Fearless Entertaining's

Fearless Entertaining's

Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes 

Rosemary Orange

Thanksgiving Bird

4 Cornish game hens OR one medium to large Turkey. Clean as directed

Place in a generous sauce pan and heat:

Juice of 3 large oranges

1/4 cup chopped rosemary

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 cups salted butter

Once butter is melted, add:

4 washed oranges, cut into pieces small enough to stuff hen

Toss oranges in mixture, leave on medium to low heat until orange skin can be pierced, stirring as needed.

Remove from heat, spoon oranges into hen cavity.

Cook hens/turkey as directed, continuing to baste with balance of mixture.

If serving the Cornish game hens, garnish with a slice of orange, pierced with a rosemary sprig.

Olive and Caper Stuffing Tower

1  14oz pkg. of your favorite stuffing

2 jars 3.5oz capers, drained (liquid set aside)

1 C. green olives, chopped (liquid set aside)

1 C. black olives,  chopped (liquid set aside)

1 C. Chopped green onions (if desired)

Butter

Using your favorite packaged stuffing, substitute half of the required water or broth with the liquid from olives and capers.

Double the amount of butter your stuffing pkg. recipe calls for. Prepare on stove as instructed, remove from heat and add capers and olives.(if using onions add them here as well)

Make sure stuffing is moist enough to stay molded. If not, continue to add small amounts of liquid until it is. Spray generously the inside of individual molds with cooking spray. Press stuffing firmly into each mold. Place molds on a cookie sheet and heat in oven shortly before serving.

Stuffing should easily slip out of mold.

Drizzle with a hot mushroom gravy, if desired, and serve.

Serves 6.

NOTE: There is no reason this recipe has to be served in a "tower form". I very often serve it as I would any other stuffing.




Asparagus Wrapped with Bacon Pastry


12-16 asparagus spears, snap off ends
4-6 strips of bacon
3 crescent rolls uncooked, laid flat, cut in half lengthwise
Olive oil


Lightly cook bacon in the microwave. Remove and place on top of crescent roll strip.
Roll asparagus in olive oil, bunch 3-4 spears together and twist and wrap bacon/dough together if needed.
Place bunches on a cookie sheet.
Cook at 350 degrees until tender and pastry is golden brown.
Makes 4-6 bunches.


Have Fun and Enjoy!!!


THANKFUL,
Catherine

HOLIDAY DECORATING & ENTERTAINING "IT'S EASY, JUST LOOK AROUND!"

In regards to decorating and entertaining, we are often told, "You make it look so easy, but I just can't do it." When we inquire as to why they think they can't do it, the response is often the same. "I don't know where to begin!" Well, I am here to tell you that you CAN do it, and you begin simply by LOOKING AROUND!!! Yes my friend, chances are that everything you need to decorate and entertaining for the holidays you already have, or can easily gather while out on your daily tasks! Below are simple ideas and tips that in most cases can save you time, money and frustration!!

DECORATING

GARLAND & WREATHS

Begin by first putting up your interior and exterior garland and wreaths. Do not bring out any of your other decorations until this is complete. This will make you feel as though the bones of your holiday decorating is up and complete. 

CHOOSE AREAS TO DECORATE LARGE

Choose only 3 or 4 areas of your home to decorate large. Decide the feel and look you want in each of these rooms. Then bring the decorations out for each area, ONE AREA AT A TIME. This will keep you from destroying your entire home at once. This alone can keep you from feeling overwhelmed!! Shown above is a kitchen island full of candy and candy inspired items all grouped together to create a fun and whimsical atmosphere! NOTE: Fancy candy jars are not necessary !! Use ANYTHING glass, fill it with inexpensive candy such as peppermint or taffy and stick lollipops, candy bars and licorice out of the top!! A favorite for adults and children alike. Serves the purpose of both decor and dessert!

SMALL TOUCHES

In the other ares of your home you can add small signs of the season. A small sprig of holly in a guest bath or as shown above, a group of ornaments randomly set on a cake plate. With a small amount of water, flowers and /or greenery can be added if desired.

GATHERING

FROM YOUR YARD

Branches, Pine Cones, Fox Tail Fern and Roses all can be gathered from your yard (or perhaps your neighbors yard) and placed in a vase. A tall cylinder is used here. Roses can also now be purchased in most grocery stores. In this photo hanging votive holders were added for accents. These can be made by using small vases / jars and wire.

FROM OTHER AREAS OF YOUR HOME

Look around your home and move things to different rooms for the holidays. In this photo a large deer was moved from the main living area to the center of the dinning room table. Different candle sticks and holders were added along with a combination of greenery and pine cones. Not one flower was used. It's that EASY!!! Dramatic, Smart and FREE!

FROM YOUR GROCERY STORE

During the holidays, you will find yourself at the grocery store a number of times. Open your eyes and mind to all the different ways you can use what they offer in order to fulfill your decorating and entertaining needs. In the photo above a center piece is made with artichokes, egg plant, green apples, cabbage and asparagus  along with a small amount of greenery. Also shown is an artichoke in a dollar store cube used to hold the utensils. A throw is being used as a table cover.

MY HOPE

 

 My hope and reason for continuing the emphasis on the simple Fearless Entertaining concepts is that you will realize how easy and fun sharing your joys and life with others can be. ENJOY!!!! It's Contagious.

Love,
Catherine

LAST MINUTE HALLOWEEN DECORATION

LAST MINUTE, (and FREE), HALLOWEEN DECORATION IDEA!! 


Hang REALLY crooked all of the Pictures, Mirrors and anything hanging on the walls in the main areas of your Home. It is a amazing how creepy it can make things look!
NOW THAT"S HOW WE LIKE TO FEARLESSLY ENTERTAIN!


Have Fun!
Catherine

Decorate Today with Tomorrow in Mind!

If you love steps that you can take Today, in order to save time and money Tomorrow, BUT  do not want to eliminate any of the fun, beauty and IMPACT, you are going to LOVE this idea!!

Choosing fabric that you can use on both sides instantly expands your options.

Over black fabric, two pieces of black and orange fabric were placed right side down, pulled back and puddled right side up. 

Fabric - Swatches, Hattiesburg, Mississippi 601.206.0940

Fall Gourds, Pumpkins, Grapes, Artichokes, Nuts were piled on top. Then Candles at various heights along with Halloween Decorations were tucked in.

Produce - Mitchell Farms, Collins, Mississippi http://mitchellfarms-ms.com/

Halloween Decorations - McKenzie's on Main, Downtown, Hattiesburg, Mississippi 601.544.2240

This photograph is not the best, but does give you an over-all shot.

On November First, remove all of the Halloween items and pull, adjust and turn your fabric so that none of the black shows.

Now, in a matter of minutes you are ready for Thanksgiving!

This one is almost TOO EASY!

Tell your Friends. (or... don't tell them!)

Enjoy!

Catherine

NO EXCUSES! Easiest Party in the world!

GIRLS PARTY!!!

SKELETONS - Dollar Tree $1 each, add bows

Note: cross the legs and set plates on top of their laps to allow the skeletons to sit up. 

PLATES - Hudson's Treasure Hunt .60 - .90 each.

CANDY - Various places. Serves as food and decoration!

FABRIC - Swatches

TABLE - Taylor Rental

TIPS

For Place Cards - put name tags on each skeleton OR tie a tag on the skeletons toe to look like a Toe-Tag

Have Fun!!!!

Catherine

Transform your family photo gallery into a Halloween Display for $1

The Fearless Entertaining Concept strongly stresses the belief that you should not un-decorate in order to decorate. Tucking seasonal items in and around what you already have displayed will help save you time and money.

 Below are easy steps showing how a "Changing" photograph purchased at Dollar Tree can turn your collection of family photographs into a spooky surprise for loved ones, friends and guests!

NEEDED
- spooky changing photograph
- glass covered frame IF you decide you would like to change frames.

1) Plastic frame with young man's photograph purchased at the Dollar Tree.

2) Same photograph when you or the photograph is slightly moved.

3) peel photograph off of the plastic frame

4) press photograph onto a glass covered frame or existing glass covered photograph.

5) Display in your home as you would a old family photograph.

6) Or included with the rest of the gang!

You will have fun watching your guests as they catch a glimpse of your "creepy" family connection!!

*MORE TIPS


*I suggest taking the photo off the plastic frame and placing it on another one, in order to visually  work better with existing family photos.

*Note - some dollar trees have as many as 4 different photographs

Have Fun!!!!!!
Catherine

Ideas that get Better and Better! "Thank YOU Lisa"

This is why I love what we do, and a PERFECT EXAMPLE of how someone can take a silly-fun idea and turn it into something magnificent and MARVELOUS!!!! 

This is how it works...

1) Fun Giant Bugs, under $14, found a few weeks ago at Sam's

Photo 1

2) Demonstration at Southern Oaks for the FGH Spirit of Women, "Girls' Day Out" Program, showing the different ways you might use these wonderful creatures.

Some ideas on how to use these wonderful Halloween Spiders.

*Add a ribbon and create a hat Fashion Week would be proud of!!
*Put 2 spiders together, add twinkle lights inside, plastic spider wine glasses with battery operated candles, hang upside down and you have a Halloween themed Chandelier!
*Turn a single spider on it's back, Wire a sucker to each of the eight legs, fill it with candy and you have a Great Candy Bowl! (not shown) Have fun!!!!!!!

Photo 2

3) YOU take what you've learned and make it FABULOUS!!!!

Photo 3

Lisa Cade Gunter's FABULOUS Halloween Entrance.

Lisa took the spider chandilier idea and made it her own by simply cupping them over her porch light.

YOU GO GIRL!!!!!

And That is the way you FEARLESSLY ENTERTAIN!

Thank you Lisa!!

Catherine

Instant Fall Decorating: Just Add Pumpkins & Gourds!

One of the many great things about Fall Decorating, is the fact that we can leave it up and out from September through Thanksgiving. But my favorite part of decorating for this wonderful season  is the fact that it is SO VERY EASY!! Below are a few examples.

*Acorn Squash and Pumpkins simply placed on cake stands give almost a gallery look. 

*When preparing for guests, add touches of flowers and candles and you are ready for any event.

*From casual to formal and anywhere in between, this look is extremely versatile.

*Inspired by the fabric below, yellow, green and orange gourds are simply placed in separate cylinders. *Adding water to the cylinders will give a wonderful magnified look, but will shorten the life of the gourds. Without water, most gourds will last the entire season depending on how old they were when they were purchased.

Daily, produce stands and grocery stores are harvesting and receiving their supply of Pumpkins and Gourds. Now is the time to begin stocking up!



Have FUN!!
Catherine


*Some Suggestions for large selections of unusual varieties.

  Pine Belt Area - *Mitchell Farms Collins, MS
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mitchell-Farms/324457531849

  Jackson Area - *Donna's #6 Star, MS

A Halloween Mantle - Try Bringing Yard-Art In!

Using outdoor decorations inside your home for Halloween decorating, brings an unexpected element that always adds to the fun! 

These little guys were brought in out of the cold and tucked inside a dining room fireplace.

 Flowers, gourds and pumpkins were used in front of the spooky trio on the fireplace hearth, adding fall color as well as hiding the electrical cord!!

Dollar Store beverage cups adorn the mantle's edge and peek out of the fall flower arrangements. 

Using multiple pieces of the same styled item always adds impact!!

*  Additional Tips!

*  Including the color bright green, makes all the other colors POP!

* The use of additional accent lighting will help highlight the area you want emphasized. 

   This can be as understated and as simple as the votive candles shown in the photo above.

This season look around your home, garage and attic to see what you may already have that you can use this year in different ways. It will save you time, money AND frustration!! 

Have FUN!!

Catherine

How to Create Pickled People / Pickled Monsters for Halloween

O.K. Here We Go!!
It is October 1st, and my friends, it is time to ENTERTAIN FEARLESSLY!
Today we are going to show what I feel is the easiest and most effective Halloween Decoration / Project
.

PICKLED PEOPLE / MONSTERS
Needed
1) Glass container with or without lid
2) Mask
*Note - If your container does not have a lid, put your mask in upside down and then turn your container upside down. The look is very similar.
You Tube Pickled People / Monster Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvMqhXQ05JA&noredirect=1