August 2010 Weddings
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Dinner Party Poll
So since Branz and a few of us like to throw dinner parties, I thought I'd pick your brain.
1. Tell me your dinner party themes and ideas and the menu items that go along with theme.
2. When do you think you will host a Thanksgiving/Christmas/Hannakah/Easter dinner for the fam? Or is that mom's job until the end of time? 
2a. What dish will/would you cook if you were going to a Holiday dinner with fam and they asked you to bring something?
3. What awesome kitchen stuff did you get for the wedding that you use everyday?
4. What awesome stuff did you get that would be perfect for a party?
Bonus Q: What is your favorite BBQ food?
Re: Dinner Party Poll
1. We just had a fall themed dinner party...
Appetizer: Beer Bread & Dip from Tastefully Simple
Dinner: Salad with apples & walnuts, Shepard's Pie (made with boca crumbles), pretzel bread with honey dijon mustard
Dessert: Pumpkin Souffle
Drinks: Dogfish Pumpkin Beer & Irish Coffee
2. Not until we buy a house -- our place isn't big enough to hold everyone
3. My job gives me a free pie from a local orchard so I bring that
4. Great pie plate, new dishes, etc.
Bonus: Shish kabob
1. Tell me your dinner party themes and ideas and the menu items that go along with theme. We generally do holidays (aside from Christmas), so we put together the whole meal and the fixings. Last year we did Hanukkah, and DH braised a brisket and made a kugel, I made latkes and rugelach, and topped it off with a chocolate cake with swiss meringue frosting and blue sugar dust. We also do a lot of tailgating, which means we bring the food to the masses and we usually kick some serious @ass with that too- anything from cheesesteaks to pancakes and sweet venison sausage to hawaiian kebabs to amazingly yummy desserts (last week I made "Hokie Pies", ie red velvet (maroon) whoopie pies with orange cream cheese filling).
2. When do you think you will host a Thanksgiving/Christmas/Hannakah/Easter dinner for the fam? Or is that mom's job until the end of time?
Until we move back up north after I get my PhD: Thanksgiving = ILs, Christmas = Mom and Dad, Hanukkah/Easter/Passover/July 4th/Memorial and Labor days = Us. After we move, we'll be hosting everything so both families can partake with us.
2a. What dish will/would you cook if you were going to a Holiday dinner with fam and they asked you to bring something? I always make dessert, no matter what. It's the most overlooked thing in our family because I'm the only one who inherited the baking gene. We usually bring or make a side- this year I'll be making my mashed sweet potatoes at the ILs for thanksgiving, and will also be making a chocolate bourbon pecan pie. DH also cooks really well, so I can always depend on him to make something equally as yummy.
3. What awesome kitchen stuff did you get for the wedding that you use everyday? We didn't ask for that much, actually. We already had a kitchen that could rival a restaurant's because we both love to cook so much! We registered for a french press which we've used every Sunday, and a nice marble pastry board which is amazing for crusts and chocolate tempering.
4. What awesome stuff did you get that would be perfect for a party? One of my BMs got us a punch server (not on the registry but she's creative!), and we can't wait to use that.
Bonus Q: What is your favorite BBQ food? Love me some pulled pork, mmmm.
1. I don't typically do theme dinner parties. I love to do holidays though. Thanksgiving is the next one for me! - Turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, veggies, cranberry sauce, etc. Plus lots of pies!
2. My mom does holidays, especially thanksgiving. We have talked about it and she won't give it up for a long time! I host holidays for friends in Chicago though, since our families are all far away.
2a. A pie or two.
3. Tons! My favorites are the new dishes, silverware, and knives. All of the old stuff is in boxes in the basement, ready to give to my SIL
4. Beautiful serving dishes and wine glasses
Bonus: Good, old fashioned hamburgers.
1. Tell me your dinner party themes and ideas and the menu items that go along with theme. Planning a Christmas Cookie/Dessert exchange for December..will have everyone bring either cookie dough, or prepared cookies, etc...and we can decorate, taste, exchange..that way everyone can go home with an assortment for the holidays!
2. When do you think you will host a Thanksgiving/Christmas/Hannakah/Easter dinner for the fam? Or is that mom's job until the end of time? We did last year actually...me and my brothers rotate..possibly volunteering to host one of my DH's family's big xmas parties at our house too
2a. What dish will/would you cook if you were going to a Holiday dinner with fam and they asked you to bring something? Either a cheesy potato dish, or some type of fruit salad
3. What awesome kitchen stuff did you get for the wedding that you use everyday? An awesome corningware set for baking casseroles, etc...and calpalon pots/pans from my mom
4. What awesome stuff did you get that would be perfect for a party? All kinds of neat serving platters and dishes!
Bonus Q: What is your favorite BBQ food? Crunchy Cole Slaw
1. Tell me your dinner party themes and ideas and the menu items that go along with theme. I usually don't have a theme, it's usually just a bunch of us getting together for dinner
2. When do you think you will host a Thanksgiving/Christmas/Hannakah/Easter dinner for the fam? Or is that mom's job until the end of time?
I will be hosting Thanksgiving this year, but on Saturday because DH has to work on Thursday. Our house really isn't big enough to have extended family, so it's usually just my parents, IL's, BIL & his girlfriend.
2a. What dish will/would you cook if you were going to a Holiday dinner with fam and they asked you to bring something? Lots... Sweet Potato Pie, Green Bean Casserole, appetizers
3. What awesome kitchen stuff did you get for the wedding that you use everyday? My everyday dinner plates. We had a lot of stuff for the kitchen before we got married (I love cooking)
4. What awesome stuff did you get that would be perfect for a party? We got lots of new platters & serving pieces.
Bonus Q: What is your favorite BBQ food? Hmmm..pulled pork (NC style) or smoked turkey. Or Mac salad... I don't thing I could pick one thing... I 3> BBQ!
Planning Bio ~ With Pro Pics
1. Tell me your dinner party themes and ideas and the menu items that go along with theme. - usually just friends getting together, no real theme
2. When do you think you will host a Thanksgiving/Christmas/Hannakah/Easter dinner for the fam? Or is that mom's job until the end of time?
- I have been hosting Thanksgiving dinners since my junior year of college. Two years ago my best friend and I cooked for over 30 people!
2a. What dish will/would you cook if you were going to a Holiday dinner with fam and they asked you to bring something? - spinach mushroom turnovers, I started making them for Thanksgiving a while ago, and everyone requests them now
3. What awesome kitchen stuff did you get for the wedding that you use everyday? - everyday? my spatula set, but most of my 'everyday' kitchen stuff, I already had
4. What awesome stuff did you get that would be perfect for a party? - ice cream maker, magic bullet (good for making individual frozen drinks), bread maker, NuWave infrared cooker, slow cooker - also non-food related, but we got a lot of board games, we love playing board games after dinner
Bonus Q: What is your favorite BBQ food? - to eat? Rockland's BBQ (local chain) potato salad; to make? BBQ pulled chicken
1. Tell me your dinner party themes and ideas and the menu items that go along with theme. We've done wine tastings before- really easy: several wines, cheese, fruit, and usually pasta.
2. When do you think you will host a Thanksgiving/Christmas/Hannakah/Easter dinner for the fam? Or is that mom's job until the end of time? We had Christmas here last year, and we'll probably do it again this year. We had the usual: ham, potatoes, green bean casserole, rolls, and a few desserts. We ate and then opened gifts.
2a. What dish will/would you cook if you were going to a Holiday dinner with fam and they asked you to bring something? The in-laws already know to request my potato casserole haha. I also try to bring a dessert, usually cookies or a cake of some kind.
3. What awesome kitchen stuff did you get for the wedding that you use everyday? Our spice rack, I use that every day when making dinner.
4. What awesome stuff did you get that would be perfect for a party? Well, haha, our card table and folding chairs! Our table only seats six comfortably, but there's seven of us.
Bonus Q: What is your favorite BBQ food? I love pasta or potato salads. Also, if you're having burgers or pulled pork sandwichs- toast the buns!
***My bold or italics aren't working either!!! :-( Stars are next to my answers...sorry. This is fun red, of course I had to respond to this one!***
1. Tell me your dinner party themes and ideas and the menu items that go along with theme.
***Well, my first married dinner party is on the 9th, it's an elegant Halloween dinner. The house will be decorated with a glamorous, vampire-esque vibe. Martha Stewart has been a great resource of decorative inspiration!
The menu is more centered on harvest, and seasonal type items: black bean and butternut squash chili for dinner, with cheddar garlic biscuits. Appetizers: pear and bleu cheese crostinis, stuffed mushrooms, apple walnut turnovers, etc. Lots of wine will be consumed...!!!***
2. When do you think you will host a Thanksgiving/Christmas/Hannakah/Easter dinner for the fam? Or is that mom's job until the end of time?
***I already have thrown Thanksgiving! It was so much fun! I will be hosting this year again, but I really can't wait to host Christmas one day when we buy a house.
2a. What dish will/would you cook if you were going to a Holiday dinner with fam and they asked you to bring something?
***Last year I brought cranberry oatmeal cheesecake bars when my mom hosted Thanksgiving. But as I prefer to cook, I'd want to bring a savory dish next time.***
3. What awesome kitchen stuff did you get for the wedding that you use everyday?
***Wusthof knives, lately my kitchen aid mixer and ice cream attachment, all-clad pots and pans, Crate and Barrel plates***
4. What awesome stuff did you get that would be perfect for a party?
***Silver cocktail tray, white china with platinum band, really beautiful table linens, and actually my white le creuset casserole dishes are so nice they can go on the table and blend right in!***
Bonus Q: What is your favorite BBQ food?
***Being a vegetarian, my fav BBQ item is prob lame to you guys; corn on the cob with lime cilantro butter, and veg baked beans***
1) We have more of just food themes, not so much actual themes at my house. But we have done everyone brings finger foods and desserts, sometimes we do heritage dinner where everyone makes and brings something that is from their heritage. My go to thing is always lefsa, my friend who is italian always makes something pasta, etc. One time my friend made chicken tika Masala and nann (she is from England but her parents are Indian), it was amazing! My husband loves making fish and chips (he was raised in England).
2) We party hop for thanksgiving, from in-laws, to grandparents, to parents. For Christmas I like to host the dinner, that way I am in control of the time, the food, and the liquor (my step father likes his vodka a little to much)
2a) Lefsa Roll up, Oyster Stew, or something dessert like
3) Cooking utencils, wisk, spatulas, etc. I am a big baker so all my fiestaware bake ware!
4) Fun martini glasses, an awesome wine opener!
Bonus: Pulled Pork!
This was fun!