Starfish Cottage

Fun Family Dinner #18- Mother's Day Brunch Dinner

This past week's "dinner" was actually a "brunch"...in honor of Mother's Day!  Here's what we did:

The Table-

My daughters set a lovely table using pretty pinks and greens, and my favorite Lilly Pulitzer table runner.  Didn't they do a great job!?

for the centerpiece, they used some covered soup can arrangements of pink peonies and a large platter of yummy breakfast items!

The Food-

I think I have mentioned this before, but my husband is the BEST BREAKFAST MAKER EVER!  He cooked up this delicious assortment of brunch foods.

The Fun-

We all had fun enjoying a yummy Mother's Day Brunch and as a bonus- my mother joined us for the meal!  Hope you all had a wonderful day too!

Favorite Pound Cake Recipe

This is the last recipe from the tea party I am going to share, but it may be my favorite.  I have been making this pound cake recipe for years and love it each and every time.

I found the recipe in an old Southern Living magazine (it was a 5 star rated recipe), and it has gotten rave reviews here at Starfish Cottage over the years as well.  Like everything, there are so many variations I have for it- sometimes I bake it in 2 loaf pans, sometimes in one large bundt cake pan. Sometimes I do a vanilla frosting, sometimes lemon or key lime frosting!  Sometimes I use vanilla extract, sometimes I use almond extract.  Sometimes I serve it with strawberries and whipped cream on the side, sometimes I cut it up and use it in a trifle...it is good any which way you make it!!!

 When I make two loafs, I ALWAYS wrap up one for the freezer and save for later.

I love the delicate crumb crust that forms on top, and it stays nice and moist inside.  So here is the link to the recipe... Southern Living's Cream Cheese Pound Cake.  Note: I always use the reduced fat cream cheese and it turns out great!

For the party, I did a lemon frosting- 2 cups sifted confectioners sugar and 2 tbsps lemon juice- this frosting is so thick I spread it on with a spoon and let it trickle and ooze down the side, then I pop it in the fridge to let it harden a little.

I hope you make it and enjoy it as much as we have!

"No Cook" Brownie Bites and Key Lime Mousse Cups

So I promised a few more recipes from my recent tea party.  I love cooking and everything turned out so yummy and beautiful, just thought I would share some more...today I am featuring two bite size "no cook" desserts, Brownie Bites and Key Lime Mousse Cups.

I made the cutest little no-cook brownie bites by simply assembling some store bought ingredients.  Our bakery sells these "two bite brownies" which are a GREAT base for "decorating" with yummy toppings...in this case, fluffly cream cheese frosting, rasberries and mint leaves.

 I simply put the frosting in a small ziploc sandwich bag and snipped off one of the corners, then I piped the frosting on top of the brownies.

After piping the frosting, I added a fresh raspberry and mint leaf on top of each- so easy, so yummy, so beautiful!

For the Key Lime Mousse Cups recipe, visit this link over at Taste of Home.  Pre-made frozen phyllo cups are a great time saver and makes them look so special!

What Florida coastal tea party would be complete without something Key-Limey right?

Easiest Scones Ever...

So I am back today with a recipe from my recent tea party...Chocolate Chunk Scones!

For YEARS I have tried to make scones and tried so many different recipes, but they either come out too light and fluffy (like cake) or hard as a hockey puck.  I have always had trouble getting the ratios of butter and flour right, or trouble "cutting in the butter"...making scones can be a tricky process!

Until I came across this recipe...they came out perfect!  (Even my husband commented- and I quote- "those are the best scones I have ever tasted!")  This recipe doesn't even call for butter, which means they are probably lower in fat too.

 

 

So here is the recipe, and it's great because you can make so many different variations of scones from this one recipe...good luck!

Easiest Scones Ever-

2 cups of flour

1/2 cup of sugar

1 tbsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup chocolate chunks

1 1/4 cup heavy cream

Mix the first 5 ingredients together (I like to sift the flour so there are no lumps)

Add the heavy cream to the dry ingredients and combine well just until a large dough ball forms. Divide the ball into two smaller balls and then (on a well floured counter with well floured hands) flatten the balls into discs.  Cut up the discs into 8 wedges like pizza slices.

Arrange the wedges on a parchement lined baking sheet and sprinkle with sugar on top.  Place in refrigerator for 5 minutes just before baking- this helps keep their shape.

Bake at 400 degrees for apprx. 12 minutes until lightly browned.

Enjoy!

Variations: add blueberries, cranberries or strawberries in place of chocolate.

 

I hope you enjoy these as much as we do!  Tomorrow I will show you how I made these easy and beautiful brownie bites...

 

A Coastal Tea Party...

Recently I hosted a tea party/luncheon for a friend at our home.  I decided to have a "coastal" themed party and everything turned out so nice, I just had to share some photos...

I set up the "tea table" just off the kitchen in our breakfast area... 

 There were all kinds of delicious treats

 like these desserts on my tiered stand- I made Key Lime Mousse Tarts, Brownie Bites, Chocolate Chunk Scones, and a Lemon Glazed Pound Cake.  (Stay tuned, I will share those recipes with you all later this week!)

I also had Staffordshire Cream for the Scones and tea...yum!

 For the luncheon, these Mini Chicken Salad Croissant sandwiches were perfect...

 and what tea party is complete without Cucumber Herbed Cream Cheese sandwiches?

 Thanks to my friend, Shawn Geitner, with Beleave Tea, we enjoyed three delicious selections of hot tea..."Zest for Life Herbal", "English Rose", and "Earl Grey".

 

 She also gave me individual tea bags to give as gifts to each gift...I stamped these cute tags and tied them up with tissue and raffia.

 One more shot of the table...

 it was a lovely afternoon with old friends and new friends at Starfish Cottage.

 

this post is shared with Between Naps on the Porch's Metamorpheses Mondays

 

Fun Family Dinner #17- Cinco de Mayo Dinner!

For this week's Fun Family Dinner we went "south of the border" to the festive and flavorful country of Mexico!  Mexican food is one of our favorites, so everyone was pleased with this meal.  Here's what we did:

The Table-

I set the table with colorful tablecloths and napkins, and used my everyday white dinner plates, glasses, and woven chargers.  For a simple centerpiece, I used a big basket of corn chips with salsa and guacamole for dipping!

I added a few small arrangements of sunflowers for color, and some cute votive candleholders for "ambiance".

The Food-

For dinner, we skipped our ususal Mexican favorite- tacos and made big platters of enchiladas...these are so yummy and so easy to make!  For the kids, I did a more "basic" version, with fewer toppings and no sauce.

The Fun-

For fun, I played some latin style music during the meal and we discussed the customs and culture of Mexico.  I turned out to be another great night around the family dinner table!  Join us next Friday for a special Mother's Day...wondering what my hubby and kids have up their sleeve for me this year!!

Getting Organized with Kathryn Bechen

"Small spaces give us the opportunity to live sincerely, forcing us to choose which of our possessions make our hearts sing."- Kathryn Bechen

Today I wanted to feature a book by my friend, Kathryn Bechen called "Small Space Organizing".  As a decorator, I LOVE learning about organization because nothing looks worse than a cluttered home!  In "Small Space Organizing", Kathryn will take you room by room with great ideas for maximizing your space, she also encourages and inspires us to let go of life's unnecessary, excessive items (and let's face it, sometimes the hardest part is "letting go")! 

Though this book is filled with wonderful ideas and tips for getting more organized, Kathryn makes a great case for small space living...the art of living in a small space and learning to "dwell well" wherever you are!  The idea of "dwell well" is one I really love...like learning to "bloom where you are planted".  Her first hand knowledge, real life examples, and practical everyday tips are something anyone could implement in any size home.  This book will be a blessing to anyone who desires a more organized, streamlined lifestyle!

 

 Our new cottage is quite a bit smaller than our previous home, so Catherines book could not have come at a better time for me!  In our new home, I have already incorporated several "hidden" storage areas including a clever concealed craft/hobby storage space under the skirted console in my entry hall.

Here is a view of the console in our current home...

 This photo shows it decorated for Christmas...I like to keep it updated with seasonal decor.

 

 

again at Valentine's Day...

and again at Easter!

Underneath the pretty skirted console looms my (not-so-attractive and ever-growing) collection of scrapbooking/crafting supplies! (pictured below at our former home).

 

Another favorite spot I call the "Drop Spot"...we were lucky enough to have a closet off the entry and near the kitchen where the girls keep their shoes, book bags and important papers, as well as coats and sweaters click here to read the entire post.

I love these two areas and now, thanks to Kathryn, I am considering all sorts of new storage ideas for Starfish Cottage.   So check out her book and her blog (click here) for ideas for your home, thanks, Kathryn!

 

Fun Family Dinner #16- Game Night!

This week's Fun Family Dinner was Game Night!  And everyone here was ready to "get their game on" and enjoy a yummy dinner, here's what we did...

The Table-

The table was set with a black tablecloth, red napkins and my everyday white plates and glasses. The centerpiece of the table was the board game Monopoly- as well as a simple soup can arrangement of red flowers.

The Food-

For this meal, I served a family favorite, a big dish of baked Mac and Cheese (dressed up with fresh tomatoes, and a crumbly, browned breadcrumb topping and parsley) along with a simple tossed salad.

The Fun-

For fun, we played the board game classic, Monopoly.  This game is so much fun, and my husband had not played it since he was a boy...so it was a REAL flashback for him.  The girls enjoyed taking money from mom and dad, as well as "wheeling and dealing" in the imaginary real estate market! 

Stay tuned for our next Fun Family Dinner...Cinco de Mayo!  (Mexican, my favorite!!)

Thoughtful Thursday...

"you will show me the path of life, in your presence is fullness and joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." - psalm 16:11

Skirt Steak with Chimichurri Sauce

This is a easy meal to whip up, and one of my husband's favorites.  It was inspired by a favorite Cuban restaurant we ate at in Key West on a recent trip.  If you have never had chimichurri sauce, I would describe it as a "Latin Pesto"...and I LOVE pesto!  Here's what you do:

First, mix up the sauce- you will need these ingredients:

Fresh cilantro and parsley, garlic, red wine vinegar, red pepper flakes, and olive oil.  You will need to mince the garlic and herbs...my new Pampered Chef chopper is GREAT for this job!

Once the garlic and herbs are chopped, mix everything together with a few tablespoons of the oil and vinegar, and add red pepper flakes to taste, your sauce will look a little like this:

Next, set out the skirt steak and add a flavorful rub to both sides, be sure to work it into the meat well.

Next, throw the steak on the grill for a couple of minutes on each side...

When you are ready to serve it just slice the steak (on the bias) and top with the yummy sauce.  Note: Saffron rice and black beans with carmelized onions are the perfect side dish to this meal.

Not only is this dish fast and easy, it is so delicious...enjoy~