Donna's Entertaining Blog

Over the past week I've received gifts from the garden from both my father and my husband. That's why I have zucchini, tomatoes, blackberries, and cucumbers all ready to be used in some sort of wonderful dish. It's very easy to fall back on my usual recipes for these ingredients, but it's even better that I was able to review this new cookbook from British gardener and cook Sarah Raven. In my review of "In Season: Cooking with Vegetables and Fruits" you'll see how timely and inspirational this book can be for any cook or hostess faced with an abundance of produce on her kitchen counter.
_{Photo © Rizzoli USA}

Over the upcoming Labor Day weekend, we're going to be on the road quite a bit, attending local events. There's a music festival we enjoy every summer, an auto race that my husband put into the schedule and, of course, our last hurrah at the local pool. While it's possible to purchase food at each of these places, I'm not looking forward to eating road food all weekend long. That's why I've put together a quick and easy picnic menu to take along with us to at least one of these outings. That way I won't feel too guilty when I succumb to the lure of the ice cream truck.
_{Photo © Donna Pilato}

It seems that readers submit many more photos of birthday cakes made for girl parties than boy parties. That just doesn't seem fair, does it? So I've decided to round up a selection of cute boy cake photos that have been sent to me, to help inspire you bakers with little boys in your family. After all, little boys love cake too.

Lego Theme Birthday Cake
Pirate Ship Cake
Buzz Lightyear Cake
Cars Cake
_{Photo © Tiffani Fooshee}

I'm trying very hard to ignore the signs. Temperatures didn't make it out of the 70's today. Coaches are calling with soccer schedules. And friends are already discussing the summer in the past tense. Although I'd like to bury my head in the sand, no one is letting me. A Labor Day End of Summer Party may have to find its way into the schedule to help ease me into the unavoidable, high energy season ahead.

My older daughter just got her new class assignment over the weekend. Suddenly, going back to school is an unavoidable reality. I'm not sure who feels more gloomy about it, me or the girls. For them there's the prospect of scary teachers (aren't they all on the first day?), homework, and tests. For me, there's the return to carpooling, school forms, and checking homework. To take our minds off of this ugly reality, I plan to get the girls together with some of their friends over the next few weeks to look at the bright side of going back - seeing friends who have been away all summer. That's why I always recommend a Back-to-School Party for any family facing the same jitters that we are.

At the risk of overstating a point, I believe most summer parties should be held outdoors whenever the weather allows. That goes for cocktail parties too. Light a few tiki torches, put some speakers around your patio, and take the party outside. Since the party is mainly drinks and hors d'oeuvres, with an occasional sweet tossed in for fun, the menu is simple to plan and prepare. Try some of the menu choices on this cocktail party menu, or turn to these easy summer hors d'oeuvres, and you'll find yourself wondering why you never tried this before.

We spent much of last weekend at the beach trying to soak in as much summer as we can before the inevitable arrival of autumn. Going to the beach is truly our quintessential summer activity, as it is for so many of our friends and neighbors. Which is why it's common for our community to bring the party to the beach at every possible opportunity. I highly recommend it if, you too, live close enough to the shore.

In the summertime I find there's always a little more time to think through all the details of my parties. And if I forget something, it's not a big deal because I have time to run out to the store to pick up things at the last minute. But in a few short weeks, the fall schedule is going to hit, and there will be little room for error, as all activities become wedged into an already packed calendar. That's when it becomes more important than ever to put together a timetable for your parties - that way you know exactly what you need to do to get ready for your next party, and eliminate the last minute stress that comes with forgetting things.

I don't know about you, but every time my family walks on the beach, we can't resist searching for seashell treasures. We always return home with a beach bucket full of shells. Of course, as mom of this household, it's up to me to figure out what to do with our treasures. Now, some moms I know will wait until the kids have gone off to a friend's house to play so she can secretly toss the shells into the trash. But not me. I'd rather save our memories and put our shells to good use by creating centerpieces and other decorative crafts. Here's how to make this easy seashell centerpiece. Make several of them to place along the length of a long dining table to light up a summertime dinner party.
_{Photo © Donna Pilato}

It appears that life has become so much more complicated, especially weddings, if you believe the TLC network. I draw this conclusion following my recent introduction to the programming on that network, which has become my daughters' fave over this summer. Thanks to my girls' newfound love for all reality shows that are acceptable at their tender ages, I've learned that engaged couples willingly subject themselves to the stress of preparing an elaborate dance for their first one at the wedding reception through the program "Rock the Reception." I've also learned just how much effort brides put into finding that perfect dress on "Say Yes to the Dress", and in the process how lucky I was that my Mom's dress fit me (with a few simple alterations). And to think I used to believe that Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties were all the fun a couple could want before the big day. Silly me.