Spring Vegetables

Setting the Scene

Spring is a magical time of year.  It is the awakening of a new season when blue skies have returned, the midday sun is warm and yet our nights are still cool.  After the long months of hearty winter foods, it's time to celebrate the arrival of fresh young vegetables - a cooks' dream come true.

Now that the Spring cleaning is done (or at least started), what a wonderful way to extend yourself to others in celebration of family and friendships, than to host an informal dinner party.  For some people hosting dinner parties comes with ease, and for others, let us guide you through each step of the way.   We’ll demonstrate how easy and fun for everyone this can be.


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Tabletop: 
Create a simple, beautiful atmosphere, without spending a fortune, by incorporating fresh vegetables and plants in your tabletop scheme.  We found sweet little watering cans at an arts and crafts store and filled them with wheatgrass to decorate the individual place settings.  (Wheatgrass is available at many health foods stores.)

Tip:  The most valuable tip to remember when entertaining is to plan everything.  You’ll need to decide if you want the event to be casual or formal, who to invite, what to serve, and a general idea of how much money you want to spend. 

 

 

 

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Element of Fun:   Fresh vegetables have always been an important part of Italian cooking.  In Italy, fresh vegetables are abundant throughout the year.  The "element of fun" for this party is selecting the most beautiful and freshest  ingredients available. 

Spring_Vegetables_centerpiece  

Décor:  Spring vegetables arrive in a variety of seasonal colors:  tender green, soft yellow, cheerful red and bright orange.  We used the colors of nature’s offerings to inspire our tabletop color palette and the array of vegetables centerpiece.  While shopping for fresh ingredients, we made sure to select extra vegetables with great visual appeal to create our “edible centerpiece”.  Once the party is over, you will have fresh vegetables to enjoy in the days to come.

  

 

 

  

 

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Gift ideas:  It's  fun to handpick gifts to send your guests home with as a remembrance of the wonderful time you spent together.  We selected seeds packets to intice your guest to plant a vegetable garden of their own.  We also love the idea of a  subscription to a gardening magazine or a book on container gardening for novices or those who do not have space for an outdoor garden.  

 

 Mood:   We love using candles to create soft lighting, which sets the mood and flatters everyone.  Votive candles create a relaxing and cozy ambiance, inviting conversation and laughter.

Tip:  Not only do you want to make your guests feel welcome, you’ll want to enjoy your party too.  Be sure to plan enough extra time to set the table and arrange the centerpiece. 

  

 

 

 

  

  

 

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Location:  Ask your guests to help out by opening the wine or if they are so inclined, invite them into the kitchen to help with last minute preparations like chopping vegetables.   This makes your party more collaborative and fun for everyone. 

 



 




 


 

Spring Vegetables

Overview  |Setting the Scene |To Do/Shopping List |Il Menu |Bevande |Element of Fun