“Hostess with the Mostest”

Sip, Savor & Repeat: Building The Perfect Cheese Platter

February 16, 2015
Story By: Mandy Kellogg Rye
Filed Under > "Hostess with the Mostest"

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How To Build The Perfect Cheese PlatterHow To Build The Perfect Cheese PlatterHow To Build The Perfect Cheese PlatterHow To Build The Perfect Cheese PlatterHow To Build The Perfect Cheese PlatterHow To Build The Perfect Cheese Platter How To Build The Perfect Cheese PlatterHow To Build The Perfect Cheese PlatterHow To Build The Perfect Cheese Platter

When entertaining there is nothing more of a go-to for me than a cheese and charcuterie board.  So when Le Creuset reached out to ask if I could put their new cheese platter and wine carafe to good use I jumped at the chance.  I mean honestly when have you known me to say no to wine and cheese, plus it just happens to be National Drink Wine Day this week so really the timing was perfect.

I love preparing a charcuterie and cheese platter because there are no rules.  Literally you can pretty much combine anything your heart desires and as long as the spread is ample enough there’s sure to be something to please every guest’s palette.  But while there aren’t any rules per se, I know picking out just the right cheeses, fruits, veggies, meats, spreads, and breads can sometimes be intimidating so I thought I’d share a few of my favorites below.  Do you have any tried and true cheese or spreads you consistently use?  Cheers!  Truly, MKR

Cheeses: always purchase a variety of textures and flavors; soft, hard, firm, blue and a spread such as pimento (especially if you’re in the south).  Some of my personal favorites are any cheeses from Midnight Moon, Cowgirl Creamery, Lazy Lady, Jacob’s Creamery and Fraga Farmstead.  But when in doubt simply ask any friendly cheese monger to help you out and always choose at least one “safe” cheese that will be familiar to everyone.

Fruits & Veggies:  carrots, grilled asparagus, green onions, pearl onions, roasted tomatoes, artichoke hearts, olives, grapes, pears, apples, blueberries, and figs dried or fresh.

Meats:  prosciutto and other cured meats such as salami, ham, and sausages.

Spreads, Breads & Nuts:  honey, olive oil, and any fig, plum, or cherry chutneys.  A crispy flatbread, Rain Crisps, and grilled french bread.  To grill the bread simply buy a baguette from your local grocer, slice, brush with olive oil and grill until gold brown and accompanied by a few nice char marks.  For the crunch candied walnuts or pecans, pistachios, almonds, and marcona almonds.

Photography, Rustic White

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*Wine via La Crema  |  This story was in collaboration with Le Creuset a brand I love and adore.  Opinions and recipes are 100% my own.

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A Woodland Wonderland Holiday Dinner With Rue Magazine

December 10, 2014
Story By: Mandy Kellogg Rye
Filed Under > "Hostess with the Mostest"

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On a day where fall was saying goodbye and winter hello we trekked over the river and through the Atlanta History Center’s woods to a Woodland Wonderland created just for Rue Magazine’s Holiday issue.  

With a pristine log cabin providing the ideal backdrop it wasn’t hard to bring my vision to life.  The table was overflowing with sugared fruits and holiday florals flanked by giant candelabras.  Hand cut place cards laid perfectly on Juliska’s Country Estate dinnerware, and gold flatware and glasses provided just a touch of sparkle.  And after dinner guests retreated to the cabin getting cozy by the fire and noshing on wintery cake, pumpkin creme brûlée, coffee, and a whiskey or two.

With everything falling right into place it all was nothing short of magical.  I’ll be sharing all of the recipes from HomeSpun Atlanta over the next few weeks, but for know just snuggle up and enjoy our Woodland Wonderland and a Very Merry Rue.  Truly, MKR

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The Team:  Concept & Styling, Waiting On Martha  ||  Photography, Rustic White  ||  Florals, Lindsay Coletta Designs  ||  Food, HomeSpun Atlanta  ||  Cake, Lush Cakery  ||  Furniture, Crush Event Rentals  ||  Invitations & Place Cards, Yes Ma’am Paper Goods  ||  Location, Atlanta History Center

Place Settings, Juliska via Bloomingdales Lenox  ||  Wooden Chargers, Vintage (similar HERE)  ||  Placemats, Juliska via Bloomingdales Lenox  ||  Napkins, Kate Spade NY via Bloomingdales Lenox  ||  Gold Flatware, One Kings Lane  ||  Gold Glitter Spoon, Sabre via Waiting On Martha  ||  Gold Rimmed Glassware, One Kings Lane  ||  Candelabras, Dunes & Duchess  ||  Sleigh, Pottery Barn (sold out similar HERE)  ||  Faux Fur Blanket, One Kings Lane  ||  Punch Bowl, Juliska via Bloomingdales Lenox  ||  Animal Head Shot Glasses, Waiting On Martha  ||  Horseshoe Drink Stirs, Waiting On Martha  ||  Silver Candlesticks, Pottery Barn  ||  Wine, Orison Wines

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Gifting || Simple Flowers

June 25, 2014
Story By: Mandy Kellogg Rye
Filed Under > "Hostess with the Mostest"

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hostess gifts, simple flowers from Waiting On MarthaWhen it comes to gifting, especially the hostess, nothing is more perfect and easy than simple flowers.  But for some reason whenever I talk about flowers I find people tend to become overwhelmed and intimidated by all of the choices so I thought I’d share my favorite go-to single stem arrangements and tips I’ve picked up along the way.  truly, MKR 

hostess gifts, simple flowers from Waiting On Martha

No 1. – Keep it simple and in season.  If you’re not someone who arranges flowers quite frequently best to keep it simple with a few stems of a single varietal and always try to buy what’s in season.  My favorites include peonies, hydrangeas, lilacs, ranunculus, and tulips.

hostess gifts, simple flowers from Waiting On Martha

No. 2 – Work the stems.  Immediately remove any plastic wrapping, submerge the stems in water and beginning cleaning and removing any un needed leaves, twigs, etc.  

hostess gifts, simple flowers from Waiting On Martha

No. 3 – Pretty paper.  I love using wrapping sheets, butchers paper, or a gorgeous ribbon to wrap the flowers in.  Simply lay the flowers out how you would like them to look and trim the bottoms (preferably with pruning shears) on a diagonal so all of the stems are the same length.  Place the flowers at the corner of your wrapping sheet and roll.  Secure with double sided tape or a ribbon.  If you’re using just a ribbon which is ideal for larger branched stems such as the lilacs secure first with flower wire then cover with ribbon.

hostess gifts, simple flowers from Waiting On Martha

No 4. – Additions.  If you want an additional pop or some variety, add a few herbs such as sprigs of basil or rosemary in the colder months or craspedia (the little yellow flowers added to the peonies), but just remember in most cases less is more.

hostess gifts, simple flowers from Waiting On Martha

*Photography  ||  Haley Sheffield

 

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