Search
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 November 14, 2013
Let’s Talk 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
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!
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.
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.
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).
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
We love the soft palette and added lace of this bunting. It was a pretty and feminine touch - perfect for the poolside reception!
This bright bunting is not to be missed! We love the vibrant, fun colors and bold patterns! Perfect for a party mood!
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!
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!
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
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!
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
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!
March 28, 2011
How to Invite The President
Photo credit: Oh So Beautiful Paper
I'm sure a lot of you out there are starting to send out your wedding invitations (or at least thinking about sending them out soon), so today, we'd like to share with you a couple of fun ideas for some "celebrity" guests you may think of inviting.
Firstly, how about The President? Here's how:
Just send your invitation to:
The Honorable Barack Obama and Mrs. Obama The White House Greetings Office Rm. 39 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Washington, DC 20500
Wedding invitations to the President can also be faxed to: (202) 395-1232
Invitation Tip: The White House greetings office handles as many wedding invitation requests as they can. Send your wedding invitation at least six weeks in advance. Be sure to include your old and new mailing address in case the RSVP comes later.
Or how about Mickey & Minnie?? How fun!
Mickey and Minnie Mouse The Walt Disney Company 500 South Buena Vista Street Burbank, California 91521
These may also get you a fun keepsake directly from the invitee! What a fun and different wedding heirloom! Happy inviting everyone!
DON'T FORGET TO KEEP CHECKING BACK TO FIND OUT ABOUT A CONTEST WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING THIS WEEK!!!!
And, as always, check out our website for more amazing ideas! www.culinarycrafts.com
