesome on chicken}

Thai Chicken Wraps {I'll probably simplify this recipe a bit}

Philly Cheese Steaks {Never made these before- still craving beef though!}

Portabella Ravioli {in the freezer from Sam's} with chicken and alfredo sauce

Country Style Pork Ribs on sale this week at Vons {but this is an Eric meal}

Taco Salad {never fails me!} Everyone has their own version...mine is with ground turkey and a 50/50 salsa & sour cream dressing

My new favorite sandwich

Four simple ingredients:

baguette

+

raspberry jam

+
sliced brie

+

ham

= really amazing, really delicious sandwich!

After having this at a family party recently, I decided to add these to the menu of the bridal shower last weekend. They were so easy and really a big hit. I think they are perfect for a bruch or a luncheon. Plus they are great at room tempurature- so great for buffets or open houses.

* Pictures of the shower coming soon!

Menu for Bridal Shower

I'm throwing a bridal shower luncheon in 10 days and I still need to nail down so many details! I think I have my menu planned- (I would love feedback and/or ideas).


Chicken Salad on Petite Croissants
Spinach Salad with Strawberries and Brianna's Red Wine Vinaigrette
Fresh Fruit Salad
Crudités Platter
Additional Side Salads (provided by bridesmaids offering to help)
Chocolate Cake by Eddie's Pastries for dessert
Strawberry Lemonade


Now ideas for favors and games...?

I *heart* Ina

I love the barefoot contessa for her sophisticated yet back to basics approach to cooking and entertaining. I just picked up Ina Garten's newest cookbook at Costco this week. (It is about $14 less than Boarders). I love the two other cookbooks I have by Ina and this one looks wonderful as well. My goal is to try one Ina recipe a week. Tonight was her Turkey Meatloaf from her first cookbook. Meatloaf is something you either hate or unashamedly love. Since it is Eric's favorite- and I love leftover meatloaf sandwiches, meatloaf it was! Her recipe calls for 5 lbs of meat! I cut it in half it (as I usually do her recipes). It was great- but I'm really looking forward to the leftovers on toasted sourdough tomorrow!

Outrageous Brownies

Outrageous Brownies (by the Barefoot Contessa- Ina Garten)

*Ina's recipe is HUGE! It is dangerous for me to have so many brownies in my house- so this is 1/4 of her regular recipe. You could also half it. Here is her full recipe in case you are having 25 people over for dessert! (It calls for a full pound of butter!).

1/4 pound unsalted butter

1/4 pound plus 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips, divided

1.5 ounces unsweetened chocolate

1.5 extra-large eggs

1 tablespoons instant coffee powder

1/2 tablespoons real vanilla extract

½ c. + 1T sugar

¼ c. + 1T flour, divided

1 t baking powder

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

3/4 cups diced walnut pieces

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 8 by 8 by 1 1/2-inch pan.
Melt together the butter, chocolate chips, and unsweetened chocolate on top of a double boiler. Cool slightly. Stir together the eggs, instant coffee, vanilla and sugar. Stir in the warm chocolate mixture and cool to room temperature.
Stir together the flour, baking powder and salt. Add to cooled chocolate mixture. Toss the walnuts and chocolate chips with flour to coat. Then add to the chocolate batter. Pour into prepared pan.
Bake for about 30 minutes, or until tester just comes out clean. Halfway through the baking, rap the pan against the oven shelf to allow air to escape from between the pan and the brownie dough. Do not over bake! Cool thoroughly, refrigerate well and cut into squares.

Sound like too much work? You can buy her mix here or I've seen it at Williams Sonoma or Crate and Barrel as well. (But it is not your betty crocker $2.99 mix- try $10.95!)