Baby Shower Weekend

This weekend was a baby shower weekend for both my husband and I.  While he helped throw a boy's baby shower featuring smoked meat, backyard games, beer, and baseball at Fenway, I helped co-host the girl's baby shower.  New babies are springing up everywhere with my husband's classmates, and this time, the guest of honor was the lovely Mailee! We're thrilled that she's expecting a little baby girl when June rolls around.  

I teamed up with three other talented ladies, Jessica, Robyn, and Renee, and we had the best time planning a fun, girly afternoon.  Jessica did a fabulous job with invitations, using a darling baby animal-themed design from tinyprints. She also decorated the party and arranged beautiful spring bouquets in pink, purple, yellow, and green. 

The menu was a coordinated effort between all of us, featuring dainty artichoke puff pastry tarts, bacon-wrapped potato bites with a spicy sour cream dip, baked brie in a puff pastry shell (topped with puff pastry baby elephants for an added touch of cuteness), fruit salad, tomato mozzarella stacks, baked chickpeas, buttery cheddar biscuits, chile-lime popcorn, and homemade pizza rolls. 

To satisfy everyone's sweet tooth, Robyn whipped up the best chocolate-dipped pretzels, frosted sugar cookie flowers, giraffes, onesies, and elephants, and purple-iced cupcakes. And Renee put together adorable little party favors, candy-filled baby owl boxes, to hand out following the shower.

We set up a serving tray to hold the plates, silver cutlery (perfect for semi-fancy girly affairs), and cocktail napkins in yellow, green, and pink.

For drinks, I made Citrus Cucumber Water (2 lemons, 2 limes, and 2 cucumbers, thinly sliced, added to a drink dispenser filled with ice water) and Sparkling Citrus Punch.  The punch, a mixture of freshly squeezed grapefruit, orange, and lemon juice, topped with ginger ale (in place of champagne), and garnished with sliced oranges, grapefruit, and strawberries, was deliciously crisp and bright.  I served drinks in ever-popular mason jars with citrus wedges and happy yellow-striped paper straws.

Folks began rolling in around 2:00, mixing and mingling over food and drinks while catching up on all the latest girl talk. The cutest lady at the party was little Miss Evie, just a few months old and turning all the grown-up ladies green with envy over her pink tutu skirt.

Mailee opened her presents, where the hit of the afternoon was a teeny tiny pair of silver shoes. This will be one stylish little baby!

Spring has finally arrived in Boston, so trees and bushes were all abloom when we posed for a group shot outside. It was a beautiful backdrop for a beautiful group of ladies. It's sad to think that in just a few weeks everyone will be scattering across the country following graduation. What a pleasure it has been getting to know all of these girls!

After a fun afternoon, we packed up the decorations, helped Mailee get her loot up to her apartment  divvied up leftover food (the biggest perk of hosting a baby shower), posed for a hostesses and guest of honor picture, and headed home. It won't be long until Mailee's little baby girl arrives, and I can't wait to meet her!

Embroidered Cocktail Napkins

Recently I invited some girlfriends over for a Crafty Girl's Night, so I was in need of a new project. I turned to Pinterest for inspiration, and my eyes landed on this beautiful monogram pattern.  A plan was forming!  You see, I've been wanting to throw a cocktail party ever since my husband and I started learning to make cocktails. I want to go all out -- where guests get all gussied up, nibble on dainty bite-sized appetizers, and talk and laugh over drinks. Wouldn't a set of monogrammed cocktail napkins be perfect for just such an occasion? It was an embroidery project waiting to happen.

Pattern from Mary Corbert's Needle 'n Thread

Since the napkins are small, each one makes for a quick, fun project.  I'll share how I made them!  It's a process that could be used for anything: handkerchiefs, towels, tote bags, you name it.

And don't be discouraged if you're new to embroidery -- these tutorials from Wild Olive, a wonderful craft blog, are incredibly helpful. So here goes!

1) Find a Pattern:

First, find yourself a pattern.  Needle 'n Thread has an entire index of monogram embroidery patterns (including letters other than "C"). If monograms aren't your thing, there are tons of free patterns available online, or browse through patterns for purchase on Etsy.

2) Gather Supplies: 

Once you pick out a pattern, here's what you'll need to get started:

Printed out pattern
Sharpie  pen
Scissors
4" Embroidery Hoop
Cloth Cocktail Napkins
Water Soluble Pen
Tapestry Needle, Size 22 or 24 (tips on choosing needle types and sizes)
DMC Embroidery Floss

3) Pick Floss Colors:

I used the following embroidery floss colors, but you can use whatever colors tickle your fancy:

        Letter: 469 - Avocado Green      
        Vine: 3345 - Hunter Green Dark
        Flower: 926 - Gray Green Medium
        Flower center and dots: 729 - Old Gold Medium

4) Trace The Pattern:

To trace the pattern, print it out (sized to fit the napkin), outline it with a Sharpie (optional, but I find it helps it show up through the fabric), and lay it underneath the fabric.  Trace it onto the napkin using a water soluble pen.  

If you can't see your pattern through your fabric, try holding it up against a lit window. Once your pattern is traced, it's time to put the fabric into the hoop and start stitching!

5) Start Stitching

Stitch the Letter C:

Using 2 strands of green floss, outline the letter "C" using the Back Stitch technique.

(Note: Embroidery floss is made up of six strands, and you can vary how many strands you use to create thicker or thinner stitches. For larger projects, I frequently use all six strands, but here I chose two strands for a thinner, daintier finished product.)

Stitch the Vine:

For the vine, I used 2 strands of dark green floss to Back Stitch along the vine and around the leaves, and I used a Fill Stitch to fill in the leaves.

Stitch the Flower:

I opted for a lovely blueish-grey floss for the little flower. Using 2 strands of floss, Back Stitch around the petals. Then fill in the center of each petal using a Fill Stitch.

Stitch the Flower Center and Dots:

Almost done! For the finishing touch, I used all 6 strands of a pale yellow floss to make French Knots at the center of the flower and for the little dots.

(Note: French Knots were a little tricky for me to get the hang of, so if you're new to them, try doing a few practice knots on a separate piece of fabric. Once you get the hang of it, they're a cinch. Here's a video tutorial that I found particularly helpful, though I don't bother using a separate needle for my knots.)

6) Rinse

You're finished stitching!  To get rid of the blue ink, remove the napkin from the hoop, and run cool water over it until it all of the ink disappears.  Once the fabric dries, you have yourself a lovely personalized cocktail napkin.

I absolutely love how these turned out.  I've completed two and have four more to go. A set of these would be perfect for a special wedding, anniversary, or birthday gift.  Or you could make a set for yourself, like I did! 

Mexican Food in Medford: Tenoch

Stop the presses, y'all!  After years of missing the Mexican flavors so prevalent at home in Texas, it turns out that there is some really great Mexican food in Medford!  The good folks at Tenoch opened up in Medford Center about a year ago, and we finally paid them a visit earlier this month. When we walked in the door and began scanning the large menu board, we were like two Texans in a candy store (where the candy is Mexican food).

On our first visit, I tried the Torta Campechana, a mole-smothered pork tamale, and glass of sangria.  Tortas weren't on the menu at TexMex places when I was growing up, so this was a first for me. It was served on buttery toasted telera bread, spread with a black bean paste, and generously stuffed with carnitas, chorizo, Oaxaca cheese, avocado, onion, and tomato, all drizzled with a little chipotle mayo.  The tamale was very good, but the real highlight was the torta. After a couple visits, the Torta Campechana is still my favorite item on the menu.  And the sangria is some of the best I've had in Boston.

On my next visit, they had a special on the menu, a Torta de Pescado.  Lighter than the Torta Campechana, it's still warm and buttery and satisfying. The fish had been crisped up on the griddle, and with the creamy avocado, fresh crisp vegetables, and a little kick from the chipotle mayo, it was a refreshing, delicious sandwich.  I washed it down with another glass of sangria, naturally.

Update 6/2013: Tenoch is now serving Elote, Mexican corn on the cob, just in time for summer, and man is it good. According to my best guess, the corn is rolled in crema and cotija cheese and sprinkled with chili powder and lime juice. it's creamy and tangy and just a touch spicy. I think I'm in love.

Tenoch is truly a hidden gem, and I'm tickled pink that it's right down the street from us.  They're looking to expand into the city, and I believe they will have their very own food truck in the not-so-distant future, but for now, it's most certainly worth a trip into the suburbs!

It's Grilling Season: Grilled Mushrooms & Asparagus

It's starting to feel more like Spring around here, and it's been sunny and mild this week, which is more than enough excuse to get out the grill.  I flipped through Bobby Flay's Grill It! for inspiration, and two recipes caught my eye  One was Grilled Asparagus with Green Peppercorn Vinaigrette, and the other was Grilled Portobello Mushrooms with Hazelnut Pesto and Goat Cheese. Though I usually do exactly what Julia Child tells me, I can't disagree with her more when she says, "there is nothing worse than grilled vegetables."  To me, slightly charred, perfectly grilled vegetables are the delicious epitome of the warm, sunshine-filled months.

For the asparagus, I used Red Wine Vinegar in place of White Wine Vinegar, threw in a little whole grain mustard, and opted for capers instead of green peppercorns. For the mushrooms, I used some of my Swiss Chard and Brussels Sprout Pesto that I made and stashed in the freezer a couple weeks ago. We bought some pretty rib-eye steaks to go with the grilled vegetables, and we had a springtime feast!

Grilled Portobello Mushrooms with Pesto and Goat Cheese 

Serves 2

Ingredients

2 portobello mushroom, wiped clean and stems removed

~2 Tb olive oil + salt and pepper

1/3 c Swiss Chard and Brussels Sprout Pesto

1/4 c crumbled goat cheese

1 tsp lemon zest

Directions

Drizzle olive oil over top and bottom of the mushroom caps, and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper.

Place the mushrooms on the grill cap side down.  Grill over high heat for 4-5 minutes, until slightly charred. Flip and grill for 3-4 more minutes, until cooked through.

Remove mushrooms to a platter, cap side down. Top with crumbled goat cheese and a dallop of pesto, and garnish with the lemon zest. Serve immediately.

Grilled Asparagus with Caper Vinaigrette

Serves 2

Ingredients

1 bunch of asparagus, tough ends trimmed

~2 Tb olive oil + salt and pepper

3 Tb Red Wine Vinegar

1 tsp dijon mustard

1 tsp whole grain mustard

2 tsp honey

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

3/4 Tb capers, drained and chopped

1/4 c + 2 Tb olive oil

Directions

Whisk together the red wine vinegar, dijon mustard, whole grain mustard, honey, salt, pepper, and capers. Slowly drizzle in olive oil, whisking constantly to emulsify.

(You can make this a couple days in advance, storing it in the refrigerator, but let it sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes before serving.  I make mine in a little glass jar so that I can give it a good shake before serving, and the jar works nicely for storing leftover vinaigrette in the refrigerator)

Drizzle olive oil over the asparagus, sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper, and toss to coat.

Grill asparagus over high heat about 3-4 minutes.  Roll the stalks over, and grill 3-4 more minutes, until slightly charred.

Remove the asparagus to a platter.  Drizzle with the vinaigrette, toss, and serve immediately.

Showing Off Boston

Here are some highlights from our weekend with visitors from Texas (my husband's cousin Jaycie and her fiance). It's always fun to show off Boston a little bit! My husband was head tour guide on Friday while I worked, taking them for bagel sandwiches at Magnificent Muffin, a Sam Adams tour, towering pastrami sandwiches at Sam LaGrassa's, and finally a little walking tour in the pouring rain of some of the Freedom Trail and Harvard Square.

That evening, we enjoyed dinner and drinks at Green Street Grill and a performance by the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Symphony Hall. They played a little-performed rendition of Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" arranged by Stokowski (rather than the popular Ravel arrangement) that was phenomenal. The final movement, "The Great Gate of Kiev," gave me chills.

Saturday morning, we drove up to the North Shore.  At Woodman's of Essex, we indulged in a fried feast: creamy and light clam chowder chock full of clams, fried hushpuppy-like clam cakes, perfectly battered whole belly clams that tasted of the sea, and chewy, crispy clam strips (my favorite, despite New Englanders' claims that bellies are superior).

On the North Shore you can't go wrong with Woodman's, the Clam Box or J.T. Farnham's. In my humble opinion, the best clams are at Woodman's or the Clam Box, but the friendly folks at Farnham's also serve up delicious fare with a beautiful view to boot.

To walk off our lunch, we spent the afternoon strolling around the fishing village of Rockport, poking around the little shops at Bear Skin Neck, admiring the sea views, and picking our way around piles of lobster traps for a picture with their local landmark, The Motif.

That evening, we made our way back into Boston and meandered through the Boston Public Garden, where the swan boats are back out on the water and the trees are beginning to come alive. The public garden is a special spot to us, the site of our engagement three years ago this month!

For dinner, we went to Eastern Standard. Where else? We spread the gospel of their fantastic food and cocktails to anyone who will listen.  It's our favorite restaurant in town, and we love sharing it with guests. To end the meal, the manager brought us a complimentary mini-cocktail. Due to our shared love of The Martinez, she wanted us to try their spin on it, The Frobisher, using housemade rose vermouth. It was delicious.

Sunday morning we toured the U.S.S. Constitution. She's a majestic ship with towering masts and gleaming woodwork. Her sides, lined with cannons, are so sturdy that they earned her the nickname "Old Ironsides." 

Finally, is there any better way to spend an afternoon than at the ballpark? Fenway Park never fails to create a sense of awe. You can feel the history and the love of the game that are housed within its walls. The press box lined with pennants dating back to the early 1900's, the imposing Green Monstah, the little wooden seats from a time when people were smaller, the aged red brick walls, the smell of hot dogs and beer in the air, and the sound of a wooden bat cracking against a baseball is America nostalgia at its best. I'm a Rangers fan through and through, but I love an afternoon at Fenway.

Sunday evening, Jaycie and Donald flew home to Texas, and life returned to normal.  Tired from the busy weekend, we decided to spend Monday, the Patriot's Day holiday, resting in the quiet of our own home.  

Thankfully, we were miles away from the tragic events at the Boston Marathon finish line.  Text messages began pouring in asking if we were ok, so we turned on the news. As the scene unfolded, we sat watching for hours and checking with friends to ensure that everyone was out of harms way.  We feel so blessed to be safe and unharmed, but we are praying for those affected.  And while my heart is heavy for our city, I'm encouraged by the vast outpouring of love both toward my husband and I and toward this great city.

(Image courtesy of Andi on Dribble)