welcome to elaney!

It’s time for apps and brie!  Christmas party apps are fun to make, and bringing a treat that looks difficult but really isn’t is a good way to make it seem like you have you life together (other non holiday related hints: talk about listening to NPR and your 5:00am workouts).  We often find ourselves looking for recipes that seem gourmet but is feasible for the layperson.  We found this random site for wine and cheese recipes, and they have some good ones.  Check out one below and more here.

Artichoke and Goat Cheese Bruschetta

18 baguette bread slices, cut on the diagonal about 1/4-inch thick
olive oil
2 jars (6 to 6 1/2 ounces each) marinated artichoke hearts
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley, divided
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (preferably Parmigiano-Reggiano)
Freshly ground black pepper
6 ounces creamy goat cheese, crumbled

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Brush baguette bread slices on both sides with olive oil and place them on a baking sheet. Bake slices until just crisp, about 3 minutes a side. Remove from oven and leave on baking sheet. (Bread can be toasted 3 hours ahead; cover loosely with foil and leave at room temperature.)

Drain artichokes, reserving about 2 tablespoons of the oil they were packed in, and place them in a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Add reserved 2 tablespoons artichoke oil, 1/2 cup of the parsley, Parmesan cheese, and several grindings of black pepper. Process, pulsing machine, until mixture is a coarse puree. (Puree can be prepared 3 hours ahead; cover and leave at cool room temperature.)

When ready to serve, spread each bread slice with a mound of artichoke puree and top with some crumbled goat cheese. (Bruschetta can be assembled 1 hour ahead; leave uncovered, at room temperature.)

We can’t really explain it, but we sincerely love pretty stationary.  Papers, notes, Crane & Co, little invites, sweet cards – there is something about fine paper that feels pretty and pink and perfect. 

But there’s Neiman Marcus and there’s Target, and there is a time for both.  Sometimes, you need a cost efficient invite, and partycat.com can help you order invites quickly for about $1 a piece.  Check it out!

We discovered letterpress circa Christmas 2005 and have loved it ever since.  Houston designers have developed gorgeous lines of stationary for any occasion.  Classic enough for your mommas – clever enough for you, these papers might be just what you need for your next shindig.  Best of all, sign up for “fire emails” and get 60% off when they have additional space on the press.  For more, check them out.