Luck of the Irish!
Whether you are heading out to join the parade, stay home watching the parade via TV, or going out to work; a piece of Irish soda bread and a glass of Irish coffee will be your companion of the day!
Here's a little history about Irish Coffee and Soda Bread:
IRISH COFFEE was invented by Joseph Sheridan, a head chef at Foynes, County Limerick after a group of American passengers disembarked from a Pan Am flying boat on a miserable winter evening in the 1940s. Sheridan then added whiskey to the coffee to warm the passengers. Since then, this coffee named as Irish Coffee and to be served in a mug shown in the picture below.
The coffee combines hot black coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar, and top with thick double cream poured over the back of a spoon. The coffee is drunk through the layer of cream.
IRISH SODA BREAD is a type of quick break (fast rising) made of flour, baking soda, salt, and buttermilk. Its history dates back to approximately 1840, when bicarbonate of soda was introduced to Ireland.
If you notice the cross on top of traditional Irish soda bread, there are a couple theories as to the significance of the cross. Some believe that the cross was placed on the bread to ward off evil spirit or to let the fairies out of the bread. Another probable approach says that the cross is used to help with the cooking of the bread by allowing air circulation so that the bread rises better. (This one sounds more logical to me ^.*)
As for those of you who fancy about GREEN appetizers for after-work party rather than coffee and bread, here we found five "Get Your Greens" finger food from Food Network. They are hearty, delicious, and most importantly, they come with a touch of GREEN to dress up your St. Patrick's Day Party!
First Row (from left): Beer-Battered Broccoli, Spinach-Pesto Ravioli, and Irish Grilled Cheese
Second Row: Emerald Eggs, and Avocado Hummus
Who doesn't love burger and fries? Some may not like it, but majority love it! I consider myself a health-conscious person, I hardly eat fast food (such as McD, KFC, etc). It does not mean I dislike it; just that it is a 'splurge' for me once in a while, not always. I still love fries!
Burgers and fries are definitely comfort food for many Americans. I wonder if people will serve burger and fries at their wedding reception. So I decided to do research on this topic to answer the call to my curiosity. Surprisingly, serving fast food isn't a newbie at wedding! Not only serving fast food, there are people chose to get hitch at fast food chain too! Also, there was a couple in England served GIANT burger at their wedding reception! And yet, some creative bakers turn burger into 'cupcake'! They are definitely people who can think outside the box.
Couple's McDonald's Wedding Reception
An article featured on BBC News (UK) August 6, 2002
A bride and groom held their wedding reception with a happy meal at their local McDonalds.
Giant Wedding Burger
An article posted by Robyn Lee via Serious Eats.com September 22, 2008
Tom and Kerry Watts of Poringland, England, served a 19 kilograms (42 lbs) cheeseburger at their wedding reception made by American restaurant, Zaks.
Ingredients of giant burger:
400oz Beef Patty
5kg Bun
Garnish:
12 Iceberg Lettuces
12 Onions
30 Tomatoes
48 slices of Dill Pickle
2kg Cheese
1litre Ketchup
1litre Mayonnaise
For those of you who reside outside of US, you may go to BBC News or click here to watch the video featuring the giant wedding burger.
'Burger' Cupcakes
By Lisa Smiley
Lisa's secret recipe:
Vanilla Cupcake - as Bun
Chocolate Cupcake - as Meat Patty
Coconut Flakes - as Lettuce
Colored Frosting - as Ketchup and Mustard
Aren't they creative?! Do you have your creative creation to share with me? Please do not hesitate to shoot me an email at yourmoment{at}gmail{dot}com.
All WHITE! It snowed in New York early this morning! Oh no...it is going to be a cold cold cold weather in the city this weekend. Hmm...Don't you think it is a good time staying at home and try out some special breakfast, bakeries, dishes to surprise your loved one on Valentine's Day? I think so ^.* So I found some ideas from everywhere you are familiar with, such as Martha Stewart Living, Real Simple, and Country Living.
Do you still remember the pajamas featured on last Monday's blog post? Here is why...we are going to have Breakfast On The Bed! A plate of creative love-shaped pancake and sunny side up egg, paired with a cup of hot chocolate/tea - what's better than this to kick start your Valentine's Day?Is having tea time at home/cafe your cup of tea? (^.^ It is definitely my cup of tea! It is a great time to catch up with friends and family.)
From left: Handmade Heart Doilies to dress up your tea party, Pecan Linzer Cookies with Cherry Filling, Valentine Cake; All from Martha Stewart 
Check out each link below for the delicious recipe!
Appetizer/Soup: Shrimp Bisque with Bourbon from Country Living
Main Course: Pork Roast with Dried Fruit and Fresh Herbs from Country Living
Desserts: (1) Shortbread Tiramisu from Country Living
(2) Creamy Chocolate-Filled Puffs from Quick & Simple
What is your first impression of organic food?
For me, it is food available in Whole Foods Market. Okay, it is inaccurate (since Whole Foods Market offers non-organic food too), but that is the image that appears to my attention when we talk about organic food.
According to Organic Food Info.net...
Organic food is crops and animals produced and fed with natural food and without the use of chemical additives.
What is good about serving organic dishes at wedding reception? Why some couples choose to serve organic luncheon or dinner?
Here are some reasons:
1. People are conscious about the health of not only human being, but also the planet.
2. Organic food has no chemical substances, no pesticides, and no synthetic fertilizers added - Healthier.
3. To help small farmers improve their living standard.
4. To lessen the emission of carbon dioxide from vehicles (shorter delivery route, mostly locally grown, and near to you).
So where to start when you have decided to make a contribution to save the planet by serving organic food on your wedding day? - - - Whole Food Market Catering!
Whole Foods Market Catering in Austin provides full-service catering and event planning. They cater for any size and scale - be it business meetings, weddings, galas, open houses, holiday parties or any other special occasion. On top of catering, they also offer event planning such as delivery and set-up, chef-attended food stations, professional servers and bartenders, rentals (tents, linens, china, furniture, and etc.), floral, lighting, photography, and entertainment.
To learn more about their catering and event planning services, visit their website.
Whole Foods Market Culinary Center (Outdoor Plaza)
Happy Planning, my dear brides/grooms-to-be!
Do come back on Friday for the "Natural and Organic-inspired Wedding Reception" designed by event planner, Beth Helmstetter, as featured in Hostess with the Mostess Blog ^.*
Food for THE Celebration!
Looking for food ideas for your next party?
How about homemade + retail (Costco)?!
At least that worked for my new year party on 1.1.2010!
Here's what we got for the day:
(The menu was prepared by my husband & host parents...yummy!)
We started the feast with Salads, Cheese & Crackers Tray! Thanks to Sonya, Amie, & Dustin!
For our main courses, we had pulled pork sandwiches (bought the packaged pulled pork & dinner rolls from Costco), frozen chicken meatballs from Costco (Stew: along with some pineapple chunks & bell peppers in the slow cooker), and last but not least, the bagel bites (easy...just toast it in the oven and it is yummy-licious)!Now what? The Dessert! We ordered our wedding cake from Costco (decor: it was all white with weaver-like motif and some sugar roses; flavor: yellow cake with chocolate mousse filling). Not a cake lover? How about mini cinnamon rolls and brownie bites? Or healthier choice - Fruits Tray!
Clockwise from left: Mini Cinnamon Rolls from A Moveable Feast, Cake from here (Instead of this motif on the cake, ours was a white wedding sheet cake from Costco as well), Petite Brownie Bites from Sugar Bowl Bakery
Let's toast together with us for the happy marriage, happy family, and healthy life!
Cheers everyone!
Happy Wednesday, everyone!
I always thought of homemade cookies and baked goods when it comes to holiday season like Christmas Day! So we are going to share with you some holiday recipes from Martha Stewart and Food Network, holiday dessert display and edible gifts for your loved ones today ^.*
Hope you all to have a SWEET WEDNESDAY!
It's the giant Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Rockefeller Center, NYC today! It symbolizes the beginning of the Holiday Season! Wonderful...how nice if my family is here to celebrate with me. Miss them so much!!
The chillier and colder weather is on its way to welcome us as the holiday season begins. Don't you want a cup of hot drink to warm you up? Let's incorporate an Espresso Bar at your coming up special event or wedding.
Despite living in NYC, I couldn't find the espresso bar catering service in my area. But I came across this full service Espresso Bar Caterer, A Whole Latte Love, based in Sacramento, CA.
A Whole Latte Love offers fully equipped espresso bars and well-trained baristas to prepare beverages, from hot chocolate to all kind of espresso drinks. They are currently serving the Sacramento metropolitan and surrounding areas.
They cater for the following events (for extended list, please visit their website):
1. Birthdays
2. Corporate Functions
3. Fundraisers
4. Grand Openings
5. Weddings
They offer three different packages, of course, special case may be negotiated.
"Unlimited Beverage Service (Espresso/Coffee)"
Including:
Made-to-order specialty coffee beverages (hot/iced) from extensive menu (mocha, latte, hot chocolate, etc.). Delivery, set-up, cups, napkins, all accouterments and service fees.
Rate:
$175 per hour for the first two hours and $125 per hour thereafter (minimum two hours)
"Unlimited Beverage Service (Smoothies/Frappes)"
Including:
Made-to-order blended smoothies/frappes/Italian sodas. Delivery, set-up, cups, napkins, all accouterments and service fees.
Rate:
$225 per hour for the first two hours and $175 per hour thereafter (minimum two hours)
"Good Morning Sacramento"
Including:
House blend of Boulevard Coffee with an array of freshly baked pastries. Delivery, set-up, cups, napkins, plates, all accouterments and service fees.
Rate:
$6 per person (minimum of 25 persons or $150)
A Whole Latte Love
Contact: Tammy Polewka
Phone#: 916.769.6782
Email: info@lattelv.com
Coffee Lover ^.*
Today, I am going to share with you a beautiful Thanksgiving Friends Gathering at my home. (Kind of like a day off from all-thing-wedding-issue today, however, there are some decor ideas that can inspire you for your intimate rehearsal dinner or after-wedding brunch!)
Last Saturday, I am so thankful and glad to have given the honor to host the Thanksgiving Dinner at my apartment for my dear friends in NYC. The dinner was planned since two weeks ago. I wanted something special and different than just putting every dish on the table for all my friends. My first thought was to have a really long "table" made up of empty cartons, cover with a bold red cloth, adorn with fresh flowers, and dinnerware. I thought ... wow ... that would be nice and homy! However, I was not able to execute the plan I had, due to limited space in my apartment. (Sigh...sorry my dear friends, I promised we will have a proper long table Thanksgiving dinner next year!)
One of my friends, Kien Lup, he has unlimited creativity and stories to share with; be it fashion, hairstyle, foods, decorations, and many more which I am still learning from this great friend of mine! He persuaded me to go from family-style sit-down to buffet-style dinner ^.*
Now, move on to the food we are going to prepare for the day and also the decor for the party! Since we have our friends, Sofie & Pei Jia, to prepare the turkey, we thought of doing something lighter and something sweet. We decided on mashed sweet potatoes, green salad, guacamole on crackers appetizer, and a homemade apple pie. We love the freshness of vegetables and fruits offered by farmers market, therefore, we decided to make a trip to Union Square Farmers Market on Saturday afternoon.
We got:
Apples (thought of making the pie...but in the end, we decided to buy one from farmers market instead.)
Pears (for decoration as well as eating purposes)
Mid-size Pumpkin for decoration purpose (to create Thanksgiving/Fall festive mood)
Sweet Potatoes
4 Packs of Green Salad Mix
Bell Peppers (red, orange, and yellow)
Grape Tomatoes
Avocados
Olives
Lemons
Ham
As soon as we done with the shopping, we went home and get ready to set up the table and prepare the food. Can't wait to put everything together!
So I got a big red cloth and Kien Lup brought a red/black ombre cloth and some candles. Unlike flowers, we go greener by having fresh fruits all around. (no more waste food, everything is edible ^.*) Also, we made full use of the apples we bought for making the apple pie. We incorporated the apples into our buffet table centerpiece decor. I love the color combo so much!
Here we go...the result of combining our fresh fruits centerpiece with candles around. Isn't lovely? 
When dinner time is approaching, more food are coming in (hmm...yummy!).
Our menu: American, Asian & Mexican
Here is the list...
1. 20-pound Big Turkey (A huge bird!)
2. Stuffing
3. Cranberry sauce
4. Mushroom gravy
5. Carrots
6. Green salad
7. Mashed sweet potatoes
8. Guacamole on crackers
9. Bon Chon Chicken from Terence
10. Fried mihun from Tina
11. Roasted pork from Ian
12. Korean Kimbap
13. Spicy pork with squid
14. Pandan chiffon cake from Ying Thing
15. Apple pie bought from farmers market
16. Magnolia cup cakes brought by Tina
(Items 1-5 prepared by Sofie and Pei Jia)
(Items 6-8 prepared by Kien Lup and Me)
(Items 12 & 13 prepared by Tim and Paris)
Hands down to all delicious food from my friends! Thank you!
My greatest thanks to my friends for taking your time and efforts to prepare or buy us the delicious meal! I love you all!
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
* Epicurean Wednesday * Asian Flair Dessert Table: Malaysian
I really like the idea of having the dessert table and I am thrilled to know that many of my blog readers and friends actually like that too!
As a Malaysian Chinese, I have been introduced to all kinds of delicious cuisines offered by three major races in Malaysia since young. The three major races are Malay, Chinese, and Indian. Malaysian cuisine is very much influenced by all three races. No doubt, they are all delicious and I miss kuih-muih* so much! (wish I am having a long vacation in Malaysia right now ^.*)
*Kuih-muih = bite-sized steamed desserts
So instead of an American-style dessert table which we have discussed last week, I am going to introduce you to the Malaysian-style dessert table filled with a lot of colorful and flavorful bite-sized cuisine and sweet soups.
- Chinese Cuisine -
Top row (from left to right): Seri Muka from La Maman Gourmande, Seri Muka from My Kitchen Snippets, Kuih Lapis Nyonya (Layered Cake) from High Over HappyBottom row: Angku Kueh from My Kitchen Snippets
All Chinese baked breads/buns from My Kitchen Snippets
- Malay Cuisine - 
Top (from left to right): Kuih Koci/Glutinous Rice Cake with Coconut Filling from My Kitchen Snippets, Kueh Bakar/Kueh Kemboja from My Kitchen Snippets, Kueh Ubi Kayu/Tapioca Cake from My Kitchen Snippets, Apam Puteri Ayu from Shekin Foods Enterprise
Bottom (from left to right): Kueh Dadar/Kueh Ketayap from 1001Resepi, Kuih Bahulu/Kuih Baulu from Beachlover Kitchen, Pulut Inti/Glutinous Rice Packet from 1001Resepi
(From left to right) Samosa Kentang, Getuk Ubi, Gendang Kasturi - all from Shekin Foods Enterprise, Pisang Goreng/Fried Banana Fritters from Almost Bourdain- Indian Cuisine - 
Custom-designed specialty Sweet & Dessert tables with finest Bengal sweets delicacies complete with color-coordinated table linens and napkins, china, silverware, and fresh floral centerpieces accented with candles, from Premium Sweets
Ingredients for ais kacang are red beans, sweet corns, grass jelly, cincao, and palm seeds served with shaved ice and topped with palm sugar syrup, evaporated milk and garnished with some peanuts. Whereas, cendol is even easier...It is just cendol (green jelly), red beans, palm sugar syrup, and coconut milk served with shaved ice.
Top (from left to right): Cendol & Ais Kacang Station from Fondue of Life, Cendol from Grab Your Fork, (top) Cendol from The Journey of My Life, (bottom) Ais Kacang from Grab Your Fork, Cendol from Ipoh Wave
Bottom: Ais Kacang with ice-cream from Chow Times, (top & bottom)Ais Kacang from Grab Your Fork, Ais Kacang Station from Grab Your Fork, Mango Sago Dessert from My Kitchen Snippets, Bubur Gandum from 1001Resepi, Quail Eggs, Lotus Seeds, & Gingko Sweet Soup from Life Loves The Curious, Soy Bean Drink from My Asian Kitchen, Bobor Cha Cha from Grab Your Fork
Isn't it a fun and sweet way to kick start your marriage life? Do you have more creative ideas to share? Please email me at yoursmoment{at}gmail{dot}com. I would love to hear from you.
* Epicurean Wednesday *Now that you are done with the wedding ceremony, what's better than celebrating your newlywed life with a festive reception with your invited family and friends?
How and where do we start when planning the reception?
First, ASK yourself -
Are you a person who very much appreciates the natural sunlight in the morning?
Do you prefer to mingle around and dancing with your guests through the night?
Or well...Maybe a Dessert Queen in heart?
Secondly, what is your STYLE -
Whether a morning, afternoon, or evening reception, it does create a different ambience for your wedding reception. So sit down with your groom and see what both of you like and fit your personalities the most.
Finally, your BUDGET for reception -
Brunch and dessert receptions usually cost less than a formal sit-down dinner.
I, personally, a MORNING person and I love sunshine a lot, I love it love it love it! Therefore, I would like to introduce you to a rare and yet lovely BRUNCH RECEPTION today.
BRUNCH RECEPTION is not a newbie, however, not many couples opt for this kind of reception because they worry that it will be inconvenient for their guests and thought that their guests will have less time to prepare themselves for the ceremony and reception. Really? I do not agree with that statement at all. Why? The brunch reception won't last for more than four hours (usually), so your guests will have plenty of time to take a nap after your reception. (No offense, I just prefer morning time.)
Brunch Reception is not only a refreshing one, but it also offer you a greater chance of getting the reception site of your choice at a fraction of the total venue cost you will have to pay for a standard evening reception.
Pros:
1. Less expensive reception site fees
(Most places have lower demand for brunch celebrations, therefore, you will have greater bargaining power to bring down the cost.)
2. Save money on hiring a DJ
(Prefer to have some background music? You can always plug in your iPod or hire a talented student who play well in violin or piano. Win-win situation: You get the music and the student gets to perform in the public and build their profile.)
3. Lower liquor costs
(People usually consume less alcohol in the morning.)
4. Budget-friendly menu
Here, we will approach all your questions for brunch reception in a questionnaire form.
What is the best time for Brunch Reception?
Between 11am to 3pm (So, please schedule your wedding ceremony at church or home at 9:30 in the morning!)
What kind of serving style is suitable for Brunch Reception?
Buffet/Station (My first choice!)
Seated-meal is available too!
Cocktail-style, passing hors d' oeuvres around and keep the morning cocktail drinks flowing as your guests chat, cheer, and celebrate your new marriage life. (A new twist to Brunch Reception!)
What kind of food should I serve my guests?
I love varieties of food. I love the idea of having many different food stations such as omelet station, waffle/crepe station, French toast station, and yogurt & fruits station.
If you would like to include an Asian flair to your brunch reception, I recommend you to check out the Dim Sum station! Chinese "breakfast" is popular with their wide selections of light and delicate small dishes served in small steamer baskets.
How about dessert?
You may set up a dessert station and fill it with your favorite bakeries (either from your favorite bakery shop or homemade). Croissants (plain, chocolate-filled, strawberry-filled, and peach-filled), Danish (peach, and apple), muffins (oat, raisin bran, blueberry, cranberry, and banan-nut), and scones (blueberry, cranberry, orange, chocolate chips, and cinnamon). These are just a small portion of wider options you can choose from; the list goes on as many as you can think of.
If you wish to serve cakes; always go for lighter cakes such as angel food cake, orange chiffon cake, lemon cake, carrot cake, and fresh fruit cake. This applies to your wedding cake too (if you are going to have one)!
Last by not least, the drinks.
Again, I cannot emphasize enough that I love the idea of having many different drink stations at the brunch reception, such as a fruit smoothie's bar and a coffee bar. Your guests can mix the drinks at their choice, isn't it fun? I bet your guests will fall in love with this idea and it is a healthy way to celebrate your newlywed life too!
Of course, not to forget the basics - such as fresh juices, fruit punch, teas, hot chocolate, and some all-time-favorite morning cocktails (mimosas, bellinis, bloody marys, screwdrivers, and champagne).
Be the early birds and serve up your BRUNCH RECEPTION!
First Row (from left): Beer-Battered Broccoli, Spinach-Pesto Ravioli, and Irish Grilled Cheese
