Anatomy of a Dinner Party: a day in the life of a hospitalityaholic
 

April, 2010

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Fun Find Friday – El Paso Chile Company

Friday, April 16th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

Happy Friday to you all!  This is a crazy busy weekend here in Atlanta – TONS going on.  Baking my huge cookies right now for the Bloggers Bake Sale tomorrow at Cabbagetown Market (remember?)  Tonight is our sweet Taruan’s birthday get together, tomorrow the bake sale, Saturday night dinner with friends and another birthday party. Wheeeee! Party, party, party!

What’s great at a party? A margarita, or two. Maybe just one little more if one is not driving.  And when we make margaritas, I know we could fuss with all fresh ingredients, but El Paso Chile Company does it so well.

For More Margarita Fun, Click Here

Comfort for Tax Day

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

I don’t know about you, but we waited until yesterday to do our taxes and now I have all these papers on my dining room table to sign and mail out.  The sheer volume of paperwork is enough to send one into a tizzy, so I thought last night would be a perfect time for some lovely comfort food.  Roast Chicken, Mashed Potatoes and Fresh Green Beans.

It was most comforting.

My time is limited today (bloggers bake sale to bake for, dogs to take to the vet for check ups, figure out who to send these tax forms to….) so I thought I would leave you with some photos of yummy goodness.

If the taxes are making you batty, stick a roaster in the oven at 375F, after rubbing the skin with olive oil and herbs, roast for 2 hours and voila! Instant (almost) comfort.  Mash up some taters and snip some green beans and you are good to go.

xoxo, Patti

Pre-Oven. I also stuffed the cavity with an onion and taragon and thyme bunches.

Peeling Potatoes is a Nice Stress Reliever

Snip Off the Ends of the Green Beans Before Giving Them a Quick Blanch

Convince One Sweet Husband to Carve the Bird

Relax and Enjoy!

Bloggers’ Bake Sale For Share Our Strength

Wednesday, April 14th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

This Saturday I will be in Cabbagetown (at the Cabbagetown Market, to be precise), working the Bake Sale for Share Our Strength.  Expect to see lots of food bloggers out here for this very special cause.  I am baking oatmeal, raisin, date and butterscotch chip cookies and they are deeeeeelicious! It would be delightful to see you all out there. Please come by and say hello – Share Our Strength is a very important charity.  We tend to forget how fortunate we are to always have food on the table, while so many others go without.  This would be the perfect chance to support those who aren’t as lucky as most of us tend to be.  And I have it on good authority that Kirk Parks of Rathbun’s will be contributing some of his gorgeous goodies. But you must get there early to beat me to them!

We will be in front of Cabbagetown Market on Carroll Street from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.  And….Agave is being most generous by offering their parking lot for those coming out to buy some goodies…AND offering a $10 coupon to their fabulous restaurant to all who purchase baked goods from the sale.

And now, the official press release. Come out and see me this Saturday!!

xoxo, Patti

Americans Rally Around Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale® to End Childhood Hunger

CITY, ST – With spring right around the corner, it’s time to join Share Our Strength® and bake a difference!  Share Our Strength, a national organization working to end childhood hunger in the United States, reports that thousands of Americans are signing up to help make sure no kid in America grows up hungry by participating in Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale, presented by Domino Sugar and C&H Sugar.  Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale is a national effort that encourages individuals to help end childhood hunger by holding bake sales in their communities.

In these tough times, neighbors, co-workers, businesses and families nationwide are making a difference.  Share Our Strength is challenging volunteers all across the country to come together and help answer an important question.  How many bake sales can volunteers hold in three days to help end childhood hunger?  500, 1000 or maybe 2,000! Teams are forming now for the Bake Sale National Challenge, April 16-18th.  Sign up, select a day, choose a location and be counted.

As part of the effort, the first annual National Food Bloggers Bake Sale will be held on April 17. Organized by Gaby Dalkin of WhatsGabyCooking.com, food bloggers from across the country will unite to support the cause by holding bake sales in their states. Readers will have the opportunity to taste the baked goods from their favorite food blogs at each state’s bake sale location. For more information on participating in the National Food Bloggers Bake Sale, or to find a National Food Bloggers Bake Sale location near you, visit WhatsGabyCooking.com/bake-sale.

Funds raised through Great American Bake Sale support Share Our Strength’s efforts to end childhood hunger in America by helping fund afterschool and summer feeding program. “Today, more families in America are facing hunger due to the economy and rising unemployment,” said Bill Shore, Share Our Strength Founder and Executive Director.  “Summer is an especially difficult time because nearly 17 million children facing hunger in America no longer have access to the school meals they rely on,” added Shore.

Great American Bake Sale empowers individuals, including children, to make a difference in their own communities and become part of the solution. Since 2003, more than 1.7 million people have participated in the Great American Bake Sale, raising nearly $6 million.

Great American Bake Sale is also supported by Family Circle, Food Network, and Ultragrain. To register or learn more visit www.GreatAmericanBakesale.org.

About Share Our Strength

Share Our Strength® is the leading national organization working to make sure no kid in America grows up hungry. We weave together a net of community groups, activists and food programs to catch children at risk of hunger and ensure they have nutritious food where they live, learn and play. We work with the culinary industry to create engaging, pioneering programs like Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation; Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale®; Share Our Strength’s A Tasteful Pursuit; Share Our Strength’s Great American Dine Out; and Share Our Strength’s Operation Frontline. Visit Strength.org.

The Sweetest Giveaway – Winner!

Tuesday, April 13th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

Our winner for the Sweetest Giveaway was #5 – Cheapskate.  Please contact me at patti@anatomyofadinnerparty.com to send me your mailing address and your goodies will be in the mail to you!

Have a great Tuesday, everyone!

xoxo, Patti

Design Is….My New Passion

Monday, April 12th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

For the past few weeks my friend Walt and I have been trying to get together for lunch. Last week that finally happened. Walt and his husband Scott have purchased two spectacular properties in Midtown with the intention of renovating them into the most lush residences ever.  I finally got to see the properties when Walt invited me out last week and walked me through both houses. They are incredible. During our tour, Walt explained that the largest of the homes would be divided into 4 residences, one more fabulous than the next.  This home has been the impetus for a new online magazine being launched by Walt.

Over lunch we discussed the magazine and Walt let me know that he had everyone in place except for his Entertaining Editor.  And guess who he asked to take this very exciting post?  Yes! It’s me, Darlings!  I am thrilled to announce that I am now the Entertaining Editor for Design Is.  As the first issue is scheduled for September, we have tons of work to do.  I will share every step with you on this journey – not only here, but on the Design Is site very soon.  I’m hoping you will follow me and give me your feedback.

This past Saturday, we had our first staff meeting at the amazing home of Walt and Scott.  We had a couple of folks missing, but I am looking forward to meeting them soon.

I thought you would enjoy seeing some shots from our day.

By Day, Walt is a Landscape Architect.....

More Fun After The Fold

Fun Find Friday – Big Daddy Biscuits

Friday, April 9th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

What is more fun on the weekends than hanging with your best friends? Pretty much, nothing, that’s what. My very best friends are Eric, my sweet husband and Karen & Oscar, our two adopted canine-american children. They are hilarious and provide hours of free entertainment. Karen is our wild thing and Oscar is much more subdued (except when there are flying things to catch!)

Karen's Dog Days of Summer

Oscar, Lolling In the Sunshine

And just as I love to indulge our human besties with the best of everything, so is true of our puppies. When I met Lauren Janis of Big Daddy Biscuits, I knew I had met a kindred spirit. Lauren is sweet, really funny and interested in making life better for your four-legged baby. When I finally got a chance to hug her neck in person at the Urban Picnic, we already knew we would be great friends. And after bringing home a gift bag of her Turkey Bacon Bites, which proved to be love at first chomp for my kids, I knew she was on to something very special indeed.

Your Canine-American Will Adore These!

Who Is Big Daddy? Click Here To Find Out

Get Fresh

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

Have you seen Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution? I just saw the first episode today online. You can view it here.

Now I don’t usually talk much about my past, but in 2000, I started a catering company in Tampa, Florida. In order for me to cater, I had to find a commercial kitchen from which to work. I found one at a private school, but the stipulation from the principal was that I would have to also provide a hot lunch each day for the students. Yes, darlings, I was the lunch lady. In the beginning, I trotted out my fresh lunch menu, with a different, healthy lunch each day.

No one wanted to buy lunch.

The principal informed me that I was going about it all wrong. These kids wanted chicken nuggets and pizza. I was crushed.

After a year of trying to battle the system, they told me they were going with another lunch lady. My catering career ended there.

So, you can understand, this show hit me hard.

Eric and I have been working hard to try and change our eating habits. More fruits and vegetables. Less fat, sugar and alcohol. Let’s just say it is easier to add something to one’s diet as opposed to taking something away. But we are making strides. This was lunch yesterday:

Ooooh, You Are Soooo Fresh!

As wonderful as I think you are, I want to make sure you love yourself as much. Take the time today to think about what you are putting into your body.

After all, if you aren’t here, I’ve got no one to blog for. And you are so special to me.

xoxo, Patti

Pasta, Peas, Pesto and A Tiny Peek…..

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

Yesterday was filled with adventure! I met one of my darling friends for a peek at a project he is working on and it is going to thrill! But I can’t share just yet. But here’s a little tease for you.

The Mystery Will Soon Be Revealed

Come on in, I’ve been waiting for you!

The Sweetest Giveaway!!

Tuesday, April 6th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

This past Saturday I received the nicest surprise from Susan over at The Frugal Hostess. Susan had some goodies she wanted to share with me as a giveaway. And not just any giveaway, either. I had a difficult time posting about these because it would mean I have to part with them.  But part with them I must. I would love to give them to you!

It is an extravaganza!

Johnny, tell our friends what they could win today!

First up, we have The Best Bake Sale Ever Cookbook! by Barbara Grunes.  Oh, the treasures you will discover as you traverse the depths of this book. Kansas City Oversized Cinnamon Rolls? Yes, please.  Barbara even gives you tips on how to package your goodies for your neighborhood bake sale. This could not be more timely as we are holding our Blogger’s Bake Sale on April 17th in Cabbagetown. More on that later this week.  Unless you are a baker and would like to contribute to the sale…then contact me here.  Or just come out and give me a hug and buy some cookies. That would be good, too. All proceeds go to Share Our Strength.

Everything In Here Sounds NomNomNom...

For More Prizes, You Could Play Plinko Or Just Click Here

Easter Dinner With The Family

Monday, April 5th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

I hope that your Easter was sublime. Ours certainly was. BFF Vickie came into town and that always constitutes a party. We decided on a small dinner party for eight – basically the family Eric and I have fashioned for ourselves. And since Vic had missed our fab Christmas party, we decided to go all out. Was it budget busting? Not at all. Let everyone help and you have got yourself a great time with a tiny price tag. And my special finds and money saving tips don’t hurt, either.

Care To Join Us? Come On In!

Hippity Hop On Over For More Spring Fun