We will be featuring exciting new articles chocked full of creative ideas for all your easy entertaining needs compliments of our friends at DinnerwareCenter.com. Check out these great ideas for using fresh vegetables when you host casual, at-home events for family & friends:
By Kathy Hester
There is nothing better than fresh veggies. We all know the quality of the ingredients we use can really elevate a dish. The fresher the veggie the better the dish. This year I’ve expanded my veggie garden so I can get that ‘fresh out of the ground’ taste.
You don’t need a large space, you can grow veggies in containers on your balcony or patio. There are a huge choice of seeds and varieties that do well in pots. Veggies don’t grow as well as herbs on a windowsill, but you can try growing lettuce and cherry tomatoes in an aerogarden.
Shop at your local farmers market if you can’t grow your own. No one really has a brown thumb, but many people just can’t add gardening into their busy schedule. The market will have a huge selection of hard to find varieties that can really spice up a meal. I love contrasting the colors of the veggies with my favorite dinnerware.
Try starting your brunch off with an heirloom salad. I love the red color of ‘mascara’ lettuce combined with a speckled green lettuce. Top it with cooked whole baby beets, goat cheese, and a homemade herb dressing made of olive oil, balsamic, garlic chives, parsley and marjoram. Or make a pasta salad with fresh picked spinach, carrots, and radishes with the same dressing.
I have tons of Swiss Chard and Kale ready to pick in my garden and both are perfect additions to a frittata or quiche. It’s also the perfect addition to a lasagna or stew if your brunch day turns a little chilly. If you harvest some small leaves you can even use it raw as a substitute for cabbage in a cole slaw. While you’re at it try a little grated radish in the mix.
Make sure to plate everything up on Noritake colorwave. Dark leafy greens look great on the mint green ones.
