I couldn’t bear turning the oven on in our apartment this weekend, (it’s been quite the heat wave) so I had to get creative making a dessert to bring along to a friends BBQ. I picked up a frozen cheesecake at the grocery store and chopped it up into small cubes, and layered the cheesecake bites with fresh blueberries and raspberries in pint-sized mason jars. To make them look a little more special, I used cut up fabric pieces from bandanas to top the lids, and used washi tape to affix mini spoons to the jars. We kept them in the freezer right up until they were ready to be served, and the result was a cool, handheld treat for our day by the pool!
I don’t know about you, but I am ready to celebrate America tomorrow, bring on the flags and the hot dogs and the fireworks! And bring on the cocktails too. In preparation for 4th of July celebrations, I whipped up a cocktail recipe that’s both festive and refreshing: the Berry Sangria Spritzer. In a pitcher, combine a large handful of mixed berries (raspberries and blueberries were my mixture of choice), and few sprigs of fresh mint. Fill the pitcher with white wine — sauvignon blanc works well — and let the pitcher sit in the fridge overnight so the berries infuse into the liquid. When you’re ready to serve, scoop out a few of the berries into a glass over ice, and pour out the wine mixture so the glass is 3/4 of the way full. Fill the glass the remaining 1/4 of the way with plain or berry soda water and garnish with some fresh mint. The result is a light cocktail that is perfect for a sizzling hot summer day!
Now that our wedding is over, I’m back in the bridesmaid saddle and helped host a shower for one of my best girlfriends this weekend. It’s so fun when your fellow bridesmaids love party planning, this was an all-star team of girls working to put on this shin-dig. The shower had a Palm Beach-inspired theme with bright pinks and greens, lots of friendly lawn flamingos, and pom-poms galore. My favorite detail? The flamingo cocktail stirrers!
Do you ever get a craving with the season change? The warm weather and beginning of summer has had me craving lemonade, ice cream, and sweet fresh blueberries. For Father’s Day last weekend I pulled out my grandmother’s blueberry cobbler recipe, and it just tastes of summer. It’s so simple to make and it’s a real crowd-pleaser — we practically licked the inside of the dish clean! Scroll down for the recipe.
Grandma’s Blueberry Cobbler
- 1 cup of flour
- 1 stick of butter
- 1 1/2cups of sugar (divided)
- 1 tsp of baking powder
- 1/2 cup of milk
- 2 cups of blueberries
- 1 tbsp of lemon juice
Melt butter in casserole. In a bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, 1 cup of sugar, and combine with milk. Pour batter of butter when melted.
In a small saucepan, combine 1/2 cup of sugar, blueberries, and lemon juice. Simmer on stove for 10 minutes. Pour blueberry mixture over batter (but do not stir). Bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees or until golden brown.
Some of my favorite bloggers are sharing their summer entertaining essentials for being a savvy hostess this season, last but not least in the series is Julie of JulipMade!
Hi DomestiKated Life readers, Julie from Julip Made here sharing with you one of my favorite summer party ideas along with the tools to make it happen. For me there is nothing better than spending a day at the vineyards munching on cheese, sipping on wine, and wiggling your toes in the grass. See below for some ideas to make a vineyard picnic come to life…
Thank you so much for having me Kate and please stop by for more entertaining, food, cocktail recipes and more!
Some of my favorite bloggers are sharing their summer entertaining essentials for being a savvy hostess this season, up next in the series is the master of the bar cart, Roxy, from Society Social:
Hi lovers!! I’m so tickled to be here sharing my summer entertaining essentials because a good social is what I love for! I live in New York City in a shoebox of an apartment so I’ve got to get creative considering the space constraints and I think a sunset picnic in the park is just the thing for the city girl craving big social style! In this case the park will serve as my living, dining, and bar area! Cheers to you!
Bamboo 21 piece insulated picnic basket, Watercolor Picnic Blanket, Francis Ford Coppola Rose 2010, Outdoor lanterns, Monogrammed linen cocktail napkins, Croquet Set, Bose Sound Link Wireless Mobile Speaker
Last weekend my sister and I put together an Americana-inspired tablescape for a family BBQ. We incorporated lots of patriotic essentials like red and white striped straws for our lemonade and tiny American flags tucked into all white floral arrangements. It was a ton of fun and got me very excited for the holiday this coming week!
Now, ready for the best part? One lucky reader will win a party kit so you can host a patriotic BBQ too! Just leave a comment below letting me know how you’re celebrating the 4th of July, and I’ll pick one winner on Saturday to receive a package with striped straws, cupcake liners, American flags, and a few other surprises!
Want an extra entry? Follow me on Twitter @domestikateblog and tweet about the giveaway. Leave an extra comment below letting me know you’ve done so. Best of luck!
Update: Contest closed, congrats to the winner, Jess of Curating Style!
Some of my favorite bloggers are sharing their summer entertaining essentials for being a savvy hostess this season, up next in the series is the lovely Liz of Sequins & Stripes…
Hi there! It’s Liz from the fashion and style blog, Sequins & Stripes, and I am thrilled to be here today sharing some of my go-to’s for easy summer entertaining. Because the summer months tend to be crazy busy, impromptu parties are usually the easiest to throw together and the most fun to create. I like to keep a few pieces constantly stocked in my kitchen {like these pretty paper napkins, a book of cocktail recipes, and easy decor} and add a few details to make the party feel special. This summer I dream of bringing a Palm Springs inspired girls brunch to my patio in Chicago…
Design Darling mini vases // Macaroons and Sweets from my favorite local bakery // Bottomless glasses of champagne // Mrs. Lilien’s Cocktail Swatchbook // Pretty patterned napkins // Kate Spade Market Street Plates // Bamboo Flatware // Pretty Design Darling topiaries for additional decor // Society Social Fifi Chairs for seating // Colorful bistro tables // A striped umbrella to shade my guests from the summer sun
I would request that all of my guests dress in their favorite sunnies and biggest and brightest baubles, wouldn’t that be lovely? A huge thank you to Kate for having me today! Happy summertime to everyone!
Some of my favorite bloggers are sharing their summer entertaining essentials for being a savvy hostess this season, up next in the series is Shannon, from the adorable blog, I Love Your Crazy:
Hi! It’s Shannon Darrough from the blog I Love Your Crazy! I’m ridiculously excited to share my idea of summer entertaining on Kate’s blog today. I live on the coast of North Carolina where oyster roasts and seafood boils are tradition. You can host larger groups without the dish duty at the end of the night, and if you’re lucky you’ll see a few fireflies. The best part? It doesn’t take a lot to pull a seafood boil together.
A few twinkle lights, cold drinks, and some newspaper for the tabletop make for a cozy time. Guests are always excited for the big moment when you empty all the seafood on the table. That’s right, no plates or silverware besides your crab crackers. When I’m going all out for a seafood boil, I love to play up the nautical vibe with pops of red and navy blue. I rounded up a few items I would use (or have used a time or two) when hosting an intimate seafood boil. Thanks for having me over!
Some of my favorite bloggers are sharing their summer entertaining essentials for being a savvy hostess this season, up next in the series is my Boston buddy, Erika of Radiant Republic:
While my fiancé and I love visiting with friends in the city, most summer weekends are spent on Cape Cod. Our daytime wardrobes consist of bathing suits and boat shoes I sit down to dinner in a breezy dress and Jack Rogers. Summer entertaining is equally easy – and our favorite venue is on the sand of our favorite beach. Most hot days, our friends boat out to a hard-to-reach beach, anchor for the day, and spend hours playing bocce, seal watching, and floating in the cool Atlantic waters.
One: We love surprising our friends with fudge from the Chatham Candy Manor. They also have the most decadent chocolate covered Oreos!Two: Sparkling Rosé is a beach favorite… and this delicious Veuve Clicquot version comes decked out in a pretty champagne koozie.
Three: Chanel bocce ball. Disclaimer: This is not the set that we own (obviously.)
Four: Lilly Pulitzer tumblers are perfect for beach gatherings.
Five: Every Cape Cod-er needs a virtually indestructible LL Bean Boat Tote for lugging summer accoutrements.
Six: We love these beach chairs by the Cape Cod Beach Chair Company!
What are your summer entertaining must-haves? Thank you so much for having me today, Kate! I am a big fan of your new series and can’t wait to see what the other guest bloggers come up with! xx
