Tomato Jam with Burrata | Friday Night Bites

Do you ever try something at a restaurant and say to yourself - I must make this?  I do all the time. Recently I was in Chicago for a business trip and we had cocktails and dinner at Siena Tavern. It was a extremely humid and rainy night in Chicago where you could cut the air with a knife.  Despite the weather, which being from California this was not the norm for me - the vibe in this Top Chef, Fabio Viviani created restaurant was extremely cool.  It had concrete floors, rustic decor and hip music being piped through everywhere.  Although a bit loud, we enjoyed cocktails at the bar with friends.  I had an aviator and a last word - don't typically swing out with a couple cocktails at once, it was a fun treat.  The bartender was hip and cool and make some darn good drinks.

Trio of Crostini Recipe + Livermore Valley Wine Country Weekend

A couple weeks ago I attended the Livermore Valley's "Taste of Terroir" weekend to experience the tasty food and wine of this special sometimes forgotten wine country region in Northern California.  I was personally invited as a media guest by the Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association and was quite honored they thought of me.  I was able to take hubby with me and he is always thrilled when he can be part of my blogging events.

Sun-dried Tomato Pesto Canapés | Friday Night Bites

Well HELLO almost summer - oh how I have missed you!  My birthday was last Sunday and we swung out for this years birthday gift - a new wicker patio set from Living Spaces.  It is part of the the Adventura collection.  We got the 4 piece sectional, 2 lounge chairs, the cocktail table with 2 ottomans and 2 end tables.  I feel like we have a true outdoor living room set.  Since it was simply understated, it needed a POP of color, so I headed to Homegoods and got some fun pillows and decorative items for the tables.  Oh and an outdoor rug from Cost Plus World Market.

Egg and Olive Salad Bites | Friday Night Bites

Do you ever wish you had an elegant yet easy appetizer to make for guests that you want to impress? Have I got a simple, tasty and easy recipe for you. It has just a few ingredients and can be virtually made ahead of time and I promise will "WOW" your guests.  They will think you spent hours preparing.

Red Bell Pepper & Sun Dried Tomato Soup Shooters | Friday Night Bites

Do you want a quick and easy show stopper appetizer?  If you answered yes, then I have an easy and delicious recipe for you.  You can actually simply shop your pantry.  If you are like me and stock your pantry with an assortment of items, then you should be set.

Cranberry, Orange & Ginger Chutney Brie Bites | Friday Night Bites

One of my favorite things to do is to make handmade jam and chutney.  I will make a large batch to can and save for gift giving along with enjoying.  With the holidays in the rear view mirror, I made a batch of my favorite chutney – Cranberry, Orange & Ginger Chutney.  The weather in Northern California has been quite stormy over the last several weeks and this week was not exception.  The good news is we are officially over the drought. The last 5 years have changed our water usage patterns and has become a new norm for hubby and me.

Individual Cheese Plates | Friday Night Bites

One of my absolute favorite things is to entertain. I love the process of planning along with the actual preparation and execution.  Have one to two other couples over is the perfect party.  You can actually carry on a meaningful conversation and truly enjoy each others company.  Rather than sitting down in the dining room table, I have found that starting in the kitchen and then moving to the family room to get a bit more comfy is my preferred route.