Pumpkin Pie Alternative

Not so much into the pie?

A dear friend and loyal reader recently asked me for a dessert suggestion to make for Thanksgiving. I thought I'd share the recipe here as well. It's a family and personal favorite.

Pumpkin Roll

Prep: 45 min - Cook: 15 min - Cool: 60 min

CAKE:
1/4 cup powdered sugar (to sprinkle on towel)
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup LIBBY'S 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 cup walnuts (optional), chopped

FILLING:
1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
6 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup powdered sugar (optional)


FOR CAKE:
PREHEAT oven to 375°F. Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan; line with wax paper. Grease and flour paper. Sprinkle a thin, cotton kitchen towel with powdered sugar.

COMBINE flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt in small bowl. Beat eggs and sugar in large mixer bowl until thick. Beat in pumpkin. Stir in flour mixture. Spread evenly into prepared pan. Sprinkle with nuts.

BAKE for 13 to 15 minutes or until top of cake springs back when touched. Immediately loosen and turn cake onto prepared towel. Carefully peel off paper. Roll up cake and towel together, starting with narrow end. Cool on wire rack.

FOR FILLING:
BEAT cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter and vanilla extract in small mixer bowl until smooth. Carefully unroll cake; remove towel. Spread cream cheese mixture over cake. Reroll cake. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least one hour. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving, if desired.

Makes 10 servings

Note: Be sure to put enough powdered sugar on the towel when rolling up the cake so it will not stick.

You can certainly make this in advance and freeze it until you plan to serve it. It's also great if you need to bring a dessert, as it travels well.

What is your favorite Thanksgiving recipe?

Happy Birthday Dad!

After 67 years, my dad had a new role this year. Last month he was father of the groom. He looked so dapper and nailed it. I was so proud! Dad, thanks for being the best dad a girl could ask for. You have always been there for me and supported me and loved me from eighth grade basketball to entrepreneurship. You deserve a great day! I'll be raising a glass in your honor. I love you! xo


(Photo Credit: Andrea Paradowski)

Countdown to Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is almost here. My traditional stuffing, bourbon cranberry sauce, pumpkin cream cheese roll, mashed potato feast will be enjoyed with some of my favorites in Brooklyn. This will be the prelude to my Discover Brooklyn stint which begins in December. There are cookies parties, holiday fairs and endless treasures to unveil.

Meanwhile, I've been helping the kind folks at Temporary Staffing by Suzanne prepare for the holiday gift giving season. Their Fifth Avenue office is a midtown haven, I have enjoyed getting to know this team better. I am working on my 40 before 40 list, even though I have a few years, some of the items are lofty so the sooner I can get started the better my chances are for accomplishing everything. I have had excellent wedding consultations the last two Saturdays, both brides brought great ideas to the table. Yesterday was a fantastic farewell party and I am working on a very special assignment I am excited to share with you soon.

In the spirit of the season, this year I am especially thankful for four happy years in my home, amazing friends who have generously offered me their help and support as I prepare for a new chapter and as always my family whose love inspires me to succeed.

If you are like me, you are selective about how you consume your calories and carbohydrates. Need excellent pie for Thanksgiving? I recommend Hubbard Avenue Diner in Middleton, Wisconsin and Briermere Farms in Riverhead, New York.



What are you thankful for?

Photo Booths at Weddings...

The secret is out! For months I have been lured into photos booths at industry events, had my photos taken only to not be able to blog about it. Why? My brother and his now wife decided to surprise their guests and rent a photo booth for their wedding reception. Boy, am I glad I did not spoil the surprise. Their guests, young and old raved about this novelty. Their guests had not seen a photo booth at a wedding and it was a highlight of the evening. Simply one element of an amazing day, but I am so happy it was such a hit! Renting a photo booth entertains guests, is an excellent alternative to favors, documents the evening and leaves you with an amazing guest book to relive the night.

Thanks to the Traveling Photo Booth for their props and patience as we played all night long!

Real Weddings: Mandy and Dan

Mandy and Dan were married in Kansas City, Missouri on September 26, 2009. This wedding gives me goosebumps and when I saw the professional pictures I knew I could not keep it to myself. I am happy to share the story of their wonderful day!

The bride's bouquet was wrapped in blue satin to match her something blue shoes. I love the corn field backdrop.


Their dresses and flowers coordinated, but Mandy's attendants each wore the same shoe in a different fall color.

Sports have always played an important role in both of their lives. Escort cards that look like game tickets were an excellent personalized detail at the reception. Instead of traditional numbers, the couple labeled each table using stadium names from cities where they have lived.

The bride and groom's favorite sweet is cookies. They offered a cookie bar for guests after dinner. There was chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter and snickerdoodle.

The speeches were so personal, well thought out and lovingly delivered. Big kudos to their attendants. The bride loves shoes, her matrons of honor, her sisters, based their speech around shoes. It was Mandy's journey through life and they had actual shoes to symbolize each stage. Tennis shoes for her sports days, sassy shoes to ensure she and Dan have nights out and baby shoes for the future.

Kevin, the man pictured in this cut out, would have been the best man. He is currently serving our country. The night before he left for Iraq, he got dressed in his dress blues and recorded his toast on video.

Kevin's video speech was very heartfelt, funny and loving. Kevin said how gorgeous Mandy and all the bridesmaids looked (funny since he saw none of them.)



Congratulations Mandy and Dan!


Photographer: Chris Bendet
Dress: Maggie Sottero
Shoes: Michael Angelo
Florist: Lyn Dowdle
Ceremony: Church of Annunciation
Reception: Marriot Country Club Plaza
DJ: DJ Cruz
Videography: Romantic Reels Media

The Next Iron Chef

Considering how vibrant, flavorful and interesting my evening was, this picture clearly does not do it justice. I had to post it though as proof. In case Chef Jehangir Mehta is indeed The Next Iron Chef, I want evidence of my evening with him.

Last year I walked by a small, dark but very appealing East Village Indian haunt and was intrigued. Next, I saw a Chef rock Kitchen Stadium on Iron Chef America competing again Iron Chef Morimoto in "Battle Coconut." The Chef's performance prompted me to seek out his restaurant. It was Graffiti. I G-chatted a friend, one of my favorite foodies, announcing that we needed to check this place out, but ironically I had not connected the two. With 18,696 restaurants in New York City, can you blame me? THEN, I see that this Chef is competing on Food Network's new series: The Next Iron Chef. A few weeks ago, my Montauk couple returned from their honeymoon and wanted to take me to dinner and they made reservations for us at Graffiti. Lucky, lucky me.

I got ready for this dinner, as I would for a date, intentionally not wearing my tall girl boots as I am sure I am already taller than him and don't want to tower over my culinary crush. A friend asked, "will he even be there?" I certainly hoped he would be, since I was already a fan of his on facebook and had tweeted that I was coming.

Not only was he there, he greeted me as I entered the restaurant. He is so warm and friendly. With a kitchen smaller than a station wagon, the food that came out of it was superior. Surprisingly, Chef Mehta spent most of his time in the dining room, not that there is a huge distinction in this cozy venue, but maneuvering a tightly packed Friday night crowd with grace. He is every bit as comfortable with the customers as he is in the kitchen, or at least he appeared to be. The restaurant was extremely accommodating and over delivered. Tasting portions allowed us to try nearly everything on the menu as did the other group of three who shared our communal table.

His contract would not allow him to reveal the outcome of his television competition, but he could assure me that it was an an excellent experience. I just watched the latest episode and he has made it to the final four, going to Japan for their next challenge. All the remaining chefs are wildly talented, but I do think he has a great chance and I love rooting him on each week.

Best of luck to Chef Mehta and his competition.

Planning a birthday, rehearsal or engagement dinner? Graffiti is perfect for a casual, delicious and funky fête.

Twitter works

I remember the morning I first heard about twitter. I'd compare it to having sushi for the first time. I didn't really get it. But then I starting using it the way I was supposed to (add ginger, wasabi and soy) and WOW! 1575 tweets later I am hooked. After a decade, sashimi is my favorite.

Last night my tweeting paid off. No, Oprah hasn't called asking me to plan her next party, not that kind of pay off. Instead, while perusing last night's Wedding Salon, I was approached by three different wedding professionals. I had met them all briefly before, but they all follow me on twitter. Often times, I tweet and I feel like I am standing on stop of a cliff, only to hear the echo of my own voice. Is anyone really listening/reading? Last night my social media activity was validated in a small yet significant way.

Here are two of my favorite personal conversations via twitter:

Getting ready to fly to Wisconsin to see my younger brother get married, I tweet--(I was kind of joking, and didn't even know the airline was on twitter)

Dear @midwestairlines, how about an interesting, intelligent, attractive & available seat mate on my 6:50 flight from lga to mke. Thanks!
1:05 PM Oct 19th

I did not expect to get a response, so was surprised when the reply was personalized and funny:

@MidwestAirlines:I'll see if @CCHIP is available for the trip but that's a tall request to fulfill. Maybe you'll luck out without help.
1:45 PM Oct 19th

Of course this story would clearly be better if the seat next to me had not been empty, drat!
_________________________________________________________________________

and then this one....

I tweet to no one in particular, just the twitterverse:

Cutest two year old ever on subway platform, she introduced herself as a two year old and extended her hand for me to shake! Yes really.
2:32 PM Oct 1st

Ps . Then she blessed me after I sneezed, I am a sucker for good manners. This two year old is going places!
2:33 PM Oct 1st

I get this response almost immediately from a fabulous New York City event planner, I have met on at least two occasions:

@tammygolson HAVE to know was she wearing a pink coat?!!!
2:36 PM Oct 1st

@mayakalman you know her? Is she yours??? I think so. Pink boots and green leggings for sure!
3:00 PM Oct 1st

@tammygolson OMG! Thats my daughter Zara! TOO FUNNY! I'm hysterical that my daughter is being tweeted about.
3:00 PM Oct 1st

@mayakalman almost gave her my card & asked her to call me! Of course she is your daughter. may need to borrow a daughter to skd play date!
3:04 PM Oct 1st

@tammygolson I'm hysterical! I know she's SUCH a character. been like this since day one. Everyone in BK calls her the mayor LMAO!
3:17 PM Oct 1st

@iamparris,@ShiraWeinberger,@EliteAffairs: Great seeing you all again last night! Thanks for inspiring this post!


Click here to follow me on twitter.

Original Escort Card Alternative

What is this? I too was unsure when I first saw it on-line. Then I arrived at The Knot Party and saw my name in color! Even party professionals love to see their names upon arrival to an event. It's the univeral, welcome, we are glad you came message which sets the tone for the wedding, party or bar mitzvah. This chart was Elana of Melangerie's answer to the escort card table. She personalized this chart to list all the wedding professionals attending this industry event hosted at the very hip New York Academy of Sciences building on the 40th floor of 7 World Trade Center. There were crowds of people surrounding the chart looking for their names. We love original ideas! Each catergory: planner, florist, photographer, etc. was represented by a different color. Imagine your family in purple, his family in brown, your college friends in green, high school friends in tan. Customize a chart for your next event and create a keepsake. Thanks to Elana and her team for always introducing us to the coolest new concepts. Love it!

Happy November!

I hope you enjoyed a sweet Halloween. I was a dirty birdy. I covered myself in ostrich feathers that I recycled from the centerpieces of a recent bat mitzvah. I carried an empty bucket of chicken compliments of KFC and sported orange tights I found at H&M for $3.99. I drank dirty martinis. (Pictures to come) I love coming up with original, creative, homemade and inexpensive costume ideas. What’s the best costume you saw this year?

Have you seen the beautiful fall foliage? I took Metro North to Yonkers yesterday for a meeting with a bride, her mother and fiancé and the views from the train were spectacular. Then yesterday afternoon, I walked through Central Park with a few of my city slickers and the trees were magnificent.

What’s next? I am gearing up for a delicious Thanksgiving with dear friends in Brooklyn. Tomorrow is the annual Wedding Salon event at the Roosevelt Hotel. I look forward to seeing many familiar faces and meeting new vendors. I know Amy from Sugar Flower Shop decorates cakes beautifully, but I have not tasted her creations yet, so I look forward to this.

(Yes, these are really flowers made of sugar, I borrowed this photo from the Sugar Flower Shop website.)

October was an amazing month for my family. We celebrated my brother’s marriage to a terrific woman. I enjoyed every ounce of their wonderful wedding day. Congratulations to Dan and Reeba! Thanks to Andrea Paradowski for being everywhere, the pictures she made of my family will be treasured, always! (The initial photo of the miniature pumpkins in this post is credited to her.) I look forward to sharing the details of their beautiful fall wedding with you.

Robert Wagner wrote a great piece to accompany his amazing photos of Mike and Gabrielle’s Montauk wedding.
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Congratulations to Cam Pietralunga of Pink Sparks on launching a new website for women entrepreneurs. Thank you for featuring me on the website, what an honor. I encourage all women small business owners to check this site out.

Lastly, I finally got to sit down and chat with Jen Huang last week. She is the woman who so brilliantly captured the photographs of Katie and Matt’s Manhattan wedding.
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Thank you for reading. My goal is to keep this blog authentic, positive and to write when I am inspired to. Sometimes life takes precedence over blogging and it's challenging to keep up with my inspiration. Fortunately my life never leaves me hungry for experiences, but the time to report on my events, activities and ideas in a thoughtful and quality way isn’t always a luxury I have in abundance.

If there is something specific you’d like me to write about simply ask and I’ll see if I can oblige. Congratulations to those of you who are newly engaged! I am genuinely excited for you. I hope you will find some inspiration here as you plan your wedding.

Enjoy autumn as the holidays are soon upon us!

Warmly,

Tammy