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July 30, 2015

Napkin Round Up

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Weddings are all about details.  From the invitations, to the dress, and everything in between, details are the way that you as a couple can add your personality and style to this very special day.  One of my favorite, and often overlooked, ways to personalize your wedding is with your napkins.  You may be saying, “Huh?  A napkin is a napkin and just there to dab my face after digging in (maybe too enthusiastically) to that scrumptious food I’ve been hoping for since this morning!”  But, yes, napkins can have utility AND style!  Because of this, I’ve rounded up my favorite ways to dress up and showcase your napkins.  Check it out! napkinroundup Awesome, right?  A napkin can be another detail that makes your guests stop and say “Wow!”  Remember that details are a fun and excellent way to make your event even more stunning!  Happy planning everyone! Check out more Salt Lake City, Park City, and Utah County on www.culinarycrafts.com! Photo credits: Row 1 – Yellow Napkin by Logan Walker, A Pepper Nix Photographer; Green Napkin via Style Me Pretty; Napkin with Seating Tag by Logan Walker, A Pepper Nix Photographer; Peony with White Napkin via All Things Shabby and Beautiful; Row 2 – Pink Rolled Napkin by Logan Walker, A Pepper Nix Photographer; Thank You Note & Napkin via Culinary Crafts; Floral Napkin via Confetti Day Dreams; Lavender & Rosemary Sprig in Napkin via Logan Walker, A Pepper Nix Photographer; Row 3 – Blue Napkin by Logan Walker, A Pepper Nix Photographer; Menu Card Tucked into Napkin via Culinary Crafts; Napkin with Monogram Band via Culinary Crafts; Simple white napkin by Logan Walker, A Pepper Nix Photographer

July 16, 2015

How To: Make a Culinary Crafts Italian Soda

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One of Culinary Crafts’s favorite summer beverages is an Italian Soda!  While many people may be thinking, hey, how to you ‘make’ an Italian soda?  Don’t you just go buy one from a fancy import store?  Well, no, I’m talking about a TRUE Italian Soda made with delicious Italian flavored syrup, a splash of cream, and soda – creating a fabulous and refreshing summer treat!  It really is so easy to make one of these beautiful drinks.  As you can see above, you simply fill any tall glass about 2/3 of the way with ice (we prefer our frosted zombie glass if we really want to go all out), then you add the flavored syrup.  Not too much because it will be too sweet, so fill about 1/4 of the glass with the syrup or 1/3 if you’d like a little more flavoring.  Next, you fill the glass with cream (like Half and Half) til the glass is about 2/3 full, then finish by filling the glass the rest of the way with club soda (or sprite, if you’d like it sweeter).  Voila!  An Italian Soda is made – and how tasty they are!  Hopefully you love these sodas as much as we do!  Happy creating everyone! Check out more Salt Lake City, Park City, and Utah County catering at www.culinarycrafts.com!  

June 16, 2015

Gift Idea for Father’s Day!

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FatherDayGrilling As I'm sure you all know, Father's Day is coming up soon - and Culinary Crafts is here to help!  Are you thinking you have NO IDEA what you should get for the dads in your life?  Well, how about an AMAZING cooking class, taught by our very own Ryan Crafts, all about the art of grilling!  This class is perfect for any guy you'd like to show appreciation to - plus if you already have Father's Day taken care of, it's great for a date night, fun night out, or just to get one step closer to being a grill master!  (Ladies, maybe you can come learn tips and tricks so you can treat your guy to an amazing meal as a gift instead!?)  Whatever the reason, sign up today!  The class is being held on June 23rd at our Pleasant Grove facility, so call 801-225-6575 soon to reserve your place.  It costs just $50.00/per person and you'll get instruction, hands-on cooking, and more delicious food than you thought possible!  We look forward to seeing a bunch of you there!  Happy grilling, everyone! Check out more Salt Lake City, Park City, and Utah County catering at www.culinarycrafts.com!

November 14, 2013

Let’s Talk Pickling

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Pickling Today I want to share an AWESOME idea with everyone - pickling!  We here at Culinary Crafts love pickled fruits and vegetables and they really have a way of adding a great zing of flavor to any dish you choose - in fact, one of Mary Crafts-Homer's favorite bites is Culinary Crafts's Pulled Pork Sliders with Pickled Red Onions.  Yum!  We also love creating pickled veggie trays for fall and winter events and they are definitely a hit.  Plus, pickling is a great way to preserve any fruits or vegetables that you have grown or purchased and aren't going to be able to eat before they spoil.  Use the pickled offerings on tacos, sandwiches, as a side dish, garnish, or anything else you want - plus, you can pickle so many things like onions, cucumbers (i.e. pickles), green beans, carrots, beets, squash, peppers, watermelon rind (yes, the rind), pears, tomatoes, cauliflower and more!  If you are interested in trying this out, I love this simple "how to" from Martha Stewart here.  This utilizes a blend of spices that is great with many veggies, so you can try a bunch!  Not to mention, homemade pickled fruits and veggies can be an AWESOME holiday gift for anyone!  Happy pickling everyone! Check out more Salt Lake City, Utah County, and Park City catering at www.culinarycrafts.com! Photos via Martha Stewart

October 29, 2013

How To: Roasting Pumpkin Seeds

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PunkinSeeds5 My family took the opportunity to have a Pumpkin Carving Party this weekend and I have to give props to Holly Fowler and Mary Crafts-Homer for the inspiration!  (Our fancy, finished pumpkins are pictured above.)  We had a blast and I hope you all were inspired to have some spooktacular fun as well, but if pumpkin carving is still in your future, I wanted to share another idea - Roasted Pumpkin Seeds!  Yum!  We at Culinary Crafts LOVE roasted pumpkin seeds and one of our signature autumn offerings - The Butternut Squash Soup with Cider Cream and Roasted Pumpkin Seeds - wouldn't be complete without the nutty goodness of these gems.  Plus, they are SO easy to make, I just couldn't resist!  Check it out! PunkinSeeds First, clean the pumpkin.  I find it easiest to have a separate bowl for the seeds and then a bucket or bin for the "guts".  I like to get the seeds as separate from the flesh as possible - and this extra step will make the cleaning step a bit easier. PunkinSeeds2 Next, you can do this step one of two ways.  You can lay the seeds out on newspaper in a thin layer to dry overnight and the fruit bits that are still attached will dry up and fall way by the morning, ready for the roasting.  We wanted to cook ours that evening, so we put the seeds in a water bath on one side of the sink to rinse and clean the seeds and put the cleaned seeds in a bowl.  This method takes a little bit of time, depending on how many seeds you have, but its not too bad.  Also, if you let them dry overnight, the finished result tends to be a bit cruchier (in my opinion), so that's also a personal preference. PunkinSeeds3 Next, take the cleaned seeds and dry them slightly by sandwiching them between a dish towel.  Then, put them in a small bowl with oil or butter and your seasonings.  We ended up making 2 varieties - Salt & Pepper and Cinnamon Sugar.  For the Salt & Pepper version, add olive oil (enough to lightly coat the seeds), salt, and pepper to taste - then toss the seeds so they are evenly coated.  For the Cinnamon Sugar variety, add melted butter (again, enough to lightly coat the seeds), cinnamon, and brown sugar to taste.  Toss the seeds until evenly coated.  Then spread each batch on a cookie pan in a thin, even layer (you may want to spray the Cinnamon Sugar pan with a bit of cooking spray so the seeds don't stick). PunkinSeeds4 Next, pop the seeds in the oven, heated to 300˚ F, for about 45 minutes.  When they are done, they will be a nice golden brown color.  Let them cool and then enjoy!  And although we made these 2 varieties, that doesn't mean the possibilities end there!  Chili Lime, Dill, Mexican Chocolate...  There are SO many ways to get creative!  Plus these are a great snack or they are a fabulous garnish for soups and salads!  Happy roasting everyone! Check out more Salt Lake City, Park City, and Utah County catering at www.culinarycrafts.com!

June 4, 2013

DIY Bunting How To

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We at Culinary Crafts love bunting!  It sets such a festive mood and its pretty to boot!  This easy and versatile detail can be super bright, vintage inspired, or soft and natural - but all still have the same effect - it's time to have fun!  Check out some of our favorite examples! DIY_Bunting DIY_Bunting4 We love the soft palette and added lace of this bunting.  It was a pretty and feminine touch - perfect for the poolside reception! DIY_Bunting2DIY_Bunting5   This bright bunting is not to be missed!  We love the vibrant, fun colors and bold patterns!  Perfect for a party mood! DIY_Bunting3 These vintage fabrics are lovely and add an extra special touch to this candy table with a 50's feel.  So fun!  And if you are inspired to make your own bunting, here's an easy how-to!   DIYBunting Happy crafting everyone! Check out more Salt Lake City, Park City, and Utah County catering at www.culinarycrafts.com! Photos by Logan Walker, A Pepper Nix Photographer

September 26, 2012

Remember To Light The Night!

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As we move rapidly from the sweltering summer to a very cool fall, the days are shortening and making light more scarce for outdoor weddings, and while many people think this creates a romantic mood (and it can!) - they also don't realize just how fast the dark nights roll in.  It's always a good idea to have lighting arranged for your wedding so your guests aren't stumbling around in the low light and everyone can see all the wonderful elements of your special day that you put so much effort and time into planning!  Some of the fantastic ways to add romance, drama, and, of course, light, are adding chandeliers to your tent or dance floor, utilizing strung lights on an outdoor patio, or even arranging beautiful candles to cast warmth to the night.  Take a look at some of our favorite examples! Beautiful light makes for a beautiful evening.  Plus, your guests will appreciate that they can still see everything that going on (plus no stumbling means no accidents!)  Taking the time to plan for these small details will make your wedding not only gorgeous, but less stressful!  That way you can focus on enjoying this once in a lifetime event - which is what its all about!  Happy planning everyone! Check out our website at www.culinarycrafts.com! Photos from Keith Westerberg, Logan Walker and Pepper Nix Photography

September 28, 2011

Wednesday Wisdom: How To Make DIY Favor Bags

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If you haven't noticed, we here at Culinary Crafts LOVE food.  Food is our passion and we love sharing it with our favorite people, including our always AMAZING clients!  So, it makes sense that one of our favorite wedding favor ideas is giving your guests with the gift of, well, food!  So, why not dress up those tasty treats with super cute (and super easy) favor bags?  Check it out!

Thank you to Martha Stewart for this fun idea!  How cute are these chocolate dipped sourdough pretzels?  And the simple, yet striking, glassine bags definitely add a 'wow' factor.  All you need is glassine bags, sticker paper, a sewing machine, and a printer.  First, print out your tags on a full sheet sized (8.5" x 11") sticker paper page and use a ruler and utility knife to cut the printed sheet into the squares for your bags (you can find some really cute - already designed - templates here).  Attach the sticker to your glassine bag.  Next, simply stitch the top of the filled glassine bag with a contrasting thread color (preferably in one of your wedding colors) to close the bag and seal in your goodies.  Now, you don't have to have chocolate dipped sourdough pretzels.  You could fill the bag with candies, Jordan almonds, spiced and roasted pumpkin seeds, or Culinary Crafts signature macarons or whoopie pies.  How easy is that?!

Now, remember, if you are going to be using one of Culinary Crafts's delicate confections, you'll have to make the bags only a couple of days ahead so the baked goods stay fresh and keep them refrigerated!  Also, if you are going to be having a summer wedding, where the favors will be sitting out in warm weather, you want to shy away from chocolates or other melt-y items unless you plan accordingly.  Happy crafting!

Check out our website at www.culinarycrafts.com!

Image from Martha Stewart Weddings

June 28, 2011

How to: Make Pinwheels!

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I love paper.  Seriously, its kind of my addiction. So, I'm super excited, you might guess, that one of the up and coming trends are using fabulous paper goods in events.  From invitations, to decor, to signage, to boutonnieres, and even bouquets and centerpieces!  Seriously, paper is in.  And today, we're doing a how-to on making paper pinwheels.  These versatile little cuties are being seen all over the place.  Check it out!

See all of the cute ways you can utilize pinwheels?  Plus they add an element of whimsy and fun too!  Happy crafting my friends!

Check out our website at www.culinarycrafts.com!

April 21, 2011

How To: Bridesmaid “Engagement” Rings

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Remember our last contest winner?  The craftiest/DIY project ever?!  Well, she was kind enough to let us share a "how to" so each of you could create the rings yourselves!  Check it out!

You can find the photo lockets here and the blank adjustable rings here.  I hope you all have fun doing your very own crafts!  And what a cute way to ask your ladies to be your bridesmaids and also to show them how awesome you think they are!

Don't forget to enter our newest contest! Our partners at Diamond Rental are giving away a pretty sweet prize!  Check it out here!

Also, check out our website at www.culinarycrafts.com!

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