A summer evening dinner party

8.14.13- 

  If there's one thing I love it's planning, preparing & throwing a party & when there is good food & fabulous friends involved, forget about it!  I had the pleasure of hosting a Dinner party for Gourmet Club with my friend, Nicole last week. It was a delightful evening to say the least.  Our theme for the night was Dinner & a Movie. 

{Who doesn't love an outdoor movie under the stars?} 

Our guests were greeted with this frame marquee 

{It really is one of my favorite decorating pieces I own!}  

I use this for so many things, too many to count! Guess what I even made it myself & you can too.  What to learn how?  If so watch HERE for all the details. 

The dinner was held in Nicole's beautiful yard.  I mean just look at that!  The stone floor, arbor & cafe lights just set the tone for the evening.  

Loved all the color combos we used.  Everything was bright, vibrant & screamed Summer.  Glad that my vintage pop bottle collection came in handy once again.  Not to mention vintage tin spice boxes & Nicole's cute collection of old cameras.  Quite the mis match collections of goods but it all went perfectly together to go along with Dinner & a Movie. 

This little set up might just have been my favorite thing of the whole night.  Just look at that cheerful charming spot?  We used the table to serve the appetizers & drink from.  LoVED it!  The colors just oozed Summertime & was simply delightful to look at.  

Here we are standing by the candy station for the outdoor movie & ready for our guests to arrive.  

I always have a good time spending time with this sweet friend.  She is so fun to spend time with & we have the best time decorating & setting everything up.  Love having a friend who likes pretty much the same things I do. We just kept going into our houses & pulling from our collections for the decor outside.  Worked perfectly! 

-Great minds think alike.  We didn't ever plan to wear the same color combination!- 

Always have a good time with these ladies.  Eating yummy food, talking, tasting, laughing & EATiNG!  The menu for the night was just easy & carefree & lots of pizzas, Pizzas & PiZZAS.  Oh, they were soooo good! 

I wish I would have taken a picture as everyone settled in on chairs on the lawn for the movie to start.  Everyone was wrapped up in blankets & munching on Marshmallow Popcorn & other sweets.  Such a fun night watching a foodie film, Julie & Julia- the perfect show to end a fun night. 

Everyone receives a packet with all the recipes we used for the dinner to take home with them.  Thought they all looked cute tucked into an old wooden crate waiting for everyone to grab as they left for the night. I even gave a few extras away on Instagram. 

{So Fun!} 

Can't wait to see all the pictures that were taken that night & of all the yummy food.

 {I didn't take any pics of that because I was too busy eating!} 

 I'll be sure to tell you when they all go up on our Gourmet Club Blog, Delish My Dish.  Go there to see pics of past dinners & to get lots of great recipes. 

As Julia would say, Bon Appetite!

{M} 

School inspired decor

8.14.13- 

  Trying to grasp the thought that late summer evenings {for my kids} spent outside playing for hours are quickly drawing to a close.  

{at least during the week that is} 

Time to start taking down the Summer decor & putting up all things fall- books, footballs, owls & such.  

While I'm busy doing that I thought it would be fun to take a look back at one of my all-time favorite posts I've ever done.  Hopefully it will inspire you & help me get into the spirit of the season as I change things up a bit here on Lilac Lane. 

Getting Schooled 

{a popular post from 8-12} 

-I'm a sucker for anything school themed that comes in a vintage box. Makes me smile! - 

Have a happy day! Be back soon with the finished product for this year. 

{M}

Cooking Class

8.12.13-

  

Who says it's only the kids who head back to school to learn a thing or two this time of year.  I had the opportunity of attending a French Macaron baking class with Miss Mace last week.  We gave her tickets to the class as a birthday present.  I knew that she would absolutely love it! 

-Us getting ready for Macarons 101- 

I've always admired these cute, colorful dainty cookies from afar but have never even thought of trying to whip some up on my own. I have to say that after taking the class they are not that intimidating at all. 

{Lots of steps & quite a process- yes, but totally do able} 

-We took the class from Orson Gygi's & I would highly recommend it.  They also have lots of other classes available throughout the year.  Check out their website for upcoming classes.  I'm sure we'll take another one again soon- 

Mace ready to learn a thing or two about baking this delicate sweet French sweets.  Macey has plans to travel to Paris her Senior year, I'm sure she'll attend more cooking classes when she gets there.  

One of the things we learned right of the bat is that they are pronounced, Mac-a ron {Like saying a man's name Ron}  not Mac-a roons {that's the coconut stack cookie version}  Thought that was pretty interesting to learn. 

-Taking it all in from our amazing teacher, Caroline.  She was very informative- 

At our cooking station ready to go. 

Making a simple sugar on the stove- Check! 

Whipping up egg whites that have been aged already Check! 

-I even got a turn to fold the egg whites into the almond flour mixture. These cookies are quite the process- 

I really enjoyed sitting back {taking pictures} & watching this girl in her element.  She knows her way around a kitchen, is not afraid to try new things & very comfortable when making just about anything.  She really has a talent for cooking & creating in the kitchen.  I've posted lots of her creations on Instagram under #missmaceinthekitchen  If you want to see what I'm talking about.  Rarely, does she use a recipe- she just makes it up as she goes, adds a dash of this or that & it always turns out amazing.

-Add piping her to list of skills in the kitchen- 

-All our Macarons piped out on the cookie sheets & just waiting to create the "skin" on them before placing them in the oven- 

-HoT out of the oven & waiting to cool.  Did you know that besides "skin" Macarons also have "feet"?  Oh, the things you learn when taking a cooking class. I loved it!!- 

Here are the cookies Mace & I were responsible for.  A vanilla cookie {that was tinted orange} with a Mango White Chocolate filling. Divine!! 

Our take home package of goodies at the end of the class.  So fun to be able to sample & try all the different flavors that everyone made. 

{Vanilla with vanilla bean butter cream, raspberry butter cream, chocolate chocolate ganache & pistachio with spicy chocolate filling} 

A happy baker at the end of her first cooking class.

{Trust me, I'm sure there will be many cooking classes in the future for her} 

So fun to watch her passion for cooking & learning new techniques & skills. 

Happy month of going back to school everyone! 

{whatever kind of schooling & learning that might be} 

{M}  

Flour-less Cookie Recipe {Yum!}

8.8.13- 

 Hello.... welcome to another fabulous blog hop.  

Today I'm thinking of my girls heading back to school soon. It's that time of year again.  Time to start creating home lunches for them to take & of coarse dreaming of yummy after-school snacks for when they come in the door exhausted after a long day of learning. 

If you know me well you know I love to bake!  The first day of school {for me} is usually spent in my kitchen baking something sweet to give the girls when they get home. I want to share a scrumptious cookie recipe with ya'll. 

{I say that because I was first introduced to these goodies from my dear friend in Oklahoma} 

The other reason I love this recipe is it is packed with all sorts of yummy wonderful ingredients but interestingly enough contains NO flour.  Kind of an different spin from the cookies I usually bake. So give it a try. 

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Flour-less Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chip & Oatmeal cookies- 

{Yep, all that good stuff!} 

Disclaimer: This recipe makes a BuNCH!  So either make it with freezing some or sharing them with friends & family in mind or just simply 1/2 the recipe. 

{I heart to share!}

6 Eggs 

2 C. Sugar 

2 C. Brown Sugar 

1 1/2 tsp. Corn Syrup {*you can substitute with molasses} 

1 TB + 1 1/2 tsp. Vanilla 

2 sticks of softened Butter 

-mix well together & then add:

3 C. of Peanut Butter {I like chunky!} 

4 tsp. Baking Soda 

9 C. of Oatmeal 

24 oz. Choc. Chips {milk or semi-sweet} 

Place on an un-greased cookie sheet & bake for 8-10 minutes at 325 degrees. Cool & enjoy! 

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 These cookies really are tasty, chewy & packed with lots of flavor in every single bite. Your kids will love them!

{I'm sure you will too} 

Like I said it makes a bunch which is great for:  

packing a sweet treat in the kids lunch boxes sharing with the next door neighbors 

& of coarse having some in the cookie jar for all your kids friends that come over. 

-* Did you have a lunch box when you went to school?  More about my vintage collection coming soon. -

I love to fill up Hector the cookie jars tummy full to the tip-top with amazing cookies & these Flourless P.B., Choc. Chip & Oatmeal cookies are just the ticket.  

 WhOo.... is a happy Owl tonight?  

Hector, that's WhOo!! 

-Hector, is happy perched up high on my green milk glass cake stand with lots of colorful marbles surrounding his feet- 

Check out these other amazing back to school projects and get in the school spirit with my 7 blogging buddies 

1. Back to School Mantle by The Crafted Sparrow  

2. Churched up Backpacks by Maybe I Will 

3. Back to School Wreath by Among the Young 

4.After School snack, Flour-less cookies by Hollyhocks & Honeybees. 

5. Portable Homework Station by The Benson Street 

6. ABC Book Page by She's Crafty 

7. Back to School Trends by Flats to Flip Flops 

8. Back to School Shopping List by Free Time Frolics 

I'll be back to share some of my favorite decorating ideas for Back to School & a mini- home tour around my house as I welcome in the Fall with all sorts of scholastic, book smart & educational decor.

{Love to decorate this time of year!}   

{M} 

My new favorite saying

8.6.13- 

  YeS!!  Finally a diet I can get on board with. Who's with me? When I saw this little wrapper at a restaurant in Detroit last month I just had to take a picture. This sums up my life.  Cookies {ok, anything baked & chocolate} is my weakness.  So I guess as long as I have one in each hand I'm good to go ;) 

Be sure to check back on Thursday because I'll be sharing a yummy cookie recipe as part of the Fab 8 blog hop with my blogging friends.  You won't want to miss it!  Lots of Back to School ideas + you'll get a great new cookie recipe to add to your recipe box. 

{Trust me- I've eaten way to many because they are so good!} 

Have a great day! 

{M} 

Announcement!

8.2.13- 

  

My FaVORiTE HiVE is just around the corner.  

Mark your calendars & plan to come. 

All the times, details, vendor line-up & more to come. 

-Stay Tuned!- 

{M}