Family Bites

Skillet S'mores Dip

I can't take full credit for this make-your-children-happy treat, as versions of it have been floating around the web for a while. What I will claim, though, is that it can turn a gloomy Tuesday afternoon into something special in less than ten minutes, because that's how long it takes to put this seasonally inspired skillet sweet together. 

There really isn't a recipe to follow: just pour two cups of chocolate chips into a 9-inch skillet and top with 17 or 18 marshmallows that have been sliced in half. Bake in a preheated 350° oven for 10 minutes (watch the chocolate - if it overcooks it's likely to seize) and serve with graham cracker sticks for dipping. 

I’ve yet to let a year pass without sharing a s’mores-based dessert here or over at SavvyMom (2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010) so consider this the 2015 contribution to the list. 

Ice Cream Sandwich Pops

 I very nearly didn’t bother to share this sweet treat with you because I thought it was far too simple of an idea to warrant its own blog post, however my good friend Tess, ever the voice of reason, insisted it’s exactly the kind of thing worthy of this space.

Even if I didn’t heed her advice, and I’d be a fool not to, the squeals of delight from my nieces and nephews as I carried a tray of these ice cream sandwich pops to the backyard on Canada Day reaffirmed that it’s an idea too good to overlook.

As you can see, there is absolutely no recipe required for these, just a simple method, which couldn’t be easier to execute: buy ice cream sandwiches, slice them in half, roll the exposed sides in sprinkles or other favourite toppings, and insert a popsicle stick into the cut side to create a mess-free way of devouring them.

I used red and white sprinkles on Canada Day, naturally, but you can easily use any colour that suits your party theme, or opt for the assorted variety if you’re making these just for a warm-weather snack. It’s also possible to jazz them up with gourmet goods, like Skor bits and toasted coconut. The flavour options are endless, the kids love them, and they take about eight minutes to make from start to finish. You’re welcome.

Non-Dinner Dinners for Summer

It’s been a little quiet around here lately, but not because we haven’t been eating. Quite the contrary, but I feel like we’re chowing down on the same things week in and week out, and none of it seems worthy of sharing. Then it dawned on me that if we like our quick and casual approach to early summer dinners, you might too, so I should tell you a little more about our non-dinner dinners of late.

Essentially, we’ve been alternating between dinner salads (like the kale Cobb Caesar and the popular paella salad), and what I affectionately refer to as a Parisian picnic, which is nothing more than a large round serving board filled with an assortment of cold odds and ends from the fridge, some bread, pita, and/or crackers, and whatever seasonal fruits and veggies and are hanging out on the counter. When accompanied by some cold lemonade, frosty beers, or a pitcher of Sangria, this dinner does not disappoint.

Sometimes I add a simple green salad on the side, and other times I cook up some pasta and toss it with a dollop or two of pesto, which helps to satiate the meaty-craving young men at my table. Also, there’s always a bowl of cold cubed watermelon within easy reach. I even serve this to guests instead of a proper sit-down dinner, and guess what? Nobody ever leaves unhappy.   

I used to feed the boys like this when they brought their friends home for lunch. It’s so hard to know which kids eat what, so I figured that an assortment of fresh and dried fruits, veggies, dips, meats, cheeses, breads, etc. would offer something of interest to everyone. It worked well, then, and this slightly upgraded version is a huge hit now.

So, if you aren’t in the mood to make dinner, don’t fuss. Just haul out a wooden board or platter and purge the fridge of any remnants that need a new life.

Build-Your-Own Bloody Caesar Bar

Our Canada Day barbecue was a smashing success. The adults relaxed in the backyard, drinks in hand, while the kids ran around soaking each other with water balloons and spray guns, stopping only for the occasional nibble at the appetizer table.

I usually try to come up with a different menu for each July 1^st celebration, but last year’s fully loaded burger and hot dog bar was such a hit, I opted to repeat the idea again this year – a very good move on my part. When adventurous adult eaters and ravenous teenagers combine with the picky palates of the younger guests in attendance, a DIY anything is always a popular option, and this was certainly no exception.  

I always plan something fun for the kids to keep them entertained, and this year I included a special treat just for the adults: a build-your-own bloody Caesar bar. For my American friends, Caesars are a classic Canadian cocktail similar to a bloody Mary, only instead of filling up the glass with traditional tomato juice we use Clamato, a unique combination of tomato and clam juices. 

This particular set-up encouraged everyone to create their own concoctions, allowing them to add as much vodka and heat as desired, and to adorn their Mason jar glasses with the customary leafy celery stalk and/or a heartier edible like the antipasto skewers I added to the table. Cubes of Canadian aged cheddar were wrapped in salami and threaded onto a short bamboo skewers, along with a stuffed olive, cherry tomato, and baby dill pickle. Some people plopped them directly into their drink, and others consumed them appetizer-style while sipping on their beverage. Regardless of how they were devoured, the small bites disappeared quickly, indicating they were a definitely a huge hit for all. 

Here's what I included in my build-your-own bar:

• Clamato juice
• Vodka
• Ice
• Lime wedges
• Celery salt rimmer
• Worcestershire sauce
• Horseradish
• Tobasco
• Celery stalks
• Antipasto garnish
• Mason jars for drinking glasses

Are you a fan of Caesars? Is there anything else you would add to this build-your-own bar?

The Cutest Cowboy Party

Back in May, I put together a cowboy party for SavvyMom and because I was feeling inspired by the season, I came up with a perfect theme for a warm weather get-together: a cowboy party. Designed for kids, this fete can easily translate to a fun family reunion, backyard barbecue, or end-of summer bash before the kids head back to school, and if cowboys aren't really your thing the ideas work just as well for a country fair-esque celebration the whole family will enjoy.

The menu and decor are easy to execute, leaving you lots of time for old fashioned games like three-legged races, water balloon tosses, scavenger hunts, donut eating on a string, red rover, and egg in spoon races. Galvanized containers make perfect serving vessels, and rolls of burlap and a few bandanas are all you need to infuse a little colour into your celebration.

For recipes, more décor ideas, and easy activities to execute at your party, head on over to SavvyMom for the details!

An Easter Celebration for the Kids

Our Easter weekend plans are starting to come together nicely, and tomorrow I'll be sharing the simplest Spring brunch for this month's Gatherings post should you still be wondering what to serve to your family on Sunday morning.

First, though, I want to bring your attention to this month's edition of Party Savvy on the SavvyMom website. I put together this simple Easter celebration for the kids, and I'm thrilled with how it turned out. Nothing on the menu is complicated, and if you're setting up a kids' table at your holiday dinner, you just might want to steal this easy-peasy interwoven streamer tablecloth that will make the kids feel as though they are sitting inside their very own Easter basket. 

And how about this vegetable carrot...that's made from carrots! With chocolate eggs and marshmallow chicks popping up all weekend long, it might be nice to serve something just a little more healthy, but certainly no less fun. 

Head on over to the SavvyMom website for all the recipes and party details. 

How to Throw a Baby Shower

I remember my baby shower as if it happened yesterday. I actually had one for each boy, and they're imprinted in my memory as two very special days with some of my favourite friends and family. The food was plentiful, the gifts adorable, and the company was practically perfect. 

Last month, I put together a baby shower for SavvyMom. A simple gender-neutral event designed with vibrant colours, stripes and polka-dots, complete with an easy menu created for the time-strapped host. Straightforward yet impressive, I challenged myself to only use the supplies that could easily be sourced from stores like Michaels, Dollarama, and Ikea, shops that are accessible to most of us. Sweet candy served in champagne flutes was the perfect marriage of table decor and party snack, and they've been one of the more popular aspects of the shower so far.

As for the menu, this shrimp crostini is about as easy it gets. Whipped Boursin cheese smeared over toasted baguette slices and topped with a pan-fried shrimp that can be made in advance. If that doesn't tickle your fancy, how about a savouy baked brie? The popular cheey dish is usually served with a brown sugar and nut combination, or topped with a sweet jam or chutney, but here I went with lemon zest - it matched the colour scheme of the party - garlic, and herbs. 

Is it okay to say that I really love the take-home favours? I picked up a few yellow tealight candle holders at Michaels for $1.50, and filled them with a little of the extra candy. Wrapped in cello and tied with ribbon, they really are an adorable way to thank the guests for coming. 

For the rest of the details on the party, and the complete list of recipe, visit SavvyMom.

Gatherings: A Simple Birthday Party

We finally finished birthday month around here. Seventy-five percent of our four person family celebrates turning another year old in the weeks after Christmas, so we move from one type of celebration to another pretty quickly. This past weekend our extended family came over for Jackson's birthday celebration. He's eleven now, and if you can't tell from the photo above I'm thinking it's probably going to be a very silly year.

Let me pause here before getting into the cheesy details of making lasagna for 20, to use this as a segue way to introduce a fun new series my friend Julie and I have been scheming. Although there is no shortage of recipes or party ideas available at the click of our fingertips, what we love most about food is its ability to bring people together; not just families at mealtimes, but extended families - relatives and friends and neighbours and strangers connecting around food, for special celebrations, impromptu gatherings, and lots of memory making. Food is social, it's comforting, and it connects us. The concept of "entertaining", though, makes gathering friends around your dinner table seem daunting. The good news is, it doesn't have to be. 

So. This year Julie and I are bringing back the casual gathering - which means taking the pressure off! - and having as many dinner parties and other gatherings as possible. On the last Wednesday of each month we'll post about one or more of them here, which will allow us to get a running start on a new blog - called Gatherings - where we'll share recipes, ideas, techniques and tools that we hope will inspire (and help!) anyone putting together a party, or just looking for new ways to bring friends together around the table. Gatherings will (hopefully!) launch on April 1, and we're even in talks about turning it into a book... although those details haven't been figured out yet. For now, we'll start here.

With Jackson's menu. He chose a quirky assortment of foods that nicely tallied up to an American-Italian feast. There was piggies in a blanket, veggies and dip, meat lasagna, garlickly garlic bread, Caesar salad, ice cream sodas, and a Kit Kat Candy cake. He was thrilled, the food quickly disappeared, and it was the perfect menu for feeding a crowd. 

I always like to include a little festive décor at my gatherings, but nothing too over the top or costly. I found a red and white checked shower curtain on sale at Ikea for $8, and took some pinking shears to them to make a sqaure topper for my standard white linen. It was much cheaper than purchasing something cloth, and the material means it's washable and reusable - an essential for the kids. The centrepieces were made by carefully washing my tins of tomatoes, filling them with dried pasta and sticking in a few balloons I found in my basement storage. 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups

"If you build it, they will come." 

The voice that whispered to Kevin Costner may have been talking about a baseball diamond, but in my head the murmur is more of a parenting message, and it simply states the following: offer fun food, and good food, and plenty of it, and the boys will want to hang out at home with their friends instead of the neighbourhood park, plaza, or shopping mall.

This is more of a mental memo for the teen years, of course, but I'm putting it into practice now. Should you feel inclined to do the same, I might suggest these chocolate chip cookie cups as a good starting point.

To make them, press your favourite cookie dough into a muffin tin - about 2 tablespoons per cup - and bake them for 10-15 minutes, depending on your recipe. Halfway through the cooking time, remove the tray from the oven and press the cookie dough down with the back of a spoon. Let the cookies cool for five minute then remove them from the pan. Once they've cooled completely, fill with a small scoop of ice cream or frozen yogurt and pass around to the kids who are over. 

I promise you, they'll want to come back again.  

Cheesy Christmas Trees

Last December, I created this cheesy Christmas tree for a holiday party I put together for SavvyMom. I wanted to make something special for the kids that didn’t involve chocolate, candy or sugar, and this was the end result.

From classroom parties to holiday buffets, I can’t think of any occasion this holiday season that wouldn’t benefit from the addition of this festive fare. If you make this for an adults-only soirée, consider using aged cheddars, smoky Gouda and crumbly blue cheeses. For the kids, I like to stick with marble cheddar, mozzarella, havarti and possibly another mild, hard cheese.

Head on over to Savvy Mom to check out the rest of this fun and fabulous holiday party!

Cheesy Christmas Trees

• 3 or 4 assorted cheeses, cut into 1” cubes
• 3 or 4 sprigs of rosemary
• 7 pretzel sticks
• 1 cherry tomato

Arrange the cheese cubes into a triangular tree shape, separating the different varieties of cheese with a sprig (or two) of rosemary.

Top the tree with a cherry tomato, and make a trunk using long, thin pretzels.

Serve with assorted shaped and flavoured crackers (I thought these little penguins were cute for the holidays).