- Defining Kate Middleton's style
- Kate and Harry stop by Westminster Abbey hours before the big day!
- Food and drink wedding traditions of the British royals
- Has the royal wedding inspired a hair care line?
- Très quizzes royal expert Jerramy Fine about Kate and William!
- Will and Kate's fairy-tale romance: there's an app for that
- Tasteful ways to welcome the royal wedding to your home
- How to throw a royal wedding viewing party
- Royal wedding touches that will work with your budget
- Kate Middleton looks svelte before the big day
- A modern twist on a royal wedding: 6 geeky facts about William and Kate's nuptials
- What to wear to a royal wedding
- Video: the royal wedding — what to expect from the dress to the cake to the kiss!
- Video: William and Kate's final wedding prep and Diana tribute as Beckhams head to royal wedding!
Posts for April 28th 2011
Food and Drink Wedding Traditions of the British Royals
It's here! The week of the royal wedding has finally arrived, and there's no doubt it'll be the biggest celebration England's seen so far this century. Still, Prince William and Kate Middleton have some pretty big shoes to fill: they'll be following in the footsteps of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, and Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
With hundreds of years of history behind them, the soon-to-be newlyweds are following more than a few precedents set by the British crown. To see what traditions they'll likely be sticking to — and which ones they're breaking! — keep reading.
Source: Getty
Beyond Sparklers: 3 Still Wines From Chandon to Try
If you're a fan of Californian sparkling wines, you've probably enjoyed a glass or two of Chandon. With over 200,000 bottles produced a year, an affordable price tag, and a tasting room that sees 2,000 people on a Saturday, it's one of Napa Valley's most well-known bubbly producers. What you may not know, however, is that the winery also makes some well-rounded and interesting still wines. I recently had the chance to sample its offerings, so to learn more about Chandon's Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, keep reading.
Does the Royal Wedding Make You Want to Eat Fruitcake?
We were a little shocked at Kate Middleton's wedding cake choice: the traditional, but bland fruitcake. But I'm even more surprised that as a result of her choice, fruitcake sales have spiked in some cities! Bakeries across the US, which are usually only able to move fruitcakes during the holiday season, have seen up to 20 percent increases in sales of the booze-soaked dessert, mostly for royal wedding viewing parties.
I've had a fresh, homemade fruitcake, and it was actually pretty good. Add a little creamy white frosting, like Kate's version will have, and I'd gladly enjoy a slice with a cup of tea at a viewing party. What about you? None of you listed it as your favorite (gasp!), but does the princess-to-be's royal dessert choice inspire you to partake in a little fruitcake of your own?
We Chat With the Winner of the Grilled Cheese Invitational!
Last weekend, thousands of people and two hundred competitors gathered in downtown Los Angeles for the 2nd 8th Annual Grilled Cheese Invitational. The event has four categories and both amateurs and professionals, like our friends at the Grilled Cheese Truck, can compete to make the best grilled cheese sandwich ever.
The amateur winner of the American-style category is Ryan Bentz. Ryan created the winning sandwich with the help of his "excellently skilled" mom. Their sandwich, dubbed America, The Sandwich, had to feature classic grilled cheese ingredients: bread, orange cheese, and butter.
To find out what Bentz had to say about the experience and his win, keep reading.
Fast and Easy Dinner: Vegetarian Chili
I've got a whole arsenal of go-to weeknight meals, but the one heaviest in my rotation is vegetarian chili. Why, you might ask? Because meatless chili has true versatility. Not only is it quick, effortless, and healthy, but it's easy to transport as lunch the next day.
As a leftover, it tastes better the longer it sits. I don't get sick of it, not even in the Summer. I don't mind it chilled, or heaped atop concession-stand favorites like cheese fries and onion rings.
Recently, I served it on two separate occasions. To keep things interesting, I paired it once with Fritos and melted cheese to make that Lone Star favorite, Frito pie — then on the second occasion, atop a bed of pasta, quasi-Cincinnati-style. Make this the most adaptable dish in your recipe reserve when you keep reading.
Crispy "Chicken" Salad
Original recipe
Crispy "Chicken" Salad
Ingredients
1 bag Boca nuggets, baked and diced
Romaine lettuce, torn
Fresh spinach, torn
1 tomato, diced
1 avocado, diced
1 cucumber, sliced, then quartered
Vegan pepper jack cheese and/or cheddar, shredded
Green onions, sliced
Tortilla chips, broken up
Vegan Ranch dressing:
1 C Vegenaise
1-1/2 tsp lemon juice
6 Tbs almond milk
1/2 tsp dried chives
1/2 tsp dried parsley
1/2 tsp dried dill
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
Directions
I tend to put everything in separate bowls and let everyone create their own salads. To make the dressing, just whisk everything together in a small bowl and transfer to a pourable container. Refrigerate the leftovers. Enjoy!
A Wedding Planner's Tips For a Royal Wedding Viewing Party
Wedding planner Tiffany Nieves-Cook, of Dream Design Weddings and Events, knows a thing or two about throwing parties. Not only has she planned weddings for plenty of high-profile clients, but she also designed her own wedding earlier this month! Since one wedding in particular is on everyone's mind today, we asked her for suggestions on hosting a royal wedding viewing party. Here are her fun ideas!

- TiVo the wedding and schedule your viewing party at high tea time, which is at 2 p.m.
- Find a great English bakery and order fabulous scones and imported jam and crème, and some flavored teas like English breakfast and Earl Grey. Be sure to have fresh cream, as this is served in the tea.
- Find a recipe for some finger sandwiches, and offer them on a silver serving tray (these can be found even at party stores).
- Purchase or rent some fabulous rich velvet linens and embellish the table with a gorgeous candelabra, which you can find at a local home store.
- Finish off with a toast of apple cider or stout beer to end your fab event at the end of the royal ceremony!
Are you hosting or attending a viewing party tomorrow? What will you be eating?
Source: Flickr User Iain Farrell
Close Out National Grilled Cheese Month With These Favorites
Can you believe April's over in a mere two days? The month has flown by so fast! Chalk it up to March Madness, Easter, Passover, and all that royal wedding craziness. Oh, and let's not forget: it's also National Grilled Cheese Month. We've been eating these gooey, melted sandwiches all April, but we're sure to end this month on a high note with a few of our favorite all-time grilled cheese recipes. Be sure to join us!



