It started with a grocery list, followed by various distractions and an ice break......

I'm a self confessed lover of food and entertaining. In fact, I can't imagine a better night than one spent making dinner with Declan or having some girlfriends over for cocktails and a great meal. We live in New York City and there are millions of things to do and endless restaurants to indulge in, but it's the time spent at home, with good company, that truly creates lasting memories. I love my life.

Now, I can't say this is a natural talent, but rather one that I've inherited from Tom and Gerry (my parents). I'm a huge fan of Mom and Dad. Dad is the President of Valley Crest Industries and BBQ chef extraordinaire and Mom is the awesome mother of four and proud William's Sonoma employee of the year (she emailed today to say that she will be serving appetizers while Giada signs books this month at WS in South Coast Plaza). I can only imagine all the sleep she will lose out of sheer excitement for this event! My siblings and I grew up helping my parents cook and entertain and I think we've all benefitted from it. We have great personalities and I can tie a damn good bow on plastic silverware! Yes Clear Haven, I was a slave to your fancy BBQ silverware and I still have calluses on my hands. I also tied each and every balloon on the dumbbells for Cathy Miserendino's 40th Birthday.

Anyhow, my objective in this post was to give you a simple, budget-friendly grocery list of things to always have in your fridge and pantry, so that you too can create a memorable meal with friends or throw an impromptu cocktail party with style and ease. Please note that many of these ingredients will last for months, so the first shop may be expensive but you will use them!

Here you go:

Fruits: Keep dried apricots, figs, cranberries and raisins in the cabinet. You should ALWAYS have fresh lemons in the house! Apples and berries are great in the fall and last for a long time in the fridge.

Veggies: Keep frozen spinach to make a great dip and edamame is easy, healthy and chic! Keep cans of cooked beets, olives, and marinated veggies in the cabinet, ie. sundried tomatoes, asparagus, etc. I always have greens in the fridge particularly arugula and/or spinach, garlic and the holy trinity: onions, carrots and celery

Protein: Organic chicken breast (on the bone, skin on), wild salmon, organic, grass fed ground beef and turkey and peeled, deveined shrimp in the freezer. Always keep a selection of beans in the cabinet, black beans and chickpeas make GREAT hummus. Also, you can never forget BACON (sorry vegetarians)

Grains: Brown Rice (don't go cheap...buy something of better quality it will taste better), Whole Wheat Pasta, Quinoa, Lentils. Loaf of whole grain bread (great for fresh breadcrumbs), entertaining crackers

Dairy: Hard Cheese like parmesan and also two or three others. I like a creamy goat cheese and St. Agur Blue. Also keep on hand, whipping cream, skim milk, butter and EGGS!

Misc: Flour, Sugar, Brown Sugar, Dark Chocolate, Confectioner's Sugar, Olive Oil, Sea Salt (NOT iodized salt...yuck), Pepper, a selection of dried herbs, Maple Syrup, Honey, Cayenne Pepper, Condiments like ketchup and dijon mustard, beef and chicken broth and bubbly water

Snacks and other nice touches: Tea and Coffee, Irish Biscuits (Declan has created a monster in me), selection of nuts (you can buy salted or unsalted), seasonal candies, chips, salsa and pretzels

Oh, and I almost forgot...to throw a party you must always have alcohol on hand! We have Guinness, IPA and always a red and white wine selection on hand.

Okay I am tired and have no energy to finish. Ha! Did I mention I hurt my back AGAIN today and need to take an ice break? Recipes to come tomorrow (no clue what as I've taken three aleve today and not sure what sparked me to select the items on the above list), but they will be good. Think bacon and raisin cookies served with a delightful spinach dip. :)

Oh, and I may have some fall fashion to discuss. It's chilly in New York today, so I'll be putting my summer stuff "away" and switching to fall FOR GOOD.

xoxo