During the summer, when the heat is at its peak, I like to keep my time in a hot kitchen to a minimum. But entertaining must go on, so I often take advantage of the cool hours of the morning to cook a quick-to-make dinner that needs time to chill. When guests arrive in the…
10 Secrets to Throwing an Unforgettable Summer Dinner Party
As we start to resume gathering with our friends and family, outdoor dinner parties are a perfect way to ease back into entertaining. Dust off your hosting skills with these summer party hacks to make it the easiest dinner party ever! Here’s how to spend less time playing host and more time hanging out with…
Easy Entertaining: Paella for a Summer Party
During the Andalusian summer, the main meal is served at lunchtime, reserving lighter fare for dinner. Everyone comes indoors to take a respite from the scorching sun, and yes, the obligatory siesta comes right after. I grew up on a farm about an hour outside of Seville, Spain, and entertaining at home was essential; there…
Easy Entertaining: For Early Spring, a Ladies’ Lunch in the Garden
There are those perfect days in early spring when everything feels fresh and new. Spring fever is in the air, and instead of tidying up closets and cleaning out the garage, my favorite seasonal activity is to invite a group of girlfriends for lunch in the garden. Girlfriends and soul sisters are an integral part…
Easy Entertaining: Dressed-Up Roast Chicken, a Must for Every Home Cook’s Repertoire
Whether you are a novice cook or a gourmand, having a few simple, well-thought out menus that you can always rely on is the key to effortless entertaining. These basic recipes become the backbone of my cooking repertoire, and are the ones that, in moments of panic, save me from disaster. Among them, there is…
What My Husband’s Homemade Cake Donuts Taught Me About Hospitality
When my husband, Andrew, and I first bound together our souls and wallets the year after we graduated from college and moved to a new state, we, like many who marry young, were completely broke. We moved to a tiny basement apartment in Charlottesville, Virginia, with popcorn ceilings and a musty odor. Like any other…
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