Bachelorette Dinner

For my girlfriend's bachelorette, we'll be spending the weekend at a house in Calistoga. Thus, I'm going to let the natural beauty of the outdoors be the focal point and keep things with the tablescape simple.

A white color scheme looks clean and fresh. The table will be set with white plates, white napkins, and a versatile goblet-style wine glass that can hold white or red wine, or sparkling berry punch. The appetizers — hummus and cheese board — should be placed on a nearby smaller table with the punch bowl.

Candles set the mood and a gorgeous bouquet of vibrantly-colored flowers reminds guests that the occasion is special.

While an elegant poolside dinner may not be the most traditional of bachelorette parties, there is one classic element involved: a girlie, fizzy cocktail. Since a big group of females will be spending the weekend at a house in Calistoga, I'm going to need a large punch recipe to kick-start the festivities. Thus, I'm making this raspberry champagne punch. With vodka, orange liqueur, cherry liqueur, and sparkling wine, it's pretty potent and sure to loosen the crowd up . . . in case a stripper happens to stop by! I'll also stock up on sparkling water, white wine, and red wine.

To get the punch recipe, read more

Next month, my friends and I will head to Calistoga for a bachelorette party. We've rented a house and will take the weekend to honor the bride, Melissa, with pool time, good eats, and lots of wine. On Friday night I am planning the dinner. I'll do the majority of the cooking at the house, but want to make the dessert in advance. This way, once the celebratory meal gets started, I won't have to worry about anything else. Since everyone loves chocolate, I'm baking these easy-to-transport caramel-coconut fudge brownies.

Don't be intimidated, the recipe is simple and instead of calling for a homemade caramel sauce, it uses chewy caramel candies. These brownies are portable and crowd-pleasing — making them delectable for any Summer picnic. Check out the method when you read more

While some people host a crazy weekend in Vegas and others opt for an activity-based bachelorette party featuring belly dancing, my friend Melissa is doing a low-key weekend in Calistoga to say goodbye to her singledom. Her maid of honor has rented a beautiful house with a grill and garden, and she's planned a weekend of sunbathing and wine tasting.

On Friday night when we arrive, instead of going out for a night on the town, we'll spend the evening by the pool enjoying a leisurely and luxurious dinner. Naturally, I'm in charge of the cooking! To start, I'll put together a cheese platter with homemade hummus and pita chips on the side.

When we sit down to dinner, I'll serve grilled shrimp with roasted garlic-herb sauce, orzo and zucchini salad, and grilled apricots with arugula and goat cheese. These recipes make a wonderful Summer menu perfect for any outdoor occasion, so take a look at them now.