Princess Picnic Haute Hostess Style

Simply Extraordinary ! This  moist, rich concoction makes a stunning tea party tart.  I love to take it with me on a fall country picnic ...complete with thermos of hot tea with lemon , pretty china tea cups, and a beautiful heirloom quilt . I always bring along a few cashmere over sized shawls just to make sure everyone is super comfy. 

Apricot Lavender Tart

Ingredients:
1 unbaked pie shell
1/2 c sugar
1/4 ground almonds
1 T. butter
1 egg
2 lbs. fresh apricots, sliced
10 oz. unsalted whole almonds
3 T. lavender honey

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 500 degess. Prick the bottom and side of pie shell with a fork. Combine the sugar, ground almonds, and butter in a bowl and mix well. Add the egg and stir until combined. Spread the almond mixture over the bottom of the pie shell.

Arrange the apricots in the almond mixture and sprinkle with the whole almonds. bBake for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 400 degress and bake for 40 minutes longer. Drizzle with the warm honey and broil just until caramelized. Serves 6.

HAUTE HOSTESS + DOMESTIC GODDESS

I must confess ~ I don't like to do laundry , but I do love my frocks and soft cashmere sweaters, so I have put together an arsenal of stain removers...my very own reinforcements, that I'd like to share with you.. I hand wash my delicate La Perla
in Forever New, while

cashmere gets a soak in The Laundress Wool and Cashmere Shampoo. For leather, plastics, fabric, or carpet try the odorless White Wizard Spot Remover and in case of a stain emergency~ Have Shout Wipes Instant Stain Remover in your handbag. You'll be so happy you did. They absolutely do the trick!

Gorgeous and Simple Autumn Brittle

---

Glossy Gorgeous Autumn Brittle

Ingredients

1 Cup Almonds 1 Cup Cashews 3/4 Cup Pumpkin Seeds 2/3 Cup Dried Cranberries 1 1/2 Cups Golden Brown Sugar 1 Cup Granulated Sugar 1/2 Cup Honey 1 Cup Water 1/2 Teaspoon Salt

1 Tablespoon Butter

Instructions

Heat the sugars, honey, water and salt in a large pot over a low-medium flame. Use a pot that is larger than you would think necessary because when the mixture begins to boil it will foam up and increase in size. Stir every five minutes or so. Using a candy thermometer, continue to heat the mixture until it reaches a temperature of exactly 302 degrees Fahrenheit. This is very important because this is the temperature at which sugar hardens into a rock-like state after it cools. Pay close attention not to go very far above 302, otherwise you will burn the sugar. It can take up to an hour for the mixture to reach that high of a temperature, so don't get too worried if 15 minutes go by and the thermometer is still at 175.

While the sugar mixture is boiling, place a sheet of parchment paper on top of a shallow pan, about 9 x 13 inches in width and length, and grease the parchment paper. Set aside. Once the sugar mixture reaches 302, immediately remove it from heat and stir in the butter, cashews, almonds, pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries until they're coated in the mixture.

Immediately pour the mixture onto the parchment paper and spread it out into a large rectangle using a rubber spatula. Try to keep the surface relatively even and about 1 inch in height. Place the pan in the refrigerator and allow the brittle to cool for one hour. Once it has finished cooling, remove the sheet of brittle from the parchment paper and break the brittle into pieces using a meat tenderizer or clean hammer. Arrange the pieces on a serving platter and serve. Store excess brittle in a cool dry place.

SPICY BLOODY MARY

 FABULOUS BLOODY MARY RECIPE FOR GAMEDAY

1 (32 ounce) bottle of Mott's CLAMATO Tomato Cocktail Concentrate
1 tablespoon horseradish
1 dash of Tabasco sauce
7 dashes of Worcestershire sauce
2 twists form the salt mill
1 teaspoon of celery salt
The juice from a lemon (do not use lemon juice substitute)
8 ounces Grey Goose Vodka
Fresh celery stalks with leaves

Combine the CLAMATO juice, horseradish, Tabasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce, salts, and lemon juice in a large pitcher and stir well.

Fill each glass with ice, Bloody Mary mixture (1/2 way up glass), and 1 ounce of Grey Goose Vodka. Garnish with a celery stalk or a wedge of lemon, if you prefer.
Serves 6

I love to moisten the rim of my glass with a lemon wedge and dip the rim in celery salt for a new twist on a classic drink . . . . then fill the glass with the CLAMATO juice and Grey Goose Vodka! Looks festive and tastes great! Plop in a large stuffed green olive to finish!

Be a TailGate Diva This Weekend!

 SPINACH SARAH

I named this after my daughter, who loves tailgate parties and was born in Blytheville, Arkansas. . .my hometown. Spinach Sarah is the perfect dip for game day.

4 packages (10oz. each) frozen chopped spinach
1 cup spinach liquid
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
10 tablespoons butter
2 cans Rotel tomatoes without the juice
5 tablespoons flour
1 cup finely chopped onion
1 cup evaporated milk
1 teaspoon black pepper
16 ounces Velveeta cheese, cut into cubes

Cook spinach according to package directions. Drain and reserve liquid. Melt butter in saucepan over low heat. Add flour, stirring until blended and smooth; do not brown. Add reserved spinach liquid, stirring constantly. Cook until smooth and thickened. Add remaining ingredients. Stir until cheese melts. Serve immediately.
Serves 12.
~I serve Spinach Sarah with Frito Lay's Scoops!

School Morning" Super Easy" Breakfast Casserole

So Easy and Always a Favorite of Children ...Adults as well!
Line a sprayed pan with Crescent rolls.  Add sausage crumbles and 2 cups of mozzarella cheese
Next whip 6 eggs and 1 cup of milk together. Pour over the top and bake on 425* for 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper Serve with strawberries or any berry in season.Your children will ask for seconds!

Crock Pot Chicken Taco Casserole

Make A Rainy School Night Extra Delicious Without Extra Effort!

 CHICKEN TACO CHILI
1 can black beans or1 can kidney beans
1 can corn kernels
16 oz tomato sauce
28 oz diced tomatoes
1 packet taco seasoning
1 tbsp chili powder
3 uncooked boneless chicken breasts... chop or slice meat...or leave whole and do later.
6 hours high or 10 hours low in the crock pot.
8 small servings
Yummy!

  My Family Recipe
 KICK OFF CHILI
Easy Sunday Lunch or Dinner
Your Children Will Love It, Too!

3 lbs. ground beef, browned in 1/4 c. oil
Garlic, as much as you'd like ~ for me 8 minced cloves
Add: 3 T. cumin
         1 1/2 to 2 T red pepper
         1 T. salt
         1/2 t. pepper
Simmer 15 minutes
Add: 3 cans tomato soup
         1 can pinto beans  ~ Omit if not a bean lover
          3  soup cans water

I like to double recipe so we have a quickie dinner on Tuesday night.
Condiments on the side: Freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese, sour cream,
salsa, minced little green onions, and tortillas. Super Yummy!

SUNDAY NIGHT HOT TIP

Adore Nashville Pizza Company on Sunday Night

 Owned and operated by 2

Little Rock guys, Wes Anderson and Stuart Hansen,

Nashville Pizza Co is THE place to get a great pie in the Nashville area. Your made to order pizzas will have the thinnest and crispiest crust...a crucial test in my book. This Sunday evening our entourage includes 4 adults and one child. We have ordered one small ( 10") pepperoni for little CoCo,  a medium (13") Cajun pizza...which we hear is very spicy, and one large (15") Razorback for us to share. The Cajun and Razorback are super delish! We really like the creamy ranch style dipping sauce that is a "signature treat" at NPC to dip your pizza slice in, but at the end of the day, I am still a purist when it comes to pizza. The large Greek salad is so fresh and good AND big enough for 3 adults to share, so maybe order an extra small salad so everyone has their greens. FUN FACT: Nashville Pizza Company is a favorite of many Titan and Predator players ~ on a week night you may see one picking up pies for their family. NPC does serve draft beer and also serves it by the bucket/or bottle. They also have 2 flat screens, which makes it a perfect place to for game days. FUN FACT #2Trivia Tuesday with Prizes ~ I always love prizes!

 XOXO Elizabeth

 P.S. Child Friendly

        No Delivery

       Monday through Friday 11 am to 9pm

      Friday and Saturday 11am to 10pm

      Sunday 12pm to 8pm

     2176 Hillsboro Road   ( Grassland area)

    615 591 7050

TOTAL YUM! Brings Out The Kid in Him, Too!

Warm Marshmallow S'more Bars

• TOTAL TIME

  55 Min

• SERVINGS

  24

INGREDIENTS

1

pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix

1

cup graham cracker crumbs

1

cup butter or margarine, melted

3

cups milk chocolate chips (18 oz)

4 1/2

cups miniature marshmallows

• 1 Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, stir together cookie mix and crumbs. Stir in melted butter until soft dough forms. Press into ungreased 13x9-inch pan.
• 2 Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until set. Immediately sprinkle chocolate chips over crust. Let stand 3 to 5 minutes or until chocolate begins to melt. Spread chocolate evenly over crust.
• 3 Set oven control to broil. Sprinkle marshmallows over melted chocolate. Broil with top 5 to 6 inches from heat 20 to 30 seconds or until marshmallows are toasted. (Watch closely; marshmallows will brown quickly.) Cool 10 minutes. For bars, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows. Serve warm. Store any remaining bars tightly covered. Recipe by Betty Crocker

SHARE ~ LOVE ~ GIVE

VALENTINE GOODY BAGS

This little treat is easy and fun ~ the little ones will love it! Get them in the kitchen in their Little Haute Hostess Aprons and let the party begin!

Non ziplock large baggies , pink ribbon, non buttered popcorn, and Valentine colored M&M's.
Perfect to take to their teachers & friends for their Valentine's Day school party.