Santa Hat Christmas Cocktail

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This cocktail recipe would be ideal as the signature drink for a Christmas in July Party or any holiday affair. Part of the cocktail collection I whipped up on the TODAY Show, it was a big favorite of Kathie Lee and Hoda. 2 tablespoons powdered sugar 1 teaspoon water 3 tablespoons coconut flakes 3 oz. cranberry juice […]

December 1, 2010 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Bloody Maria Christmas Cocktail

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Perfect for a Christmas breakfast buffet or holiday brunch, this Bloody Maria Cocktail with a red pepper and green lime garnish is a great way to spice up any occasion.  This is one of the festive drinks I made on the TODAY Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda! 6 oz. tomato juice 1 oz. Sauza® Tequila Silver […]

December 1, 2010 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Christmas Holiday Fruit Cake with Egg Nog Glaze

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This fruitcake is perfect for the holidays due to the ample amount of spirit in the recipe! My mother receives an Irish Whiskey cake every Christmas from some saucy relative.  The cake is wrapped in a whiskey-soaked cloth and packed in a round tin.  Intrigued by this annual sophisticated gift, I pry off the lid of […]

December 1, 2010 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Gingerbread Houses

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I’ve always been obsessed with big, beautiful food! It all started with a quest to make the perfect gingerbread house. Year after year I’d try to construct a colossal confectionary masterpiece with efforts thwarted by unforeseen circumstances like my cat jumping on it or a simple baking misstep of too much molasses in the cookie […]

November 21, 2010 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Gingerbread House and Gingerbread Icing Recipes

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This is the gingerbread house recipe I’ve be using for years! You may have a treasured family gingerbread recipe that you wish to use and that’s great — as long as the dough isn’t too moist or your house could collapse! (This is the reason I suggest using a cardboard structure underneath the gingerbread house […]

November 21, 2010 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Thanksgiving Turkey Cupcakes

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Sweet yes; yet ominous too. Obvious candies give this holiday cupcake his character. What I mean are his eyes made from the tips of candy corns and a dab of frosting. Somehow, when I photographed it, it stared back as if to say, “Don’t even think of eating me as a cupcake or otherwise.” Your kids will […]

November 15, 2010 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

White Chocolate Covered Brie with Cranberry Rosemary Chutney

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Without fail, this dish garners the most rave reviews and recipe requests from my friends! There’s something about the offbeat combination of white chocolate covering a wheel of Brie that sparks guests’ imaginations and the bright cranberry chutney topping makes it a dynamic and delicious holiday party appetizer. 2 cups fresh whole cranberries 3 tablespoons […]

November 15, 2010 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Baked Alaska Mint Chocolate Cupcakes

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I tried to make Baked Alaska in high school to impress a boyfriend for his birthday. I busied myself with his affections and forgot about the dessert in the oven. Big mess! The moral of the story: A watched pot may never boil, but unwatched Baked Alaska will surely melt! This dessert, in its traditional […]

November 14, 2010 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Alaska Theme Party to Watch “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” TV Show

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No matter watcha got cookin’ politically, there’s no denying that “Sarah Palin’s Alaska,” which premieres on Sunday, November 14 at 9pm ET/8pm CT on TLC will bring the beauty and culture of the nation’s last frontier into the homes of millions. Last December, I visited Alaska and made a humorous little video about my adventure […]

November 14, 2010 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Plan to Party Book with a Foreward by Jeanne Benedict

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Hot off the fabulously-matched-to-their cocktail dress heels of the PartyBluprintsBlog.com gals’ Plan to Party book launch at Henri Bendels, Dawn Sandomeno and Elizabeth Mascali have arrived at their party! Step back, applaud, and admire.  I love these two ladies whom I now call my good friends. Dawn and Elizabeth approached me about writing the foreward for their book […]

November 14, 2010 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

First for Women Magazine Article with Jeanne’s Tips for Thanksgiving Decor

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I had the pleasure of meeting the fabulous “First for Women” magazine team a few years ago during a media visit for Country Crock. They recently contacted me about sharing some Thanksgiving decorating tips using red and white checked fabric, wheat stems, flowers, and similar “country chic” items. I am lovin’ the photos they took […]

November 8, 2010 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Thanksgiving Pumpkin Topiary from my DIY Network Show (video)

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Illuminated pumpkin topiaries are a gorgeous way to decorate your front doorway or fireplace for Thanksgiving. On the “Harvest Party” episode of my TV show “Weekend Entertaining” on the DIY Network, I put together a stunning 3-tier pumpkin topiary with a cut-out design and lit it up with holiday lights inside. Best of all, these […]

November 8, 2010 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Thanksgiving Centerpiece from my DIY Network Show: Legume Pave’ Pumpkins and Candles (video)

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Pave’ is usually a jeweler’s technique of clustering tiny gems or stones on to a ring, pendant, or brooch. I thought this artisan style would look great with dried beans, lentils, and legumes as a band on pumpkins and pillar candles, so I included the idea as one of the projects in the “Harvest Party” […]

November 8, 2010 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Rosarito Beach, Baja, Mexico Family Vacation Series Episode (video)

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South of the border down Mexico way — actually 40 minutes from San Diego — is Los Rocas Resort & Spa in Rosarito Beach, Baja California, Mexico. We took a drive there from Los Angeles for a little R&R and I decided to include the adventure in my Family Vacation series. Highlight: Horseback riding on […]

October 30, 2010 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

Riviera Resort Palm Springs – Family Vacation Series (video)

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Resorts don’t get much prettier than the Riviera Resort & Spa. From the fabulous mid-century meets Hollywood glam decor to the delicious and artfully presented food at their signature restaurant, Circa59, this Palm Springs hotspot is truly an oasis in the desert.

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October 22, 2010 CONTINUE READING THIS POST →

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