A romantic breakfast is a great way to start Valentine’s Day, and if you’re a lover of everything bagels, I’ve found the perfect gourmet topping blend to spice up your Valentine’s Day breakfast (or lunch or dinner for that matter)!  A good friend of mine sent me a bottle of an incredibly aromatic, spice-packed accompaniment to a variety of savory dishes; it’s called Bagel Spice.  Use of this flavorful spice is only limited by your imagination. 

• You can sprinkle it on cream cheese, hummus or other bread spreads for a taste bud explosion.
• Shake it over fried eggs, lox and tuna for a delectable flavor boost. 
• Mix it with mashed potatoes for a delightful flavor. 
• Add it to salad dressings and vinaigrettes for extra zing in your salads. 
• Blend it with marinades and sauces for an aromatic kick, or combine it with your favorite dry rub mixture for delicious meat dishes.

The possibilities are endless for distinctive, mouth-watering dishes with Bagel Spice.  Just last night, I added it to my chicken paillard with lemon butter sauce.  The results were amazing.  Check out my recipe below and lots of others on the Bagel Spice website.

Two chicken breasts, sliced in half and pounded flat

Salt & Pepper

Bagel Spice

1/4 cup sliced or minced shallots

Fresh spinach

Juice of two lemons and lemon segments

2 tablespoons olive oil

5 tablespoons butter

3/4 cup chicken stock

Season the chicken breast with salt, pepper and Bagel Spice.  Sautee the chicken breasts in one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil and one tablespoon of butter (heated until butter foams).  Flip the breasts when golden brown and heat through.  Move the sauteed breasts to a plate.  Add the remaining olive oil and butter to the pan and sautee the shallots until transparent.  Add the lemon juice, lemon segments and chicken broth.  Reduce by half and gradually add 2-3 additional tablespoons of butter.  To serve, place a handful of spinach on the plate.  Place one chicken breast on top of the spinach and then spoon the lemon butter sauce over the chicken and spinach so that the spinach slightly wilts.  Enjoy!

I’m not referring to the kind of barefoot that involves cold feet, but rather a state of mind that is induced after having a glass of Barefoot Bubbly!  I was introduced to Barefoot Bubbly on a recent trip to the west coast.  I shared a bottle of this delicious, affordable champagne with a couple of friends who were super surprised to learn that I had never heard of Barefoot wines.  I guess I’m a little late to the party (fashionably late of course!).  I definitely wanted to share my new find with all of you.  Barefoot cellars make a variety of tasty and affordable wines including Whites, Reds and Bubbly and each retails for less than $10.  You can use the store locator function on the Barefoot website to find a local dealer.  There are also tons of yummy recipes on the site that will facilitate  your wine/food pairings.  So, for your next celebration, dinner or wine tasting, try Barefoot because affordability is Chic!

It’s January 1, 2010, and like many of you I have made a number of New Year’s resolutions. One of those resolutions is to pay more attention to my blog! However, I’m not going to commit to writing everyday or a certain number of times each week. What I will commit to is sharing the best food and drink recipes, entertaining tips and party games and favors whenever I find or create them. So check the site for updates, and I promise you won’t be disappointed. For those of you have resolved to be more efficient with your time, if you would rather me let you know when I update the blog, simply join the Chic Party Plans community.  New beginnings are Chic.  Happy 2010!!

I just got home from my first holiday event of the season, where I discovered two of the yummiest party snacks, and at the foundation of each is one of my favorite all-time snack food… popcorn.

The first snack was served at the beginning of the evening – Garlic Parmesan Popcorn. The second snack was served at the end of the evening – Chocolate Coconut Popcorn. Conveniently served in miniature cones, the snacks were simultaneously elegant and simple. So, of course I felt the need to share these easy-to-make party snacks right away.

Garlic Parmesan Popcorn

3 Tbsp. unsalted butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 1/2 quarts popped popcorn
1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
Salt

1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add garlic and cook 1 minute, stirring, then remove saucepan from heat and set aside to cool slightly.

1. Place popcorn in plastic bag.
2. Pour in chocolate powder, close bag and shake to coat.
3. Place handful of popcorn in a small paper cone and sprinkle with toasted coconut.

Tip #2 – when it comes to at-home entertaining  plan your menu with a KISS – that is keep is simple and sweet.  “A home party should be informal and intimate.”  – Marcus Samuelsson, celebrity chef.

Unless you’re name is Martha Stewart, there is no need to work up a sweat and strive for perfection when creating your party menu.  Think creative, not expensive and remember that finger food is more chic than eating on paper plates, especially if you don’t want to deal with a mound of dishes.  Remember your theme and create a menu that is an extension of that theme. 

Below are a few of my favorite recipes for a holiday celebration with Latin twist (courtesy of bonappetit.com).

Sparkling Rose Sangria with Pineapple & Guava 12 servings

1 750ml bottle rose champagne
4 6-oz cans pineapple juice
2 11.5 oz cans guava nectar
4 cinnamon sticks
2 cups cubes fresh pineapple
2 oranges halved and thinly sliced

Mix first 5 ingredients in large pitcher. Set 12 orange slices aside for garnish; add remaining orange slices to pitcher. Cover and chill at least 6 hours overnight. Fill tumblers with ice. Pour sangria over. Garnish with orange slices.

Chile-Corn Custard Squares
6 servings

3.5 TBL vegetable oil
1 large onion finely chopped
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
¼ cup all purpose flour
¼ cup cornmeal
½ tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
1 large egg
2/3 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
½ cup sour cream plus additional for garnish
½ cup creamed corn
2 tablespoons minced seeded jalapeno chiles
Tomato salsa for garnish

Heat 1.5 tablespoons vegetable oil in heavy large skilled over medium-high heat. Add finely chopped onion and sauté until soft and beginning to brown, stirring often, about 12 minutes. Cool.

Preheat oven to 350F. Spray 8x8x2 inch metal baking pan with nonstick spray. Whisk flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt in small bowl. Whisk egg, 1/3-cup cheese, ½ cup sour cream, creamed corn and remaining 2 tablespoons oil in large bowl. Add flour mixture; stir to blend. Stir in jalapeno and caramelized onions. Transfer batter to prepared pan. Sprinkle remaining 1/3-cup cheese blend over.

Bake until puffed and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool completely. Cut into 1-inch squares. Place on platter. Top each square with a dollop of sour cream then a small spoonful of salsa.

Mexican Hot Chocolate  (Serves 12)

Thanksgiving marks the official start of the Holiday party season. As your online resource for chic entertaining ideas, the next few week’s blog posts on Chic Party Plans will be dedicated to providing you with tips and tools for planning memorable events and experiences for your friends and family from now through the new year.  Tip #1 – In is the new out!  A good party at home always beats a crowded, overpriced night at the club.  So, catch the nesting fever and throw the best party of the year in your very own home.

A few things to consider when planning a party in your home:  Choose a simple theme, like a color, and carry that theme through everything you do from the invitation to a custom cocktail you serve your guests to the favor that goes home with them.  Lighting is the key to setting a mood, white votives in colored votive holders are simple and chic.  Place the candles along a colored runner on your dining room table and finish with a great floral arrangement that compliments your color scheme and you’re guaranteed to make a good impression.

Chic Party Plans Top Three Decorating Resources:

www.socialcouture.com

www.orientaltrading.com

www.hostesswiththemostess.com

Stay tuned for more holiday party tips next week…

Looking for a libation to warm you on a chilly November night?  I came across just the concoction in the Fall issue of Capitol File magazine and had to share.  This simple yet sophisticated drink features an “uncommon liqueur with a common cup of coffee.”  Follow the recipe below for a rejuvenating and invigorating autumn cocktail.

6 oz. fresh-brewed coffee

1 oz. Rock and Rye liqueur

Rock-candy stirrer

Whipped cream

Cinnamon

Pour coffee and Rock and Rye into a mug; stir with rock candy.  Top with Whipped cream and cinnamon.  Indulge!

Did you know that October is National Popcorn Month? Don’t feel bad, I didn’t know either until I picked up a free copy of my local parents magazine. Now that we know, let’s celebrate! Rent a good movie, invite over a few family and friends and share some tasty popcorn treats. I found two great recipes that I wanted to share.

One recipe, Savory Herb Popcorn  from the Food Network is great for adult gatherings. The other recipe is a traditional Halloween treat for kids, popcorn balls. Happy Popping!

If you’re like me, every time you receive a notice from your child’s school about a holiday potluck you agonzie over what to bring.  Should you bring something sweet – a sure winner with the kids?  Or, maybe something healthy, something you’ll feel good about, but will likely end up left on the potluck table at the end of the night, never having been touched?  Well, I recently came across a host of clever Halloween snack ideas from Family Fun Magazine that will make ghouls everywhere howl with pleasure.  My personal favorite, the Apple Bites, toothy mouth shapes made with apples and slivered almonds.  For details on how to make these and other fun Halloween treats, click here.

One of my best friends has spent Thanksgiving with me and my family for the past seven years.  I found out today that she won’t be able to make the trip to Atlanta with us this year.  When she shared the news, I was totally bummed.  Mainly because she makes the BEST sweet potato pie i’ve ever tasted (just kidding… I’ll dearly miss my friend and the big mess we make of the kitchen every year)!

So, with none of my friend’s sweet potato pie in my near furture, I’ve begun a search for a replacement dessert.  If you’ve got a killer recipe that will put me and my family in a heavy cream and sugar induced coma, please share.  In the meantime, I’ve came across one strong contender from Essence Magazine – Sweet Potato Cheesecake – Yum!

For complete recipe and instructions, click here.