🕵️‍♀️
Cathleen's Discoveries
Food & Entertaining
🥧

Food & Entertaining

Drinks • Snacks • Recipes • Objects & Ideas • Fun & Games

Drinks

Hot Drinks

✨

Vanilla Chai TeaVanilla Chai Tea
🇮🇳
Vanilla Chai Tea
Irish CoffeeIrish Coffee
🍀
Irish Coffee
Mulled WineMulled Wine
🍷
Mulled Wine
Spiced CiderSpiced Cider
🍎
Spiced Cider
Hot Buttered RumHot Buttered Rum
🍹
Hot Buttered Rum
Best Tea AlternativesBest Tea Alternatives
🍋
Best Tea Alternatives
Manual coffee bean grinder (& the rest of my hot drink tips)Manual coffee bean grinder (& the rest of my hot drink tips)
☕
Manual coffee bean grinder (& the rest of my hot drink tips)

Other Beverages

✨

Juice SpritzersJuice Spritzers
🍊
Juice Spritzers
TJ's Margarita Mix (tastes homemade!)TJ's Margarita Mix (tastes homemade!)
🍋
TJ's Margarita Mix (tastes homemade!)
TJ's fizzy peach (winecooler)TJ's fizzy peach (winecooler)
🍑
TJ's fizzy peach (winecooler)
The Best EggnogThe Best Eggnog
🎄
The Best Eggnog
TJ's Egg Nog LiqueurTJ's Egg Nog Liqueur
🎄
TJ's Egg Nog Liqueur
Boxed wineBoxed wine
🍷
Boxed wine

Snacks

Sweet Treats

✨

Dove peppermint barkDove peppermint bark
🎄
Dove peppermint bark
TJ’s 85% dark chocolateTJ’s 85% dark chocolate
🍫
TJ’s 85% dark chocolate
TJ’s dried clementinesTJ’s dried clementines
🍊
TJ’s dried clementines
Swedish ginger snaps with pumpkin dipSwedish ginger snaps with pumpkin dip
🎃
Swedish ginger snaps with pumpkin dip
TJ's (or anyone’s) dark chocolate covered almondsTJ's (or anyone’s) dark chocolate covered almonds
🐿️
TJ's (or anyone’s) dark chocolate covered almonds
Chocolate covered peppermint sticksChocolate covered peppermint sticks
🤶
Chocolate covered peppermint sticks
TJ's dark chocolate almond butter cupsTJ's dark chocolate almond butter cups
🍩
TJ's dark chocolate almond butter cups
TJ's Belgian Holiday cookie collectionTJ's Belgian Holiday cookie collection
🍪
TJ's Belgian Holiday cookie collection
Jelly Bellies are the best mainstream candyJelly Bellies are the best mainstream candy
🍬
Jelly Bellies are the best mainstream candy
Aussie bites (Costco)Aussie bites (Costco)
🥐
Aussie bites (Costco)
Advice: add maple syrup to your jamAdvice: add maple syrup to your jam
🤔
Advice: add maple syrup to your jam

Savory Snacks

✨

Caprese salad bitesCaprese salad bites
🍅
Caprese salad bites
Smoked salmon + sour cream + capers on crackers Smoked salmon + sour cream + capers on crackers
🐟
Smoked salmon + sour cream + capers on crackers
Popcorn with various seasoningsPopcorn with various seasonings
🍿
Popcorn with various seasonings
Roasted seaweedRoasted seaweed
🌊
Roasted seaweed
Spicy rice crackers (for adding to regular rice cracker mixes)Spicy rice crackers (for adding to regular rice cracker mixes)
🍘
Spicy rice crackers (for adding to regular rice cracker mixes)
Soft boiled eggs in egg cups with tiny spoons and salt and mustardSoft boiled eggs in egg cups with tiny spoons and salt and mustard
🍳
Soft boiled eggs in egg cups with tiny spoons and salt and mustard
Tomato Basil Bread from Panera (toasted)Tomato Basil Bread from Panera (toasted)
🍅
Tomato Basil Bread from Panera (toasted)
The best chips are Juanita’s (and the best salsa isn’t salsa)The best chips are Juanita’s (and the best salsa isn’t salsa)
🇲🇽
The best chips are Juanita’s (and the best salsa isn’t salsa)
Nuts (still in their shells)Nuts (still in their shells)
🐿️
Nuts (still in their shells)
Nut Clusters (Costco)Nut Clusters (Costco)
🌰
Nut Clusters (Costco)
The best Gluten Free substitutesThe best Gluten Free substitutes
🚫
The best Gluten Free substitutes
Mini chips are magicalMini chips are magical
🐣
Mini chips are magical

Recipes/Cooking/Baking

✨

Advice: Add salt, fat, acid, (heat), & textureAdvice: Add salt, fat, acid, (heat), & texture
🤔
Advice: Add salt, fat, acid, (heat), & texture
Oven roasted potato slicesOven roasted potato slices
🍟
Oven roasted potato slices
TacosTacos
🌮
Tacos
Pancakes with Pamela's gf flour & pecans or frozen (thawed) berriesPancakes with Pamela's gf flour & pecans or frozen (thawed) berries
🥞
Pancakes with Pamela's gf flour & pecans or frozen (thawed) berries
Kerrygold Butter is the bestKerrygold Butter is the best
🥞
Kerrygold Butter is the best
Fermented Kimchi: easy, healthy, deliciousFermented Kimchi: easy, healthy, delicious
🥬
Fermented Kimchi: easy, healthy, delicious
Mashed root vegetablesMashed root vegetables
🥔
Mashed root vegetables
SmoothiesSmoothies
🍹
Smoothies
Mini pecan pie bites (gf)Mini pecan pie bites (gf)
🥧
Mini pecan pie bites (gf)
Advice: Eat fermented foodsAdvice: Eat fermented foods
🤔
Advice: Eat fermented foods
Instant Mashed Potatoes are a godsendInstant Mashed Potatoes are a godsend
🥔
Instant Mashed Potatoes are a godsend
Congee (and related Chinese medicine/energetics)Congee (and related Chinese medicine/energetics)
🍛
Congee (and related Chinese medicine/energetics)
Advice: use cilantro stems tooAdvice: use cilantro stems too
🤔
Advice: use cilantro stems too
Advice: shucking sweet cornAdvice: shucking sweet corn
🤔
Advice: shucking sweet corn
The best Gluten Free substitutesThe best Gluten Free substitutes
🚫
The best Gluten Free substitutes
Stewed FruitStewed Fruit
🍑
Stewed Fruit
Cranberry sauceCranberry sauce
🍒
Cranberry sauce

Objects + Ideas

✨

Thermal dispenser "Airpot"Thermal dispenser "Airpot"
☕
Thermal dispenser "Airpot"
Cut flowers from TJ’sCut flowers from TJ’s
💐
Cut flowers from TJ’s
Advice: Twinkle light installationAdvice: Twinkle light installation
🤔
Advice: Twinkle light installation
Thermal mugsThermal mugs
☕
Thermal mugs

Fun

Activities & Games

✨

CraniumCranium
🧠
Cranium
Pictionary Pictionary
👩‍🎨
Pictionary
Taboo (this is also really great for foreign language learning)Taboo (this is also really great for foreign language learning)
🤷‍♀️
Taboo (this is also really great for foreign language learning)
Wii Just Dance (like competitive dance karaoke)Wii Just Dance (like competitive dance karaoke)
🕺
Wii Just Dance (like competitive dance karaoke)
Wii Fit Plus (games on the balance board)Wii Fit Plus (games on the balance board)
🐔
Wii Fit Plus (games on the balance board)
Wii Sports ResortWii Sports Resort
🏌️
Wii Sports Resort
Winter crafts/decorationsWinter crafts/decorations
❄️
Winter crafts/decorations
PuzzlesPuzzles
🧩
Puzzles
SpaceteamSpaceteam
👾
Spaceteam
Christmas Caroling (with lyrics)Christmas Caroling (with lyrics)
🎄
Christmas Caroling (with lyrics)

See also my actual grocery shopping lists at the bottom of the 🛒Shopping List of Things I Recommend by Vendor

I have more food recommendations on the travel/experiences page: 👩‍🏫Experiences/Opportunities/Travel - Misc food to try (~in the US)

For a collection of food and objects and activities specific to hosting events in the colder months, see

🎄Holiday Specials