Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

Category: Entertaining

  • Ask a Pro: An Outdoor Housewarming Party in Autumn

    A new home is a cause for celebration, but what if you move in during cooler weather months? Interior design expert and Dream Team member Jennifer Adams has the answers to stay warm during an autumn outdoor housewarming party in the latest edition of Ask a Pro!

    Ask a Pro: An Outdoor HouseWarming Party in Autumn - bhgrelife.com

    Q. Hello, Jennifer! I’m about to host a housewarming party in November to celebrate my new home. Can you help me with a theme? I plan to have it in my backyard under white tents. Thanks!

    —Samantha T.

    A. Congratulations on your new home! I love the idea of having your party outdoors. Add festive outdoor lighting and portable heaters if you live some place that will be chilly.

    One of my favorite non-holiday-based November party ideas, depending on the timing of your party and if you like red wine, is to do a “Release of the Beaujolais Nouveau” theme! The French celebrate this on the third Thursday of November when the newest red table wines come out, but you don’t have to wait that long. Find some inexpensive Beaujolais Nouveau, which is on the light, fruity, sweet side. Pair with fruit, cheeses, sliced roast beef, beet salad, or figs with goat cheese, all perfect for party foods!

    If your party is earlier in November, consider a Mexican theme for the Day of the Dead. It’s a little more than just Halloween, and you can go all-out with a Mexican menu, which is always a crowd pleaser.

    Other ideas include an apple or pumpkin theme for your menu. Have a tasting of hard ciders or pumpkin beers! Pair with fruit, cheeses, crackers or bread and other savory snacks. Let me know how it goes! I’d love to see your photos on social.

    —Jennifer A.

  • 7 Halloween Recipes that are Frighteningly Delicious

    Halloween isn’t just about dressing up in fun and spooky costumes; it’s also a time to dress up your food. Pair your costume this year with some of these spooky yet delicious recipes bound to frighten (and delight) your guests. Hopefully, they are daring enough to taste them!

    To help you in your spooky process, we have compiled a few recipes to scare and impress your guests:

    7 Halloween Recipes that are Frighteningly Delicious - bhgrelife.comPumpkin Cheesecake Truffle Mummies Bake from Creme de la Crumb

    This particular dish is pretty spooky, complete with mummy faces and eyes on the end result! Not only is this recipe cheesecake-based, which is always a fan-favorite, but it also incorporates a favorite seasonal flavor: pumpkin. Combined together, they make a delicious mummy bite-sized snack. In addition, this is an easy-to-make, no-bake treat.

  • How to Arrange Flowers Like a Pro

    You can arrange flowers like a pro with our easy how-to video guide! Skip the florist and the price tag, with these simple tips that turn any group of flowers into a stunning arrangement. Get started here:

    How to Arrange Flowers Like a Pro:

    First, choose a vase that works best with your arrangement. Remember that a flared opening will help stems lean naturally, adding dimension. Gather your choice of 5 types of flowers and 2 types of leaves, 1 to 1.5 times the height of the vase. Cut the stems at an angle. Arrange the stems in a web and incorporate the leaves as filler.

    Now you have an arrangement that is beautiful and better than the flower shop!

  • Decadent Carrot Cheesecake with Butterscotch Maple Glaze

    When in need of a sweet treat that will spark your taste buds or something to bring smiles to the faces of your guests, this delicious carrot cheesecake will do the trick! Take a bite, and let the flavors melt in your mouth. Follow this recipe, and everyone will be savoring over your homemade treat.

    Decadent Carrot Cheesecake Recipe

    Ingredients:

    • 1 box carrot cake mix (Duncan Hines)
    • 1 cup hot tap water (for soaking carrots and raisins)
    • 2 eggs
    • ¼ cup vegetable oil
    • ½ cup chopped walnuts, plus extra for garnishing

    For the maple cheesecake:

    • 2 (8 oz. packages) cream cheese
    • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
    • 1/4 cup maple syrup
    • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 2 eggs

    For the butterscotch maple glaze:

    • 1/2 cup butterscotch chips
    • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • 1 tablespoon heavy cream

    Steps:

    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9-inch springform pan.
    2. Place carrots and raisins included in cake mix in 1 cup of hot water and soak for 5 minutes. Drain and squeeze out any excess water.
    3. Combine dry mix, eggs, ¼ cup vegetable oil in a bowl.
    4. Add in the drained carrots and raisins and walnuts. Combine well.
    5. In a separate large bowl, beat together with an electric mixer the cream cheese, maple syrup, sugar and vanilla until a smooth consistency is achieved. Beat in the eggs.
    6. Add 2 cups of the cake batter to the bottom of springform pan.
    7. Spread 1 cup of the cheesecake batter on top of the carrot cake in the pan.
    8. Add in remaining carrot cake batter, and top again with the remaining of cheesecake batter.
    9. Bake in preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, or until cake is cooked through when a toothpick is put in center comes out clean.
    10. Cool at room temperature. Remove the side off from pan, transfer to a platter.
    11. To make the glaze, put into a small bowl the chips, syrup, and butter. Melt in microwave for 45-60 seconds. Add the heavy cream and whisk until smooth.
    12. Glaze top of the cake as desired and sprinkle chopped walnuts.

  • 5 Amazing Tips for a Successful Housewarming Party

    Do you have a new place, and are you ready to share it with those you love? There’s nothing better than involving friends and family in the joy of your new home and set-up, so when you’re ready, you should consider throwing a housewarming party.

    In need of inspiration to make it truly successful? Here are some housewarming party tips that will take your hosting to a whole new level and will help you set roots in your new community.

    Bhgrelife.com - 5 Amazing Tips for a Successful Housewarming Party1. Decide on the Type of Housewarming Party

    The first step is to decide on the type of housewarming party you want to host. There are many different kinds, and determining which one is best for your needs will help set the mood, theme, and the to-do-list before your grand unveiling. It’s a good idea to take into consideration the following housewarming party ideas, but remember, this is your party, so you can combine a few ideas together to create the event to your liking. Here a few options to consider:

    The Open House, where guests can mingle and come and go as they please. This is best when:

    • Your guest list exceeds the number of available seats
    • You don’t want to plan housewarming party games or activities
    • You’d like small groups of visitors coming in so you can provide personal tours

    Party Before Unpacking, where guests can visit before your new home is fully decorated. This is best when:

    • Your guests want to see the house now instead of weeks down the road when you’ve finally unpacked everything
    • You want a more casual party
    • You want to mingle with close friends to relax in your new home after a big move

    Decorating Housewarming, where guests can visit before you’re done furnishing your space, and can make a game of contributing to the final look and feel. This is best when:

    • Your home isn’t completely set up yet, but you’ve unpacked and are ready to have people over
    • You want your friends’ suggestions for decorating and need inspiration
    • You want to design party activities around the set-up of the actual ambiance of your new home

  • How to Organize Your Linen Closet

    If you’ve ever tried to organize the linen closet, you know it can be quite the task! Finding a place for towels, bedding, and occasional odds and ends can easily create chaos. That’s not to mention the challenge of keeping everyday essentials accessible as well. Never fear, because we have the storage-savvy secrets you need to organize your linen closet.

    Here’s how to organize your linen closet:

  • Tropical Guacamole Bites Recipe

    Just about everyone loves a refreshing bowl of guacamole—so whether you’re hosting, or simply hungry, consider upping the ante with a seasonally thrilling twist, including lime crema and a little kick! Use your favorite sliced bread, from wheat to rye and more. You can even add a sprinkle of paprika, celery seed, or black sesame, to enhance flavor and presentation. Follow the simple recipe below, and you’ll be serving stunning guacamole with style in no time!

    Tropical Guacamole Bites with Lime Crema

    Yield: about 24 bites

    Ingredients

    6 slices multigrain bread

    Extra-virgin olive oil, for brushing on bread

    3 ripe avocados

    1/2 cup diced red onion

    3 tablespoons lime juice, add more if desired

    3 tablespoons chopped cilantro

    1/2 teaspoon salt, plus extra for sprinkle for bread

    Pinch of cayenne, optional

    1 cup diced mangoes

    Chopped cilantro, garnish

    Refreshing Crema

    1 cup plain low-fat Greek yogurt or sour cream

    1 tablespoon lime zest

    2 tablespoon lime juice

    1/4 teaspoon salt

    Directions:

    1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
    1. Cut the crust off the edge of all the bread slices and use a rolling pin to roll flat the bread slices, one at a time and in both directions, until very thin. Place flattened slices on a baking sheet, lightly brush the top surface with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt. Bake for about 8-10 minutes, or until golden and crisp.
    1. Remove and cool. Cut each slice into 4 squares.
    1. To make the guacamole, remove the pits and scoop the meat of the avocados into a medium bowl. Add red onion, lime juice, cilantro, salt, and cayenne. Use a wooden spoon to mash the ingredients together until combined, but still a bit chunky. Add mango to the bowl and gently combine. Taste to see if more seasoning is needed.
    1. To make the crema, combine the yogurt, lime juice, lime zest, and salt in a bowl.
    1. To assemble, put about 1 tablespoon of guacamole in the center of each toast crisp. Top with crema and garnish with cilantro. Serve immediately.

  • Chilly and Refreshing Iced Coffee Popsicle Recipe

    When you’re in the mood for a jolt of java without the heat, try a homemade iced coffee popsicle. They’re quick to make and even easier to devour! Feel free to change up the recipe to fit your preferred cup of coffee, and if you want a little more sweetness, top your popsicles with a squirt of whipped cream just before they get served.

    Iced Coffee Popsicles Recipe

    Serves: 8

    Ingredients:

    • 3 cups fresh-brewed coffee
    • ¾ cup half-and-half cream (10% cream)
    • ½ cup sugar

    Steps:

    1. Combine all ingredients together in a bowl until everything is completely dissolved.
    2. Carefully pour the coffee mixture into each popsicle mold until full.
    3. Cover with tin foil and insert sticks, or cover with a lid and handle (if provided with your molds).
    4. Freeze until solid, approximately 2 hours.
    5. To unfreeze, add some hot water into your sink and submerge the mold without going over the top of the molds. After 15-30 seconds, your iced coffee popsicles should slide right out.

  • Our Favorite Easter Recipes

    One of our favorite holidays is coming up, and that just so happens to be Easter! Easter can be one of the best holidays of the year, due in large part to the various recipes and treats to make. Even better: these treats are enjoyed by both adults and kids alike, for an all-around family-friendly gathering.

    Here, we’ve compiled a few of our favorite recipes that are perfect for the upcoming Easter celebrations:

    Our Favorite Easter Recipes - bhgrelife.com

    Rabbit Bunny Buns for Easter from Dessert First

    This Rabbit Bunny Buns recipe is one of our favorite in the entire collection. We can’t help but love how adorable these rabbits look, too. The best part is that they taste just as wonderful as they look, and they are definitely a crowd pleaser. We hope you enjoy making them!

  • The Five Best Super Bowl Game Day Recipes

    We all know that one of the best parts of the game day outside of the game is the plethora of food that comes with the event. In fact, the Super Bowl is the second highest food consumption event in America, according to the American Institute of Food Distribution—coming in second only to Thanksgiving Day!

    With this in mind, to help celebrate the day, we have compiled five of our favorite recipes from around the blogosphere. Enjoy, and happy eating!

    From the Blogosphere:

    The Five Best Super Bowl Game Day Recipes - bhgrelife.comBaby Bloomin’ Onion from Spoon Fork Bacon

    These little guys not only look amazing, but also taste just as great! What we love about them is that you can prep them in advance of the Super Bowl. Once the big day arrives, just drop them in the fryer, and you’re ready to enjoy these delicious bloomin’ onions!