I’m not a huge horsd’oeuvres person. In fact, if you come to our house for dinner, you’ll likely find a bottle of open wine, a bowl of nuts and some sort of crostini. In the Summer, I serve the crostini with a bowl of fresh tomatoes, basil & delicious olive oil. In the Winter, I like something a bit heavier like a hot spinach dip (an oldie but a goodie).
Recently, Mike and I branched out of our regular dining routine and headed to a new “hot spot” in town… I say that because we normally go to dark and cozy bistros that have been around for years instead of the new trendy place. Hard to break old habits. We had a fabulous meal, but my favorite part was our appetizer – Baked Goat Cheese drizzled with Honey, sprinkled with fresh Thyme, Cracked Pepper & Sea Salt. It was served with warm grilled bread. I could’ve eaten the entire thing. And almost did.
I love how simple it seemed – ingredients and preparation. It has been our go-to snack this month. It is salty, sweet, tangy and the perfect thing to schmear on toast.
Baked Goat Cheese with Honey
Shrimp Skewers Printable Recipe
Soft Goat Cheese
Honey
Fresh Thyme
Sea Salt
Cracked Pepper
Baguette
Olive Oil
Garlic
Prehead broiler in oven to 400 degrees. In a small oven-proof bowl or ramekin, spread soft goat cheese. Prepare baguette by slicing into thin pieces. Place on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Just before serving, bake under broiler in oven for 5-8 minutes, just until slightly warm. At the same time, toast the bread under the broiler as well for 2-4 minutes until browned on the edges. Remove bread from oven and rub with a raw clove of garlic that has been cut in half. Drizzle honey on warm goat cheese. Sprinkle on fresh thyme leaves, sea salt & fresh cracked pepper.
When I first started my catering business I wrote all of my favorite recipes in a little blue journal book so I’d have them with me all of the time. Over the years I’ve shared a couple of recipes from this little journal, but not all. Truthfully, when I started this blog (forever ago…?) I was burnt out on all of those recipes I’d made hundreds of times. Now, after a four year break from the catering business, I am ready to dive back in to some of those old favorites, because after all, they were really great recipes for entertaining. This Chocolate Molten Cake recipe was one of my first and best go-to’s as a caterer. I always served it at dinner parties – with great success. The ingredients and supplies are humble – chocolate chips and a cupcake pan! They work great for parties because the batter is made in advance, then baked right before dessert and served warm. I made these last year for a friends dinner. While the recipe makes 6-12, they work great in the freezer. Just bake all of them together, then freeze the leftovers. You can reheat in the microwave for just 30-60 seconds.
Now, onto the recipe, perfect for any celebration….
Chocolate Molten Cakes
makes 6 medium cakes or 12 small individual cakes
2 tablespoons of butter, melted
2 tablespoons of cocoa
……
3/4 cup of butter
12 ounce of chocolate chips
1/2 cup of heavy cream
5 eggs
3/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup of flour
Prepare cupcake pans by coating the inside of each with melted butter by swirling it around. Then sprinkle the insides with cocoa, coating completely. To make the batter, place chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl, then top it with butter and cream. Microwave for 30 seconds at a time, stirring in between, until the chocolate is smooth. When chocolate has cooled slightly, stir in eggs, sugar and flour. Pour into prepared cupcake pans. Refrigerate for 1 hour (at least) and up to a couple of days.
Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes for regular 12/pan size and 15-18 for jumbo 6/pan size, just until the outsides and most of the top have set, and the centers are still slightly runny. You can insert the tip of a knife to test. You just want a bit of the very center to be a thick pudding like texture. Let them cool for 5 minutes, then place a sheet pan on top of the muffin pan and invert them. Serve with whipped cream, ice cream and dusted with chocolate or cinnamon.
Melting chocolate with the butter and cream this way is so easy – microwave!
The pans buttered and cocoa-ed while the chocolate is in the microwave.
Perfectly melted.
You can fill them almost all the way to the top – they don’t puff too much.
Cooling for 5 minutes to help them continue to set.
Top with a sheet pan…
Ready for the flip…
Mid-Flip
So, so good. You really must try them.
10 seconds later…
Our home is officially freshened for spring. This season, I am embracing blues and fresh greens with plenty of pots full of lush plants. I have vases full of daffodils and pitchers with tulips, buckets of blooming branches and planters planted with topiary. Most importantly, the windows are open, the sprinklers are running (we need some rain!), the mornings and evenings are chilly, but the afternoons are warm. We are ready for time in the garden, hosting friends for casual dinners and family for spring holidays. Welcome, Spring!
Shop the Spring Home Collection >
This collection features new custom block prints for Spring with my favorites, blues and greens. There are pillow covers, table runners, napkin sets, tea towels and fabric yardage for your special projects.
This table is set with a row of potted tete a tete (mini daffodils) in Small Rustic Pots down a Green Lily Runner. I love the aged finish these pots have, they truly look like weathered antiques. Creamware Platters hang in the background – one of my seasonless favorites.
The front door holds a Hanging Basket full of forsythia for now. In a couple of weeks, it will change to cherry blossoms. Our front steps are set with two Planters from the Large Medallion Set (that comes with one this size, and one larger). The larger two are on our back porch.
The Rattan Baskets (set of 2, nesting) are back in stock. The larger of the set is a permanent fixture on our ottoman, always filled with various reads and toys ; )
Now onto the pillow covers. The pillow covers! Here, the Privot Berry 22″ square cover is paired with the Light Blue Leaf Rectangle cushion cover.
Light Blue Leaf Collection
Light Blue Leaf 22″ Square Cover, $42
Light Blue Leaf Rectangle Cover, $32
Napkins, Set of 4, $32
Tea Towel, $8
Napkins, Set of 4, $32
Rustic Pot, Medium, $15
Tea Towel, $8
Privot Berry Pillow Cover Collection, $32-42
Privot Berry Pillow Cover Collection, $32-42
Privot Berry Napkins, $32
Cupcakes on the smallest of the Bread Board Set.
Tea Towel, $8
This green color turned out a little brighter than I had intended, but I think it feels fresh and springy!
20″ Square Pillow Cover
24″ x 14″ Rectangle Pillow Cover
Napkins, Set of 4
Runner, 108 x 20″
Watering Pitchers, $18-32
Tea Towel
Planter Boxes
I am so thrilled with these. The smaller (Petite Medallion Planter, $45) is an 8x8x8″ cube, and holds a 6″ potted plant perfectly. The larger (Petite Orchard Planter, $80) is a 12x14x12″ cube that holds an 8-10″ potted plant. I am using these indoors right now for topiary, but will likely move them outdoors with boxwood and some sort of trailing flower in a couple of weeks.
I love how they add a stateliness to any area, like our entry.
Petite Medallion Planter, $45
Potted Gardenia Topiary in the Orchard Planter that will move outside once summer is here, with a large watering can… to help me remember to keep it watered ; )
Petite Orchard Planter, $80
I love these “short” flower buckets. They are the perfect size to plop in a potted herb from the grocery store, or in which to keep my cleaning supplies or packets of seeds. I’ve even used them to keep a bottle of wine chilled for an outside party.
You might remember seeing these Tall Floral Buckets in the photos of my Workshop/Pop-up Shop. They come as a set of 3 for $84 (various sizes, this being the largest). I have a lot of plans for them – umbrella stand, hanging on pegs to hold gardening tools, blooming branches, and, of course, flowers.
Here, Mr. poses for his picture with the set of all three of the Tall Buckets (that come as a set) are pictured together.
Chatham Blue Wrap
I have three new colors of wraps for this season, beginning with an all-time favorite, Chatham Blue Wrap. This goes with everything, including my signature dark jeans with white shirt. I wear it with workout clothes and a puffer vest during the week and throw it over my shoulders with a blouse for every other occasion. I love these!
Privot Berry Wrap
I can’t wait to pair this with white jeans. It would look great with white on white, a bight coral top or a light blue shirt (another favorite of mine). This is definitely going to become a staple.
Goldenrod Wrap
This is my springy wrap. I’ve mentioned that I don’t own too many colors in my wardrobe. This pale yellow brings a springy feel to any outfit. I’m picturing it with a navy pencil skirt and cream silk blouse for Easter.
New Stitched Ribbon Collection
I’ve added a new collection of ribbon this spring. I love the simple, stitched look of this ribbon. The colors are beautiful, and it will add a homemade touch to any gift, napkin or bundle of flowers.
Lemon Cupcakes topped with Swiss Buttercream, recipe coming later today.
Striped Cupcake Wrappers in fun spring colors. I have used the blue and yellow for the cupcakes above, and will save the other colors for other occasions.
All of the supplies can be found, here, in the Baking Supplies Collection.
Bread Board Collection
Creamware Platters
Classic Cream & Sugar
Gold Frames & Botanical Prints Collection
Le Pens + Tablets Collection
Market Totes
I’ll be sharing some step-by-step blog posts for some of the projects featured in this collection today and tomorrow. In the meantime, enjoy browsing the Spring Collection : )
