My Two Most Requested and Crowd Pleasing Summer Party Appetizers!

Sabrina Pflug | Peach and the WillowLeave a comment

Hello beautiful peeps! Who’s ready for some happy summertime eats???!!!

I recently threw my sweet husband a 60th Birthday Party at home…Louisiana Style! Steven and a couple of his best friends from New Orleans boiled more Louisiana shrimp and crawfish than you could “shake a stick at,” but I also included some additional party menu items for guests to enjoy. I had so many requests for the Hot Onion Souffle’ Dip and Orzo Salad recipes that I decided to share them here on my blog! Disclaimer: I will do my best to replicate the Orzo Salad for you. Not only did I not get a picture of it (it’s a really pretty salad, btw), I didn’t really follow a proper recipe for it. I just sort of “made it up”. But that’s the beauty of the Orzo Salad…you get to improv it depending on what’s fresh at the market or what’s in your frig! The Hot Onion Souffle’ Dip? Absolute no-brainer party dip for any time of the year!

Party Menu

Boiled Shrimp and Crawfish w/Conecuh Sausage, Potatoes, Corn and Mushroom

Hot Onion Souffle’ Dip w/ assorted crackers

Orzo Salad

Watermelon Salad and Cucumber Salad

Tomato Tarts

Marinated Cheese and Vegetables

Remoulade Crema

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

Red Beans and Rice

Hot Onion Souffle’ Dip

  • 3 (8 oz.) packages cream cheese
  • 2 c. shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 1 c. mayonnaise
  • 2 1/2 c. finely chipped onion (about 3 medium onions)

Instructions:

  1. Soften cream cheese. Mix all ingredients together until well combined.
  2. Place mixture in a greased baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees until lightly browned on top; about 50 minutes
  3. Serve hot with corn chips and assorted crackers. This dip is delicious even after it cools to room temp!

Sabrina’s Orzo Salad

  • 1 (16 oz) package orzo
  • 1/2 red pepper; finely chopped
  • 1/2 yellow pepper; finely chopped
  • 1/2 green pepper; finely chopped
  • 3 stalks celery; chopped
  • 1 vidalia onion; finely chopped
  • 4 oz sun dried tomatoes; drained and chopped
  • 1 small pkg. grape tomatoes; halved
  • 1 (10 oz) pkg frozen edamame; thawed
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil; chopped
  • 3/4 cup finely shredded parmesan cheese

Vinaigrette:

  • 6 tablespoons sherry vinegar
  • 2 tablespoon honey
  • 2 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 3/4 cup olive oil

Directions:

  1. Prepare all vegetables except basil and place in a deep bowl. Set aside while you prepare the vinaigrette.
  2. Whisk together the vinegar, honey, mustard, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Slowly drizzle in the oil, whisking constantly, until emulsified. Drizzle HALF of the vinaigrette over the vegetables, and toss to coat. (Save the remaining vinaigrette for the orzo pasta.) Cover and chill at least 8 hours and up to 24 hours, tossing occasionally.
  3. Prepare orzo as directed by packaging. (Pasta should not be al dente for this salad. Once drained, pour into a serving bowl and add about half of the remaining vinaigrette; tossing gently. Chill until ready to assemble.
  4. To assemble, combine chilled and marinated vegetables and orzo into one large bowl; toss with basil and parmesan cheese and taste. If your salad needs a bit more vinaigrette or salt, add it here. May be served chilled or room temperature.

This bright salad is full of flavor and can be interpreted with blanched green beans or asparagus in place of the peppers; chickpeas instead of edamame! Enjoy and happy SUMMER!

We loved celebrating our #1!!!!

A big thank you to Karen Russell, Victoria Iacono and Julie Pflug for contributing some of the photos in this blog! xo

Calling All Girlfriends, Gal Pals and Galentines! Let’s Have a Party!

Sabrina Pflug | Peach and the Willow2 Comments

“Life is too short not to say “I Love You” often, to save the fine china or to skip the whipped cream! It’s too short not to play dress up and drink champagne with your girlfriends on a Tuesday night!”

Sabrina Pflug

Planning a fun party for the girls can really be executed anytime of the year, but I find it especially festive to throw an “over the top” girly party around Valentine’s Day!…a Galentine’s Day Party, if you will. Add a theme to your party and the fun can begin before guests even knock at your door! With only one guideline for party attendance, guests were asked to arrive dressed in their favorite Sex and the City character. So in the days leading up to the event, friends were scouring their closets for their best Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte or Miranda outfits! So. Much. Fun.

Continue reading →

Set the Mood…SET THE TABLE

Sabrina Pflug | Peach and the Willow3 Comments
 

I believe if 2020 has taught us anything, it is that most humans are not wired to enjoy “social distancing”. At the very least, we long for up close and personal community and fellowship, the exchange of hugs and hand shakes at will, singing and dancing in a crowd, and celebrations that include individuals that live outside our homes.

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My “IT” Color for 2020!

Sabrina Pflug | Peach and the Willow10 Comments

Sherwin Williams Pewter Green Kitchen

You know that kiss you can’t get enough of?…that bite of perfect dark chocolate?…that new Hulu TV series?  I get it (and don’t tell me I’m the only one with cravings!)…sometimes you just need to “binge out” unapologetically.  But beyond this obvious list of indulgences, you know what I simply cannot get enough of as I start this exciting new decade???  My new kitchen color!!!!  It makes me so stinking happy!  Throw in the kisses, the chocolate and the tv series and I’m practically certifiable! Continue reading →

Cabin Fever in the Heart of Nashville

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Westview Cabin Mantel

Indulge me for a moment and thumb through the pages of your mind…back to a time when you were a kid and you’ve just left summer camp…a camp you really, really loved…or maybe even a vacation.  Once back home, nothing seemed to properly console you from your feeling of want…wanting to return to your newfound friends, your frivolity and exploration and the excitement you felt in “your place”!  This is the feeling I experienced when this project ended! Continue reading →

50 Year Old Bathroom Begs for a Facelift!

Sabrina Pflug | Peach and the WillowLeave a comment

Beautifully Classic White Bathroom Renovation 1    In no way am I implying that all 50 year olds need to haul off and get themselves a facelift the minute they blow out the inferno of candles atop their birthday cake (I speak of the flaming inferno from experience…wink, wink).  However, this particular 50 year old bathroom in one of the beautiful West Meade neighborhoods of Nashville was languishing and, short of the homeowners selling a perfectly good house to be rid of it, a facelift was it’s only hope!  It had a lot of good years left in the tank, so to speak, but, man oh man, was it showing it’s age…and unfortunately, it was not aging gracefully.

Let’s take a peek at the Before and Afters! Continue reading →

Home, Heritage and One Kick Ass Crawfish Boil

Sabrina Pflug | Peach and the WillowLeave a comment

Can you say Crawfish?!

Yeah…I said it.  No matter how much I love Jesus and try to refrain from curse words and “ugly talk,” the words “kick” and “ass” put together in one satisfying adjective make for the quintessential emphasis to a point.  At least, in my book…

Our recent trip to New Orleans with friends was (dare I say it again?) kick ass in EVERY way! Continue reading →

Peach and the Willow Dip

Sabrina Pflug | Peach and the Willow2 Comments

“I’m sorry.  I don’t think I heard you correctly.  I thought I heard you say you were taking a veggie tray to this weekend’s Super Bowl party.  My bad.  (slight pause)  Wait, what?!!!!!  You’re saying I heard correctly?  So you’ve gone all nutty on me????   Do you realize what you’re doing…what you’re saying???  A Super Bowl party is no time to break out the cold, raw vegetables with some blasé  ranch dressing!  We want fattening, heart rate spiking, testosterone raging, artery clogging, finger licking, tongue smacking, belly rubbing  football food, for goodness sakes!  Dude food, if you will!  Come on man!”

Sad, but true.  Every last bit of hyperbole. Continue reading →

Chocolate Apricot Marble Cake

Sabrina Pflug | Peach and the Willow1 Comment

apricot and chocolate marble cake

This.  Cake!

Ok…you know I can be fickle when it comes to my love for cake.  I love this one and that one and that other one over there and easily vacillate between fruit and chocolate and spice and cream as my favorite.  But today…on this wintry, rainy day in January when Nashville is preparing for twenty degree temps, this is my FAVORITE cake of all time and it fits the bill perfectly!  It’s sweet, but not too sweet…it’s perfectly moist…it’s complex without being complicated and it is just SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL!   So gather your seven ingredients (yes…only 7!) and get to baking!  Don’t forget to have a cup of coffee, a fire or favorite blanket and a good book at the ready!  XO

dried apricots and dark chocolate
Dried Apricots and Dark Chocolate elevate this simple pound cake

CHOCOLATE APRICOT MARBLE CAKE                                                                               (Adapted from Scandinavian Baking by Trine Hahnemann)

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup butter (I always use salted butter)
  • 1 1/4 cups sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 7/8 all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 3/4 oz best dark chocolate, at least 60% cocoa solids; finely chopped (I used Lindt Excellence with Sea Salt)
  • 2 Tbsp cocoa powder
  • 2 oz organic dried apricots, chopped

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

Cream the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy (3 – 4 minutes).

Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Sift in the flour and mix again, just until a smooth dough forms.  Halve the batter and put each half in a bowl (I left half in my standing mixer for the chocolate).  Add the chocolate and cocoa to one bowl and mix well.  Mix the dried apricots into the batter in the other bowl (I mixed this half by hand).  Butter or spray a loaf pan.  (I also use four mini loaf pans.)

Pour the chocolate batter into the prepared pan and spread it out evenly, then pour over the apricot batter and spread that evenly, too.  Take a spoon and dip it into the batter, going right to the bottom of the pan and pulling up to make a swirl inside the cake.  Repeat three times in different places in the pan.

Bake one hour (or for mini loaf pans, bake 30 – 35 minutes).  Insert a toothpick into the middle of the cake; it should emerge clean.  If not, bake 5 minutes more, then check again.

Let cool in the pan.  Serve morning, noon or night!

fireside cake and coffee

 

My 2018 Reflection Book

Sabrina Pflug | Peach and the Willow2 Comments

Father Son Connection

On this last day of 2018, I am reflecting.  I am pondering how beautiful life is, but also how messy… how very challenging and sometimes painful days can feel, but also how everlastingly triumphant!  Triumphant because of God’s love for me and mine for Him!  I am reminded that “every good and perfect gift is from above” and gratitude bursts from within! Continue reading →