Holiday Entertaining

A Colorful & Approachable Easter Tablescape

A Cheery Holiday Table & Spread with Plenty of Signs of Spring
Filed Under > Entertaining

Strawberry & Caramel Cakes, Waiting On MarthaEaster tablescape inspiration via waitingonmartha.com Easter table styling ideas via Waiting on Martha Herb Rubbed Lamb Chops for Easter, Waiting on Martha Easter tablescape on Waiting on MarthaEaster sides, Waiting on Martha Best Caramel & Strawberry Cake Delivered, Waiting On Martha Warm spinach salad on waitingonmartha.com Spring blooms for Easter, Waiting on Martha Easter lamp chops on waitingonmartha.com Easter place setting inspiration, waitingonmartha.com Best Caramel & Strawberry Cake Delivered, Waiting On Martha

When I think spring, my mind automatically goes to Easter, one of my absolute favorite holidays to celebrate.  I love setting the table for an Easter dinner with family and friends, and find myself looking for ways to always incorporate those sweet pastel tones, floral anything-and-everything, and all around spring feels onto the table. 

Like any styled table, this year’s Easter tablescape leans on my secret trick of layering, layering, and more layering.  I don’t believe that you have to have a different place setting for each and every holiday or turn of the season.  I mean who has the space?! What I love doing is leaning on my everyday place settings and switching out the salad, appetizer, or soup bowls to match whatever we’re celebrating.  That’s where the fun pattern play always comes in; varieties in colors and designs of your dinnerware can create just the bright, joyous effect you’re hoping to achieve this time of year.  

For example, I started with my traditional, everyday blue and white Sophia dinnerware and serving pieces from Pottery Barn and mixed in these playful  holiday Bunny Bowls, and classic check napkins that can be used all year long.  Along with the place settings I added in plenty of Easter details like bunnies and baskets full of festive candies, and Majolica bird salt and pepper shakers and serving set.  

You’ll also spot some usual suspects on the table: gold flatware, festive drinking goblets, statement Sophia serving pieces and fresh blooms in the form of pink parrot tulips and green hydrangea.  I had fun incorporating the small Easter details too; I added egg cups and small baskets with speckled chocolate eggs to each place setting, and of course candies from Williams Sonoma around the table.  The end result, a home run look that didn’t cost me an arm and a leg.

And because it’s not quite Easter without sweet treats, I ordered these gorgeous, drool-worthy cakes from Sugaree’s Bakery.  Thanks to The Southern C Summit, I recently discovered this small batch bakery that’s based out of Albany, Mississippi, and I immediately fell for the classic, not fussy flavors (I will love strawberry cake forever and ever).  

While I know what you’re probably thinking; there’s no way these cakes could be shipped to me in Atlanta in one piece!  I mean who even takes the risk to get strawberry cake delivered?!  But alas, each cake arrived perfectly which even I’ll admit was a bit shocking.  Sugaree’s knows what they’re doing because while the cakes did arrive frozen, they don’t freeze them long; the flavors are fresh and vibrant and OH SO GOOD.  Not to gush or anything, but the cakes were so light, fluffy and moist that I couldn’t believe they came all the way from Mississippi.  While I was lucky enough to sample all of the flavors, I would have to say the coconut, strawberry and caramel were my favorite…all of them were so large, well priced, and absolutely divine.  So to answer the previous question, I say heck yes to  getting a caramel and strawberry cake delivered!

Along with the cakes, for the food I decided to try my hand at garlic garlic and herb rubbed lamb chops, fresh asparagus, baby potatoes, and my mother’s favorite spinach salad with mandarin oranges and warm bacon vinaigrette.  I’ll be sharing all the recipes tomorrow, but it was the perfect meal and table to welcome spring and celebrate Easter. Truly, MKR

P.S. Check out everything we’re eyeing for this joyous time of year in our Easter Shop!

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Photography, Rustic White for Waiting on Martha | This post is in collaboration with Pottery Barn, a brand we love and adore.  All opinions are 100% our own. 

New Years Eve & Chill: 6 Essentials for the Best Night In

Because You Can't Get Cozy without These Details
Filed Under > Entertaining

New Years Eve chill night at home: what you'll need via @waitingonmartha

So I know I talked about NYE dress options on Wednesday…12 dresses to be exact, all decked out in sequins and silk and sparkle.  But the truth is that I’m spending a cozy night in with nine of my closest friends this year.  

I couldn’t be more excited to trade the expensive party ticket for a tasty homecooked dinner (prime rib to be exact) and drinks that we won’t have to stand in line to enjoy.  Do you have a New Years Eve chill night on the books, too?  If so, check out the six details I’ve marked as must-have for the night in.  Cheers, Kat

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Cozy Cocktails

"Booze It Low" Cocktail Glass

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A cozy night in requires a few tasty cocktails for sure.  May we suggest our Salted Caramel White Russian, Hot Buttered Rum Cider or Red Wine Hot Chocolate?  Mix them up and serve in our cocktail glasses for a special touch.

Cocktails not your thing?  Check out MKR’s top wines under $30.  Cheers! 

Pajamas & Lounge Wear

LAKE Long Set Pajamas, $108

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The beauty of a NYE spent at home is ultimate comfort, is it not?!  These pajamas are perhaps the softest things I own; I’ll be snuggled up in these this year. 

A Strong Lineup of Movies

Amazon Fire Stick, $39.99

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Plan for a night of entertainment (preceding and following the Ball Drop of course) with an Amazon Fire Stick.  This one includes Alexa Voice Remote (so cool) and lets you access Netflix, Hulu, HBO NOW, YouTube, Amazon Video, NBC, WatchESPN, Disney, and more.  

Snacks to Nosh On

Movie Theater Popcorn Seasoning, $10.36

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Even with a big celebratory dinner in your belly, you’ll want some snacks to nosh on throughout the night!  Whether that’s homemade holiday chex mix, french onion dip with kettle chips or just some great popcorn, prepare to push new year’s resolutions off one more day. 

Relaxing Vibes

Peace & Calming Essential Oil Blend, $34.75

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We’ve been on the essential oils train (hello, The Well Code), and this bestselling oil blend in particular will be in our diffuser on NYE.  With a comforting, fresh aroma, Peace & Calming oil creates a truly relaxing environment.  

Don’t have P&C at home, talk to us to change that (ha!), but try diffusing Lavender; it’s another soothing favorite! 

A Proper Palette

Henley Wool Throw

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I’ve always revered the idea of an amazing palette: tons of pillows, blankets galore (this one is to-die-for) and anything and everything you need…to just stay put.  Maybe it goes back to my days of blanket forts in the living room when I was little, but this is a must for a cozy NYE at home!

Featured image, Rustic White for Waiting on Martha

A New Year’s Eve Steak Dinner at Home

A skillet seared ribeye with homemade herb butter, caramelized onions, and fried brussel sprouts
Filed Under > Food

Skillet seared ribeye steak dinner with homemade herb butter, caramalized onions & fried brussel sprouts Skillet seared ribeye steak dinner with homemade herb butter, caramalized onions & fried brussel sprouts

There’s something special about a fancy dinner at your favorite steakhouse for New Year’s Eve.  But there’s also something perhaps even more special about enjoying a gourmet meal fixed in the comfort of your own home.  I know, I know, I’ve been pushing the homebody card quite a lot lately, but I sure love a cozy night in this time of year…and that doesn’t change on NYE.    

My husband and I have spent NYE at home the past couple of years; in fact, it’s become our tradition.  We avoid the overpriced cover charges and event tickets, the impossible restaurant reservations and fixed menus, and instead we prepare a fancy, decadent dinner at home just like we like it.  It’s the perfect excuse to bring out the festive dinnerware, too. 

We’re in for a treat this year with our NYE dinner:  bone-in ribeye cast iron skillet seared and cooked to perfection with homemade herb butter, fried brussels sprouts and caramelized onions.  The brussels sprouts are perhaps the easiest side I’ve ever done; I threw them in a hot dutch oven with frying oil (I used vegetable oil, but you could use grapeseed too),  I let them get that crispy charring with soft inside.  Seriously SO simple…check out the recipe below. 

For this meal, I’ll serve the Mr. his favorite beer.  But because you’ll ask about wine pairings (and I love to talk wine, let’s be honest), here’s what I’d go with:  a buttery chardonnay for a white wine, and a spicy malbec for a red.  Because this is a pretty rich dinner (read: butter, butter, butter) I would stay away from a heavy, cabernet sauvignon or a fruit-forward acidic sauvignon blanc.  Enjoy, friends and happy happy 2017!  Truly, MKR

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Bone-In Ribeye with Caramelized Onions & Fried Brussels Sprouts
Yields 3
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For the steak
  1. 3 bone-in ribeye steaks
  2. 1 large head of garlic, cut in half
  3. salt and pepper, to taste
  4. fresh thyme, rosemary for garnish
  5. 5 tablespoons herb butter to cook, additional to garnish (recipe below)
  6. Olive or vegetable oil
For the caramelized onions
  1. 5-6 Large yellow or white onions, sliced
  2. 2 tablespoons butter
  3. 1 tablespoon olive oil
  4. 2 tablespoons water
  5. 1 tablespoon sugar
  6. pinch of Salt
For the homemade herb butter
  1. 4 sticks unsalted butter, brought to room temperature
  2. 4 tablespoons thyme, finely chopped
  3. 2-3 sprigs rosemary, finely chopped
For the brussels sprouts
  1. 2-4 cups vegetable oil (or frying oil of your choice)
  2. 1 large bag brussels sprouts
  3. juice of 1 lemon
  4. table salt and pepper to taste
For the caramelized onions
  1. Melt your butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add the sliced onions to the pan and stir them gently to coat with butter. After 10 minutes add sugar, a pinch of salt and water, stir.
  3. Check the onions every 5-10 minutes. Stir them and and scrape up any fond that forms on the bottom of the skillet. Around 30 minutes, they start to get golden, and around 50 minutes they will be the most caramelized. You can continue to add a bit of water if the onions are becoming dry.
For the steak
  1. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees and place your cast iron skillet inside the oven. Bring your steak to room temperature.
  2. Season both sides of the steaks with olive oil and salt and pepper.
  3. Once heated, remove the skillet and cook your steaks in the skillet on the stovetop for 2 minutes each side on medium heat. While the steak is cooking add the full heads of garlic, thyme and rosemary in the skillet along with the herb butter. Lightly press down on the heads of garlic to release their aromatics.
  4. Return the skillet to the oven and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes or until reached desired temperature. Ribeye is best rare or medium rare and remember while the steak is tented and rested it will continue to cook approximately 5 degrees.
  5. Remove steaks from the oven and tent with aluminum foil, let it sit for 10 minutes after.
For the brussels sprouts
  1. Heat your cooking oil to high heat/frying point in a dutch oven or thick cast iron skillet (there has to be enough oil to cover the brussels sprouts).
  2. When the oil looks shiny and you hear the oil start to crackle and bubble, it's ready to fry. Drop your brussels sprouts in carefully.
  3. Stir occasionally and once they start to turn a brown color on the outside, use a skimmer or giant spatula to retrieve them from the pan.
  4. Place them on paper towels in a big dish to the side.
  5. Sprinkle salt and pepper and a little bit of lemon juice, to taste.
For the herb butter
  1. Let your butter become room temperature.
  2. In a giant bowl, add the finely chopped thyme and rosemary to the butter.
  3. Combine with your fingers and ball it together.
  4. Use a piece of parchment paper and take the ball and roll it out the long way, like a paper towel cylinder then wrap with parchment paper and place it in the fridge overnight to harden.
  5. When ready to serve, cut into medallions.
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