Unique Things to BBQ this Canada Day

Guaranteed that if you have a BBQ you WILL be using it this weekend. Why not throw some unusual fare on the Bar-B? Here are some interesting things to try! Click on the photo credits for recipes.

Grilled Lemonade

Photo credit: Kingsford Charcoal

Yes you read that right! Grilling the lemons with rosemary imparts a nice smoky, woodsy flavour!

Grilled Watermelon Salad


Photo credit: Fine Cooking

Grilled Portobello Mushroom, Roasted Red Pepper & Goat Cheese Wrap



Photo credit: BS' in the Kitchen

Grilled Salad with Strawberry Balsamic Reduction

Photo credit: Tasty Kitchen

 

Grilled Coconut Corn with Chili Mayo Recipe

 

Photo credit: Num Pang

If you're not quite that adventurous but love bbq'd corn, try whipping up some butter with cilantro or your favourite herbs or spices. Form into a log and refrigerate until ready to use.

Grilled Pineapple

Photo credit: newfinmysoup.blogspot.com

Cut pineapple in halves or quarters and drizzle with lime juice, pepper and honey. Make sure to leave the core in tact so your skewers stay sturdy on the grill.

Avocado

Cut avocados into halves and remove the pit. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper and grill on low to medium heat for 1 minute. Stuff with your favourite cheese or vegies.

Maple Buttermilk Grilled Chicken

Photo credit: Canadian Living

Grilled Cinnamon-Sugar Bananas with Vanilla Ice Cream & Bourbon

Photo credit: Fine Cooking

Happy grilling and Happy Canada Day!

Photo credit: One80.ca

 

Outdoor Entertaining Tips for Victoria Day Weekend

Ahhhh…there is nothing like the anticipation of a long weekend. An extra day to sleep in, lounge around with family and friends or to just simply chill out in your backyard enjoying the warm spring breeze.

Victoria Day is not just a holiday in honour of Queen Victoria’s birthday - for Canadians, Victoria Day weekend or ‘May 2-4’ is the kick off to summer baby!
Here are 4 tips for your entertaining needs.

Photo Credit: Canadian Tire

Photo Credit: Andrew Richard Designs

Comfort is king…For those of you entertaining in your backyard this weekend, create an urban oasis with some sleek patio furniture. Canadian Tire is now offering the UMBRA Loft collection with many rattan pieces sure to compliment your outdoor space. If you’re tight on space they have a very functional folding woven table that seats 4-6 when in the open position and 2-4 while in the folded position. Don’t be shy with color – allow your guests to feel extra comfy while also adding some punch by accessorizing with cushions of different texture, colors and patterns.  

Andrew Richard Designs sets the bar for outdoor entertaining and has some stunning outdoor pieces. They’ve provided furniture for Ritz Carlton, TIFF, and Lake Rosseau to name a few.

Make clean up a breeze… by using vinyl tablecloths, disposable plates and utensils. Disposables have come a looong way since those white plates with the blue flowers dotting the edge of the plate!!  They now come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours. You can grab these pretty pink plates from Party City.



Photo Credit: Best Heath Magazine

Light is right…serve simple light foods. Burgers, dogs and sandwiches are a give in. Any of these would pair nicely with a light refreshing salad such as this Chickpea Pecan Salad courtesy of Best Health Magazine.

Photo Credit: Starbucks

Serve refreshing beverages such as iced tea. Starbucks has a great tumbler that allows you to brew both loose tea leaves or bagged tea.
For dessert, serve some fresh fruit. There’s no shame in taking a short cut and serving some fruit trays from your local supermarket. Just try to buy them the day of your get together so that they’re guaranteed to be fresh.






Ice Cream is always a hit. Haagen-Dazs has introduced their 2 newest bars – Salted Caramel and Chocolate Peanut Butter.  The Salted Caramel bar is pure heaven… Thank YOU Haagen-Dazs!

Ambiance…set the mood.  Choose a color theme that will tie all of your elements together. This could be reflected in your tableware and décor. Love this idea from Hostess with the Mostess that uses decorative paper to wrap vases.

Photo Credit: Hostess with the Mostess

Make sure to also add some small cheerful bouquets to your patio table. After the sun goes down, place votives in mason jars. Empty pasta or jelly jars work equally well.

Photo Credit: Urban Mode

On those crisp evenings make your guests feel warm and cozy by adding some fire! I love love love these modern fire pits from Urban Mode. They come in a variety of colours and fuel burning options. This fire is certain to be desired!

However you choose to celebrate – whether inside or out – be safe and have fun!
 

Mother's Day Brunch

Since mom's are soooo special this topic warrants 2 posts! One of my favourite ways to celebrate Mother's Day is with a light and easy brunch.

Here's a compilation of some mouth watering recipes (click on the links below the photos for the recipes)!

Strawberry Lemonade

Photo credit: What2cook

Cheesy Garlic Biscuits


Photo credit: Salt & Turmeric

Sesame Ginger Chickpea Cakes

Photo credit: Love & Lemons

Spanish Potato Omelet Bites

Photo credit: Better Homes and Gardens

Lemon Blueberry Yogurt Cake

Photo credit: The Wicked Noodle

Pineapple Cake

 

Photo credit: Thrifty Décor Chick

 

Add a bit of décor with some floral pom poms and a photo garland containing some of your favourite childhood memories.

 

Photo credit: Martha Stewart

 

 





What Moms Want!

Really - mothers should be celebrated every day of the year for all that they do and for all that they put up with! Since there's only 1 day technically dedicated to them - make it count! Treat your mom like the Queen that she is, for all the meals she's put on the table, for bundling you up on the cold days and for taking care of you when you were sick.

So by now a few of you have thought to yourselves - 'oh crap - I didn't know it was this Sunday!' Never fear - here are few quick yet beautiful handmade gifts you can make for mom.

Love in a Jar

Photo credit: New Nostalgia

Love this idea from New Nostalgia! Why not tell mom all the reasons that you love her? Write each reason on a separate note and put in a lovely jar. On days when mom is feeling blue she can pull out a note to be reminded of just how much she is loved.



Photo credit: Curbly

Floral Bracelet
This idea comes to us from Curbly. Instead of a crown how about a floral bracelet fit for a Queen? Bonus - tons of other DIY ideas on this site!









Agate Coasters

Photo credit: Fabric Paper Glue

These coasters courtesy of Fabric, Paper Glue, are simply gorgeous and will be a conversation starter! Like the touch of gold which really gives it pop!










How about a homemade spa basket? Load it up with scrubs that will leave her skin feeling soft and sweet as well as bath balls, facial masks, essential oils and body butters. Bert's Bee's has some great natural products sure to be a hit with the Queen Bee.

 

 

For those of you that are less crafty, there a few last minute gifts which will be equally appreciated...

 

David's Tea, my go to nirvana in a cup, has loads of tantalizing teas to choose from. A couple of my favs are Toasted Walnut and Movie Night.

 

 



Fruits and Passion has an abundance of products to pamper mom. I especially like the Blue Fuchsia Gold. This basket according to their site is 'brimming with sunshine and conjures up gentle summer breezes'. Oh my!

For the tech savvy mom she can read a book, play Angry birds or browse the web from her Google Nexus 7.

....Or you could offer to do a few things around the house (I know I'll get a few Amen's and hallelujahs here!). Fix that leaky faucet she's been talking about for months or help her with the garden.

Whatever you decide to get or make for mom just remember that at the end of the day all she wants is to feel cherished, valued, appreciated and loved so make sure she feels nothing but!

What do you plan to do for mom on Mother's Day??

Cinco de Mayo

I swear I was Mexican in a past life. My obsession with Mexican food, culture, holidays (and did I mention FOOD???) make Cinco de Mayo one of my favourite holidays!!
It originated with Mexican-American communities in the American West as a way to commemorate the cause of freedom and democracy during the first years of the American Civil War (history lesson courtesy of Wikipedia - now on to fun stuff!)

The beautiful weather in store for the Toronto area this weekend alone is enough reason to celebrate! Here are some things you need to throw the ultimate Cinco de Mayo bash!

Decor
Why not add some colorful décor? Studio DIY has created some beautiful Papel Picado Streamers

 

Drinks

Really - what Cinco de Mayo party can you have without them? As soon as guest arrive serve them an ice cold margarita.  Dip the glasses in lime juice and then rim the glass with salt as an added touch. Make sure to also have a few virgin cocktails on hand for those who don't drink. My fav is a strawberry margarita....

 

 

 

Here's a quick recipe you can whip together in no time (serves 4).

• 6 oz tequila
• 2 oz triple sec
• 8 oz frozen strawberries
• 4 oz frozen limeade concentrate (you can find this in the frozen aisle in you local grocery store where the frozen juices are)
• 6 cups of ice

 

Place ice in a blender and crush for 15 to 20 seconds. Add frozen strawberries, tequila, triple sec, and limeade. Blend until smooth.

 

I also love this pineapple one!

Photo Credit: Taste, Love & Nourish

 

Food

Why not make life a 'lil easier on yourself and have a make your own taco display.

Place shredded chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, beans, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and salsa in serving bowls. Fish tacos are also quite popular and tasty. Have some hard and soft shells close by so guests can pile them on. Try to have unique serving bowls for your appetizers and desserts. Hollowed out watermelons or cactus leaves are just a couple of items you can use.

Here's a mouth watering example from dotcomwomen.com for watermelon, mango and pepper salsa.

 

 

Here's some other great recipes for appetizers, side dishes etc. courtesy of Taste of Home.

Nacho Party Cheesecake

 

A classic Mexican dessert is a tres leche cake

 

Photo credit: Green Eggs and Spam

 Or how about some churro truffles?? Yum, yum, yum...

 

Photo credit: Pizzazzerie

 

Music

No Cinco de Mayo party is complete with some serious Latin tunes. Songza has amazing Latin playlists. One my go to's is the 'Essential Salsa' playlist. Download the app, hook your speakers up to your phone and dance away to burn off those margaritas!

 

Last Thoughts...

Hang a Piñata to add some color and to enhance your décor. Just don't try to break it indoors, especially after those margaritas :)

 

Photo credit: Refinery29.com

 

Ambiance is key so add lots of colour to your table settings. Martha Stewart has some great décor ideas.

Photo credit: Martha Stewart.com

 

Hostess with the Mostess always knows how to throw a great party:

Photo credit: Hostess with the Mostess

 

Whatever you serve, listen to or decorate with it - enjoy the day with friends and family!

 

Garden in a Glass

Photo Credit: Lori Berkowitz



Earlier this year Jason Wu debuted his Grand Tourista travel tote at a party in New York however the tote wasn't the only thing that captured everyone's attention. Mother-and-son team Mary Lynn and Bronson van Wyck created what they dubbed 'Garden in a Glass' the evening's elderflower-and-champagne cocktail by freezing flowers in ice cubes.
Love it!

Herbed infused drinks is something I'm noticing a lot more of lately. Ready to take this trend to your glass? Try this recipe for a Lavender Martini.

1 1/2 ounces vanilla vodka
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
1/4 ounce Lavender Syrup (can probably find in gourmet or specialty food stores)
1 fresh lavender sprig

Fill a shaker with ice. Top with vodka, lemon juice and lavender syrup, Garnish with a  fresh lavender sprig. Pour into your favourite ice cold martini glass and enjoy! 

Vera Wang iPhone App

She's brought us stunning wedding gowns admired by many across the globe. Now she has an app to help you plan your wedding and to offer style advice!

10 New Venues in Toronto for Spring Meetings & Events

Photo: Azure Blue Photography

One of the things I love most about Toronto is the wide array of restaurants and venues that can rival any world class city. Biz Bash has put together their list of the top 10 new venues for Spring events and meetings in Toronto.

There's just something about the vintage vibe of The Storys Building that I love. With it's exposed brick and towering beams this place would be perfect for a romantic vintage wedding reception.

Pink Champagne Pops!

 

So…I have a birthday coming up soon. I thought about skipping the festivities this year but that all changed once I saw these! This WILL be my birthday gift to myself and I plan on making these this weekend. Let’s hope the champagne makes it into the cake pops! Check out the recipe at Sweetapolita.

Easter Brunch Recipes to Impress

 

So your eggs are decorated, and your Easter Lily is sitting pretty  - so now what? Time to plan your brunch! Easter is a time that should be spent with your family. Here are some easy brunch recipes that will cut down the amount of time you spend in the kitchen courtesy of She Knows. I’m going to be making the Raspberry Cheesecake Crepes!

Hello and welcome to Red Cocoa!

 

Remember what it was like on your first day of high school? The nervous anticipation you felt as you walked up the school. Wondering if you're wearing the right brand of jeans or if anyone would notice the burn on your forehead thanks to an unsteady hand as you curled your bangs that morning? As the nervous excitement tickled your insides you weren't quite sure what high school had in store for you but you knew on some level that it would be great! THAT is how I'm feeling today as I write my first post. Nervous excitement, yet a feeling of being terrified all at once. Exhilarating yet nauseating all at the same time. I've debated about writing a blog for quite a while. I've finally just decided to dive in and do the damn thing!

Here a few tidbits about yours truly. I have an enormous passion for entertaining and event planning. I have a level 1 Sommelier certification and I've recently received my Event and Meeting Management certification. I also have a major obsession with food and wine (hence the sommelier certification!). I'm also recently engaged so look out for a lot of posts and perhaps some rants on wedding planning :)
I will mostly blog about all of the things I am most passionate about described above but will also have random posts on interesting things I've stumbled on, cool places I've been or things I have seen.

Now for the burning question - why "Red Cocoa?"
The name 'Red Cocoa" was inspired by my love of - or somewhat mild obsession (depending on who you ask!) with all things Red Velvet. As an avid baker one of my favourite things to make and what is often requested of me is Red Velvet cupcakes. In addition to having a naughty sweet tooth that just won't quit - I appreciate things that are a bit unusual - a refreshing departure from the norm - and believe that all great events should follow this same logic.
I invite you all to join me on this scrumptious journey that is Red Cocoa! This blog is for you as much as it is for me so I strongly encourage you to stop by often and leave comments.

NOW LET'S RAISE A CUPCAKE! CHEERS!

 

Cupcakes for Champions!

I was feeling UBER proud of my bestie’s son and his recent athletic accomplishments I just had to bake him a few treats to munch on after his game. After tinkering with many chocolate cupcake recipes I’ve finally found the right one to ensure a moist, crumbly cupcake.

 

 

Easter Surprise Eggs



Photo courtesy of Not Martha

 

 

Looking for some creative Easter egg ideas for your upcoming Easter egg hunt? It doesn’t get any more fun than this. Not Martha has come up with a new take on an old favourite. Imagine cracking one of these open to reveal a tasty surprise! These little guys are great for all ages. I know I want one!

Photo courtesy of Not Martha