Score one for our team.

My Friend’s husband wanted to throw his wife a surprise birthday dinner. Not just any dinner but one that mirrored one I threw for my husband back in July because he said his wife (my friend) went on and on about it. Although I was honored that my fete had made such an impression I reminded him that it was a backyard dinner complete with a banjo player, outdoor lights and hay bales for seats. A hoe down type party if you will…

William's Birthday Table (July)

“Exactly” was his response and for sure we needed hay!  Please note we are talking about a New York City apartment in January. “I am on it” was my response!

So we created casual brown bags for utensils which included bandanas for napkins.

Utensil Bags

For the benches we covered hay bales with large pieces of fabric.

Hay Benches Covered in Fabric

For the table we placed a layer of newspaper and cut canvas to the size of placemats and attached paint pens so that each guest could do a drawing of the birthday girl, which then could be placed in a book as a keepsake.

Canvas Placemats for the Table

Instead of lights we placed helium ballons all over the ceiling and hung tags of love from the strings.

Ballons Tagged with Birthday Love

For the center of the table we bought grass filled boxes and cut sunflower heads and lined them down the table.

Sunflower Table Runner

And oh yes, a few bunches of hay and sunflowers to place here and there.

Sunflower + Hay Arrangements

And all this in a matter of hours!!!!!!!! Hoe Down meets New York City…Complete.

Score two for our team.

The Whole Picture

Next, we sat back and heard that the lady of the hour enjoyed!

Score three for our team.

So a big THANKS to my hard working staff for making my orginal party so memorable and once again for making my friend’s husband look so good and making my friend’s birthday so special. I always know with the creative spirits I have been lucky enough to gather by my side that The Katie Brown Workshop will be a triple threat and then some.

You too will score big if you remember anything is possible when planning your next party.

With almost every special dietary regimen out there, you can find great recipes that are simple, affordable and quick. So the next time you have a guest over who is meat-, cheese- and egg-free…fear not! We’ve got you covered.

Vegan Curried Butternut Soup Recipe, Photo by: Elise Coroneos

Vegan Spicy Peanut Linguini, Photo by: Willow @WillCookForFriends

Vegan Green Bean Casserole Recipe, Photo by: Stephanie Ridzo

Vegan Spicy Two Bean Chili Recipe, Photo by: Shanon Lacy

Vegan Couscous Salad Recipe, Photo by: Lori Lynn

Tell us what you’d like to see on the blog! Post a comment here, write us at info@katiebrown.com, post on Facebook or tweet at us. We’re listening!

When we’re cooking at home for family or friends the inevitable pan and plate pile-up occurs…even though we try to strategize to downsize my clean-up effort. It took a kitchen renovation and some expert advice from Sub Zero Wolf to get us thinking about bringing that restaurant-style griddle into the home. There’s only one surface to clean when cooking with a griddle!

The opportunities to use the griddle on a range top go way beyond expert pancake-making. Anything you cook in a skillet, you can cook on a griddle in bulk: steaks, chicken, quesadillas, grilled cheese sandwiches, pizza…you can even heat up a can of soup!

Make or reheat pizza right on your griddle. Photo by: Jessica Leibowitz

An indoor BBQ: Pork and Chorizo burgers made right on the griddle. Photo by: Rob @Grub'sUp

Restaurant-style omelet on the griddle, Photo by: Nick @Macheesmo

For a range top with top functionality and quality, consult with Sub Zero Wolf…where the griddle is incorporated right into the design!

January is coming to a quick close, don’t forget about the January Giveaway. Sign up for the newsletter here!

I’ve heard my friends say this and I’ve said this, but for me it’s usually followed by “…my husband’s and my daughters socks, too.” And, most of the time I accept the fact that the dryer did indeed make my warm, wooly winter socks disappear. Really, where do they all go?

But, no more! I won’t give up my socks, mittens, or any other small article of clothing to the dryer demons. Not without a fight. The solution is quite simple and the benefits, well, very satisfying.

I found this great project and was able to simplify the steps without losing the final product.

Laundry Board: photo by Sassy Style

What you’ll need…

• 5 or 6 clothespins (depending on how many you want in the frame)
• A framed cork board, any size that works for your room (available at most craft + office supply stores)
• Hot glue
• Fabric or thick stock paper (pick a pattern that fits your decor and cut to the size of the cork)
• Paint (any home or craft paint)
• Sharpie Marker or Paint Marker

Get started…

• Paint the frame and clothes pins, allow to dry.
• Cut the fabric or thick paper to fit the cork part of the board.
• With the Sharpie Marker or any type of writing medium you choose, write the headline. Have fun with this part. Try “wanted”, “lost”, “missing”.
• Hot glue the clothes pins evenly apart towards the bottom of the cork.
• Hang on the wall with the hanging fixtures on the back of the board.

Laundry Board: photo by Sassy Style

When a piece of clothing goes missing, clip the match to the board. This is what I’ve needed, because when I think I found the match, I can’t find the original. And, the saga continues, until now.

We might not be able to solve the dryer mystery, but when the socks reappear we will at least be ready.

As always, please let me know what you’d like to see more of by posting on Facebook, tweeting, or writing an email to info@katiebrown.com. We love hearing from you and read every comment.

Thanks to @sassygirlshop.

Here’s our tried and true solution to the decorating dilemma at hand: Look for inspiration in the things that you see and love around you. Take, for example, our home in Connecticut. We knew we wanted to be bold and brave with paint in the family room, but were unsure of the direction until we found this pillow.

Here was the combo we’d been searching for. We painted the backdrop red, just like the pillow. We painted the ceiling purple for an accent color similar to the pillow. Then, we stripped the woodwork to add the subtle earth tones that are sprinkled throughout the pillow’s design.

Take a look at the before and after to see how we filled the room with big personality by taking the lead from this pillow for the color scheme.

Do not panic next time you think you want to go bold and bright. Keep your eyes open for an example of something you dig and spread it all around the room.

Here are 5 great recipes to test out your citrus squeezing and slicing skills. Be sure to scroll down to see the most beautiful cake filled with citrus goodness (via ApollinaS).

Grapefruit and Avocado Salad with Shrimp, Photo by: Renee Kohlman

Orzo with Citrus and Fennel Recipe, Photo by: Jodi Pudge

Salmon Tacos with Beet-Citrus Salsa Recipe, Photo by: Cara Lyons

Sauteed Chicken with Citrus Salsa Recipe, Photo by: Patrice Berry

Citrus Cake with Lemon and Orange Icing Recipe, Photo by: Apollina S

Want more citrus in your life? Try even more quick and simple recipes from the Katie Brown Workshop archives:
Jerk Chicken with Citrus Salsa Recipe
Orange and Olive Salad with Basil Vinaigrette
Clementine Drink Recipe
Lobster and Lemon Mashed Potatoes

Tell me what you think? Post a comment here, on Facebook, or a simple tweet will do. I’d love to hear from you!

Natural spa products are fun way to go: you can find the ingredients in your fridge, the products are safe to use for most skin types, and they make a thoughtful gift. This Cucumber Cooler toner recipe will give eyes the rest they need after a long day of squinting at computers, televisions and phone screens. Bring out the inner beauty buff that dwells in all of us– young and old!

Photo by: Paul Whicheloe for Katie Brown Weekends

Cucumber Cooler

What you’ll need…
Blender
Sieve
Chopping Knife
1 fresh cucumber to yiel 1/4 cup juice (see directions)
2 Tablespoons witch hazel
2 Tablespoons distilled water
Clean clear bottle
Decorative tag
Twine

Get started…
1.  Prepare the cucumber juice by chopping up the cucumber (peel and all) and liquefying it in the blender. Using the sieve, strain off the clean green juice. Discard the pulp.
2.  Mix the clear green juice together with the remainder of the ingredients.
3.  Pour the liquid into bottle and close lid tightly. Embellish bottle with tag and twine wrapped around the neck.

*Store your toner in the refrigerator so it will last longer and have a cold, tingling effect.

Don’t forget everyone, the January give away is still going on. All you have to do is sign up for the newsletter. It’s easy to do right on our Facebook page.

We were about two hours into our drive to our apple orchard in the Berkshires, when snow started falling. Despite the late date, it was the first sign of snow this season. I thought to myself, “UGHHHHHH! Now everything will be harder, grimmer and not nearly as fun.” Here comes winter: long, dark, grey, cold days.

At that moment, my seven year-old, Prentiss, began screaming: “SNOW! I LOVE SNOW! I MISSED YOU, SNOW!” Her excitement did not subside. The whole ride, she daydreamed and relived her top snow moments aloud and in song. I must admit, I too began to smile at the thought of many snow-filled memories. As the white powder settled, our headlights revealed picturesque glimpses of a winter wonderland.

Arriving in the pitch black, Prentiss asked if we could go night sledding. “We can mount flashlights on our heads!” She claimed excitedly. As much as I admired her enthusiasm and ingenuity, I stated sternly, “Time for bed.” Prentiss awoke the next morning before daylight and said “I cannot sleep. I cannot wait for the sun to come up so I can get out there in that fluffy white snow!”

Much to Prentiss’ delight, the sun rose and the games began.

Sledding!
Skiing!
Snow Angels!

After all of these activities, we still wanted more fun. That’s when I remembered a post I had seen on Pinterest. I recalled the two key elements of the project: food coloring and snow.

So, I went to work. I first tried snow in bowls with food coloring, but the mixture was too thick.
Second, I tried using snow and food coloring mixed with a little water…
…great for creating Jackson Pollock-like art, but it was too hard to brush onto the snow.

They say third time’s the charm. I ran inside and washed out a few old spray bottles and filled them with the liquid and voila! Check out the ghostly angel effect.

As I watched, participated and tried to reinvent snow-filled festivities, it hit me: I am one lucky lady. I have a tiny teacher who reminds me of the dazzling joyous hours that can be spent in a winter wonderland. If you are like me, and dreading the wintertime days ahead, stop! Put on your boots and gloves and just get silly amongst the snowfall. And, if you are feeling adventurous, add your own touch of bright, creative color to the white canvas that mother nature provides us.

As always, please let me know what you’d like to see more of by posting on Facebook, tweeting, or writing an email to info@katiebrown.com. We love hearing from you and read every comment.

Green Boxed Garden

Explore different paper options to find the perfect fit with your decor. Don’t be afraid to go bright!

What you’ll need:

• Chinese newspaper or wrapping paper
• 3 boxes, various sizes
• polyurethane
• packing peanuts or newspaper
• paintbrush
• scissors

Get Some Green:

• Create a border around the top edge of the boxes with larger type from the newspapers’ headlines.
• Coat the paper with a high-gloss polyurethane.
• Fill the box approximately one inch from the top with either newspaper or packing peanuts and cover the surface with green moss.

Not only is this simple to make, it’s mobile, unlike traditional, outdoor boxed gardens. Transfer them from room to room as you see fit and the whole family can enjoy a splash of color against the gray backdrop of winter!

As always, let me know what you’d like to see more of by posting on Facebook, tweeting, or writing an email to info@katiebrown.com. We love hearing your comments and ideas!

Take the classic comfort food, the ham and cheese, and reinvent it with a store-bought twist: the pre-made biscuit!

Ham and Cheese Pockets

What you’ll need…
1 package of refrigerated dinner rolls
¾ cup diced ham, sauteed with olive oil
1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 egg plus 1 Tablespoon water, beaten
Flour, for work surface

Get started…
1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Remove the dinner rolls from the package and separate each one. On a lightly floured surface, using the palm of your hand, flatten the dinner roll into a round disc, about 3”-4” wide.
3. Divide the cheese and ham among each dinner roll, mounding it in the center of the disc. Then, to close your dinner roll into a tasty pouch, gather the edges of the disc up around the mound of ham and cheese and pinch closed, covering all of the ham and cheese. Repeat with the remaining rolls
4. Place each roll, seal side down, on your baking sheet and brush with your egg wash.
5. Bake the rolls for 15-20 minutes until the tops are golden brown.