Easy Homemade Shortbread, Lemon Lavender and more

September 27, 2018 Rachel Sherwood

This week I am busy getting ready for our big Birthday Baptism Bash. Next week we celebrate my birthday, my sons birthday and my daughters baptism. We will have all of our extended family visiting so needless to day there will be lots of food and a pretty full house. With so many festivities and people to feed. I do my best to keep things tasty and simple. We don’t get to see my husbands side of the family very often as they are all out of state. When they are in town I like to spend as much with with them not be busy in the kitchen.

Over the years I have become a master planner and skilled at keeping my freezer stocked with lots of easy make ahead items. The advance prep allows me to relax with guests and still feed them well. Today I share one of my all time make ahead favorites. There is no better treat than easy homemade shortbread. This recipe is super simple. You just mix all the ingredients together, press into the pan and bake.

It is also wonderful because you can play with it and make many different and unique flavor combinations like Chocolate Cayenne, Orange Pistachio or Lemon Lavender like I did for my party. The easy homemade shortbread has a soft and delicate crumb and sweet yet rich buttery taste. Best part this tender shortbread is surprisingly transportable and the texture actually improves the next day making it in ideal treat for any gathering. You can even make it far in advance and freeze it so you have it onhand to welcome any last minute guests. It pairs perfectly with coffee, tea and even wine.

Easy Homemade Shortbread, Lemon Lavender and More

Tender and delicate with rich flavor that will leave the house warm and smelling of butter.

1 cup unsalted cold butter (2 sticks cut into ½ in cubes)

½ cup sugar

1 ½ cups flour

¼ cup cornstarch

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 325

Line a 9in square, round or spring form pan with parchment paper

In the bowl of an electric mixer combine all ingredients. Starting at low speed mix for several minutes until mixture resembles a course meal with slightly damp crumbs but will hold together when pinched.

Pour crumb mixture into prepared pan and press firmly with a small juice glass or the back of a spoon tamping the crumb mixture together.

Sprinkle with extra teaspoon of sugar if desired.

Place pan on middle rack in oven and bake for 35-40 minutes until very light golden Cool in pan for 30 minutes, carefully run a butter knife along the side of the pan to loosen from edges and carefully invert to remove from pan. While still warm cut into desired shapes using a large knife and smooth downward cuts.

Mixture will be soft and crumbly, evenly press into the pan and bake for a delicious easy treat.

Variations:

Lemon Lavender:

Add zest of one lemon, 1 Tablespoon lemon juice and 2 Tablespoons food grade lavender

Chocolate Chip:

Mix in 1 cup chocolate chips before pressing into the pan. Option for chocolate coating, spread 1 cup chocolate chips over top while it is hot allow to melt and smooth over surface.

Chocolate Cayenne:

Decrease the flour to 1 ¼ cups and substitute ¼ cup coco powder. Mix in 1 teaspoon espresso powder and 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper.

Orange Pistachio:

Add the zest of one orange and ½ cup finely chopped pistachios

Butterscotch version 1:

Mix in 1 cup butterscotch chips before pressing into the pan.

Butterscotch version 2:

Substitute brown sugar for white sugar continue with recipe press into pan and sprinkle with ½ teaspoon coarse salt in place of sugar. For an upscale touch try pink Hawaiian salt.

10 Secrets to De-Stress Your Holiday

December 10, 2015December 10, 2015 Rachel Sherwood

Do you have fond memories of sharing food with friends and family over the holiday? Do you also dread all the stress of things to do, worry about it being perfect or have stories to share of all the things that went crazy over past holidays?

We have all been there: guests arrive late, the turkey gets overcooked, you drop the side dish, don’t set enough places at the table, or someone just happens to forget to bring a dish to share.

Yet some of our best memories are baking cookies with that special someone, preparing that favorite family recipe and sharing the fun and laughter of gathering together, making memories as we sit down to a beautiful feast with our most loved family and friends.

For me, food is more than just a delicious meal; it brings people together. Have you ever noticed at the holidays time, no matter how big or small the house you are in, that people always gather in the kitchen? There is a reason. They come for food, but what really matters are the stories shared and memories made. The greatest present I can give someone is a meal in my home. Not only is it a delicious, nutritious meal, but it is the gift of my time, a display of love and sharing that really makes it special. Food fills the physical need of hunger, but being in community with others fills the need of belonging and being loved.

I recently shared my top 10 Secrets to De-Stress Your Holiday. I thought you may benefit from these tips and secrets to set you up for a successful holiday.

Make-ahead meals

Make-ahead meals are essential for easy dinners all year, but holiday time makes them perfect for impromptu parties and welcoming last-minute guests. Note that these are not crock-pot meals that can take up to 8 hours to defrost and 6 hours to cook. The key to efficient make-ahead meals is packaging them in small or even individual portions to lock in the best flavor and feed as few or as many as you need, quickly and easily. One of my family favorites is 4 Cheese Italian Stuffed Shells. You may also like these tips on Freezer Meals.

No Cook Appetizers

Cheese plates are my go-to appetizers for the holidays as they can be made ahead of time, require no cooking, and can please any diet with the right accompaniments. Keep a variety of hard cheeses and cured meats, and pair them with crackers, nuts, fruits, vegetables, or preserves for a beautiful and tasty platter that can serve as first appetizers, first courses and even desserts. For a simple, no-fail guide on how to make perfect tasty cheese plates get your Pretty Plate Cheese Paring Guide.

Plan a workable menu

For any dinner party, a properly planned meal is the key to success. It’s more than just what you want to eat, or what’s in season and goes together. The key is to think about how it comes together and plan items that can be made in advance. If a menu has more than two things that have to be done last-minute, I will choose other options as this can be too time-consuming and stressful to take on as guests are arriving. Remember that your job as a host is not only to provide food, but also to engage with the guests.

Whether you are setting up a main meal, an appetizer buffet, or just desserts, it is important to keep in mind how much last-minute preparation is required; slicing, mixing, assembling and garnishing all take time. You will want to have all the food ready at once, so be sure to plan accordingly – choosing mostly make-ahead items and leaving only a few last-minute preparation items. This is the number one pitfall of most unorganized buffets and the cause of most stressed-out hosts as items usually take longer than expected and are not ready when planned.

This also concerns your cooking space. If you only have one oven, you can’t roast a turkey, bake potatoes, and heat a casserole all at the same time. Think logically about how much preparation, cook time and assembly is required for each dish, and manage all the work if you can. If not, choose something else or ask for help. Spacing items out like this also makes the cooking more manageable; do little pieces along the way, rather than get tired doing all the cooking and cleaning in one day and then hosting a party.

Pull dishes in advance

This is a major stress-saver. It takes a touch of advance planning that will make your life so mush easier later. Pull all your serving dishes and utensils at least two days beforehand. This way, you are not running around looking for items while guests are waiting and food is hot. If you need to borrow or buy something additional, you have time to do so. Go one step further: label everything to make dishing up easy and set items on your buffet to make sure you have space for everything.

Simple decorating with centerpieces

You can fill clear vases with a variety of inexpensive items you may even already have: extra ornaments, ribbons, candles, even candies. If you want flowers, think of floating a single bloom, a tight bouquet of one bloom like carnations or even spruce tips. Choose clear vases that can be used repeatedly and change the colors to go with the occasion/season.

Add interest to your buffet

Think of the buffet as a roller coaster! If it is all flat, it is not very fun or interesting. Add a few varied heights to show off the beautiful food. Footed platters and warming dishes are easy to add height. For regular platters, I love using empty egg carton as risers. They are inexpensive, readily available and sturdy; just cover them with an extra napkin, or go to the fabric store and get some remints that match your colors.

Be sure to test each platter if you have it on risers to make sure it is sturdy with people grabbing food off of it. Leave large or delicate items on the table. Not everything has to be lifted; just raise one to three items to add visual interest for the table.

Separate food and beverage

People naturally gather where there is food and drink. It is the most common error to put these two areas together, creating a traffic jam of guests who stay in one place. By separating these two main attraction points, guests must get moving and mingling.

Manage the Mess

Whether you use china or paper, there are always dishes from the meal and cooking. Making as much food in advance will cut down on the dishes you have on the day of the event.

Empty your dishwasher before guests arrive and load soap in it already. Once dinner is finished, plates easily get loaded in and washed while dessert is enjoyed. If you don’t have a dishwasher or you have too many dishes for one load, designate a corner space in the kitchen or tub to stack dirty dishes. This keeps the kitchen looking nice, and your sink being available for uses.

In addition, double-line trash bins, so it is easy to take out and replace. Helpful guests don’t have to search for a new bag. It helps to avoid guests tossing something away without a bag and makes the process clean, quick and easy.

Delegate

It’s easy to try and be that super-woman attempting to do it all. Yet, there are times we all could use a little help. If a guest asks, allow them to help even if it is just bringing a bag of ice or a bottle of wine. It is a way for them to participate and give as well, so don’t deny them that opportunity.

The biggest challenge in asking for help and delegating is being clear in your request. Often we think we are clear, but the other person may hear or think something completely different.

If you ask someone to bring a dish to share, ask them for what you need: a sweet or savory main dish or a side. Should it come ready to serve, or can they prep it when they get to the location? And what time do you need it? Be clear and specific. The more details are left out, the more space there is for misinterpretation, confusion, stress and disappointment by both parties.

Take Care of Yourself

The holidays are times for everyone to enjoy, and that means you too. With all the running around, events to attend, gifts to make, and taking care of others, it can leave very little time for you. It is truly impossible to care for others well when you have not cared for yourself first. Think realistically about what you are committing to, how much you really want to be involved, and what a great holiday looks like to you, then plan accordingly. If something does not fit for you, have the power and respect for yourself to say no instead of trying to squeeze it all in to make everyone else happy. The holiday will still be wonderful if you choose not to attend that cookie exchange, volunteer for the kids class party, or make everything from scratch.

Be clear and honest with yourself. Ask for help and do what is important to you. Do something for yourself: maybe just 5 minute of quite time with coffee in the morning, a yoga class, getting your nails, or taking a weekend away with your husband. Do what you need without guilt and without being attached to the holidays looking a specific way. Trust that everything will be perfect and it will. By taking care of yourself, you will make others happier as well.

Hearty Appetizers Meatloaf Cupcakes

November 13, 2014November 14, 2014 Rachel Sherwood

I had so much fun sharing again on Twin Cities Live last week. I love this time of year, as it is prep time for all the fun holiday festivities to come. To get you started on the right path I shared some really simple and practical techniques for making your food look beautiful and your guests feel special. After all we all want to look good and have everything perfect his time of year while making our loved ones know how much we care. I love doing that through food. Watch here so you can add a little something special to your holiday parties this year.

As we move into the holidays I am always looking for fun hearty appetizers that will please the crowds. This is one of my latest favorites for kids and adults. It’s simple, hearty, can be prepared in advance and is sure to please. Make Meatloaf Cupcake for your next party.

MEATLOAF CUPCAKES

Meatloaf

1 lb 80/20 ground beef

½ breadcrumbs

1/4 cup milk

1 egg

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon garlic power

1 teaspoon onion powder

¼ cup fresh herbs or 1 tablespoon dried

*This recipe can be doubled

To Prepare the Meatloaves:

Combine the milk and breadcrumbs: Pour the milk over the breadcrumbs in a small bowl and set aside while preparing the rest of the meatball mix. The breadcrumbs will absorb the milk and become slightly soggy.
In a large bowl add the egg, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and herbs, whisk until blended.
Add the meat, soft breadcrumbs to the egg mixture and mix with your hands just until all ingredients are combined. Try not to overwork the meat; pinch the meat between your fingers rather than kneading it.
Make a test patty, After you combine all your ingredients take a small portion of the mixture and flatten it into a small patty. In a small sauté pan thoroughly cook the patty and a taste it to make sure you like the seasonings, if not make adjustments as necessary. (when making your own recipes remember if you are unsure of a seasoning – add it to just a small quantity of the meat to test it out first or add it sparingly as you can always add more once you have tasted it, never taste raw meat)
Form the meatloaves:Lightly grease a muffin pan if using a regular size muffin pan portion out ¼ cup of the mixture into each cup; one batch will make about 9 portions. If using a mini-muffin pan – portion out a tablespoon of the mixture into each cup, one batch will make about 29 portions. Bake at 350 until cooked completely thought, 25-30 min for a regular size pan and 10-15 for a mini muffin pan.

While they are cooking prepare the potato “icing”

To Prepare the Mashed Potato “Icing”

1.5 pounds Yukon gold potatoes peeled, cubed 1 in

3 medium cloves garlic

1 tablespoon salt

½ cup sour cream

2 tablespoons butter, melted

1 egg

pepper to taste

chopped parsley is desired

Directions:

Peal and wash the potatoes; place potatoes and slat in a medium sauce pan and cover with cold water. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cook potatoes until fork-tender, about 10 minutes. Drain; and mash potatoes while still warm. Add sour cream, butter, egg and pepper. Mash until creamy and smooth, adding more sour cream or milk if necessary. It is important to make sure the mashed potatoes are creamy and smooth so they can be piped onto meat loaves.

Place potatoes in 10-inch decorating bag with or without a star tip. Starting at outside of loaf and in circular motion, pipe potatoes onto each meat loaf. Brown under the broil 2-3 min until lightly golden.

Garnish with finely chopped parsley if desired.

Pick up your copy of The Pretty Plate for more simple techniques and recipes, and learn about the five elements to make your everyday meals magnificent.

10 Last Minute Party Fixes

August 19, 2014August 20, 2014 Rachel Sherwood

Celebrate today and get busy making wonderful memories. With this article you will be ready for your next event before the summer is over. Have nothing to fear as these tips will keep the good times coming even if a disaster strikes.

A Crowded Room

“The number one mistake I see when hosts are setting up parties is that they do not consider the flow of traffic,” says Rachel Sherwood, food stylist, culinary and entertaining expert, and author of The Pretty Plate.

Fix: Keep food and drink stations separate, which encourages guests to circulate around the party. “By separating them it forces guests to move and mingle,” says Sherwood. “They can’t just sit in one place with access to all the food and drink they want.”

The Too Busy Host Can’t Enjoy the Party

If you feel like the waiter at your own party, it’s time to rethink your strategy so you can spend more time with your guests.

Fix: Plan ahead and make sure your menu requires only a few steps to be done at the start of the party with minimal upkeep.

“As a host you will most likely know most of the guests attending so it is easy to be pulled in many directions,” says Sherwood. “Make a point to have focus on just your guests at the beginning and end of the event.”

If you can afford it, hiring someone to prepare and serve food and drinks can be a great help for the host.

Spilled Wine

“If you serve red wine, assume some will get spilled,” says Carla McDonald, founder of The Salonniere, a website for entertaining inspiration.

Fix: Either don’t serve red wine or use McDonald’s “fool-proof way” to get rid of red wine stains. She recommends dabbing up as much of the spilled wine as possible, covering the stain with a spray of hydrogen peroxide, and a generous amount of baking soda. Let the stain solution do its job for about five minutes. Then vacuum the area and rinse it with water.

Don’t use carpet cleaning solutions, says McDonald, who explains they can bleach out your carpet color and create a noticeable ring.

Not Having Enough Alcohol

Greg Jenkins of Bravo Productions, who has over 25 years of party planning experience, says hosts need to know how much their guests drink and what kinds of beverages they prefer. “If you have a heavy beer drinking crowd, don’t buy a ton of wine,” he says.

Fix: The typical guest has two drinks in the first hour of the party, says Jenkin, noting that number tapers off after that. Still that’s just a guideline. He says younger guests may drink consistently throughout the party. Trim your party time from four hours to just two or three and you can prevent guests from overindulging in your booze.

Try a signature drink to control costs and keep guests happy. Don’t forget to offer non-alcoholic drunks too, like tea, waters and sodas.

Unclaimed Drinks

Tired of throwing out half-empty cups because guests can’t figure out which drink is theirs?

Fix: Label all drinks. For a few bucks you can invest in reusable drink labels or reusable bottle tags. If your guests are drinking from water bottles or plastic cups, give them a permanent marker to write their name on the cup. Everyone will know which cup is theirs and you’ll save money by not having so many wasted drinks.

Not Being Ready For Guests with Allergies

Fix: Label foods and ingredients when possible. If you can’t avoid foods that could be allergy triggers, at least provide separate serving spoons and forks for these items so guests don’t mix and match utensils in different dishes. Also try to serve a variety of foods that are suitable for guests with allergies including peanut free and gluten free dishes.

A Messy Party

Feeling overwhelmed by a stack of empty plates, cups, utensils and napkins? You’re not alone. This is a big party pitfall.

Fix: Make sure you have easy to find and use trash and recycling bins.

“If a guest sees a trash they are more likely to use it, if not clutter can easily collect on tables,” says Sherwood, who also suggests designating one or two people to do quick trash pickups once in a while during your get together.

Dirty Hands in Snack and Candy Bowls

It’s a gross-out moment when you realize how many hands have grabbed chips from communal snack bowls.

Fix: Use serving spoons for main dishes and sides. When possible give guests pre-portioned servings, especially for foods that are likely to otherwise be touched by bare and potentially dirty hands. That means giving partygoers small bags of chips or individual packs of cookies. If possible, hire help to serve foods either tray-passed or at food stations.

Don’t forget to have hand sanitizers at various places throughout the party.

An Inappropriate Mix of Guests

Think twice before hosting all of your family, friends and co-workers at the same event. Do you really want your boss mingling with your Friday-night poker buddies?

Fix: Review your “audience demographics,” says Jenkins, who suggests hosting, “a casual barbecue for your family, a summer cocktail reception for your colleagues and a game night for your friends.”

You Run Out of Food

Fix: Stock up on frozen appetizers purchased from club stores or the grocery store. If you don’t use them for the party, save the frozen snacks for the next get-together.

“If you’ve planned ahead and still run out of food, raid your?refrigerator or have someone run out and get fast food and then place the?food on the most beautiful serving pieces you have,” says McDonald, noting fast food French fries “presented in silver mint julep glasses can go a long way at a party.”

Source: thedailymeal.com

Pick up your copy of The Pretty Plate for more simple techniques and recipes, and learn about the five elements to make your everyday meals magnificent.

Making the best Memories

August 1, 2014August 18, 2014 Rachel Sherwood

After all the planning, the food is eaten and guests say their good byes. At this point, all that is left are the memories. Those moments that you will never forget, the stories that you will share time and time again those moments are the memories that make our lives richer and keep the festivities living on.

So how do you create the best memories? How do you get people to talk well about the parties you host? It’s simple to make them feel welcome, special and have something unique.

Do your best to plan ahead. Create a party friendly menu or hire help so that you can have time to greet guests, make a few introductions and thank them for attending. As a host you will most likely know most of the guests attending so it is easy to be pulled in many directions. Make a point to have the focus on just your guests at the beginning and end of the event. All the food and beverages should be set just before they arrive so that you can welcome guests and then slip away for simple refills throughout the party.

Choose one thing to create a “wow factor”. Think about your guests and the experience you want to create for them. As they leave your event, what is it that you want them to say of their experience? What is it you want to be remembered for? What are those best memories you want to leave them with? Whatever that is, create a “wow factor” around it. Not everything has to be over-the-top and perfect. To be honest, some of the best memories usually come from things that go wrong.

Pick one thing to completely excel at. No one will remember if they drank out of plastic cups or normal glassware, but they will remember if you had custom crystal glasses. They may not remember the food but they will remember the perfect popovers or a unique sushi-making party. Simple candles are great decorations, but you could make a grand impression with beautiful, fresh flowers and stunning centerpieces. Or send them home with unique personal favors.

Pick one thing and do it very well, normal is normal, so think outside the box and do something uniquely you. It will long be remembered.

I truly hope you enjoyed the Summer Entertaining series with all the tips and entertaining secrets to get your next summer bash off to the great start. May every party you host, simple, grand and everything in between, be one that adds love, laughter and lasting memories to your life.

Summer Entertaining Series

The things you need to know to ensure summer fun for all:

#1 Food: easy, delicious and safe, read this before dishing up
#2 Relaxing Refreshments, don’t break a sweat keeping hydrated
#3 Easy Breezy, decorate with casual summer style for less
#4 Keep Your Cool, comfort is everything
#5 Party in an Instant, have these on hand to welcome guests at any time

One last tip: Keep a camera close by and use it often, ask a friend, or hire a photographer to capture the moments. Smiling faces make it easy to remember why we get together. I never regret taking too many photos and capturing the best memories of a lifetime.

Leave a comment! What’s your favorite party memory?

Pick up your copy of The Pretty Plate for more simple techniques and recipes, and learn about the five elements to make your everyday meals magnificent.