Cajun Fish Recipe

September 2, 2015

Written with love, by Sarah-Elizabeth Stone

In the last few weeks of summer I find my free time shrinks, and the weekends crammed full of activities. It seems as though everyone is trying to grasp at those last few warm summer afternoons before the crisp, autumn breeze rolls in. In the busy hustle and bustle that the end of summer brings, date night can get pushed off to the side, or forgotten altogether. Between friends, spouses, and kids perhaps, life can get insane at times.

Whether it’s a quick and easy meal like this one (which only takes 30 minutes, by the way) as a starter for a long evening, or perhaps the only escape of the week, it’s important to take time out for just the two of you. Eat, drink, and laugh with one another because those long summer days are coming to a close and the threat of pumpkin spice is in the air.

Cajun Fish Ingredients

· 1 cup of olive oil

· 4-6 pieces of halibut or cod

· ½ tbs of salt

· ½ tbs of garlic powder

· 1 tsp of paprika

· 1 tsp of black pepper

· ½ tbs onion powder

· 1 tbs of oregano

· ½ tsp of thyme

· ½ tbs red pepper flakes

Roasted Tomato Salad Ingredients

· 4-6 ripe red tomatoes

· 2-4 cups of spinach leaves

· 1 onion, cut up

· 1 cup of mushrooms

· 1-2 tbs of minced garlic

· 1-2 tbs of basil

· 1tbs of shaved parmesan

· ½ cup of butter

· ½ cup of red wine

Directions

1. Set the oven to 250F

2. Begin by slicing the tomatoes, and lining them on a oven safe tray, drizzle olive oil over top, and sprinkle basil and garlic

3. Cook in the oven for roughly 30-40 minutes depending on how roasted you want the tomatoes

4. Next heat up olive oil in a pan, leave on medium heat while you prepare the fish

5. Mix all the spices together in a bowl

6. Drizzle some olive oil onto the fish, and dunk into spices until fully covered

7. Slowly lower fish into the hot oil, let cook 3 minutes a side

8. In a separate frying pan put your chopped onion and mushrooms with butter and wine

9. Set out spinach, layer tomatoes, onions, mushrooms and parmesan cheese

10. Add the fish, and sprinkle salt and pepper over the plate

Feed Your Vendors First

September 1, 2015

Many of you will really have never thought of this ever before, but as soon as you meet with your coordinator and put together a detailed timeline of the wedding day, you may notice there is a time in there for "vendor meals."

A vendor meal is basically a meal that your vendors get to eat. Sometimes we eat the same meal as the guests but most of the time, we are served a quick and easy meal, that is also inexpensive for you, because that is all we really need to refuel and jump back into the wedding!

Without question, when I put together a timeline for a couple, the vendors always eat first. You're probably a bit confused by this at the moment..."How rude!" "Guests come first!"

...but before you judge, let me tell you why.

A photographer, for example, typically has about a 10 hour day. He or she arrives toward the end of you getting ready to taken those much-adored "getting ready shots." Then some groomsmen shots are taken, you get into your dress, the bridesmaids take some photos, and about half of the time the bride and groom then do their first look.

Then it is time for the wedding ceremony to being and a simple timeline goes something like this:

5:00pm: Ceremony starts
5:30pm: Ceremony ends
5:30-6:30pm: Cocktail Hour
6:30pm: Grand Entrance
6:35pm: Welcome speech
6:40pm: Dinner is served/buffet opens
7:15pm: Toasts (during dinner)
7:40pm: Dinner ends
7:45pm: Father-Daughter Dance
7:50pm: Mother-Son Dance
7:55pm: Open dancing
8:15pm: Cake cutting
8:20pm: Garter Toss
8:25pm: Bouquet Toss
8:30pm: Photographer departure

I know every timeline is different and "activities" are all placed depending on specific circumstances, one being how many hours you have your photographer hired for. Sometimes, you just can't get everything into a timeline and sometimes you have to squeeze it in real tight.

Now take a look back and you'll notice, that the only time the photographer is able to eat during this timeline, if from 6:40-7:15pm. Then it's boom boom boom for the rest of the evening before the leave for the night.

And this isn't just for photographers...do you really want your DJ eating at his or her DJ table in front of all of your guests while he is trying to get a dance party started?? I think not! And he needs to be there to make announcements for everything else so like a photographer, he or she only has that short time period to eat as well.

Making more sense now?

So while you may think it's rude and you may think your guests come first, here are the reasons why you should ALWAYS make a request with your caterer that your vendors eat first:

1. They are humans too...and need food. They have been there since the morning setting up, shooting, etc. and didn't have a cocktail hour full of appetizers. All humans need to eat!

2. It's in the contract - Most vendors do require vendor meals for all of their employees present. So take a look at your contract and make sure you're all covered.

3. Food = fuel. And fuel helps us perform! You want the best photos possible, right? You want an outstanding video shot, right? You want your DJ to sound enthusiastic, right? Well food is our fuel and it helps us perform to the best of our ability.

Do yourself and your amazing vendors a favor, and give us that 15 minutes to scarf down a meal and refuel to help you have a fantastic wedding the rest of the evening!

GIVEAWAY // Bridesmaid Survival Kits sponsored by The Pinterest Bride

August 31, 2015

We are so excited for another GIVEAWAY and this time, we've got some great prizes for you to give to your bridesmaids as the perfect wedding day gift, bridesmaid proposal, or bachelorette party gift!

The Prizes

The winner of this giveaway, sponsored by The Pinterest Bride, will receive

(6) Maid of Honor/Bridesmaid Small Survival Kits

customized for each of your ladies, valued at $120.

And when I say customizable, I mean customizable! You get to work with The Pinterest Bride on each box, for each of your ladies. You choose the colors, the tag, and of course, the contents, to ensure it is perfect for each and every one of them!