Whew!

Some of you loyal readers may have noticed that I have been absent from blogging over the past few days. On Friday I planned a dinner for over 720 people, raising over $100,000 and WHEW, I am tired!! But tonight is a BIG night for pro-football and my fiance and I have decided to have a few people over to celebrate. I will of course be rooting for the Saints (I grew up about two hours from New Orleans), and well I just happen to like the Fleur de Lis a lot...ha!

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If you are looking for an appetizer to take to a party tonight, I highly recommend this dip recipe I got from my good friend Ashley.
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Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip
2-3 chicken breasts cooked and chopped
2 - 8 ounce cream cheese
1 cup Ranch dressing
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
3/4 cups Hot Wing Sauce
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Cook and chop chicken. (I like to cook the chicken with tops of celery, onion. chicken bouillon cube, salk and pepper. Use skin on, bone in chicken breasts) Put all in crock pot, cover, cook on high for about an hour. Serve with frito scoops and Clean, peeled celery sticks.

Doesn't this sound perfect for a football party??
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Image via isportsweb

Soon to be...

...a house divided. This Alabama girl is marrying a Texas Longhorn fan, so tonight should be an interesting night as The Crimson Tide takes on Texas in the National Championship game in Pasadena, CA. On top of that, its supposed to snow tonight and of course everyone is spreading rumors that the power will go out during the game...ha! Thank goodness I don't work at Alabama Power or Bright House/Charter! If you are watching the game and need some ideas for a menu, here is what I suggest...
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DRINKS

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BEER!

serve a locally brewed beer for a fun twist

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Yellow Hammer

signature Bama drink that is delicious!!

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Margarita

for Texas, you can't go wrong with a margarita :) ...just my personal opinion

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APPETIZERS

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Conecuh Sausage

if you haven't tasted this AMAZING sausage from AL you are missing out!

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Jalapeno Poppers

mmmm....these will hit the spot for those who love a spicy kick!

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DINNER

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Hamburgers

Texas fans give it a Tex Mex spin with avocadoes and cilantro mayo

and serve with chips and salsa

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or for you Alabama fans, instead of ketchup use BBQ sauce and top with coleslaw and serve with potato salad

DESSERT

Sugar Cookies decorated with a red "A" or with orange longhorns
my roommate made some "A" cookies last night and they were so cute!!

Delicious Fall Dishes

I'm a huge fan of gnocchi and this dish...sweet potato gnocchi with fried sage and shaved chestnuts looks AMAZING. I so wanted to whip this up in my kitchen this weekend, but I don't have a potato ricer(need to add that to my Christmas list). Instead, I decided to make Butternut Squash Soup.


My friend Brooke introduced me to a simple recipe for Butternut Squash Soup last year and somehow I managed to lose the recipe, BUT I found a few online that I combined

and ended up with this...(and it was delicious!!)
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2 butternut squash (peeled and cut into 1" chunks)
2 tablespoons of butter
1 onion (diced)
1 clove of garlic (minced)
2 cups of chicken broth
nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste
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Melt butter in a large pot, add in onion and sautee for about 2 minutes, on medium heat. Then add in garlic and butternut squash, and cook for around 6-8 minutes. Next add in 2 cups of chicken broth and bring to a boil. Once pot is boiling, reduce heat and simmer until squash is tender, about 20 minutes. Then pour mixture into a blender and puree. Finally add nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste.



Images via Gourmet and Martha Stewart

Game Time

Well, the countdown is officially over...college football begins tonight! My boyfriend has been counting down the days with excitement, which of course is no surprise. In Alabama, football is like a religion. Weekend plans revolve around football. Fall weddings are purposely planned on "off" weekends or better yet, most die hard football fans wouldn't even consider getting married in the fall! Its pretty crazy, but thats the south for you...especially Alabama. I have to admit, I do get into football games, mainly because I love a good tailgate! When I think of game day food, I think of BBQ sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage, and chicken fingers. Why not get a little more creative this year?? How adorable are these little footballs(am I allowed to use adorable and football in the same sentence?)!!??



Use your team of choice to help plan your menu. Are you rooting for Texas? Have a taco station, guacamole and chips, and a margarita bar.

Big LSU fan? Make some gumbo, or grits and grillades for a twist on game day food. Maybe throw in a hurricane cocktail and some moonpies too!

Whatever your team, get creative and have some fun this year with your tailgate. Below are a few images from Southern Living to get you started...

Photos via Southern Living

Food Is Good

FIG(Food Is Good) Restaurant in Charleston should be top on your list when visiting this fabulous coastal town. I enjoyed a delicious dinner at FIG on my trip and I loved every minute of it! Fig has a great atmosphere that is made even better by the artful food served.

"Laid-back, eclectic and unpretentious, FIG is one part retro diner, 

one part neighborhood café, and one part elegant bistro."

My menu for the evening....

Heirloom Pumpkin Soup, truffle honey, chanterelle crouton

Pan Roasted Wild Striped Bass, nicolas potatoes, white shrimp succotash, corn broth

Chocolate Lava Cake with Homemade Mint Ice Cream

Ok, so I know you are probably asking why I would order hot pumpkin soup in August, but the description the waitress gave was so enticing I just had to try it out, and it was AMAZING!!! The striped bass I had for my entree was light and delicious. The shrimp and potatoes in the corn broth finished the dish off nicely. Of course dinner is not complete without dessert...and if there is chocolate on the menu, my eyes don't look much further. The chocolate lava cake was better than I could have imagined.  Combined with the homemade mint ice cream(that was out of this world!!) it was the perfect combination of rich and sweet. What an ending to an unforgettable meal!

Photos via FIG

Sweet Endings

I stumbled upon these mini cakes or "baby bites" as they are cleverly named about a year ago and I'm so glad that I did. Pastry Arts in Homewood, AL whips up these fabulous treats, which is conveniently located right near my office (very dangerous for the waistline). They are delicious bitesize cakes in many different flavors that melt in your mouth, and leave you wanting more. They are the perfect sweet ending to any event! For all the Birmingham locals, what's your favorite flavor?? Mine? Caramel!