Do Ahead Thanksgiving Checklist

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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.

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2-3 Weeks Before Thanksgiving-

Shop in Advance:

  1. Purchase wines, apple cider, booze, sparkling water, champagne, mixers, beer, ice
  2. Order turkey
  3. Sharpen Knives!!! (Sur La Table offers free knife sharpening Nov 15-26, 2013)
  4. Shop for all dry and canned goods- canned pumpkin, sugar, flour, spices, crackers, nuts…

 

Party Prep:

  1. Label platters- wash, dry and stack in a corner with a label for each dish you will serve
  2. Wash glassware, iron linens, polish silver, count plates and bowls, wash seasonal items like roasting pan and gravy boat
  3. Decide on Table Décor and order flowers or gather materials for your centerpieces

 

Cook & Freeze:

  1. Make a veggie soup- serve as first course or a light supper or lunch on the days before and after the big meal
  2. Make and Roll Pie Crusts- freeze well wrapped in plastic
  3. Stuffing Bread- whether you prefer cornbread, rice or sourdough you can make, cube and freeze your stuffing bread well in advance
  4. Chicken or Turkey Stock- freeze
  5. Breakfast Rolls or Scones- make dough, portion and then freeze (bake them off for a quick breakfast)
  6. Dinner Rolls- make dough, portion and then freeze

 

1 Week Before Thanksgiving-

Make:

  1. Cranberry Relish
  2. Salad Dressing
  3. Herb Butter- for seasoning Turkey or Dinner Rolls
  4. Wash and prep hardy greens- kale, collards, Swiss chard
  5. Shop for appetizers- cheese, nuts, olives, crunchy vegetables
  6. Stock up on coffee, tea, milk, sugar or cream for after dinner service

 

Organize:

  1. Make your shop list when relaxed and rested so you don’t miss anything, divide the list up by areas of the grocery store
  2. Make a timeline for the 2 days before- make sure you have a schedule for the oven
  3. Set the table! Leave it set for the week and admire the beautiful setting
  4. Refresh all candles and have some long lighters handy
  5. Set up the bar- set out glasses, mixers, bucket for ice
  6. 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

 

 

Double Cider Bourbon Punch

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Photo by Bridget Pizzo

Photo by Bridget Pizzo

Inspired by a punch made by my gal pal La Femme Epicure, I combined a few of my favorite things into a large drink dispenser and served it with a side of ice. Festive fall happiness in a glass.

Photo by Bridget Pizzo

Photo by Bridget Pizzo

Double Cider Bourbon Punch

Serves 10

2 Quarts Spiced Apple Cider

375 ml. Bottle of Bourbon (1/2 a bottle)

1 Cup Fresh Lemon Juice

1 Bottle Sparkling Water

24 ozs Hard Apple Cider (we like Strongbow, Crispin and Angry Orchard Dry)

3-5 mini apples and whole cloves for studding (optional garnish)

Fresh Ice for Serving

Mix the spiced apple cider, bourbon and lemon juice and chill well. Stud a few mini apples with whole cloves and plop into the cider mixture to seep. Just before serving add the fizzy elements, sparkling water and cider. Mix well and serve over ice!

 

xo,

Lydia

 Photos by Bridget Pizzo

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Fall Pumpkin Carving Party on TheKitchn.com

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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

Copacabana Bridal Shower

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This summer I had the PLEASURE of collaborating on a Bridal shower with the talented Rebecca Simms (of Wylie West Creative). The shower was for Rebecca’s identical twin sister and my dear friend/co-worker, Sarah Simms (of La Femme Epicure). Rebecca had a vision to make her sister’s shower fun, vibrant and full of color, and decided on a Copacabana theme. She did the design work and I provided the food. Sarah’s older sister, mother, Aunt, brother and cousins all contributed too. It’s so rare these days that I have the time to cater an event for a friend so it was an honor to be a part of the creative force behind Sarah’s nuptials.

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Coconut Cake and Celebration Cake from Susie Cakes. Goldn fruit towers  made by Wylie West Creative = chic town USA.

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The “guest book” was a box of recipe cards where guests could write advice for whipping up a happy marriage. All designed by Wylie West Creative.

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Both Sarah and her Groom are twins, double the cuteness!

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Rebecca HAND MADE each and every tissue paper poof and then glued them to a piece of wood, which served as the photo backdrop for the shower.

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Pink lawn flamingos got a chic update from a mist of gold paint.

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Tissue paper bunting hand made by Wylie West Creative in the beautiful backyard of Sarah’s Aunt and Uncle.

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Flowers by her Aunt and menus by her sister, Sarah comes from a talented clan.

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Spears of chilled watermelon, jicama, cucumber, pineapple and radish get a hit of fresh lime juice and chili powder.

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The spears were piled in bamboo cones nestled in a trough of raw black beans.

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The main entree for the shower was assorted Empenadas from Nonna’s. These little savory hand pies were a huge hit.

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Summer melon with a splash of lime juice and fresh mint, jicama salad cones and crudites with cilantro hummus

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Plantain and corn chips for dipping in salsas from Hugo’s Tacos and guacamole made by moi.

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Pineapple & Shrimp Ceviche in mini corn cups garnished with fresh cilantro.

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The full spread!

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Bar garnishes included fresh sugar cane for Caipirinhas, fruity straws for Fresh Juice Rum Punch and mermaids for fun.

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The beautiful bride cuts into her cakes.

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Me and the Bride to Be… avec flamingos.

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Bar signage by Wylie West Creative and pink bubbles by Gruet.

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Rebecca ordered CULT chocolate bars from Mast Brothers and tied them with a tag stamped  “Best Day Ever.”

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How can you visit the Copacabana without a fruity headpiece? Guests made their own headband creations when they arrived at the shower.

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Mementos from the special day…

xoxo,

Lydia

Green Moving Boxes

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Drew and I recently moved to a new neighborhood in Los Angeles. We rented these fantastic Green Boxes for our packing process. The company delivers a complete set of reusable plastic boxes + eco freindly packing paper and crinkle wrap to your door. You pack up your treasures and secure each box with the provided zip ties and cute craft paper tags for labeling. Then you move (wince.) Once you unpack the Green Boxes, schedule a pick up and they come collect them from your new pad.

Green Boxes

NO cardboard, NO taping boxes and NO struggling with a box cutter to break them down. NO manicures or trees are ruined in the process. The boxes stack safely since they are so durable so you have more room to maneuver around your place as you pack and unpack.

This company services the Los Angels and Orange County area but maybe you can find a similar company in other areas? Give it a google.

xo,

Lydia

Autumn Essentials

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Happy Autumn Friends! This summer has been full of change for Apples & Onions. The end of some things and the beginning of new things. We have been away from this space  for awhile, but with the onset of fall we are back! We look forward to sharing new parties, recipes and exciting collaborations we have percolating.

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How darling is this print by Jones Design Company? I’m dusting off my slippers and stocking up on white pumpkins and Honeycrisp apples.

xo,

Lydia

4th of July 2013: Table + Menu

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Planning a very special 4th of July Table and Menu this year for my clients….

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Menu

Baby Gem Lettuces, Heirloom Tomatoes and Green Goddess Dressing

Corn Bread with Whipped Honey-Butter

BBQ Pork Ribs & BBQ Chicken with Smokey-Cherry BBQ Sauce

Chilled Green Bean Salad with Dill Vinaigrette

Aged Cheddar Mac n’ Cheese

Ice Cream Sundae Bar with Hot Fudge, Whipped Cream and DIY Toppings

American Flag Pillow

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American Flag Table

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Galvanized Metal Stand

Thanks Pottery Barn for making so easy!

xo,

LEH

Why I Love Feedly

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feedly

 

You are a blog reader.

But maybe, like me, you still prefer the visual punch of a magazine. Or the freedom to flip back and forth between stories. Maybe you secretly dream of editing your own glossy.

If so, meet Feedly.

Feedly organizes your favorite blogs into a magazine layout. Just click “magazine view” at the upper right on the homepage and your blogs will magically morph into a magazine you’ve curated. Congrats, you’re an editrice.

Google Reader, I can hardly remember you.

xx

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