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Decadent Dessert Recipes for Your Holiday Soiree

December 4, 2014 by

No holiday party is complete without something sweet for guests to nibble on after the big meal is over, and this special occasion requires a dessert that’s a bit more elegant than your usual cake or cookies. Here are a few festive dessert recipes that will make the perfect ending to any seasonal soiree.

Cream Puff Tower
While cookie tables are fairly casual, an artistic cream puff tower makes a much more decorative way to display self-serve desserts. This recipe shows you how to create light, fluffy cream puffs covered in a flaky pastry crust, and it also offers inspiration for artfully arranging them on a tiered stand.

Dark Chocolate Peppermint Brownies
Everyone loves a warm, chewy brownie, and this recipe adds festive red and white peppermints on top to make the old favorite more appropriate for the holiday season. Best of all, this recipe is best served the day after baking for a fudgier consistency, so you can even make them ahead of time.

Holiday Biscotti
If you plan on serving hot coffee after dinner at your holiday party, this holiday biscotti is the perfect accompaniment. Traditional cranberry pistachio biscotti cookies are dipped in white chocolate and covered in red and green sprinkles for a decorative look that’s also delicious.

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Italian Fare and Fireside Dining at Grotto Ristorante

November 24, 2014 by

With vibrant painted murals, a gleaming curved wooden bar, and walls stacked with wine bottles, Grotto Ristorante is a lively setting for a flavorful dinner.

Settle in by the fireplace indoors or out on the patio and get your party started with a glass or bottle of wine and an antipasto, like mussels marechiaro with white wine and fresh tomatoes, the scampi grotto with mushrooms, or the mozzarella in padella with tomatoes, garlic, and basil. Pizza and pasta are featured on the menu, along with entrees like shrimp paillard with jumbo lump crab, roasted bell peppers, and lemon sauce, and snapper Siciliano with Roma tomatoes, garlic, shrimp sauce, and lump crab.

Grotto Ristorante is open every day, and it serves brunch on the weekends.

Grotto Ristorante
9595 Six Pines Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(281) 419-4252
www.grottorestaurants.com
www.yelp.com/biz/grotto-ristorante-the-woodlands-2

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How to Host a Successful Clothing Swap

November 20, 2014 by

Clothing swaps are becoming increasingly popular ways to recycle your old clothes and gain some new-to-you favorites in return. By simply inviting a few friends to bring a few items each, you can organize a clothing swap in no time. Here are a few tips for pulling it off.

  1. Get the word out. It’s best to invite 10 to 15 people for maximum swapping possibilities. Send out email invitations about one month in advance describing how to event works so that guests have ample time to start cleaning out their closets.
  2. Choose the perfect space. If you live in a studio apartment, it may be best to host the swap at a friend’s house with a larger common space. Choose a living room or even a covered area in the backyard if it’s warm outside.
  3. Get organized. Even among close friends, things can get a bit crazy if you simply dump the clothes into a pile and have at it. Create a type of system where each guest gets a certain number of items, or have the previous owners “auction” their pieces off by telling a background story about each item.
  4. Settle fights efficiently. If more than one person wants a particular item, develop a system for deciding who should get it. Choose a name out of a hat, or if your friends feel comfortable, let the group decide who wears it best.

13 Rules for a Successful Clothing Swap [Oprah]
10 Tips for Hosting a Successful Clothing Swap [Women’s Day]
Swap 'Til You Drop: Throwing a Clothing-Swap Party is On-Trend [Bethenny]

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Riva Row Boat House: Spend the Afternoon Floating Downriver

November 13, 2014 by

The Riva Row Boat House is one of The Woodlands’ most popular community amenities. Located within walking distance of both Market Street and the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, this beautiful, rustic boat house offers residents a way to rent kayaks and experience a unique view of the Woodlands Waterway.

Both single or tandem kayaks are available, and they cost just $15 to $20 for the first hour. Guests are able to determine their own route down the waterway, and if you choose to row all the way to the end of the route you’ll find a beautiful lake right next to North Shore Park. Whether you go solo, with a date, or even bring your dog along for the ride, the Riva Row Boat House offers the perfect outdoor activity for a hot Texas day.

The Riva Row Boat House is open year round, though its hours are different throughout the year. Check the informative website for more information about kayak rental times and rates.

Riva Row Boat House
2101 Riva Row
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(281) 210-3965
www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/index.aspx?nid=360
www.yelp.com/biz/riva-row-boat-house-the-woodlands

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Caffe di Fiore: A Fusion Menu in The Woodlands

November 6, 2014 by

Caffe di Fiore serves up a fusion menu in The Woodlands. The emphasis may be on Mexican cuisine, but the restaurant's menu also features a selection of pastas and pizza.

Breakfast is a great time to stop in and fuel up for the day on hearty fare like Chilaquiles Con Pollo with tortilla chips, shredded chicken, cheese, refried beans & sour cream, Huevos Con Chorizo with spicy sausage, cheese & refried beans, and Vegetarian Eggs Benedict with spinach & tomatoes. Later in the day, you can try Tacos de Barbacoa with beef, onions & borracha salsa, Green Enchiladas with tomatillo sauce, and Tampico Style Carne Asada with refried beans & guacamole.

Caffe di Fiore is open Monday through Saturday in The Woodlands, Texas.

Caffe di Fiore
10110 Woodlands Parkway
The Woodlands, TX 77382
(281) 298-1228
http://www.caffe-di-fiore.com/ordereze/default.aspx
http://www.yelp.com/biz/caffe-di-fiore-the-woodlands

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Perry’s Steakhouse and Grill: Toast a Special Occasion at This Upscale Chain

October 23, 2014 by

If you’re looking for the perfect spot to host a birthday dinner or other special occasion in the Woodlands area, Perry’s Steakhouse and Grill makes the ideal backdrop for important events. The Woodlands location of this eclectic, upscale chain features artistic light fixtures, glamorous furnishings, and comfortably large tables to accommodate any size party. There are also a number of private dining rooms that can be reserved for large groups, including an incredibly spacious Banquet Room.

The menu consists of high quality cuts of beef, creative seafood dishes, and entree complements like sherried mushrooms, Sriracha Brussels sprouts, and rich macaroni and cheese. Paired with a glass from the impressive wine list and a gourmet dessert, a meal at Perry’s is one that you won’t soon forget.

Perry’s Steakhouse and Grill is open 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. The eatery offers longer hours on Fridays: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday hours are 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Perry’s Steakhouse and Grill
6700 Woodlands Parkway
The Woodlands, TX 77382
(281) 362-0569
www.perryssteakhouse.com
www.yelp.com/biz/perrys-steakhouse-and-grille-the-woodlands

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How to Find Haunted Houses and Hayrides Near You

October 16, 2014 by

In addition to apple cider and pumpkin carving, visiting a haunted house is a time-honored fall tradition. If you love a good fright and want to find the best places to visit near Avana Woodridge, these websites can help.

Find a Haunt
Simply type your address, city, or zip code into the simple search feature on Find a Haunt, and you’ll be met with a list of all of the haunted houses in your area. In addition to traditional haunted houses, the site’s database also includes haunted hayrides, pumpkin patches, and other Halloween activities nearby.

HauntWorld
HauntWorld’s haunted house news and events blog features the latest information about new haunted houses across the country, and it also enables visitors to search by state to find haunted attractions in any region.

HauntedHouse.com
This spooktacular site offers an interactive map that pinpoints the best haunted houses, trails, and hayrides in every state in the country. It also provides lists of the best haunted attractions for dedicated haunted house aficionados who don’t mind traveling a bit for some frightening fun.

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Merlot 2 Masterpiece: BYOB Painting Party

October 9, 2014 by

If you’re bored with the usual night out, plan an evening with Merlot 2 Masterpiece in Spring. These BYOB guided painting classes are a fun way to get in touch with your creativity in a relaxed party atmosphere.

For about $50 you will get all the supplies and instruction necessary to create your own artwork, and past participants have found the instructors to be encouraging and helpful. Everyone works on the same painting for each party, and there is a wide range in their course offerings from portraits to landscapes and whimsical or abstract. At the end of the three hour event you’ll have your very own masterpiece to hang in your home or give as a gift. It’s also a great idea for birthday parties and other special occasions.

Merlot 2 Masterpiece
6915 Cypresswood Drive
Spring, TX 77379
(832) 482-2591
www.yelp.com/biz/merlot-2-masterpiece-spring

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Five Uses for Baking Soda

October 2, 2014 by

You likely already know that you can use baking soda to freshen your refrigerator, but there are a wide variety of other uses for this kitchen staple. From cleaning your home to washing your body, baking soda can replace a number of more expensive products in your life. Here are just a few simple ways to use baking soda.

  1. To keep flowers fresh. Add a few sprinkles of baking soda to your flower vase to lengthen the lifespan of fresh flowers.
  2. As a deodorant. Simply apply baking soda to your underarms with a powder puff to use it as an all-natural deodorant.
  3. As an antacid. Baking soda is great to help relieve heartburn, sour stomach, or acid indigestion. Check the instructions on your brand's package to determine the specific measurements.
  4. To soothe irritated skin. Whether you have insect bites, athlete’s foot, or just seasonal dry skin, baking soda can help soothe skin irritation. Just add 1/2 cup to your bathwater and settle in for a long soak in the tub.
  5. To scrub counters. Instead of using harsh, potentially harmful bleach to clean your kitchen surfaces, create a baking soda soft scrub. Sprinkle some baking soda on a damp sponge, then scrub the grime from counters, tile, and sinks. Be sure to rinse the residue thoroughly afterward.

75 Extraordinary Uses for Baking Soda [Life Hackery]
31 Baking Soda Uses [All You]
51 Surprising Uses for Baking Soda [Care2]

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Datpho: Pho and More in Spring, Texas

September 25, 2014 by

Fresh, flavorful Vietnamese cuisine served in a pleasant, modern setting is what’s on the menu at Datpho. Go there to take your taste buds on a culinary tour of Vietnamese cuisine. Get your appetite primed with a starter like Spring Rolls, Vietnamese Egg Rolls, or Grilled Chicken Rolls.

A bowl of steaming Pho, the popular soup of Vietnamese cuisine chock full of herbs, veggies and spices, is always a great choice. Banh Mi – flavorful sandwiches served on French bread, also makes a great meal, piled high with veggies and your choice of grilled beef, chicken, pork or tofu. Vermicelli Noodles come with your choice of Grilled Chicken, Grilled Pork, Char-Broiled Shrimp, Grilled Beef, or Tofu. Rice dishes are also on the menu. You can also try an authentic drink like Thai Tea or Salty Plum.

Just a short trip from Avana Woodridge in Spring, Texas, Datpho is open Thursday through Tuesday.

Datpho
523 E. Louetta Road
Spring, TX 77373
(281) 528-8989
http://www.datphospring.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/datpho-spring

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