Whether it’s a cozy dinner party or a full-blown holiday celebration, hosting is always a balancing act—being present with your guests while also making sure their needs are met. If cocktails or mocktails are part of the plan, the secret to keeping things easy and enjoyable can be summed up in one word: preparation. Taking the time—whether it’s weeks in advance or just a … [Read more...]
Burgers 3 Ways
As the air turns crisp and weekends fill with football and back to school buzz. Burgers are the ultimate crowd pleaser for tailgates, weekend dinners and fall gatherings. Grilling season needn’t end when the leaves fall. Many people move their burger-making indoors, using cast-iron skillets or stovetop grills. Fire up your imagination with variety of patties - beef, turkey, … [Read more...]
Extra Nice Pumpkin Spice Cookies
If you know anything about fall, you know pumpkin spice is THE flavor of the season. These pumpkin spice cookies are the perfect way to make it feel like fall in your house even if it's still hot outside in Abilene. They're full of pumpkin flavor and they have spices like cloves and nutmeg, all topped off with a delicious cinnamon glaze. These are soft and fluffy, and they are … [Read more...]
Fall Cocktails & Mocktail
Salt… it isn’t just for rims. Every great cocktail walks the line between too much and not enough. Too sweet, and it’s cloying. Too tart, and it becomes abrasive. The magic lies in balance—where ingredients don’t compete but complement. While sugar and citrus are the most common tools bartenders reach for to achieve this equilibrium, they are far from the only … [Read more...]
Watermelon “Cake”
Watermelon is a part of a lot of summer parties, and if you want a fun way to serve it at your next BBQ then you've got to try this watermelon "cake!" I cut a larger watermelon to be the bottom tier and a "baby" watermelon for the top tier, with a boba straw between them to keep them steady! I used toothpicks to place some of my favorite fruits along the side of the cake for … [Read more...]