Gatherings From The Kitchn

A couple of weeks ago we had a handful of lady friends over to Geraldine’s apartment in Brooklyn to celebrate Valentine’s Day. We embraced the cheesy with lots of pink drinks, stinky cheese, Mariah Carey, and over-the-top decorations. So far this week we’ve shared the party plan, a recipe for muffin tin apple pies that look just like roses, and flower alternatives for the special day. Want to see how everything came together?

Most of the best — and best-known — dishes in the Eastern European Jewish cannon are heavy, rib-sticking things. They are delicious, to be sure, but not exactly foods you want to eat on a sweltering Friday night. This summer, break out of the traditional Shabbat dinner mold by swapping the classics with fresher, lighter fare that keeps the spirit of the holiday without weighing you down. Here are a few suggestions pulled from my new book, Modern Jewish Cooking.

Making guests feel comfortable is my primary goal at any dinner party I host. On Shabbat, that can be a little tricky. On top of the typical considerations — things like food allergies and guest compatibility — there is just a lot of stuff that happens during Shabbat dinner that can be confusing to people who have not experienced it before. Of course, every Shabbat dinner is a little different. Some folks are very traditional and follow all the rules; others, not so much.

Did you know that January 25 is Soup Swap Day? Yes, and it is a whole day dedicated to sharing big pots of soup with friends. Isn’t that a splendid idea? I have always loved the idea of food swaps, and soup swaps in particular, but as I had never actually been to one, I decided to change that and not only go to a soup swap, but bring you all the details in our first 2015 Gathering from The Kitchn.

When planning this year’s Thanksgiving Gathering, we decided to try something a little different and host this party outdoors — California-style! Here’s the story (and all the resources) for a bright, colorful Thanksgiving —wherever you are. Click through for all the recipes, too, from a grilled turkey to Zuni-inspired bread stuffing, and pecan pie bars to pumpkin slab pie.

Today we want to share our brighter, sunnier outdoor Thanksgiving menu and party. Outdoors? you say. Sunnier? Those of us who live in colder climates scurry from car to house in a wintry mix on Thanksgiving, but this year we threw a party with the rest of the country in mind — California, Texas, Florida, and all the blessedly warm regions where folks can enjoy their feasts outdoors in style.

It was rather difficult to find a game to play at my spooky colorful Halloween party. Some party games weren’t good for big groups, and others didn’t have the right kind of energy. I wanted something laid-back, but fun, and good for grownups. That’s why I decided to not pull out a traditional Halloween game. Instead, we played a party game I’ve always enjoyed: Trivia!

Plates might not get a lot of consideration when you’re planning a party (other than whether you’re going to go disposable or not), but here’s something to consider: for my recent porch party, I used white plates that had a bit of a lip, or curved edge, and thus discovered a nice benefit of this design:. It’s pretty simple, really: plates with a defined lip or curved edge help keep food from rolling off the plate. (I know, duh.

I lived without outdoor space for many years, so when my husband and I finally moved to an apartment with a porch, we knew it was only a matter of time before we threw an outdoor party — specifically, a grilled pizza party! I’ve already shared the party plan and the simple menu with you. Here’s a full look at the party itself, from the grill setup and topping-chopping marathon to the final shots of the pizza in all its charred, melted glory.

A few springs ago, my friends and I spent a sunny afternoon toasting our friend Beth and her baby boy on the way. We skipped the usual baby bottles and blue food, and instead focused on the party details we knew Beth would appreciate: a fresh, sophisticated salad bar spread, sunny and colorful decor, and a fun, simple craft table where guests personalized burp cloths for her to take home.

Yesterday I showed you the Mother’s Day brunch I threw for my mother and grandmother. This was a pretty simple party — just Sunday lunch at home with family. But as a special touch I did a project I’ve been wanting to try for a long time: I made big black and white posters out of old family photos. This was surprisingly easy and inexpensive!

My mother had eight kids and raised us well (in our unbiased opinion!). She homeschooled us in our early years, and taught us important things like how to make sloppy joes and fold fitted sheets properly, then sent us off into the world with good grace. It seems a little silly to single out Mother’s Day as just one celebratory moment, but this spring holiday is still a good occasion to gather the whole family and enjoy a meal together.

This week I’m showing you how a casual Friday evening playing board games with friends can turn into something a little more special thanks to good food, drinks, and minimal yet fun decorations. So far I’ve talked about the party plan and make-ahead menu, and Faith shared her totally delicious recipe for whipped feta dip (not to be missed!). Now it’s time to share how the low-stress party went down! Are you ready to play some board games?

I don’t want to be another in the chorus of voices implying that you should freak out about Thanksgiving. I think that as a meal it gets blown out of proportion to its actual difficulty, and it’s best approached in a relaxed frame of mind. Our small and swanky make-ahead menu emphasizes this grand holiday as the homey, fun gathering it can be. Having said that, advance preparation is the key element of every good dinner party and cheerful host.

Thanksgiving is the most iconic of American gatherings, and when we were planning our year of Gatherings from The Kitchn, we were already thinking about this holiday and what we wanted to say. The classic image is so memorable: A sprawling family around the table, sideboards creaking under five kinds of pie and an 18-pound turkey burnished to perfection. It’s a feast to make even experienced cooks quake under the weight of expectation, tradition, and sheer logistics.

Pumpkin-carving parties have become an annual tradition for my friends and I. And along the way, we’ve picked up a few tips and tricks for hosting a better bash — one that provides your guests with everything they need to carve a great pumpkin, but leaves you with enough time to join in the fun. You have enough to worry about when hosting a party — you don’t need to add lugging home a trunkful of pumpkins to your prep list.

One of my favorite fall parties I ever threw was this pumpkin-carving party, co-hosted with my friend Lydia, an autumnal afternoon of carving pumpkins, sipping cider and sitting down for a romantic outdoor dinner at dusk. Today I’m going to give you a full look at how we transformed the blank slate of Lydia’s backyard into party central, with a casual pumpkin-carving zone and a cozy buffet and dining area.

This week I’ve been sharing the outdoor movie party I hosted with my friend Beth, and today I’m going to give you a full look at how we transformed her tiny backyard into a cozy outdoor living room perfect for movie-watching under the stars. We wanted to give our friends the full outdoor summer movie screening experience, but with lots of homemade touches to make it more personal than the usual movie in the park.

I threw a backyard s'mores party for my sister's birthday, and years later, we're all still talking about it.

I’ve been sharing glimpses of my recent All-American Beer Bottling Party this week — the initial party plan, the tasty Honey & Chili Chicken Thighs we had for dinner, and how to bottle your own beer — and today I’m going to show you how the whole shindig came together! There were shrimp tacos to start, a batch of amber ale that got bottled, and a table full of good food to share at the end of the day.

This week I’ve been sharing a spring brunch I hosted for my book club, a dressed-up daytime party spent gathered around a pretty table talking books, sipping sparkling wine cocktails and coffee, and eating quiche with friends. Here’s a look at the full party and the recipes I used, beginning with fresh strawberry-basil cocktails and ending with a buttery lemon cake with elderflower whipped cream. Can you think of a better way to spend a sunny weekend morning?