The H&H Holiday Collection is almost sold out!! If you want to snatch up a set of grey linen cocktail napkins with shimmery metallic trim and hand fringed edges this is your last chance.
Holiday 2014 Trio of Metallics!
Happy Entertaining! xx Lydia
Archive of ‘Entertaining’ category
Announcing H&H Collective
I’m so excited to finally share my newest project H&H Collective, a collaboration with Sarah Hendrix of LaFemmeEpicure.com. Our fist product is a line of linen cocktail napkins handmade in LA.
The H&H Collective 2014 Summer Collection has ARRIVED.
Lydia Howerton & Sarah Hendrix are thrilled to announce the official launch of their linen cocktail napkins. Each napkin is handmade in Los Angeles, California from 100% Italian linen. The collection features soft grey linen napkins with 3 different neon-hued trims and hand-fringed edges. Each of our collections will be limited edition and we plan to release them seasonally along with a sprinkling of small batch very limited collaborations in-between the seasonal releases.
Check out our spankin’ new website here >>> http://www.handhcollective.com
This collection was inspired by citrus hues, meet Cara Cara, Kumquat and Yuzu. Read all about what inspired Sarah and I to start this company here.
Keep up with all the H&H news…
Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/HandHCollective
Instagram- http://instagram.com/handhcollective (#WashDontToss #WarOnPaperNapkins)
Twitter- https://twitter.com/HH_Collective
xx, Lydia
Baby Boy Shower for TheKitchn.com
The baby shower I styled for my friend Beth is finally up on TheKitchn.com! A fun collaboration with Anjali at the beautiful home of Jen. Custom paper garlands, tissue flags and rope installations created for this event by Rebecca Simms of Wylie West Creative. All the stunning photos by Leela Cyd. Make sure to read the full post for recipes, set up details and all party resources.
Mother’s Day Brunch Menu
I’m hosting a little Mother’s Day brunch this weekend in my garden. If you can call a sparse bit of dry grass and over grown trees in your back yard a “garden.” While the surrounds might not be perfect, my menu is battle tested and the company can not be beat. My mom, aunt, cousin and grandmother will be together and we always have so much fun. My party prep timeline is below in case you want to follow along too.
via
Mother’s Day Garden Brunch MENU
Champagne
Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice
Iced Coffee with Coconut Milk
Arugula Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette
Farmer’s Market Berries, Basil, Aged Balsamic
Mother’s Day Garden Brunch PREP TIMELINE
Thursday
gather table supplies-glassware, silverware, plates, napkins, table cloth
set up self serve bar- ice bucket, tray of champagne glasses, iced coffee glasses, straws, creamer pitcher, pitchers for orange juice and water
Farmer’s Market shop for groceries and flowers
Friday
arrange flowers in bud vases
make Dijon vinaigrette
grate cheeses and cut potatoes for frittata
chill champagne
Saturday
pick up pastries at local bakery
juice oranges
set the table in the garden
make and bake frittata
bake off bacon
wash berries, drizzle with balsamic and torn basil
fill ice bucket, set out chilled water, oj, champagne and iced coffee
toss arugula salad, cut frittata and plate up warm bacon
Hopefully, this party honoring my mom will make up for when my brothers and I gifted her a curly fry maker for Mother’s Day, twenty years ago. We thought it might gently encourage her to cook us fried food in the comfort of our home. Sadly it was neither well received or ever touched.
xo, Lydia
Goat Cheese and Hot Pepper Jelly
Anyone who entertains is always looking for easy appetizer ideas. A hostess doesn’t have time to sort through her Pinterest folders when friends stop by for a weeknight glass of wine. Here is a good one for the rotation: goat cheese, hot pepper jelly and crackers. You can keep these items on hand for emergencies. Dump the jelly on top of the goat cheese or serve it alongside in a pretty jar. Add crackers. Done.
My grandmother always serves Philadelphia cream cheese with bright green hot pepper jelly and Carr’s table water crackers. If you want to get fancy you can even make this condiment. Last spring my girl La Femme Epicure made Hot Pepper Jelly and gifted me a bottle, the colors of the chilis and subtly sweet heat were divine.
Pretty little chili bits on tangy goat cheese and little brown rice crackers (we are a GF household.)
A lovely couple from Long Beach, CA sent me some jars of their Red Pepper Relish to try. The folks at Merchant & Co. are making really delicious small batch condiments, a great reminder to seek out local products in your market.
FYI- I put this pepper relish along side hard cheeses like manchego and aged cheddar and with out fail one guest says “What is this spicy jam? It’s amazing!”
xx, Lydia
Super Bowl Menu 2014
We are really excited to be catering a few Super Bowl parties for our clients this weekend. La Femme Epicure and I created this menu for one of the parties celebrating some of the flavors of Denver and Seattle.
via Style Me Pretty
Super Bowl Menu 2014
Denver →
Coors Banquet Beer
Coors Light
Papa Johns Pizza – BBQ Chicken Bacon, John’s Favorite & Plain Cheese
Denver Green Chili with Classic Fixins’ (Scallions, Sour Cream, Bacon, Cheddar, Hot Sauce & Fritos)
Corn Chips with Individual “Mile High” Layer Dip Jars
Bronco Brownie Bites Topped with Nutella and Candied Orange Peel
Denver Themed M&M’s with Team Logo
Seattle →
Rainier Beer
Starbucks Espresso Martinis
Mini Salmon Burger Sliders with Tartar Sauce (frisee, tomato and pickled red onions)
12th Man Garlicky Potato Wedges with Garlic Aioli & Ketchup
Winter Vegetable Crudites with Beecher’s Cheddar & Herb Dip
Starbucks Coffee Ice Cream Sandwiches with Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Bowl of Skittles
Seattle Themed M&M’s with Team Logo
Personally the only interesting part of the Super Bowl is the food so tell me what you plan to make this Sunday?
xx,
Lydia
Last Minute Thanksgiving Table Decor Ideas
I’ve been compulsively pinning Thanksgiving Table Decor this month. Grab a few mini pumpkins, some white candles and maybe a can of spray paint and call your table decorated. You can pull most of these items from your home or pick them up at the grocery or hardware store. I organized these Thanksgiving “tablescape” ideas by theme into 6 Pinterest Boards for easy reference. Feel free to mix and match.
Whatever your table looks like, I hope you have a wonderful and delicious Thanksgiving!
xo,
Lydia
Asian-American Thanksgving Menu
The question I get asked the most, when I tell a stranger my profession is “what is your favorite dish to make?” My answer is always “something I’ve never made before.” While I love familiar food, I’m most inspired by a new dish or new flavors. So when my Dad emailed me this link from Food & Wine magazine as inspiration for our Thanksgiving menu this year, I was so excited! All new flavors applied to the most traditional meal of the year.
Soy-Sauce and Honey Glazed Turkey
Sriracha and Wasabi Deviled Eggs
Cranberry, Ginger and Orange Chutney
Check out all the dishes and recipes at Food & Wine (all photos and recipes by Joanne Chang). Are you planning to try anything new or nontraditional this Thanksgiving?
xo,
Lydia
Do Ahead Thanksgiving Checklist
The best way to actually ENJOY the process of hosting Thanksgiving is to prepare as much as possible in advance. The less you have to do on that last Wednesday and Thursday in November the more fun you can have with your family and friends.
image via
2-3 Weeks Before Thanksgiving-
Shop in Advance:
- Purchase wines, apple cider, booze, sparkling water, champagne, mixers, beer, ice
- Order turkey
- Sharpen Knives!!! (Sur La Table offers free knife sharpening Nov 15-26, 2013)
- Shop for all dry and canned goods- canned pumpkin, sugar, flour, spices, crackers, nuts…
Party Prep:
- Label platters- wash, dry and stack in a corner with a label for each dish you will serve
- Wash glassware, iron linens, polish silver, count plates and bowls, wash seasonal items like roasting pan and gravy boat
- Decide on Table Décor and order flowers or gather materials for your centerpieces
Cook & Freeze:
- Make a veggie soup- serve as first course or a light supper or lunch on the days before and after the big meal
- Make and Roll Pie Crusts- freeze well wrapped in plastic
- Stuffing Bread- whether you prefer cornbread, rice or sourdough you can make, cube and freeze your stuffing bread well in advance
- Chicken or Turkey Stock- freeze
- Breakfast Rolls or Scones- make dough, portion and then freeze (bake them off for a quick breakfast)
- Dinner Rolls- make dough, portion and then freeze
1 Week Before Thanksgiving-
Make:
- Cranberry Relish
- Salad Dressing
- Herb Butter- for seasoning Turkey or Dinner Rolls
- Wash and prep hardy greens- kale, collards, Swiss chard
- Shop for appetizers- cheese, nuts, olives, crunchy vegetables
- Stock up on coffee, tea, milk, sugar or cream for after dinner service
Organize:
- Make your shop list when relaxed and rested so you don’t miss anything, divide the list up by areas of the grocery store
- Make a timeline for the 2 days before- make sure you have a schedule for the oven
- Set the table! Leave it set for the week and admire the beautiful setting
- Refresh all candles and have some long lighters handy
- Set up the bar- set out glasses, mixers, bucket for ice
- Decide on the music or delegate the music to someone else
For a more detailed timeline check out our advice for Thanksgiving preparations Week 1 & 2, Week 3, Week 4. Happy Planning!
xo,
Lydia
A Fall Pumpkin Carving Party on TheKitchn.com
I’m honored to be featured on The Kitchn’s “Gatherings From The Kitchn” series this week. Working alongside the talented Anjali Prasertong, we threw a Pumpkin Carving Dinner Party for some of our closest friends. The day was beautiful captured by photographer Bridget Pizzo.
New posts will be up daily and you can follow along here: http://www.thekitchn.com/a-fall-pumpkincarving-party-gatherings-from-the-kitchn-196446
Photo by Bridget Pizzo
I’m especially proud of the interview post, where I reveal some of my hard learned secrets for throwing a stress free, but stylish dinner party. Thanks Anj!
Photo by Bridget Pizzo