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Peanut Butter Jalapeños

Crunchy Peanut Butter Stuffed Jalapeños

I know what you’re thinking…but trust us when we tell you these are really good. Several years ago my Dad was in San Miguel de Allende in the far eastern part...

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Roasted Chicken Piccata

This has to be on the top ten best all time dinners that we have ever served. We served the chicken with butter milk mashed potatoes and herb roasted onions...

Marshmallow Pretzels Pops

Marshmallow Pretzel Pops

Salty and sweet and delicious. Wonderful for Valentine’s or any sweet occasion. The way you create these is limited only by your imagination. Have fun trying different colors and toppings....

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Cheddar Mac and Cheese

Who doesn’t love mac and cheese? My second Dad, Bob Hightower has been making us Mac & Cheese since we were kids. We played around with his recipe and decided...

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Roasted Bacon-Shallot Brussels Sprouts

These are very easy and delicious and the perfect compliment for your holiday dinner. The trick to a perfectly executed dish is to make each component separately to ensure that...

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Cranberry-Pear-Walnut Tart

Fresh cranberries are paired with sweet ripe pears and then placed in a delicious walnut shortbread crust. This tart is festive, crispy and perfect for any special dinner or event....

Lemon Tart

Meyer Lemon Tart

Easy and light this tart showcases the sweeter side of a Meyer lemon. It’s the perfect pairing to any meal. We served ours with passion fruit and lime zest strips,...

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Herb Buttered Turkey with Apple Cider Gravy

This is a fantastic recipe from one of our favorite Chefs, Anne Burrell. The advance prep makes Thanksgiving or Christmas morning a breeze. We took this a step further and...

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Lime Meringue Pineapple-Coconut Ice Cream Pie

A while back we posted a recipe for a Lemon Meringue Ice Cream Pie, at that time we thought it was the best pie that we had ever tasted. Now we...

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Coconut Cheesecake with Lilikoi Glaze

Can you imagine anything more amazing than coconut and Lilikoi on the same plate. The flavors sing together in perfect harmony to create a delicious, unforgettable taste explosion in your...

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Tres Leches Mini-Cupcakes

These cupcakes were a big hit at our recent Cinco de Mayo party. The Mexican flag toothpicks were the perfect touch to celebrate the holiday and without the flags they...

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Brandied Shrimp Penne

Brandied Shrimp Penne aka Pasta Alla Ines is one of my all time favorites. The flavors are rich, creamy and absolutely delicious. The cut and pureed shrimp is slowly cooked...

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Halloween Shots

Spooky and delicious! This tasty cocktail is a perfect way to welcome your guests for an evening or as a sweet way to end a delicious meal! Halloween shots Rating:...

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Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Tartlets

This is an easy recipe that packs a deadly punch. We used miniature cookie cutters to create finger food for our Halloween party, however this recipe can be made in...

Peppermint Pretzels

Chocolate Peppermint Covered Pretzels

These salty, crunchy delights are a wonderful to serve during the holiday season. We love these at the end of a holiday meal with our mini Peppermint-Tini. Can also be made...

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Perfect Party Mix: The Who and Where

As we head into the holiday season, and what I like to call the Iditarod of Parties, I’ve been thinking about group dynamics and what makes for a great soirée....

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A Fright to Remember: Ghostly Gathering

Who says you have to be a kid to enjoy Halloween? With the right decorations, it’s possible to set a mood that is both festive and sophisticated—even on a night...

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And The Oscars Goes To...

What makes a great Oscar party? We think it’s all in the creativity; present a fabulous dinner, some unexpected surprises and be creative. With this year’s 84th Academy Awards quickly...

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Spicy Soirée: A Night in India

Was it the tapestry place mats with tiny tassels in a spectrum of colors? Or maybe it was the hand-painted figurine with his ornate costume and flowing turban? My Dad...

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Planning a Painless Party

Sure you could have it catered but why? Go for it, you can do it… Not everyone likes to cook or plan, but if you do, it’s not difficult to...

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Deck The Halls

In my family Holidays are all about a wardrobe change and Christmas is the Belle of the Ball! Christmas is the decorator’s ultimate theme: It comes and goes annually so...

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Gathering of Thanks: Turkey Tartare

In America, Thanksgiving is arguably the most important feast of the year. And my family has had it’s share of festivity faux pas. One memorable time, my Dad prepared the...

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Happy Halloween: Lotus Ridge

We decided to have a last minute Halloween dinner before the weekend and wanted to add a non-traditional color into the mix. We both love green so we spiced up...

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Love Your Linens

After a flurry of holiday parties and events, there’s an inevitable heap of table linens calling out for proper washing and storage. Okay, I know this isn’t a fun task...

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The Gift of Hospitality

Many luxury hotels do a great job of making their guests feel welcome. Some guests find that feeling in the friendly staff, others in the scent of fresh flowers in...

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July 4th Celebrations

July 4th is the 185th  day of the year with the exception of leap year, which leaves only 180 days left till the end of the year. It is also...

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Easter Egg Place Cards

Easter is such a wonderful time of year to have fun with color and eggs and bunnies and carrots, the list goes on. Did I mention chocolate, well that too!...

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Find Your Inner Florist

Usually I prefer to arrange flowers in groups of solid colors, however every once in a while a certain table setting will require an extra punch of color and creativity....

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Holiday Party Planning Blueprint

Winter is high season in Aspen, and the social schedule is at its peak during the month of December. My Dad Amen, the unofficial ambassador of Aspen, is known to...

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Anatomy of a Dinner Party

Many dinner parties put together at the last minute come out just fine, however, in our experience a truly memorable evening requires a bit of planning; it is all in...

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At Home: In Our Lebanese Kitchen

My childhood was full of delicious memories. Everyone in my family loves to cook and eat; we always enjoy sharing meals. In addition to both of my parents being sensational cooks, my Grandparents were...

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Oleaceae: The Harmony of Oil & Vinegar

We came across a shop in Santa Fe, New Mexico that truly INSPIRED
 us to create mouth blasting flavor combinations using uncommon, yet extraordinary variations of Olive Oils and Balsamic...

Daniel Braun

Organic and Biodynamic Wine Producers

Article courtesy of SW contributing writer: Daniel Braun, Certified Sommelier and Owner, of Princeville Wine Market Some people think of organic wines as being of lesser quality. Much of this belief stems from...

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Caring For Flower Arrangements

Fresh flowers in a home offer a warm, welcoming and finishing touch to any room. We love them almost everywhere there is a bit of free space. To keep flowers...

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Out of Africa: Themed Rooms

Some collections are so vast they require their own room. Such is the case, here, where a lifetime of collecting Africa-themed objects evolved into the creation of this cozy den...

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Denise Rich-Songwriter, Socialite, Philanthropist

Here’s how Denise Rich’s love of fantasy plays out in reality: She once flooded the terraces of her New York apartment to create temporary ice skating rinks so that professional...

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Prized Porcelain: Collecting Chinese Exports

My parents have had the greatest influence on my love of beautiful home environments. My Dad once told me that what makes a home remarkable is collections of art and...

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Creative Storage

If you frequent Amen Wardy Home, where the variety of napkin rings is unmatched, you won’t be surprised to know that they are one of my Dad’s favorite objects for table...

Gloria Cohen-Featured

Gloria Cohen-Mother of Reinvention

It’s not every day you meet a woman who has been a painter, make-up artist, TV show host, book author, public speaker, jewelry designer, magazine editor, fabulous hostess, and denizen...

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Re-Cycle Art: Hancrafted Vintage Bikes

Summer in Aspen is fantastically spectacular! One of the most wonderful things that happens this time of year is that our cars, get to vacation in the garage and our...

Dayna Decker-Featured

Dayna Decker-Designer

What years ago started as a dreamy notion to make her tiny apartment more like the home where DayNa Decker grew up has turned into an internationally successful candle and...

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Jan Miller-Literary Agent

To know Jan Miller is to know a woman who, when she walks into a room, has a positive presence the size of her home state. The Texan and part-time...

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Robert Wagner-Actor & Author

Robert Wagner has a lot to brag about. His show business career spans nearly 60 years in a town that’s known for chewing up and spitting out young actors as...

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Lotus Ridge Kauai: Paradise on the Garden Island

Lotus Ridge is our beautiful piece of paradise and the name we have given our home on the island of Kauai. The name was inspired by the spectacular ridge at...

Michelle Cromer-Featured

Michelle Cromer-Author

Stuffy funeral parlors and dreary cemeteries are so last century. With her book Exit Strategy: Thinking Outside the Box, Michelle Cromer examines the new, upbeat and outrageous ways Americans are...

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Ravello-Villa Cimbrone

These salty, crunchy delights are a wonderful to serve during the holiday season. We love these at the end of a holiday meal with our mini Peppermint-Tini. Can also be made...

Casa Angelina Featured

Casa Angelina-At Home on the Amalfi Coast

These salty, crunchy delights are a wonderful to serve during the holiday season. We love these at the end of a holiday meal with our mini Peppermint-Tini. Can also be made...

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Amalfi

These salty, crunchy delights are a wonderful to serve during the holiday season. We love these at the end of a holiday meal with our mini Peppermint-Tini. Can also be made...

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Pizzeria Mozza: Buon Appetito

These salty, crunchy delights are a wonderful to serve during the holiday season. We love these at the end of a holiday meal with our mini Peppermint-Tini. Can also be made...

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Bologna-Gastronomy

These salty, crunchy delights are a wonderful to serve during the holiday season. We love these at the end of a holiday meal with our mini Peppermint-Tini. Can also be made...

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Ravello-Villa Rufolo

These salty, crunchy delights are a wonderful to serve during the holiday season. We love these at the end of a holiday meal with our mini Peppermint-Tini. Can also be made...

Crab Shack Soffia-Blue Crabs

The Crab Shack-Tybee Island, Georgia

These salty, crunchy delights are a wonderful to serve during the holiday season. We love these at the end of a holiday meal with our mini Peppermint-Tini. Can also be made...

Matsu Featured

Matsuhisa Aspen: Sake Barrel Breaking Ceremony

These salty, crunchy delights are a wonderful to serve during the holiday season. We love these at the end of a holiday meal with our mini Peppermint-Tini. Can also be made...

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Honu-Maui

These salty, crunchy delights are a wonderful to serve during the holiday season. We love these at the end of a holiday meal with our mini Peppermint-Tini. Can also be made...

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Ryan Taerk: London Calling

These salty, crunchy delights are a wonderful to serve during the holiday season. We love these at the end of a holiday meal with our mini Peppermint-Tini. Can also be made...

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Cortona-Under The Tuscan Sun

These salty, crunchy delights are a wonderful to serve during the holiday season. We love these at the end of a holiday meal with our mini Peppermint-Tini. Can also be made...

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Ryan Taerk: Venice-The Floating City

These salty, crunchy delights are a wonderful to serve during the holiday season. We love these at the end of a holiday meal with our mini Peppermint-Tini. Can also be made...

Ravello-Villa Maria featured

Ravello-Lunch-Villa Maria

These salty, crunchy delights are a wonderful to serve during the holiday season. We love these at the end of a holiday meal with our mini Peppermint-Tini. Can also be made...

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The Hanalei Dolphin Sushi Bar-Kauai

These salty, crunchy delights are a wonderful to serve during the holiday season. We love these at the end of a holiday meal with our mini Peppermint-Tini. Can also be made...

Ryan-Paris Featured

Ryan Taerk: Paris-City of Lights

These salty, crunchy delights are a wonderful to serve during the holiday season. We love these at the end of a holiday meal with our mini Peppermint-Tini. Can also be made...

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