Naptime Entertaining: Recipes & Ideas for Family Entertaining

Whenever I am in Cooperstown I always make a point of picking up a tub of Painted Goat goat cheese at the Saturday farmer’s market. The locally made cheese is perfectly tangy and smooth and they make all kinds of interesting spreads with their product. This summer I became addicted to the Rosemary Fig Goat Cheese terrine and was beside myself when I ran out of the tub I brought back to Connecticut.

I am currently in Cooperstown on vacation so I am stopping in with a few great recipes and shorter posts this week and next. When my daughter naps on vacation I am generally away from my computer having fun cooking with my Mom, canning with Dad and catching up on the latest editions of Vogue […]

Before the holiday weekend gets underway I am stopping in with a few naptime chef ideas for your Fourth of July drink spread, along with a fun new cocktail recipe. It is essential that you have a few great frosty drink recipes on hand if you are entertaining this coming weekend! I made my first […]

I love my Dad, he is one of the most special people in the world to me. I am sure many of you feel the same way about your fathers too. When it comes to celebrating Father’s Day I like to break out what I consider “Dad Food.” Mother’s Day is all about sweet breakfasts […]

The Occasion: Meghan’s baby shower in Cooperstown NY Menu: Bacon & Green Chili Quiche, Tomato Pesto & Gruyere Tart, Ham & Asparagus Quiche, Sweet Fruit Salad, Leafy Green Salad, Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Buttercream, Prosecco with Raspberries, Iced Tea, Pellegrino, Coffee & Tea Attendees: Party of 20 women, no kids Today I need to tell […]

The Occasion: Friends coming over for a casual early dinner party with kids. Menu: Fish Tacos, Roasted Asparagus, Guacamole, Salsa, Mexican Green Rice, Tres Leches Cake, Red Wine Sangria. Attendees: Party of 7, with kids! Naptime Goals: Bake cake, trim asparagus, make the green sauce for the rice, cook the onions and peppers for the […]

What’s Going on Today: A birthday celebration! Naptime Goals: Preparing the food for the party (see previous post), including baking the cake and whipping the cream. More Great Birthday Baked Goods: Check out this Naptime Simple Tips column! Yesterday you read all about the birthday dinner I prepped during naptime and today I am focusing […]

The Occasion: Husband’s 30-something dinner, served mid-week on a school day. Menu: Roasted Zucchini with Tomato & Burrata, Grilled Steak with Smoky Blue Cheese Sauce, Parmesan Couscous, Citrusy Angel Food Cake with Dulce de Leche and Cinnamon Whipped Cream, Rasblini (Raspberry Champagne Cocktail) Attendees: Party of 3! Naptime Goals: Make Blue Cheese Sauce, season Steak, […]

What’s Going on Today: Christmas craziness, is there any more I need to say? Naptime Goals: Pull together Macaroni & Cheese with Leeks Tonight’s Menu: Macaroni & Cheese with Leeks, Baked Chicken, Wine (and lots of it!) Parenting Lesson of the Day: Don’t laugh when they ask Santa for a trampoline. The next few weeks […]

What’s Going on Today: Preparing for daughter’s birthday party while she naps. Naptime Goals: Set-up the birthday cake, popcorn, spiced up chex mix, cheeses, dip, cookies, lollipops, smoked salmon and baked brie. Today’s Menu: See above: a mix of kid food and adult food to please everyone attending. Bar stocked with Champagne, beer, wine & […]

What’s Going on Today: Preparing for a fun cocktail cruise on the boat with Phoebe from Big Girls, Small Kitchen! Naptime Goals: Make Guacamole, prepare Pear & Gorgonzola Crostini, chill wine. Tonight’s Snack Menu: Ina’s Guacamole, Pear & Gorgonzola Crostini, Shrimp Lollipops from Phoebe! Parenting Lesson of the Day: Tell them that Dora always wears […]

What’s Going on Today: Trip to the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Fair, lunch on the dock. Naptime Goals: Put chicken in bbq sauce to marinate, make peach crumble, make Watermelon Margaritas. Tonight’s Menu: Home Guacamole, Cheese & Fruit, BBQ Chicken, Cous-Cous Salad, Green Salad, Watermelon Margaritas, Peach Crumble. Parenting Lesson of the Day: The more kids […]