Tutorial: Creating a Festive Easter Basket Tablescape #EasterFun #tastydecor #EasterTablescape #doityourselfdecor

Easter is this weekend, so I want to share a fun DIY project that doubles as decor...and a tasty treat! A couple of years ago, I teamed with my Mom to create a festive Easter tablescape in her dining room. It turned out so cute, and it was so much fun to put together! The tutorial post was so popular that I decided to share the step-by-step instructions to create this Easter Basket centerpiece this year. I promise that my Easter tablescape is so simple to make that literally ANYONE can do it. Feel free to customize it to include your favorite Easter décor and flavors. All you need is a large Easter basket and crinkly Easter grass, some colorful Easter candy and confections, and other seasonal décor you have on hand. The key is to have fun and let your imagination inspire you!

Step 1: Gather Your Easter Décor and Goodies. Gather your supplies and set everything up around the table before you start assembling. It's the same principle as mise en place when cooking -- it lets you see exactly what items you have to work with. My Easter tablescape is comprised of treats that range in size from large to small...and from tall to nearly flat. This variation provides a nice visual appeal to the final tablescape. You'll notice I started with a floral tablecloth on the table. I quickly determined that I wanted everyone's eyes to focus on the festive centerpiece, so I switched to a solid pastel pink tablecloth to match my Easter décor...but any pastel or light green tablecloth will also work.

Step 2: Place a Large Easter Basket In the Center of the Table, Then Determine Its Focal Point. The Easter basket is the main visual focus of your tablescape. Mom had a large white basket with pink ribbon trim and pretty pastel accents. The focal point of my Easter basket is a large solid chocolate bunny. 

Step 3: Fill In the Easter Basket with Sweet Treats of Various Heights. The chocolate bunny is the focal point of our basket...but he's just the start! Along the back of the Easter basket, I inserted a trio of hand-decorated Easter bunny cookies with long sticks inserted. I anchored the bunny cookies into floral foam that was placed under the basket's multicolor grass. I then strategically placed a variety of my family's favorite Easter candy and sweet treats inside the basket.

Step 4: Place a Circle of Green Easter Grass Around the Bottom of the Basket. This grassy area is a perfect way to incorporate smaller treats into the tablescape. I added bite-sized chocolate-caramel eggs, mini sandwich cookies, and a variety of bite-sized candies in Spring/Easter colors. These items looked like colorful Easter eggs hidden in the grass just waiting to be found! Mom has tons of great Easter décor, so I placed a white porcelain bunny at the edge of the grass to guard the candy from sneaky hands.

That's it...simple step-by-step instructions to create a festive and fun Easter tablescape/centerpiece! It provides a gorgeous focal point for your Easter table, and the treats in and around the Easter basket are perfect for family and friends to enjoy as part of dessert. Remember...the key is to have fun and let your personal creativity shine! 

Perfect for Easter: Sugar Free Mint-Peach Tea Sipper #healthybeverage #sugarfree #lowcarb #peachtea #eastercelebration

Sweet tea is sacred here in Texas...but all that sugar isn't necessarily healthy. I don't drink sugary beverages these days, so I challenged myself to create a sweet tea punch with zero refined sugar and plenty of peachy goodness! I used stevia and monk fruit sweetener in place of granulated sugar to make a delicious mint simple syrup. This refreshing tea also features a fruity peach puree. Instead of ice, this tea is poured over frozen peach slices to amplify the peach flavor... and prevent the tea from becoming watered down. This minty peach tea is perfect for sipping all Spring long, but it's especially perfect to serve at any Easter entertaining you have planned this weekend!This southern tea is a family-friendly mocktail everyone will rave about. It smells absolutely amazing...and it tastes even better! Best of all, it can be made up to a day ahead and chilled in the fridge. Smells heavenly...tastes even better...and can be made ahead? That's a winning trifecta on a busy holiday weekend! 

Lenten Recipe Spotlight: Rock Shrimp Quesadilla with Oaxacan Cheese and Tomatoes #lentenrecipes #shrimp #seafood #quesadilla

 

The Lenten season begins this week, so I'll be featuring lots of great seafood and meatless recipes in the coming weeks! Even those who don't observe Lent can enjoy the healthy Spring-forward recipes I'll be sharing. I'm kicking things off with my lighter spin on a Rock Shrimp Quesadillas with Oaxacan Cheese and Tomatoes recipe I first shared here a couple of years ago. These quesadillas are perfect for busy cooks! They're easy to assemble and quick to cook. Everyone who tastes them loves them, and the spice level is adjustable to match your desired heat level. 

Stress-Free Holiday Goodies...Featuring Santa's Favorite Holiday Bark #nobaketreat #christmastreat #peppermint #easychocolatebark #nostressholidaybaking

 Can you BELIEVE the holiday season is officially here?!?!? I recently started a new job, so this year I'm all about saving time and ensuring I have a stress-free holiday season! Today, I'm sharing one of my favorite no-bake holiday goodies. Santa's Favorite Holiday Bark is a snap to make...and it's packed with festive holiday flavors and colors. If you can melt chocolate, then you can whip up a batch of this festive candy! The finished bark can be stored in a covered tin for up to a week. It's perfect to have on hand for last-minute holiday guests...and it makes a great handmade holiday gift.

The Weekend Gourmet Dines Out...Featuring San Antonio's Anacacho Coffee & Cantina #WeekendGourmetDinesOut #culinarytravel #sanantoniodining #WeekendGourmetHitstheRoad

This Fall, The Weekend Gourmet spent a long weekend in San Antonio. While we were there, we tried out some tasty new-to-us additions to the city's thriving food scene. One of these culinary experiences was a fantastic dinner tasting at Anacacho Coffee & Cantina, located inside the historic St. Anthony Hotel in Downtown San Antonio. Anacacho features a dual culinary approach. During the morning hours, they feature a breakfast menu that's served with artisan coffee beverages made in partnership with local coffee roaster Pulp Coffee. Starting at 1100 AM, the All Day food and cantina menus take center stage...featuring creative mixology and delicious food items from Chef Leo Davila. Chef Davila is a James Beard Award semifinalist known for creating dishes that are layered and complex...but also fun and approachable.

When we arrived at The St. Anthony, we dropped our car with the valet and walked around to the hotel's side entrance, where Anacacho is located. The first thing we noticed was the space's rustic-chic decor...think leather and wood. The room features plenty of cozy alcoves to sit and enjoy cocktails paired with tasty bites. Speaking of cocktails...the ornate bar is definitely the decfocal point of the room. The atmosphere at Anacacho was very cozy and inviting!

We were seated and warmly welcomed by Chef Davila. Our first step was to choose a cocktail. Michael selected a cocktail from Anacacho's Craft Cocktails and Spirits menu. A talented mixologist created a custom cocktail for me that perfectly reflected my love of fruit-forward, bubbly drinks. Michael selected the Dust Cutter, made with Trombo Blanco tequila, Dos Hombres mezcal, prickly pear puree, lime, and Lady Bird club soda. It was tart and earthy, with a bit of fizz and a gorgeous fuschia color. My custom cocktail featured sweet-tart hibiscus and a bit of sparkling wine. It was fruity and refreshing, with a feminine hot pink hue. Our meal was off to a festive start! From there, Chef Davila selected a selection of Anacacho's Small Bites appetizers and Main Courses for us to try. Everything we tasted was delicious, creative, and full of the big flavors we love. First up were a pair of appetizers that paired perfectly with our cocktails.

Our appetizers were the Papas Bravas and Mexican Style Street Corn. The Papas Bravas potatoes were perfectly fried: crispy outside and fluffy inside. They were served with earthy miso aioli and a unique pickled herb oil. It was a simple dish that was perfectly prepared. We simply couldn't get enough of the crispy potato wedges dipped in the creamy aioli. We fought each other for the last wedge! For us, the true mark of a restaurant is how well they make simple recipes like this. The key to success is using the best quality ingredients and letting them shine. We loved how nicely the Papas Bravas paired with our cocktails. Finger foods like this and fun cocktails are a perfect way to kick off any date night...or end it with a nightcap!

The Mexican Style Street Corn was a modern interpretation of the classic street vendor food. This dish featured two ears of corn cut in quarters, making them easy to eat individually. The corn was topped with a drizzle of Green Goddess dressing, spicy oil, Texas pesto, roasted pecans, queso fresco, and a sprinkling of chile powder. This dish was an explosion of flavors: sweet, salty, earthy, and spicy. It was a bit messy to eat...but that's half of the fun...and precisely what napkins are designed for! From there, we switched to Main Course menu items -- including a refreshing fruit-forward salad, Chef Davila's modern takes on Tex-Mex classics, and a particularly mind-blowing Tex-Mex spin on a classic Asian noodle dish. Everything we sampled was creative, fun, and perfectly combined flavors and textures.

Perfect for Football Weekends: Slow-Cooker Brisket Chili #footballfood #homegating #slowcookermeals #chili #handsoffcooking

 

Football season is in full swing...so I'm always looking for great game day meals that let me serve tasty food without missing any the big game. Enter today's Slow-Cooker Brisket Chili! This slow-cooker meal is made with chunks of tender beef, veggies, and plenty of spices and seasonings. This recipe is ideal for Fall potlucks...busy weeknights...and football watch parties. This is a healthy recipe too, thanks to few tweaks I made to the original recipe I found in a Southern Living cookbook. 

Kicking Off Fall Baking Season...Featuring Glazed Maple-Pumpkin Muffins #pumpkinlover #muffins #fallbaking #muffins

The calendar may SAY that it's Fall...but it's still pretty warm here in Texas. That said, we're doing our best to speed up the arrival of cooler weather by baking up a few delicious Fall treats. Today, I'm sharing Glazed Maple-Pumpkin Muffins. They feature maple syrup and warm spices in the batter...and in the easy homemade glaze. If you love all things pumpkin, you definitely need to give these moist, yummy muffins a try! They're perfect paired with a hot cup of tea...or your favorite pumpkin spice latte.

These muffins will put you in a Fall frame of mind from the first bite...even if Mother Nature hasn't received the memo where you're located either!

Game Day Snacking...Minus the Extra Fat and Calories: Lighter Bacon-Ranch Chile Popper Dip #gamedaysnacks #footballfood #healthyappetizer #bacon #ranch #spicyfood

 

Football season is finally underway! That means we're gearing up for Texans games...and enjoying yummy game day treats. All that indulging in tasty treats can wreak havoc on your waistline...but it doesn't have to! My Lighter Bacon-Ranch Chile Popper Dip has all the flavor of a decadent, full-fat dip! It's lower in both calories and fat...but it's still super. This dip is a snap to make and can even be prepared up to 24 hours ahead and chilled in the fridge until 30 minutes before kickoff. Simply place the dip in an oven-safe baking dish and heat for 15-20 minutes. Score!

The Perfect Game Day...or Back-to-School...Treat: Touchdown Popcorn Toffee Bark #gamedaysnacks #popcorn #toffee #afterschoolsnack #kidapprovedfood

Although you can't tell it by the temperature outside, there are a couple of signs that Summer is winding down. First? Football is officially back with the start of pre-season games last weekend! Second, kids here in Texas are heading back to school. Both of these milestones require yummy grab-and-go snacks. Enter my addictive Touchdown Popcorn Toffee Bark. It's a snap to make...tastes delicious...and everyone loves it!

A crunchy graham cracker base is topped with popcorn and a few other tasty toppings. Before baking, a quick homemade  vanilla-cinnamon salted toffee is poured over the top. After a few minutes in the oven, the toffee is topped with a generous amount of semisweet and white chocolate chunks. After the bark cools, it's broken into pieces to serve. Trust me: this sweet-salty snack will be a huge hit, so consider making a double batch...because nobody can eat only one piece!

Summer Salad Days...Featuring Chopped Shrimp Salad with Honey-Lime Vinaigrette #summerfood #maindishsalad #shrimp #gulfseafood #healthymeals #eattherainbow

It's the dog days of Summer...hot and humid. The kind of weather that makes me crave lighter meals that don't heat up my kitchen. My Chopped Shrimp Salad with Honey-Lime Vinaigrette is refreshing on a warm evening…but it’s filling enough to satisfy hearty appetites. The trick to preparing this salad as quickly as possible is to start with peeled and deveined shrimp. With a bit of multitasking, this flavorful salad is ready to serve in about 30 minutes. It features seasoned grilled shrimp, avocado, crumbled feta, crisp seasonal veggies, and a bit of crunch. Don’t be intimidated by the homemade dressing – it only uses a few simple ingredients and comes together quickly. 

Perfect for July 4th Cookouts: California Layered Pasta Salad #summercooking #july4food #makeaheadfood #salad #pastasalad

Can you believe it's already time to celebrate Independence Day this week? If you're planning to head outside to grill for part of your celebration, I've got a perfect side dish for you! A popular salad from my childhood in the 70s is seven-layer salad. It was delicious...and very pretty to look at...but it's totally retro today. I came up with a fresh new spin on this classic side dish. My California Layered Pasta Salad features layers of cheese tortellini, avocado, veggies, homemade reduced-fat ranch dressing, and a ton of tasty toppings. This salad is pretty to look at bursting with flavor. Even better? It's made with healthier ingredients, and you don't have to turn on your oven to make it! Another plus? It tastes even better if you prepare it a day ahead and refrigerate overnight.

Summer Grilling Spotlight...Featuring Surf and Turf Tacos #grilling #shrimp #steak #tacos #summereating

It's Summer...which means it's time to get outside and fire up those grills! Tacos are one of my favorite foods. What's not to like?!? They're versatile...and they always feature the Big Flavors we crave at my house! The Surf and Turf Tacos I'm sharing today are perfect for those times when you just can't decide whether you're hungry for shrimp or steak...because they feature both! Add a quick homemade avocado-corn salsa, tangy lime crema, and some shredded cheese -- and you've got one fabulous meal. To save time, the shrimp and steak can be added to the simple homemade marinade the day before and refrigerated overnight. Then, these flavorful tacos can be ready to enjoy in less than an hour the next day!

Healthy Summer Eating...Featuring Weekend Brunch Salad #entreesalad #summereating #healthyeating #healthyanddelicious

Summer has arrived here in Texas! For me, that means eating lots of seasonal produce and entree salads. Today, I'm sharing one of my favorite recent salad creations that's makes a perfect Summer brunch...or light lunch. My Weekend Brunch Salad includes some of my favorite breakfast items...presented in a main dish salad form. The taste is familiar...while also being fun and refreshing. It's also filling without leaving you feeling stuffed! The fact that it's lower in fat and carbs is a healthy bonus.

Just In Time for Memorial Day...Featuring White Chocolate Cheesecake-Berry Trifles #berries #nobakedessert #summerdesserts #memorialdayfood

 

A sure sign that Memorial Day is just around the corner...and Summer is on the horizon? There's tons of seasonal fresh berries arriving in local grocery stores. Why not create a refreshing dessert?!?!?My White Chocolate Cheesecake-Berry Trifles use cubed angel food cake to save fat and calories. Strawberries were a must for me, and I paired them with blackberries. The white chocolate cheesecake mousse is light and fluffy and pairs perfectly with the sweetly tart berries. Put it all together, and you've got a fabulous warm weather dessert. 

Streamlined Sheet Pan Dinner: Greek Chicken with Zucchini, Tomatoes, and Mushrooms #easymeal #healthydinner #chicken #cleaneating #sheetpanrecipe

I love to cook! But some nights? I need to get in and out of the kitchen with as little fuss...and mess...as possible. Enter sheet pan dinners, which cook an entire meal using ONE pan! They're a perfect solution to save time and streamline kitchen cleanup! Greek Chicken with Zucchini, Tomatoes, and Mushrooms combines seasonal veggies and Mediterranean spices with chicken breast to create a delicious one-pan dinner. This dish literally takes 10 minutes to prep, then roasts in the oven for about 30 minutes. That gives you a pocket of time to whip up a quick side dish. Life can be hectic...but dinner doesn't have to be!

Family-Friendly Lenten Meal...Featuring Tilapia Wrap Sandwiches with Feta-Avocado Slaw #lentenmeals #fishrecipes #seafood #healthymeals

I'm always on the lookout for Lenten Friday recipes that help me create tasty and quick seafood meals. At the end of a busy week, nobody wants to spend hours cooking dinner! My family-friendly Tilapia Wrap Sandwiches with Feta-Avocado Slaw are bursting with fun flavors and textures. Convenient frozen tilapia fish sticks and a quick homemade slaw flavored with feta and creamy avocado are rolled inside soft flatbreads. All you have to do is add a quick side dish or two...and dinner is ready in about 30 minutes!

Lenten Meal Spotlight...Featuring Sizzling Garlic Shrimp #lentenmeals #shrimp #spicy #gulfseafood #fiveingredientrecipe

Time for another delicious Lenten seafood recipe! Today, I'm sharing my Sizzling Garlic Shrimp...which takes FIVE simple ingredients that combine to provide HUGE flavor! It's also a snap to make for a weeknight dinner. Here's an tip for you: if you buy shrimp that are already peeled and deveined, this dish can literally be ready to eat in about 10 minutes. While you whip up the shrimp, make sure to bake up some crusty French bread to soak up the flavorful sauce in the bottom of the serving bowl!

Lenten Seafood Dinner...Featuring Baked Crab Cakes with Avocado Crema and Mango-Avocado Salsa #lentenmeals #crabcakes #seafood

 

This week's Lenten dinner recipe is my Baked Crab Cakes with Avocado Crema and Mango-Avocado Salsa. They're lower in calories than traditional fried crab cakes, and they're served with a duo of flavorful sauces. The finished crab cakes are served on top of a creamy avocado sauce...and topped with a tangy tropical mango-avocado salsa. Healthy and delicious...a winning combination any time of year!

Lenten Meal Ideas...Featuring Shrimp Scampi Grilled Cheese #shrimp #grilledcheese #grownupgrilledcheese #elevatedcomfortfood

The Lenten season begins next week, so I'll be sharing a delicious seafood or vegetarian recipe here weekly. I'm starting things off today with a gourmet grilled cheese that seafood lovers are guaranteed to go crazy for! I used nutty Comté and smooth-melting Gruyere cheeses to create my Shrimp Scampi Grilled Cheese. My inspiration was two of my favorite dishes: cheesy garlic bread and buttery shrimp scampi. Wait until you see how easy this flavorful grilled cheese is to whip up. With one bite, I guarantee you'll be hooked!

Tutorial: Assembling a Lightened-Up Game Day Taco Bar Stadium for the Super Bowl #superbowlfood #homegating #snackadium #foodietutorial #appetizerdisplay

The Super Bowl is next Sunday. That means cheering...commercial watching...and lots of amazing FOOD!! Today, I'm going to show you step-by-step instructions to create a Lightened-Up Game Day Taco Bar Stadium. These days, I use healthier versions of my favorite taco fixings to reduce fat, carbs, and calories. I do this without sacrificing any of the fun or flavor! I use a football field serving platter I found a couple of years as the taco bar's centerpiece. I'll show you how easy it is to create this simple football-themed appetizer display. My football field tray has sections to hold reduced fat shredded cheese, fresh pico de gallo, and guacamole. Reduced fat sour cream and a trio of  healthy sauces are spooned into four smaller sections in the tray's "end zones." The end result is a display with great eye appeal...and taste! 

Keep reading for step-by-step instructions to cook and assemble my Lightened-Up Game Day Taco Bar Stadium. I promise it's easy...the entire process of cooking and setup will take you an hour max! To save time, the beef and chicken taco fillings can be made a day ahead and refrigerated overnight. This taco bar display is a perfect showstopping centerpiece for any game day spread.