I’ve always been a fan of a great at-home bar. I strongly believe it’s a must-learn life skill to mix up classic cocktails, and as an avid host, it’s important to provide an array...
Looking back on Easter as a child, I remember how excited I was to dig through my Easter basket. Full of chocolate bunnies, malt ball Easter eggs, Peeps, golden coins, and my favorite Cadbury...
Lets be honest, salads can be boring. So I’m always trying to think outside of the box to come up with salad recipes that I’ll thoroughly enjoy, but are beyond easy to make. Enter...
Lets be honest, salads can be boring. So I’m always trying to think outside of the box to come up with salad recipes that I’ll thoroughly enjoy, but are beyond easy to make. Enter...
Okay, okay, okay, I might be ready for fall now. As I’ve mentioned here several times, I’m a summer lover through and through. But around this time every year I do have to admit that fall fashion starts to tug at my heart strings. This year especially, I’ve loved seeing the 70’s revival trend in full force with wide leg jeans, plenty of florals, muted tones and suede…not to mention those velvet Golden Gooses! Are you feeling the fall vibes finally too?! Cheers, Kat
P.S. If you’re still squeezing the last few drops out of summer—be sure to take advantage of the great end-of-season sales around the web. I’ve linked to several good pieces here. xo
Being a non-Tennessee native, people always ask me why I ventured down to University of Tennessee to become a Vol years ago. I think honestly a huge part of the reason was the SEC tailgating! If you’ve ever been to Neyland Stadium, then you’ll understand. The sea of screaming fans and the beloved culture surrounding Game Day is enough to turn anyone into a lover of orange and white. And years of tailgating in Knoxville has taught me a thing or two about SEC tailgating essentials.
But of course, tailgating is a treasured tradition throughout the entire SEC. And the gear and tools to set up a proper spread are taken very seriously. Think luxury coolers, embroidered throw pillows, high-end bartending pieces and enough food to feed a small army. I’ve included my top picks in the list below…take a look and tell me what I’m forgetting! Go Vols! Cheers, Kat
P.S. Check out two of our favorite tailgate libations HERE.
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This perfect little cocktail mixing kit is just what you’ll need as you combine drinks for a crowd. The mixing glass, stir stick and strainer have proven to be the exact essentials for a great libation.
Swig has answered my tailgating prayers with this 50 oz. insulated bottle. It literally can hold up to 2 bottles of wine, all while staying discreet in a double-wall stainless steel bottle that you can top off all yours and your friends’ cups throughout the day. Sounds like a good Game Day to me.
These gorgeous designs deserve to be front and center on the tailgating chairs, back home on the couch (if you’re watching from afar), or atop a throw blanket in the bed of the truck. They’re available in 60 different designs, ensuring that you can rep your team in style.
Toast to the SEC with classic southern cocktails at your tailgate! Think Mint Julep, The Hurricane and all of the essentials you’ll need to stock a proper bar on Game Day.
The secret to a great tailgate lies in preparation AND organization. This transportable station will be your new best friend, offering a nice workspace and easy storage for all of your essentials.
Talk about a great chip and dip bowl! This handwoven seagrass piece offers easy cleanup with its glass insert, and provides nice storage with the included lid. Love the elevated look of this serving piece at any tailgate.
The worst thing ever? Getting out to the tailgate lot and realizing you didn’t bring a bottle opener! This 4-in-1 tool is a lifesaver in more ways than one.
Talk about a fancy cooler! I mean this thing will have everyone on the tailgate line green with envy. The design has cork as its natural insulator; making the cooler as functional as it is beautiful. And a clear shield lets the cork shine through while protecting it for years to come. The design can store wine bottles upright and to keep things organized and presentable inside, there’s a divider, too. Not to mention, there’s a clear prep tray included that makes everything easier as you’re mixing up your next cocktail.
Here’s another great piece in Target’s Artland Garden Terrace collection! Two glass trays and three glass bowls offer great containers for tailgating snacks. Not to mention, the handwoven seagrass is stylish AND durable.
Bringing along an easy, affordable pitcher is a must when serving any sort of batch drink to the crew. This one from Target is a go-to whenever we’re packing up our tailgating gear.
Can’t be caught without some team gear! This super soft, oversized throw blanket always makes its way with us, offering easy seating when the place gets packed, and some festive decor when thrown over a chair after we head into the game.
This design should be considered as the king of tailgating chairs, in my opinion. It features a convenient surface for your plate and drink, easy storage for any belongings you need to set aside while lounging, and it also keeps drinks closeby in a nice little cooler. Genius, really.
Here’s another beautiful design by Sovaro; the 28 oz. insulated tumbler. It’s perfect for a large mixed drink, and keeps a low profile. I love this elevated take on your standard tumbler cup!
Featured image, Rustic White for Waiting on Martha
Lately I’ve been on a bit of a kick with testing out the classic baking recipes. I’ve been on a mission to try out the tried-and-true, crowd favorites and have been taking notes which recipes will truly stand the test of time. I’ve also had fun adding my own little spin here and there. Case in point: today’s classic chocolate cake with chocolate espresso buttercream frosting.
It all starts with your standard, irresistibly moist chocolate cake. But then I took it up a notch with added espresso powder in both the cake AND the homemade buttercream frosting. The result is amazing, let me tell you. That little extra burst of espresso flavor kicks up the dark, rich nature of the ooey-gooey chocolate.
And if you’ve been following along on Instagram, you’ll know that I have this love affair with buttercream frosting. It’s hands-down my favorite icing, and it’s also SO much easier to make at home than I ever thought it would be. I will never, ever buy buttercream at a store again! I think the key with buttercream frosting is that it needs to be a very light, whipped texture. To achieve that heavenly consistency, simply beat it with a mixer even longer than you think you should…you won’t be sorry you did.
Also, another important thing to note is that you want to be careful when softening your butter. You don’t want it to fully melt, as it needs to combine correctly, so stick to 8 seconds, then another 8 seconds until it’s just right. Find the full recipe below, and tell me if you’re as obsessed with buttercream frosting as I am!!! Truly, MKR
Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Espresso Buttercream Frosting
1 cup or 2 sticks unsalted butter, cut into pieces, with additional to grease pans
2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
1½ cups granulated sugar
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
½ cup dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
2 large eggs
½ cup sour cream
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 teaspoons espresso powder
For the frosting
1½ cups or 3 sticks butter, softened
1 cup unsweetened cocoa
5 cups confectioner’s sugar
½ cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 tablespoons espresso powder
For the cake
Heat oven to 350º F.
Butter two 8- or 9-inch round cake pans and line the bottom of each with a round of parchment paper.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, brown sugar, baking soda and salt.
In a small saucepan, combine the butter and 1 cup water and bring to a boil.
Add to the flour mixture and, using an electric mixer, mix until combined. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then the sour cream and vanilla.
Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes. Cool in the pans for 20 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool completely.
For the frosting
Mix cocoa in a large bowl or bowl with stand mixer. Make sure to whisk away all clumps.
Cream together the softened butter and cocoa powder until smooth.
Add sugar and milk to cocoa mixture by adding 1 cup of sugar and 1 tablespoon of milk, combining and then turning mixer up to high speed for about a minute. Do this in steps until all sugar and milk are combined.
Add vanilla extract and espresso powder and mix until very light and whipped in texture.
After cake layers are completely cooled, spread frosting. Enjoy!
By Mandy Kellogg Rye @ Waiting on Martha
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