4 Unique styles for Hosting (3)

4 Unique Styles for Hosting Over the Holidays

When it comes to holiday entertaining there are many ways to bring different groups of people together. A memorable holiday gathering leaves a lasting impression–a warm feeling of family, community filled with rambling conversations, peppered with flavors that fill the stomach as well as the soul.

Hosting a successful holiday gathering goes well beyond just the theme of Thanksgiving or Christmas. Consider who you will be entertaining, and what type of atmosphere you would like to create.

The recipe for a successful holiday gathering is very simply–a classic combination of food, people, drinks, and meaningful discussions. Food has the power to bring people together–whether you’re serving family members, business colleagues, or new friends. Every choice you make–from theme to menu to music–should center around creating this atmosphere of warmth, openness, and discussion. However, every host or hostess adds their own personal flavor to the event–a sprinkle of fun, a dash of competition, or a heaping spoonful of classic elegance.

Choose a theme by thinking about the reason for your holiday dinner party. Are you entertaining close friends, neighbors, inviting your boss or colleagues? Are you celebrating a holiday with just your relatives or a mix of family and friends?

Consider The Atmosphere You Want to Create

From there you can consider the atmosphere you’d like to create. Will this be an intimate event, or will the evening be an energetic introduction of many new acquaintances? Is this a formal dinner, or a casual gathering? Would you like your guests to feel calm and relaxed, or excited and boisterous?

The atmosphere and theme work together. Even a theme as simple as “Christmas Dinner” can be interpreted in many ways. Is it a classic, elegant, Charles Dickens-style Christmas? A Southern charm Christmas? A fun, whimsical, snow wonderland Christmas with elves and sparkles? A gingerbread and candy Christmas?

Once you’ve decided on the atmosphere you plan to create, you can begin to really narrow down your theme. Many factors can determine a theme.

1. Hosting An Eclectic Group

This is the perfect time to try out some fun finger foods. Maybe make it a pot luck of appetizers. Create a light and casual get together where people can mix and mingle, bring along their children and catch up with others. Imagine guests standing around with a signature cocktail or glasses of sparkling cider, chatting away with an assortment of finger foods and sweets. Mix up the music to appeal to everyone’s style.

2. The Formal Sit Down Dinner

Perhaps you want to dust off your grandmother’s china and host a formal dinner with napkins folded into swans and glistening holiday candles. Place guests according to their interests and hobbies so that the conversation is lively at the table. Keep in mind that this is not much fun for little ones. We are not saying don’t invite them but there was a reason Grandma sat you at the kids table.

3. Hosting Outdoors

Depending on the climate where you live, outdoors can be an amazing way to host friends and neighbors for the holidays. Perhaps you will spark up a fire pit and serve up some butternut squash soup and rustic bread.

Even if you are fortunate enough to live in a region that boasts long lovely springs and blissful autumns, you still cannot always count on Mother Nature to deliver the perfect weather, can you? Having an entertaining plan that incorporates the inside space of your home into the flow of a party can cut down on the anxiety of a pop-up storm or another unplanned unpleasant occurrence.

4. Traditional Family Dinner

Entertaining small can be wonderful. Take care not to create the atmosphere of a weeknight family meal. Make the dinner special for your intimate group. If you want to create a magical dinner for your immediate family, think about special moments in their lives that you want to honor or celebrate and turn your table settings into personalized themes with photos and mementos. You can list the years achievements like you would in a Christmas letter but instead of sharing their accomplishments with the world, share how proud you are of them at the holiday table. This can work regardless of the holiday.

Simple is still memorable

There are thousands of creative, whimsical, elegant, and classic ideas for decorating a tablescape, which can easily be found online. Sometimes just browsing through photos can help you brainstorm the perfect theme and decor for your dinner party.

However good the food, however fine the drink, and however fun the atmosphere — the highlight of a dinner party remains memorable and meaningful conversation among friends and family.

If you plan a few questions beforehand, you won’t be stuck in a rut if the conversation starts to dwindle. Deep, meaningful conversations over wine, candles, and good food — this is the stuff memorable dinner parties are made of.

Your holiday dinner should be as distinct and unique as you. The games, atmosphere, themes, and menu should reflect who you are. Likewise, a host or hostess shouldn’t have to stress out; a dinner doesn’t have to be complex to be amazing. Remember: All of the lace, flowers, and candles on earth won’t make a holiday memorable–at the end, what everyone remember most are how they felt, the people they connected with and conversations.

All of the lace, flowers, and candles on earth won’t make a holiday memorable–at the end what everyone remember most are how they felt, the people they connected with and the conversations.

Cheers. Here’s to creating an unforgettable holiday lasting happy memories.

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Holiday Entertaining Check List

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Make The List – Check it Twice!

Starting from the beginning with a well thought out entertaining plan will determine everything from your menu to your choice of music.

Once you’ve determined your menu, take a few moments to write down each and every ingredient you’ll need for each course. Any event planner or caterer will tell you – staying organized is key! You’ve got a lot of things to think about: cooking, decorating, invitations, seating arrangements, games. It’ll be far easier and less stressful if you take a deep breath and take the time to organize. The last thing you want is to run back to the grocery store two or three times because you forgot a small ingredient!

On a separate document, make a list of every decor item you need. Put a checkmark next to any items you already own.

Most event coordinators will tell you: Begin planning early. Give yourself at least a month to plan. Here’s a simple checklist of your timeline for planning a dinner party.

A Month Before Your Event

  • Check Pinterest for unique themes
  • Brainstorm desired atmosphere and decor items
  • Create guest list
  • Begin planning menu

Three Weeks Before Your Event

  • Design and send invitations
  • Determine theme
  • Create a shopping list of required decor items
  • Begin shopping for decorations

Two Weeks Before Your Event

  • Guests RSVP; finalize the list of attendees
  • Check dietary needs for guests
  • Create seating arrangements
  • Finalize menu
  • Create a shopping list for ingredients

One Week Before Your Event

  • Choose music; begin creating a playlist
  • Create name cards if needed
  • Create ice-breaker question cards if needed
  • Deep clean house – Baseboards, lighting fixtures, etc.

Three Days Before Your Event

  • Use finalized shopping list; buy ingredients
  • Purchase alcoholic beverages – wine, champagne, beer, or cocktail mixes.
  • Purchase bottle-openers and corkscrews for opening wine.

The Day Before Your Event

  • Prepare as much of the menu as you can, so you can easily heat and serve the next day.
  • Trash out, restrooms clean
  • Begin decorating and laying out centerpieces, tablecloths, candles, flowers.
  • Hook-up playlist to make sure music plays
  • Go ahead and set your table as much as possible — one less thing to worry about tomorrow.

The Day Of Your Event

  • Prepare any remaining menu items
  • Warm-up previously-prepared foods
  • Layout hors-d’oeuvres and drinks for cocktail hour
  • Arrange all dishes for the prepared courses in the order you’ll need to serve them
  • Set the mood by lighting candles, turning on your playlist, and staging your home for guests.
  • Finally, get dressed for your holiday gathering
reading a book by a fire

Ideally, all of this early-preparation will leave very little work for you to do on the actual day of your holiday gathering. Be sure to take some time for yourself. Drink a cup of coffee, a glass of wine, and take a few moments to enjoy your space before your guests arrive.

Holiday Blunders (3)

10 Holiday Entertaining Blunders

We have all encountered one or all of these situations at one time. We have provided not only the hosting faux pas but the tips to ensure that when it’s your turn to entertain, you will be able to navigate the hosting of your party with ease and avoid these all too common entertaining blunders.


1. A Flurry of Confusion


The hosts are still preparing food an hour after the party started. No one knows where to place their gifts or leave their coats. Guests are scrambling through kitchen drawers looking for a wine opener.

Tip: As hosts of a party, being prepared and on time is can be challenging. Your guests deserve to enter a well planned environment. Make a list of everything you need to do to prepare and utilize t time management skills. We have written an article that can help Holiday Entertaining Checklist.

2. The Snooze Fest


A formal holiday dinner party where you were seated for the next two hours alongside a guest you have absolutely nothing in common with.

Tip: When planning out the seating arrangement at a dinner party, make sure you seat people with like interests together. As the host it is your job to keep the conversations moving, Always be scanning the table for lulls in the conversation and find a commonality for people.

3. Menu Snafu

You leave a party hungry.

Tip There are many people with dietary restrictions. Make sure you are aware of allergies or known food sensitivities prior to planning your menu. Make sure there is enough food for the amount of guests. It is always better to have more than less.

4. Sporting of the Lampshade

You arrive to find earlier guests or worse, the hosts already well on their way to feeling no pain

Tip: Start a party off with less alcohol by offering a spritzer in lieu of a glass of wine. A light beer instead of a 10 % stout, or a punch with light alcohol rather than a shot.

5. The Glass House

You were told it was okay to bring your small children to the party only to find precious antiques placed all over the house at their eye level.

Tip: As the hosts, you do not have to redecorate your entire home but do place precious items above the reach of very small children. Make sure they do not have access to anything that can be harmful to themselves such as cleaning supplies, sharp objects or medicines.

6. The House is a Mess

You’re not sure what has happened, however it is apparent that the house keeper has not visited in sometime.

Tip: Cleaning over several days before your party is an easy way to ensure that you will have time for tidying up your home the day of your event. If you have clean laundry that is not going to be folded, tuck it away in a closet. No one wants to look at a pile of your undergarments while nibbling on an appetizer.

7. The “I Am Too Stuffy” Party

Pretentious people stand around in their own cliques while you try to fit in with small talk about the caviar.

Tip: In business situations, this can not always be avoided. But when hosting, it’s your job to match up the guest list appropriately.

8. The Uncomfortable Family Drama

You are forced to listen to Uncle Joe and his half-sister publicly air their respective families past grievances.

Tip: When putting together a guest list, sometimes you may not have a choice but to invite certain relatives. However, try to mitigate the drama by structuring a less formal seating arrangement.

9. Who left the dog out?

Fido is running amuck and jumping on everyone who had food in their hands.

Tip: Pets are great, but not always at your holiday party. Some well-meaning people do not understand that they should not feed your four legged friends. Accidentally dropped party food or spilled alcohol can be poisonous to pets.

10. Hosting if someone in your home is ill.

Tip: After all the world has been through since 2020 we should all know better. If someone becomes ill, it is better to contact all your invited guests to let them know you must cancel or postpone your festivities. It is never in good form to share an illness with guests.

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The Tablescape Contest

Knowing that the holidays would soon be upon us, we asked the members of our Love of Food Facebook group to share their beautiful table settings and participate in a contest. These are some of the photos that are being considered for our contest. We have named each one in the caption under its photo.

If you would like to vote for your favorite, visit our Facebook Group using the link above. The contest will be pinned in the group until Dec 25th when the winner will be announced.

THE AUTUMN LEAVES TABLE
THE REINDEER TABLE
THE DINNER OF THE DEAD TABLE
THE GILDAD BUTTERFLY TABLE
THE RED GLASS TABLE
THE BLACK WHITE AND RED TABLE
THE BIRDS NEST TABLE
THE CHRISTMAS BUFFET

4 Unique styles for Hosting

Holiday Table Setting Tips

When it comes to creating, serving, and showcasing food, the choices are limitless. From setting the tone for a fun party to a formal dinner, and everything in between. All you need is a little creativity, some dinnerware, table cloths, glassware, and holiday decor. A theme will make your food stand out and set the right mood for a memorable holiday meal.

Designing Your Holiday Table- Where Should You Begin?

Many times people shy away from entertaining because the idea of having to set up an extravagant table appears like a daunting task. But it does not have to be hard. The key is starting a week or two ahead of time and follow these simple steps.

1. Elegance or Fun

The first rule of thumb is to decide is who will be in attendance? Perhaps your guest list includes your very traditional mother in law, and or your new boss. If this is the case, the answer is simple. You should shoot for elegance above all else. If it’s a group of close friends and neighbors you may want to decide on a fun theme.

There can however be extenuating circumstances once you take your guest list into consideration. Can you have both? The answer is kind of… yes.

Case in point; this Thanksgiving we have little ones attending. While we still all want everyone to feel as if they were being treated to a wonderful meal, we had to consider spills, drips, table bumps and busy hands. We opted to ditch the formality but weave in a sprinkle of elegance. While our tables will not be magazine cover worthy and as fancy as previous years, we are blessed to have children in our lives.

Grandmother’s antique platters will not make their appearance. We will skip the tall candles and the decorative glass votives. Low profile decor that is more stable will dawn our table. The crystal long-stemmed wine glasses that can tip too easily will be replaced with stemless options. Instead of the fancy table cloths, our tables will be draped with cloths that will be no worse for their wear if/when they get spilled upon.

Our tables will still be quite festive, and have a hint of elegance but are more approachable for all the guests. The parents of the little ones will feel more relaxed, as will we, as the hosts. Here are some of the designs we plan to use.

The most important part of creating this sacred space where we will partake of our Thanksgiving meal is that each and everyone seated at the dining table is made to feel comfortable.

Now that you have considered who will be attending, what do you do next?

2. Select A Signature Piece and Build Around It

Start with one signature piece for inspiration that will help define the theme of your design, Sometimes it can be a fantastic dinner plate.

It does not always have to be the dinnerware that is your muse. We found this rooster placemat and decided the theme would be farm/country. From there we were able to gather pieces, gift bags and really hone in on the details. Fresh vegetables were even part of the decor.

Once we hosted a birthday dinner for a girlfriend from Texas and that gave us the idea of a fun cowgirl theme. The inspiration for this, believe it or not, was not the hat but the cute little checkered pigs we found at a craft store.

3. You Do Not Have to Break The Bank Creating a Centerpiece

Beautiful tables can be made from Items you source just about anywhere. These beautiful flowers are from a Crepe Myrtle tree located in our neighborhood. Tall weeds were growing around them so they were added for greenery. You can also find sticks or Cat N Nine tails. Even wheat grass can be a great way to add color and dimension to your tablescape. Just be sure to spray anything before coming in from the outside with a solution of dish soap and water to remove any insects hiding in tiny crevices.

4. Secret Dollar Store Finds

This past Halloween, we were challenged to set a great table using mostly Dollar Store finds. We hosted a dinner and a brunch using the same items. It was the best 15 dollars we ever spent. Storing these items does not make sense for our space, so the next day we packed it all up and made a donation to the local thrift store.

Thrift stores can be a great place to find pieces that you can use for your dinner parties. One time we hosted a birthday dinner for a friend who happens to really like the color blue. We found some pretty blue glassware sitting on the store shelves just begging for us to take it home. We made a small donation to a good cause and made our friend smile when she saw her favorite color proudly displayed on her table. When the party was over we gave her all the glassware to keep.

Thrifting is only one of the ways to have fun with your tablescapes. We know some of you cringe at the thought of using someone else’s dishes, but if you think about it you do this each time you dine out. Yes, it would be nice to walk into Sur La Table or Pottery Barn and purchase everything showcased, but unless your last name is Rockefeller, that kind of expenditure for each and every holiday is not sustainable. We even set our Christmas table with pretty red snowflake plates that we found in a box at a local thrift store. This year we donated them back to the same store. That is good example of re-use.

5. Incorporate and Repurpose Already Owned Pieces

You do not have to purchase dinnerware and decorative items for every holiday. The best way to make the most of pieces you love and a table look different is to repurpose them.

For the Halloween tables shown previously we repurposed everything and transformed the dinner table to a buffet. The tree in the middle of the table is an old jewelry tree that we found on clearance at Kirklands. This tree will make its reappearance on our Christmas table. Instead of spooky bats and orange lights it will sparkle with white lights and hold little ornaments. Perhaps it will be repurposed again at Easter where it can drip with pastel colored ribbons and dangle little eggs. One piece repurposed over and over.

Your table is your canvass to create on.

  • Think of it as a piece of art
  • Find your muse for inspiration
  • Follow the tips that we have provided

It does not matter if you will have lots of company or just an intimate holiday dinner. Like a Broadway production, a well staged table allows your food to shine as the star of the show. You and your guest will be seated in the front row. Your holiday dinner table is the vehicle for meaningful dialogue, laughs, and entertainment. Like a well written play the storyline of your dinner may be cherished for many years to come.

We hope you have found some creative inspiration and clear direction on getting started. To see more beautifully dressed tables you can preview of the submissions from our table scape contest on our Facebook Group Page.

Living-Roon

The Ultimate Guide to A Christmas Feast

If you are someone who usually attends and enjoys Christmas at the homes of others. Your senses are delighted with the colored balls, and gold and silver streamers. The twinkle of thousands of little lights, the smells of cookies baking in the air, and the sounds of Silent Night looming in the background. Your hosts have thought of every little detail to make your experience magical and reminiscent of Christmas past.

decorated home for christmas

This is not by accident and the holiday magic does not just happen. It takes planning and playing around with creative ideas to hit just the right notes. From something as simple as an entryway to the final dish served at the table, the devil is in the details.

If it is your turn to host your family’s Christmas celebrations this year, not to worry, we will guide you through some of what it takes to create a magical experience for all.

Selecting a Theme

First and foremost you need to think through who is attending and what kind of atmosphere you want to create for what you are trying to convey. If you will have children your theme will look very different than a celebration for just adults. If you will have a mix of both, do not try mixing Disney stuffies with an adult flower arrangement as it will not work. Instead, think about your home’s entertainment capability, and designate a place for each age group. There is a fine line between nostalgia and tackiness so remember to create spaces that are appropriately themed for the ages of your guests.

There is a fine line between nostalgia and tackiness so remember to create spaces that are appropriately themed for the ages of your guests.

For example, a children’s tree in the living room with a mix of kid-approved themed decor. Perhaps with the television set up to loop Children’s classic holiday movies. If they are teens you may want to make the tree more video gamed themed and select movies that are appropriate for their age.

childrens ornaments on a christmas tree

For the adults in another room, you can set up a madmen bar, decorate a nostalgic tree with ornaments of days gone by, and play classic Christmas music by Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.

If it is just for the ladies, perhaps a glam tree with pink ribbons and gifts with big bows underneath, fluffy pillows, and a song list on your Spotify to include Santa Baby and All I Want for Christmas by Mariah Cary.

Don’t forget the bathrooms. Make sure they too have a bit of holiday cheer. Stay in a theme as much as possible. Find sprays that smell like the holidays and if you do not have a Christmas tissue holder, look for the themed boxes of Kleenex.

Hang a wreath in the room or find pictures of angels, cherubs, and/or funny moose to hang up. Avoid putting up any pictures of Santa looking at someone in the loo, that would just be creepy. Santa’s of course are welcome around the home at Christmas time. I found this beautiful gold and silver frame at a yard sale and simply cut out Santa’s face from a gift bag to put in the frame. The other Santa lives upstairs during the holidays. He is a Dollar Store find and adds some cheer to the home office.

Once you have set your mood in the home for Christmas, you can focus on the décor for your Christmas feast starting with the table setting. This year the celebrations are a bit more intimate due to Covid restrictions. However, that does not mean you should settle for paper plates in front of the television. Instead, celebrate with the ones closest to you and make the most of treating the special people in your lives.

Christmas Table Settings

Table settings should be fun and functional so avoid too much décor when you know you have limited space. We set up our table for four diners (we did end up with five for the meal) but could have easily fit six place settings if we needed to. We chose a color for our table based on the classic look of our tree in the dining room. We also opted for some nostalgia pieces on the table to complement the theme of the tree. I made a centerpiece from fairy lights and ornaments. I used these mini stockings to hold the silverware. Had I hosted a larger crowd I would have done place settings with ornaments. (They sell the ornaments with little clips on them at Hobby Lobby for just that purpose). I opted to not buy a new tablecloth this year and rather I found some ribbon to just dress up the plain classic white and gray linens that I already had.

My placemats were silver but my chargers were gold. I like a more eclectic look for my table. I mix silver and gold all the time, I have a friend who says it makes her nervous. By all means, your dining table and home decor should reflect your personality and your style. This article is written as just a guide to hopefully help to inspire you.

Your dining table and home decor should reflect your personality and style.

Before Dinner Cocktails

A signature Christmas cocktail is a must for a holiday feast. Whether you imbibe alcohol or not you can make a festive drink of some sort for everyone to share before the meal. It can be as simple as a glass of cider for a fun mocktail or a full-on cocktail. We had a guest mixologist in our presence so we enjoyed this Apple Cider Bourbon Sour with a beautiful apple sliced, sprinkled with pumpkin pie spice, and rolled into a rose. They were delish! Special thanks to Stephen for bringing us such a special treat.

We also tested out another cocktail for New Year’s Eve that we found on Pinterest. I am happy to announce that this really works and looks good! It is the ever so popular Baby Yoda cocktail. Basically, an Appletini all dressed up to look like Baby Yoda. Isn’t this too cute?

baby yoda appletini cocktail

The Christmas Feast

Antipasto is a holiday tradition in our home and Christmas is no exception. This salad is best described as a crowd pleaser since it will contain some things each and every person loves and something they despise. For me it is a chance to eat anchovies and beets which my husband hates. He loves pickled okra and baby corn which I could care if I ever tasted again in my lifetime.

What Christmas dinner would be complete without beef as the centerpiece? I know that everyone enjoys having a prime rib roast for Christmas, however, I was looking for some nostalgia this year. For me, that meant my mother’s popovers served alongside a traditional roast with gravy. ( I forgot to take pics of the gravy, oops) I can tell you I tried something very different in making the gravy. I did use the pan drippings however I added pork stock that I have frozen. It added a depth of flavor and richness to the gravy that was unexpected.

Pork stock added a depth of flavor and richness to the gravy that was unexpected.

Popovers are basically the same thing as Yorkshire pudding where the only difference is the fat in which they are cooked. Yorkshire Pudding is cooked in beef fat and Popovers in butter. We made them both ways for our Christmas feast and the beef fat turned out a bit tastier and did not darken as easily on the bottoms as the butter did. But If you do not have beef fat on hand I would still make them, just turn the heat down a smidge from a recipe designed for Yorkshire pudding.

I know that many people choose a prime rib roast for Christmas dinner I did not instead I opted for another roast. Simply because you just do not get a good gravy from a greasy prime rib and I want my popovers to be filled with rich, yummy brown gravy. This roast is a top round or as many would call it, a London Broil. Cooked properly and sliced against the grain it is one of my favorite cuts for a roast. I seared the roast at 450 F for twenty minutes, removed it, slathered it with salt, pepper, butter, and herbs. Cooked it at 350F until it reached its optimal temperature. We went to an internal temperature of 130- 135F and then let it rest for 20 minutes covered.

top round roast

I am on a Duchess Potatoes kick these days. I love the rich texture and flavor of this potato casserole. To make it a bit more festive I piped the potatoes on the top of the casserole and added some paprika and herbs. Traditionally these are piped into little individual pods and baked on a cookie sheet, but who has time for that really?

duchess piped mashed potatoes

I hosted some meat and potato lovers at this year’s Christmas table. You see they were away from their family for the holiday so I strived to create a warm sense of home in my meal. In my world, that translates to a rich and hearty dish. What says comfort as well as potatoes? Well, a big scoop of homemade gooey mac and cheese does of course!

homemade mac & cheese

Our Christmas feast ended with my husband’s famous Ricotta Cookies. (along with my peanut butter fudge and a friend’s banana pudding which did not make it to the photoshoot). These soft but dense Ricotta Cookies need no milk for dunking. They are not overly sweet and melt in your mouth! Our friends and neighbors ask for these every year.

homemade ricotta cookies for christmas

Our Christmas feast was a success, we all had full bellies, lots of laughs, and an evening of twinkling lights surrounding us. We hope that you too will have a Christmas full of cheer this year.
Merry Christmas 2020!

Healthy Happy

Happy and Healthy Holiday Season

The holiday season is now in full swing! The hustle and bustle of gift shopping, family visits, holiday parties, and end of year to-do lists can become quite overwhelming. After the year we have all endured, why not simplify life, slow down, and enjoy all that we have been blessed with?

While this year may look a little different, I am sure there will still be families gathering and friends celebrating together. Whether your gathering includes two people or twenty people, one thing is for sure – there will be food! If you are anything like me, the promise of delicious food may be one of your top reasons for attending such events. 

It also means we may not make the healthiest of choices as we navigate the wide array of sweet and savory options on every table. There is a way to make better choices for ourselves and enjoy a great holiday season. Some of us may need to simply avoid too much sugar while others, including myself, must be wary of the options presented due to allergies. I am not able to eat gluten or dairy due to severe intolerances. Once upon a time, this made every gathering daunting and unenjoyable. 

No matter what your goals are this year, here are five great tips that I have taught myself over the years! They are simple and easy to remember.

EAT BEFORE YOU GO

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Don’t show up on an empty stomach! One sure fire way to ensure confidence in yourself when presented with a huge table of sweets and treats is to already have a belly full of food that makes you feel great. With this already done, you can grab a glass of wine or champagne and focus on other things. Your energy is high, you feel great in that new outfit you bought for the season, and you are ready to enjoy friends and family. 

FILL YOUR PLATE ONCE

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You have already had your belly filling meal before showing up – great! This does not mean you are not allowed to enjoy a few treats. I will find the smallest plate being offered and fill it up once. I will add a dessert or two and maybe a small bunch of veggies. This allows you to still feel a part of the crowd and treat yourself a bit.

DON’T SOCIALIZE BY THE FOOD TABLE

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This may seem obvious, but it is quite easy to stand, chat, and pick at the food all evening long. Remove yourself from the temptation of grabbing all of the small finger foods or cookies within an arm’s reach.

TAKE A DISH TO SHARE THAT YOU CAN ENJOY

My number ONE favorite thing to do is cook! All my friends know this, and I am usually asked to bring at least one dish to all parties or get togethers. I am flattered when they ask but also excited because it means I can bring something that I know I can enjoy without any guilt. Take a fun dip without dairy products or create a fun dessert that is sugar free. People will be amazed at how it tastes, and you know it is at least one option you can feel no guilt about enjoying. 

Below is my Spiced Cranberry Turkey Meatball recipe. It is Gluten and Dairy-free and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser at whatever event you attend this season. Everyone loves a party meatball!

Spiced Turkey Cranberry Meatballs

Time: 30 minutes total
Recipe makes 25-30 small meatballs

Meatballs Ingredients:

  • lb. lean ground turkey
  • ¾ cup almond flour
  • 1 small shallot, minced
  • 1 egg
  • ¼ cup shredded Granny Smith Apple
  • .5 tsp allspice 
  • 2 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • 1 tbsp dried sage
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 1.5 tsp salt

Sauce

  • 14 oz can jellied cranberry sauce
  • ½ cup ketchup
  • 3 tbsp maple syrup
  • Zest from half an orange
  • Juice from half an orange
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes (optional for heat)

Allergy note: if you have Celiac or severe gluten allergies, be sure to purchase Gluten-Free versions of any spices or sauces needed

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Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Mix all meatball ingredients in a large bowl until well combined.
  2. Place a baking rack on top of a baking sheet and spray generously with cooking spray.
  3. Spoon out 1 tbsp of meatball mix and roll into a small ball. Place onto the baking rack.
  4. Bake for 12-14 minutes until slightly browned and no longer pink on the inside.
  5. While the meatballs are baking, make your sauce! Add all sauce ingredients to a small saucepan on low heat. Whisk ingredients together until you have a smooth sauce. Simmer on low heat for about 5 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally as not to burn the fruit.
  6. Add as much spice as you would like! I added a whole teaspoon of red pepper flakes and my kids still enjoyed them. Red pepper flakes go a long way. Add a little and taste before adding more!
  7. Once meatballs are done, add your sauce to the bottom of a large bowl. Add in the meatballs and toss them together. Serve immediately. You can also make them ahead of time and transport them in a slow cooker set on WARM.

GIVE YOURSELF GRACE

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This time of year is supposed to be about joy and family and love. While it is important to be continually conscious about our health, it is equally as vital to keep priorities in their place. Family and togetherness are at the top of the list! That one party, one special family holiday reunion, or one diet slip up, should not determine your happiness this year. You are not what you eat and what your slightly altered diet plans say. Have a great time and give yourself grace! Be kind to yourself. Be kind to others. 

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from R&R Table!

Grinch

No, They Can’t Take Away Christmas

This is the final edition of Love of Magazine for the year 2020. While I am writing about the holidays I am reflecting on December’s in the past and taking into account how different this holiday season might look for most people. With the pandemic in full swing and no end in the near future to wearing masks and social distancing. I had a young friend who whenever faced with getting in some sort of trouble (with the consequences being the almost certainty of a reprimand from a superior) would say “What are they going to do to me? They can’t take away my birthday!” She would always put things back into perspective and that allowed her to keep her “power” and confidence in any situation. As you can clearly determine from her statement she was a risk-taker.

2020 has certainly been a year in which we have all had to face some level of risk, whether it was the uncertainty of job loss or the toll of the pandemic on our physical and mental health. This year we were all forced into a situation where we had to weigh the cost-benefit each time a family member or ourselves left the house to grocery shop, exercise, worship, or go to school. We faced the fear of losing real connections with distant loved ones and we risked more than ever, using social media as a platform to dig in our heels to create one of the most extreme political and social divides that I have ever seen in my lifetime in our country. Yes, I too will be glad to see the anger and sadness of 2020 over. We have a lot of healing to do as we move into the new year.

“We have a lot of healing to do as we move into the new year”

Regardless of how you celebrate the holidays, with a tree, a menorah, or a kinara, this is a time for forgiveness, stepping up, and caring about others more than ourselves. We have one more opportunity to get things right before the year ends. I am reminded of how much many people need the story of hope especially the one that Christmas brings.

Regardless of how you celebrate the holidays, with a tree, a menorah, or a kinara, this is a time for forgiveness

In early November, I strolled through some of the retail stores in my area (masked-up of course). I witnessed stores full of cheerful holiday decor and entire families shopping together, In one store that had a big sale going on, people were grabbing up, every last faux tree in sight. (yes, I got one too, so that this year we could have one tree in the dining room and one in the living room). Shoppers were filling their carts to the brim with red, gold, silver, and blue decorations. I could not help but picture all of their homes decorated like winter wonderlands this year. I pictured bright snowflake streamers and miniature train cars chugging along around the bottoms of trees passing colored boxes tied up in sparkly bows. I pictured winter villages made from ceramics and twinkling lights. Why not? These days this is where we are all spending most of our time, home together. It reminded me that no matter what kind of pandemic the world threw at us, they could not take Christmas away!

“I could not help but picture their homes decorated like winter wonderlands”

It is only November but the Christmas rush is on in my home! My husband said, “Are you crazy we are going to have the house decorated for Christmas even before Thanksgiving? I can assure you that my madness has a purpose. I am inspired to get my home decorated early and I promise to test as many of the holiday recipes that I could in time for my readers to find them. We need this spirit and cheer this year, more than any year.

Holiday Food Brings Joy

Just because you may not be having a big crowd over this year to celebrate, does not mean that you can’t at least make some of that festive food for your family. Why not try instituting the 12 days of holiday food? You could make some fun and different holiday meals or treats each day for the twelve days leading up to Christmas day. This will give everyone something to look forward to every day. Below are some ideas that may inspire you, the full recipes are available by simply clicking the link, many with video tutorials.

“Why not try instituting the 12 days of holiday food this year?”

Fun Holiday Appetizer Food For The Family

You can start with these wonderful appetizers. Since it will likely be a smaller crowd for the holidays, simply scale these recipes down a bit in size. Your family will feel special and likely not mind at all skipping the usual holiday parties, The Chicken Salad Square was introduced to me by a friend a few years back. This makes a lovely presentation and tastes amazing. The shape is made square by using a loaf pan, and the ribbon and bow are made from green onions and cherry tomatoes.

You don’t have to put a lot of effort into making holiday shapes if you have a star-shaped dish, simply make a simple charcuterie, decorate with some rosemary sprigs.

If you feel like playing with your food, you can shape a Christmas tree out of cheese and fruit. We used a piece of star fruit for the top, but you could also make the star out of anything round that you can cut such as an orange slice.
Chicken Salad Square
Holiday Antipasto Platter
Christmas Cheese and Fruit Tray

When it comes to appetizers what is more classic and festive than a traditional shrimp cocktail, whether it is for the family or for an afternoon of social distancing with the neighbors, shrimp cocktail always makes everyone feel special.

When you want to make a good impression and satisfy the favorite flavors of each family member’s palate, the easiest way to deliver individual flavors is in a salad. The antipasto salad is now a holiday tradition in our home for each and every holiday. It incorporates some things that everyone loves!
Shrimp Cocktail
Antipasto Salad

Holiday Breakfast and Brunch Ideas

2020 is the year for making a holiday breakfast last all morning. Why not make some scratch-made favorites and treat your family to a holiday breakfast to remember with sweet treats that will melt in their mouths.

If your family likes cinnamon rolls, we have a couple of perfect recipes for you. One is a gooey sticky Maple Pecan Cinnamon Roll. They take a total of 2 days to make, however, if you are looking for something a bit quicker, you can still incorporate the cinnamon bun flavor into a pancake. We loved these homemade pancakes with the cinnamon swirled throughout and topped with cream cheese frosting.

Of course, there are always scones, these lovelies will last for up to 3 days on the counter and can be frozen for a later time as well. We made blueberry but cranberry or apple or orange-flavored scones would all be holiday-worthy too.
Maple Pecan Cinnamon Rolls
Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
Best Ever Blueberry Scones

The idea behind all this amazing sweet breakfast food just screams the holidays, so plan to treat your family with tastes that will be enjoyed for many days. You can skip the trip to Rockefeller Center this year and still get a taste of New York with this next recipe. We find that the New York Style Crumb Cake carries all the favorite flavors to make your taste buds jump for joy with each bite.

If you want the decadence of homemade donuts without all the hassle of proofing dough, our expressed glazed donuts will fit the bill perfectly, we even have a video included with the recipe of how to make them.

If it’s visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads that you are looking to inspire, then look no further than this Romanian Plum Bread Recipe. This recipe is for an authentic bread passed down to one of our guest bloggers from her grandmother back in Romania.

New York Style Crumb Cake
Express Glazed Donuts
Plum Sweet Bread

Holiday Entrees or For Any Night

When it comes to selecting which holiday entrees you want to serve it often can be quite straight forward like Turkey, Ham, Prime Rib, or Lobster. This year why not try to come out of your comfort zone a bit to serve foods that are a little less traditional. These can be especially helpful if you are participating in the 12 days of holiday celebration leading up to the Apex of one big meal

Kick up that beef using the Sous Vide method for cooking and then pan-searing your Filet Mignon. Top it with a bit of crab meat and serve it with a vegetable and a twice-baked potato.

For a unique holiday meal, turn a simple chicken thigh into something extra special by wrapping it in bacon.

Who does not love a warm comforting pot roast on a cool winter evening? We even have a video with the recipe to show you how we made this in the Instant Pot.
Filet Mignon w Crabmeat
Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Thigh
Pot Roast – Instant Pot

A Fall Squash Lasagna goes a long way to feed a hungry family and its sage and sausage filling with ricotta make it extra special.

Lamb is not just for spring, this rack of lamb is breaded before baking to make it a savory winter treat. Serve it with in-season salted brussel sprouts and some roasted sweet potato.

If the size of your holiday celebration is scaled down this year due to Covid you are likely skipping the huge turkey, however, you can still enjoy all the flavor that comes from roasting a chicken. This butter and herb-roasted chicken is simple to make and will have everyone clamoring to get to the holiday dinner table for their favorite parts.
Butternut Squash Lasagna
Herb Encrusted Rack of Lamb
Butter and Herb Roasted Chicken

Holiday Side Dishes That Are Sure To Please

Holiday sides can be simple and or complex. I like to stick with ones that can either be made a day ahead or are no hassle the day of the holiday meal. Roasted root vegetables are one of my go to’s because you can swap out and add vegetables according to what everyone likes. I love beets but my husband does not, it doesn’t matter in this medley since he has so many others to select from when plating.

Twice Baked Potatoes can be made a day ahead and placed in the refrigerator or freezer. If freezing them p[ease remember to add extra time in baking them from our recipe.

Savory and rich Duchess Potatoes add sophistication to an all-time holiday favorite -Mashed potatoes. Duchess Potatoes are my new favorite go-to and can be made a day ahead and placed in the refrigerator. What makes them better than regular old mashed? Well, garlic, egg, and cheese of course! Add to that the crusty little golden peaks from baking which provide a bit of texture when you are eating them and you have a holiday worthy side dish Yum!
Roasted Root Vegetables
Twice Baked Potatoes
Duchess Potatoes

The Sweet Potato Casserole recently came onto my holiday favorites list, for one reason only. It is not that sweet and icky marshmallow-laden casserole that your grandmother makes. This one is bacon and bourbon and all things nice!

We all need some greens even on the holidays so why not serve Garlic Lemon Asparagus, it is made in a saute pan and takes very little effort for such a big flavor.

If you do not mind mixing your greens with cheese then this little Au Gratin that we made with Kale and Spinach can be made a day ahead and just popped in the oven to be cooked on the day of your meal. (If you are not a fan of Kale it can just be made with spinach)
Sweet Potato Casserole
Garlic Lemon Asparagus
Kale and Spinach Au Gratin

Holiday Sweets for Your Sweets

If you have those sweet-toothed family members, as most of us do. Then we have some fun ways for you to satisfy their cravings for sugar and holiday traditions. Starting with these Italian Ricotta Cookies, they are made using rich and creamy ricotta cheese to create a soft-textured cookie. The topping is a simple sugar icing and they can be decorated with Maraschino Cherries or with holiday sprinkles.

If you want to prepare something simple that the kids can get involved with these Holiday Rice Krispy Treats with holiday M&Ms are the perfect solution.

If you are looking for something a bit more impressive to serve your family at the end of the holiday meal, there will nothing more appealing to diners than a slice of Berry Cheesecake. This homemade cheesecake is light and fluffy with strawberries rather than the traditional cherries. If you have never made a cheesecake before, not to worry this recipe included a video tutorial to help you along.
Ricotta Cookies
Holiday Rice Krispy Treats
Berry Cheesecake

If baking is not your thing, not to worry you can still prepare a sweet treat that everyone will love. This No-Bake Reese’s Peanut butter fudge was submitted by one of our guest bloggers. It is amazing and no one will know you did not bake it except you. As I am writing this I want some of this fudge because it is so delish!


Ever tried making a Trifle? It is also super easy and looks amazing in the bowl with its bright colors and creamy texture. No baking required unless you insist on making your own pound cake.

Last but not least we will suggest these little personal apple pies. This year since you likely only need to make enough for your family, it would be the perfect time to serve them. Everyone can have their own little crispy pie served to them and they can choose how to top their pies however they please with ice cream, whipped cream, or even cheese.
No-Bake Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Fudge
Strawberry Trifle
Personal Apple Pies

Regardless of which holiday celebration you observe one thing is for certain due to the Covid Grinch, this year they will all be celebrated a bit differently. We hope that some of our festive recipes manage to make their way into your family’s holiday table and could possibly get included in your family traditions for years to come.
Joy and Peace to everyone this season.

“No matter what kind of pandemic the world threw at us, they could not take Christmas away!”

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa! From all of us at Love of Food Magazine

Cinnmon Roll Pancake

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Yes, you read that correctly! I know it is hard to believe that all that cinnamon-y goodness could be packed into a pancake and still taste like a cinnamon bun with icing, but low and behold I made them and they were amazing!
These take a little bit more effort than just a regular old homemade pancake, but they are so worth it. I think this is a perfect treat for Christmas morning or any special occasion breakfast.
In the past, we have made our own cinnamon rolls and that requires you make and proof dough, however with the pancake version your family will have all the flavors of the cinnamon rolls without all that time and effort.

Ingredients
  

Pancakes

  • 1 Cup Flour
  • 2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
  • 1 Cup Milk
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 Teaspoon Vegetable Oil

Cinnamon Filling

  • 6 Tablespoons of Brown Sugar
  • 1/2 Stick of Butter Melted and Cool to the Touch
  • 1/2 Tablespoon of Ground Cinnamon

Glaze

  • 2 Ounces of Whipped Cream Cheese
  • 1/2 A Stick of Butter
  • 3/4 of a Cup of Powdered Sugar
  • 1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

Instructions
 

Glaze

  • In a small saucepan melt the butter, the vanilla
  • Add the cream cheese until melted
  • Slowly add in the powdered sugar and mix until dissolved
  • Set aside to cool
  • Once cooled, fill a piping bag or plastic baggie with tip cut off with the icing

Cinnamon Filling

  • Stir together all ingredients
  • Place inside a piping bag with a small tip (If you do not have a piping bag once ready to ice you can cut a small corner off a filled plastic baggie)

Pancakes

  • Whisk together the dry ingredients
  • In a separate bowl mix the wet ingredients
  • Mix together lightly - do not overwork the batter, a few lumps are fine
  • Spray a pan or griddle with cooking spray
  • Over medium heat
  • Drop a scoop-full of the batter onto the pan (for rounder pancakes use an ice cream scoop)
  • Once the pancakes start to bubble, grab the bag of glaze and draw a round swirl starting from the inside of the circle outward. Do not draw the swirl too close to the edge of the pancake or the sugar can burn.
  • Check the bottom of the pancake flip when it is the desired color or light brown.
  • Let the cinnamon side cook and check your heat to make sure the sugars are not cooking too quickly. If you need to remove the pan from the heat and lower the temp.
  • Between each batch wipe out the pan to remove excess sugar.
  • Drizzle each pancake with the icing
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Yes, you read that correctly! I know it is hard to believe that all that cinnamony goodness could be packed into a pancake and still taste like a cinnamon bun with icing, but low and behold I made them and they were amazing!

These take a little bit more effort than just a regular old homemade pancake, but they are so worth it. I think this is a perfect treat for Christmas morning or any special occasion breakfast.

In the past, we have made our own cinnamon rolls and that requires you make and proof dough, however with the pancake version your family will have all the flavors of the cinnamon rolls without all that time and effort.

Ingredients

Pancakes
  • 1 Cup of Flour
  • 2 Teaspoons of Baking Powder
  • 1/2 Teaspoon of Salt
  • 1 Cup of Milk
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 Teaspoon of Vegetable Oil
Cinnamon Filling
  • 6 Tablespoons of Brown Sugar
  • 1/2 Stick of Butter Melted and Cool to the Touch
  • 1/2 Tablespoon of Ground Cinnamon
Glaze
  • 2 Ounces of Whipped Cream Cheese
  • 1/2 A Stick of Butter
  • 3/4 of a Cup of Powdered Sugar
  • 1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

Instructions

Glaze
  1. In a small saucepan melt the butter, the vanilla
  2. Add the cream cheese until melted
  3. Slowly add in the powdered sugar and mix until dissolved
  4. Set aside to cool
  5. Once cooled, fill a piping bag or plastic baggie with tip cut off with the icing
Cinnamon Filling
  1. Stir together all ingredients
  2. Place inside a piping bag with a small tip (If you do not have a piping bag once ready to ice you can cut a small corner off a filled plastic baggie)
Pancakes
  1. Whisk together the dry ingredients
  2. In a separate bowl mix the wet ingredients
  3. Mix together lightly – do not overwork the batter, a few lumps are fine
  4. Spray a pan or griddle with cooking spray
  5. Over medium heat
  6. Drop a scoop-full of the batter onto the pan (for rounder pancakes use an ice cream scoop)
  7. Once the pancakes start to bubble, grab the bag of glaze and draw a round swirl starting from the inside of the circle outward. Do not draw the swirl too close to the edge of the pancake or the sugar can burn.
  8. Check the bottom of the pancake flip when it is the desired color or light brown.
  9. Let the cinnamon side cook and check your heat to make sure the sugars are not cooking too quickly. If you need to remove the pan from the heat and lower the temp.
  10. Between each batch wipe out the pan to remove excess sugar.
  11. Drizzle each pancake with the icing

Enjoy!

Haymaker Miracle Featured Image

The Christmas Miracle

According to the folks who own the Miracle franchise  “Miracle is a Christmas-themed pop-up cocktail bar that serves holiday cocktails in a festive setting. With kitschy holiday décor, professionally-developed cocktails and the nostalgic energy of the best office party you’ve ever been to, Miracle is sure to get even the grouchiest grinch in the holiday spirit.”

The Miracle concept was developed by a successful entrepreneur, Greg Boehm. He is the owner of the Cocktail Kingdom a successful bar supply company based in New York. Greg’s story alone is quite interesting. He came from a publishing family where he found a passion for and collected cocktail books. 

Greg is respected by his peers as a collector, an authority and as a businessman. His peers have been quoted to say that he played a major role in reviving the cocktail movement. The world’s foremost authority on cocktails and their history, David Wondrich has been quoted to say if a century from now, someone were to look back and consider Boehm’s role, it would be like, this person really defined an era.”

“If a century from now, someone were to look back and consider Boehm’s role, it would be like, this person really defined an era.”

David Wondrich

How did this book collector, cocktail enthusiast come to own a holiday-themed franchise?

In 2014 Greg was under construction on one of his ventures, a New York City cocktail bar. What does a successful entrepreneur do when an asset is sitting and not generating revenue? You find a way to turn the asset into a money-maker. The story goes, he consulted with his mother and they decided to halt construction and transform the unfinished space into a pop-up bar decked out in holiday decor and serve up holiday-themed cocktails. 

New Yorkers loved the concept and they came in droves to be part of the “Holiday Cocktail Movement”. Two years later the concept had become so sought after that it went worldwide.  

Why Raleigh, North Carolina?

2006 and in entered one of the most well-known local entrepreneurs in the food and beverage space, Gaurav Patel or G as he is known to many. His story is similar to Greg’s as he learned to become a business person at a very young age. As a small child, Gaurav was given a small plot of land where he grew crops in order to pay for his school supplies. After graduating from NC State Business School he began his company Eschelon Experiences. 

G is well respected in the community. His venture provides support to many local charities such as The Tammy Lynn Center, The Interfaith Food Shuttle, Raleigh City Farm, and Band Together. The food and beverage industry is a difficult industry and historically has one of the highest turnover rates. According to Restaurant.org, in 2018 the turn over rate averaged at almost 75%. G must be doing something right, many of his staff have stayed employed by him long-term. The two employees we met with had been with Eschelon Experiences for a combined total of four years. Christian told us he has worked at the Haymaker for two and a half years and Mark for a year and a half.

What is notable at every one of their food and drink concepts is this statement from the Eschelon Experiences website,  Although we come from different backgrounds, we’re all passionate about our food, our service and making your experience at Eschelon one you’ll never forget.” 

 Although we come from different backgrounds, we’re all passionate about our food, our service and making your experience at Eschelon one you’ll never forget.” 

Eschelon Experiences

This statement of promise held true on our recent visit to the Haymaker to experience The Holiday Pop-Up Miracle. We were greeted by two smiling bartenders sporting whimsical Christmas sweaters. Mark sported a red, yellow, green and blue T-Rex Santa with Christmas gifts wrapped in glitzy paper and bows. Christian wore black, red and green BTBAM inspired attire with gargoyles who had antlers and in the center of his sweater was a little creature wearing a Santa hat sitting stoically in front of a keyboard.  

Both these gentlemen had an apparent passion for mixology and took great pride in the product they served up at The Haymaker. Both were extremely knowledgeable in their craft and excited to share the experience with us. Christian told us his favorite Christmas cocktail is actually the most complex. It is called the Gingerbread Flip and it is made with an actual fresh egg. To understand just how skilled these mixologists are, Mark is a Johnson and Wales trained chef. Side note: Our own Nicole from LoveofFood also attended this amazing culinary school.

There are a mere two locations selected in North Carolina for The Miracle franchise and according to Mark and Christian, the Haymaker considers themselves honored to be selected. The other location is in Asheville. 

What does the Miracle Pop-up look like at The Haymaker? 

As we entered the Haymaker, I noticed an antique hutch decorated in Christmas houses, holiday carolers, and a ceramic Christmas Tree. The top of the hutch was strung with garland and tinsel over a  portrait of a young boy that appears to date back to the 1700-1800’s time period. Above that is lots of cotton snow and wrapped packages in striped colors of red, yellow and green, boxes of red plaid and some ho, ho, ho’s!

Inside the establishment is furnished with antique-style tufted-couches covered in soft velvety fabric and oversized chairs wearing distressed-leather that call to you to sit and relax. A big blown up doorway Santa holding a cocktail in each hand watches over you inside. Garland, icicles, and ornaments are strung along all the tops of the walls with twinkling lights hanging just in front. On top of the bar, there is a nutcracker standing watch over many more gifts wrapped in decorative paper and tied up with bows. From the ceiling hang hundreds of colorful lights along with balloons designed to look like Christmas ornaments. Candy canes, lanterns and whimsical renditions of hot air balloons with upside-down elves riding in them are all part of the kitchy-theme along with a moose-head trophy who wears a Sammy the Bull gold chain and is adorned in a wreath aglow in white lights. We asked how long it took to decorate all of this?  The folks at the Haymaker told us the good part of two days. 

What does The Miracle Pop-up at the Haymaker sound like?

You can expect to hear all your favorite Christmas music during the Pop-up event which runs from November 29th through December 31st.
In addition, they offer some themed music happenings on their Event Calendar such as DJ Deluxe with Holiday Tunes and Throwback Hip Hop, Even Holiday Karaoke happens multiple times in the month of December.

What does The Miracle Pop-up at the Haymaker taste like? 

Being a self-professed foodie, the complexity of the Miracle cocktails drew me right in. The Christmapolitain is a vodka-based drink, served with a rosemary sprig. What makes this cocktail special is a blend of other delish ingredients including a proprietary house-made cranberry sauce syrup. Yes, I said house-made. That is what really blew my mind about the level of the sophistication of these cocktails. 

How they prepare the ice cubes is even cool. No worry about getting ice served to you from a dirty moldy ice machine here. All the ice at the Haymaker is chipped off from a large freshly-made block that has been shaken to release air and produce the clearest cubes possible. That is representative of the type of quality and care that goes into your cocktail experience. Speaking of Ice, while visiting we tasted an amazing old fashioned made with house-infused, caramelized pecan bourbon that is served with a snowball. 

“Speaking of Ice, while visiting we tasted an amazing old fashioned made with house-infused, caramelized pecan bourbon that is served with a snowball.”

We also tasted a drink called the Yippie Ki Ya (there is more to the official name but I will let you ferret that out on your own.) It was a rum-based drink made with a purple yam orgeat. This is pronounced OHR-ZHAT but more importantly, is what it is. According to Wikipedia: Orgeat syrup is a sweet syrup made from almonds, sugar, and rose water or orange flower water. It was originally made with a barley-almond blend. It has a pronounced almond taste and is used to flavor many cocktails. 

I mentioned earlier that Christain, one of the fun bartenders, told us his favorite cocktail on the Miracle list had a fresh egg in it, called the Gingerbread Flip. It is a Whiskey drink with sprinkled gingerbread cookies on top. 

If you want fun and like the taste of Gin then the Koala la la la la la la la is for you! It is served with a cute little Christmas Koala bear holding on to your glass! 

If you want something less cocktail-like but still sophisticated, the Haymaker also has champagne on tap! Who does that? 

Watch the Video of Our Haymaker Experience

Who goes to The Miracle Pop-up at the Haymaker?

The crowd is eclectic from business folks after work to a more party atmosphere on Friday and Saturday nights. We visited on a late Sunday afternoon and it was small groups and couples mostly. I have heard it described as an adult cocktail bar. When you come here it is for the vibe. It’s no wonder the Haymaker attracts lots of celebrities when they are in town. Rumor has it that Ja-rule stopped in a couple of weeks ago after his appearance at the 2019 Internet Summit. 

The cost of the drinks was comparable to what other downtown venues charge, but the value here is in the complexity, homemade flavors, and ambiance. If you are looking for a little holiday cheer, maybe attend the “All The Jingle Ladies” event on a Tuesday night. Holiday karaoke most Sunday nights or on Dec 7th they will open during the day to host Happy Howlidays where you can even celebrate with your pup! 

Hope to see you there! 555 Fayetteville St Ste 115 Raleigh, NC

Tell G or the bartenders, Christian and Mark, that you read about them in Love of Food Magazine and you will bring them some personal holiday cheer, watch them smile! 

 Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays to all!

Screen Shot 2019-11-22 at 1.30.57 PM

Christmas in North Carolina

For many, the mere thought of Christmas conjures up sweet memories of childhood innocence. A period in our early lives where we would blindly trust the process. The Christmas season seemed to last forever and once the town square was officially decorated, the entire community, as well as our families, would begin all of their Christmas rituals. Fresh cut spruce trees would fill a once-empty lot, their sweet-balsam scents would tantalize our nose as we walked past. All the most popular toys filled the store windows and at the mall, everyone waited in candy cane lined aisles for pictures with Santa. 

“Fresh cut spruce trees would fill a once-empty lot, their sweet-balsam scents would tantalize our nose as we walked past.”

The sights and sounds of happiness were all around us. We were delighted with the colorful, twinkling lights above the city square and on the homes all over town. We could hear the distant dull sound of the Salvation Army bell ringers and the clinking of the coins in their kettles. Every store we visited played those holiday tunes reminiscing about holidays past and the good ole days. We heard our favorite traditional Christmas Carols such as Frosty the Snowman, Oh Come All Ye Faithful, and yes, who could forget the crooning of Bing Crosby singing “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas.” According to the Guinness Book of World Records, “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby is the best-selling Christmas/Holiday single in the United States, with estimated sales in excess of 50 million copies worldwide.

Back at home, the family tradition of baking began so that every neighbor, postman, and teacher could be shown how much we appreciated them with little sugary shapes of holiday flavors. We delighted in taste testing every batch of these lovely Christmas goodies. We pressed out little hands into the sweet, rolled-out dough and sprinkled sugar on little shapes of bells, trees and gingerbread men. From the comfort of our warm homes, we built miniature gingerbread houses like carefully skilled carpenters. We mixed eggnog, sipped on hot mulled cider and we strung fresh-popped popcorn onto long pieces of thread that would eventually adorn the Christmas tree.

“We pressed out little hands into the sweet, rolled-out dough and sprinkled sugar on little shapes of bells, trees and gingerbread men.”

These traditions were pretty universal around the United States, however if you are from North Carolina you know about some very local traditions. starting with Moravian cookies. These cookies are a German recipe that was brought by the early settlers of Winston-Salem.

One of the most famous cookie producers is Mrs. Hanes from Clemmons. She is a seventh-generation Moravian cookie maker and still makes her 10,000,000 cookies by hand. If you want to tour the facility you can, however, you will have to wait until January to visit since November and December are her busy season and she can not accept tours during the holiday months. You can purchase her cookies here.

Perhaps you remember as a child visiting The Winkler Bakery at Old Salem Museum & Gardens and tasting those lovely wafer thin Moravian cookies. Watch this short clip of one of our favorite, local, celebrity-chefs, Vivian Howard as she tells “Visit NC.com” about how she remembers the smell of those lovely cookies.

Another North Carolina Christmas tradition is to head North to Asheville to visit the majestic Biltmore Estate to take in all the opulence that once indulged the most prominent family of the gilded-age, the Vanderbilt family. Many families make the trek here during the holidays to see the home’s extravagant decor. You may have made memories attending the annual Gingerbread House Tea that is held at the Inn. This fun-family event is lead by one the Inn’s pastry Chefs who will help guide you in constructing your own little mansion, made out of gingerbread of course. Build away as you nibble on finger sandwiches, just like the Vanderbilt family did in the 1800’s.

If the mountains are not your thing then perhaps the ocean has called you to Wilmington, NC for the Annual Holiday Flotilla. This tradition of decorating boats with bright lights and holiday cheer has been held for the past 36 years.

The Wilmington area has a rich and lively food scene that welcomes all seafood and non-seafood lovers alike. Restaurants like Catch with its modern seafood dishes and Manna with its take on all that local has to offer with menu options whimsically named  “Lamb Shank Redemption” and “Iron Chef Bobby Fillet” plus many more. Just reading the menu is fun, but the food is even better. If you are making new memories in a more casual family atmosphere we would be remiss not to mention Vivian and Ben Howard’s latest Wilmington gem, Benny’s Big Time Pizzeria. But don’t think this is your typical take out pizza joint. It has all the complexity and downhome flavors that we have come to expect from these amazing restaurateurs. If you have eaten at The Chef and the Farmer or The Boiler Room, apply that similar style to Italian pie and now you have Benny’s Big Time. Think hot honey drizzle and autumn squash on pizza. For dessert think this Spumoni Surprise.  

‘Just reading the menu is fun, but the food is even better.

Raleigh and its surrounding towns have a wide variety of holiday traditions and events for everyone to take in from the opening of the Governor’s Mansion to the Annual Christmas parade which happens in November, before Thanksgiving. With Raleigh having such a vibrant and entrepreneurial scene, one of our latest obsessions is the pop-up. From holiday markets where crafters show off their wares to brunches where chefs can spotlight their culinary talents, these fun events are helping to drive the economy and kick start many a small business owner’s dreams of owning their own brick and mortar establishments. It’s great for the consumer too as it takes us out of the ordinary and allows us to explore new possibilities.

Some holiday pop-ups do appear annually. An adult favorite is Miracle at Haymaker. Each year one of Raleigh’s Street’s chic, cozy craft cocktail spots turns itself into a Holiday haven. All things merry and bright are front and center for celebrating from Christmas tunes to holiday libations. One can even be served with a real snowball. Located at 555 -115 Fayetteville Street and is open Mon-Sat from 4 PM. LoveofFood Magazine will be there to do a feature video with them, so watch for it soon. 

“From holiday markets where crafters show off their wares to brunches where chefs can spotlight their culinary talents, these fun events are helping to drive the economy and kick start many a small business owner’s dreams of owning their own brick and mortar establishments.”

Raleigh’s surrounding cities and towns offer much in the way of reliving or making new holiday traditions. Taking the family to Boyett’s Farm in Clayton for their Lights on the Neuse event. You can enjoy a hayride through a mile of Christmas lights, Visit Santa’s workshop to purchase s’more-making supplies then cook over an open flame and eat them right there. If seeing Christmas lights is your jam then north of Raleigh you can drive through Piper Lights in Wake Forest, where you can then park to visit the candy store for all your favorite holiday sweets. 

Durham Performing Arts Center will present A Christmas Carol with Ira David Wood. If you have experienced this show at least once, making it a tradition is a perfect idea as you may already know Ira David Wood infuses the classic story with our current state of affairs. Much of it alludes to local, national politics and news in a fun and light way woven into the tale. Grab a bite to eat at one of Durham’s hot spots like Pizzeria Toro for brick oven pizza and/or an appetizer of ricotta dumplings or polenta fries. If you love Asian style, head over to M Sushi for Grilled Octopus, Crudo, or traditional sushi. Having tapas at Mateo is an amazing way to satisfy your palette before or after the show. How about Chicarrones, Albondigas or Bistec de Carne if you want something more filling? I would be remiss to not mention COPA who Greg Cox from The News and Observer named “One of the Best New Restaurants in the Triangle and Best in Class (Cuban).”

One thing is for sure, wherever you go to celebrate, reminisce, or discover North Carolina’s festive Holiday spirit. Its burgeoning food scene will leave you smiling like Jolly Ole Saint Nick with a full belly.

As children, when Christmas Eve would finally arrive we would head off to bed early with our visions of sugar plums dancing in our heads and awake the next morning to learn that Santa Claus had indeed visited and filled our Christmas wish list.  

Here is hoping your Christmas Holiday is filled with love, joy, and peace! 

Holiday Antipasto Platter

  • Extra Sharp White Cheddar
  • Marble Cheddar
  • Marinated Green and Black Olives (olive bar at your supermarket)
  • Green Grapes
  • Strawberries
  • Sliced Pepperoni
  • Cracked Pepper Hard Salami
  • Boursin Cheese
  • Stuffed Hot Cherry Peppers
  • Fresh Rosemary Sprigs
  1. Slice your block cheese and set aside
  2. Rinse your fruit in water and set on a paper towel to dry
  3. Cut your Cherry Pepper in quarters
  4. Slice the peppered salami in half add ¼ tsp of Boursin cheese and roll into a cone shape
  5. Align all your ingredients on a nice platter and serve with warm sliced baguette or crackers