Slice, Dice & Dish

February has always been a month I’ve had a soft spot for.

I’m still fully in love with winter—the cozy evenings, the slower pace—but by now, the grey skies start to make me crave a little brightness.

When I was younger, this was the time of year my parents would begin receiving crates of citrus from their snowbird friends in Florida. Boxes filled with oranges, grapefruit, and lemons would arrive at the door, bringing color, fragrance, and a reminder that sunshine existed somewhere beyond our winter coats. That simple joy—unexpected, vibrant, and meant to be shared—became the inspiration for this dinner party.

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🍋 The February Dinner Party Menu

This February dinner party guide is designed to bring that same sense of brightness to your table—with a bonus: much of the menu can be prepared ahead of time.

Inside, you’ll find a thoughtfully curated menu featuring:

• Two cocktails
• Two appetizers
• A salad
• An entrée with two sides
• Dessert
• A dessert cocktail

Do I expect you to make the entire menu from start to finish? Absolutely not. And I would never want you to feel that pressure.

Just like dining out, this experience is about choosing what sounds good, what fits your schedule, and what feels right for you.

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✨ A Gentle Reminder

Recipes are simply a starting point. Making them your own—adjusting flavors, swapping ingredients, or taking a few well-placed shortcuts—is what makes a dinner party feel personal and enjoyable.

After the busy pace of the holidays, consider this your invitation to slow down, gather with friends, and enjoy a meal that brings a little warmth and brightness to the heart of winter.

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🕯️ What You’ll Find Inside the Guide

Along with the menu and recipes, you’ll also find:

• Casual styling inspiration
• A flexible hosting timeline
• Recommended kitchen tools and serving pieces
• Suggested table settings
• A printable menu you can display for your guests

Before you begin, take a few moments to read through the guide and decide which elements you’d like to include. And remember—you don’t have to do it all. Helpful shortcuts are included throughout, along with easy, easier, and easiest options to match your comfort level and available time.

Once you’ve chosen your dishes, create your shopping list and get ready to host a cozy, citrus-kissed evening that feels just as good as it tastes.

As always, if you have questions or want personalized guidance, I’m just a message away. Download your Dinner Party Menus here: MENUS

Here’s to bright flavors, cozy nights, and winter gatherings worth lingering over 🍊

✨ Forward this email to a friend who love to entertain.
✨ Follow along for easy menus, decor ideas, and ways to make every gathering feel special, joyful and authentic.
✨ Download Dinner Party Menus here: MENUS
✨ Shop my kitchen here: SHOP
✨ Grab what you need at a discount: HOST
✨ Earn some extra income while you’re at it: SELL
✨ Watch what I’m making for dinner every day on Instagram
✨ Join my Slice, Dice & Dish Community on Facebook

Cheers,
Colleen 🥂

Have you ever tried grilled romaine?
The first time I did, I was completely hooked. Grilling gives romaine an entirely different flavor—slightly smoky, lightly charred, and still crisp in all the right places. There’s truly nothing like it.

This salad takes a classic Caesar and levels it up into a Brutus Salad with grilled steak, making it hearty enough for dinner while still feeling fresh and balanced. It’s one of those meals that feels restaurant-worthy but is surprisingly doable at home—and I know you’re going to love it.

It’s perfect for a casual dinner, a warm-weather gathering, or anytime you want a salad that actually eats like a meal.

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🥗 Skinny Brutus Salad with Grilled Romaine

Serves 4

Dressing:
2/3 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt
3 Tbsp lemon juice
1½ Tbsp red wine vinegar
1½ Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp Dijon mustard
½ tsp black pepper
2 Tbsp olive oil

Steak:
1½ lbs beef strip steak
1 Tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
1 Tbsp grill seasoning

Salad:
1 Tbsp olive oil
8 oz fresh asparagus, trimmed
½ medium zucchini
Salt and pepper
3 romaine hearts
3 hard-boiled eggs, peeled
½ oz fresh Parmesan cheese

Instructions:

1. Combine all dressing ingredients in a bowl or mason jar and mix well. Set aside 3 tablespoons for grilling the romaine.
2. Heat a double-burner grill pan over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes.
3. Season the steak with rosemary and grill seasoning.
4. Cut asparagus into 1-inch pieces. Slice the zucchini lengthwise, then into half-moons. Season both with salt and pepper.
5. Place the steak on one side of the grill pan and the asparagus and zucchini on the other.
   • Grill steak about 3 minutes per side
   • Grill vegetables 5–6 minutes, turning occasionally, until grill marks appear
   Transfer steak to a cutting board to rest and vegetables to a large serving bowl.
6. Cut 2 romaine hearts in half lengthwise, keeping the core intact. Brush cut sides with the reserved dressing. Grill cut-side down for 2–5 minutes, until lightly charred.
7. Slice both the grilled romaine and the remaining fresh romaine. Add to the bowl.
   Slice the eggs and steak and add them in.
8. Pour about ½ cup of dressing over the salad, grate Parmesan over the top, and toss to combine.

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🥂 Why This One Works

This salad checks all the boxes:

• Smoky, fresh, and satisfying
• Protein-packed without feeling heavy
• Great for entertaining or weeknight dinners
• Naturally gluten-free

It’s proof that a salad can be bold, comforting, and completely crave-worthy.

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✨ Subscribe so you don’t miss more real-world entertaining tips and weekly recipes.
✨ Upgrade to paid so you won’t miss out on any of the fun dinner parties I’ve planned for you.
✨ Forward this email to a friend who love to entertain.
✨ Follow along for easy menus, decor ideas, and ways to make every gathering feel special, joyful and authentic.
✨ Download Dinner Party Menus here: MENUS
✨ Shop my kitchen here: SHOP
✨ Grab what you need at a discount: HOST
✨ Earn some extra income while you’re at it: SELL
✨ Watch what I’m making for dinner every day on Instagram
✨ Join my Slice, Dice & Dish Community on Facebook

Here’s to grilled romaine, upgraded classics, and salads that don’t feel like a compromise.

Cheers,
Colleen 🥂

Today we’re having a mini history lesson—but don’t worry, there won’t be a quiz.

As with most things, styles evolve, and when it comes to serving food at a dinner party, it really comes down to one thing: what’s easiest for you. Remember, it’s always about the company and the connections—not the mechanics of the meal.

Recently, I picked up a copy of the 1950s Betty Crocker’s Picture Cookbook, and tucked inside was a section called Types of Table Service for Dinner Parties. It was too fun not to share.

So let’s take a quick stroll through dinner party history.

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🍗 English (or Family) Service

This style was considered most suitable for the average family.

Food is served at the table by the host or hostess. The host serves the meat and vegetables from serving dishes placed in front of them, while the hostess handles dessert and coffee. Plates are then passed around to guests.

If this sounds familiar, it’s because many of us grew up with some version of this at home.

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🍽️ Russian Service

This one is… a little more formal—and very much of its time.

The book notes that Russian service is “not adaptable to servantless households” (which tells you exactly when this was written). In this style, the host and hostess don’t serve at all. Food is plated in the kitchen and brought to each guest, or presented on platters for guests to serve themselves.

Formal? Yes. Practical for most of us today? Not so much.

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🥗 Compromise (or Mixed) Service

My personal favorite—because it’s realistic.

This approach combines the two styles. The main course is served at the table, while soup, salad, and dessert are served directly from the kitchen. It’s flexible, efficient, and honestly feels very modern.

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🥂 The Takeaway

No matter what the 1950s had to say, the truth is this: there are no set rules.

You can plate in the kitchen.
You can serve family-style.
You can mix and match depending on the night.

What matters most is that the evening feels warm, welcoming, and memorable—for you and your guests.

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✨ Subscribe so you don’t miss more real-world entertaining tips and weekly recipes.
✨ Forward this email to a friend who love to entertain.
✨ Follow along for easy menus, decor ideas, and ways to make every gathering feel special, joyful and authentic.
✨ Download Dinner Party Menus here: MENUS
✨ Shop my kitchen here: SHOP
✨ Grab what you need at a discount: HOST
✨ Earn some extra income while you’re at it: SELL
✨ Watch what I’m making for dinner every day on Instagram
✨ Join my Slice, Dice & Dish Community on Facebook

Here’s to doing what works, skipping what doesn’t, and enjoying the people around your table

Cheers,
Colleen 🥂

I’m calling it now—this is my new favorite cocktail. I truly cannot get enough of it.

This time of year, I find myself craving anything citrus. It instantly takes me back to childhood, when my parents would receive crates of oranges and grapefruits from friends in Florida. Opening those boxes felt like sunshine delivered to the front door—and this drink feels the same way.

Bright, refreshing, and just a little special, this Blood Orange Gin Fizz is the kind of cocktail that works for a casual night in or as a signature drink for a dinner party.

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✨ Why This One Is a Winner

What I love most about this cocktail is how forgiving and flexible it is. You don’t need to make a special trip to the store or track down one specific ingredient for it to be delicious.

No blood oranges?
→ Use navel oranges.

Don’t feel like squeezing citrus?
→ Your orange juice and lemon juice from the fridge will do just fine.

Have simple syrup on hand?
→ Use it instead of honey.

No seltzer?
→ Club soda works perfectly.

Want something a little warmer and more earthy?
→ Muddle a sprig of fresh rosemary in the bottom of your shaker before adding the rest of the ingredients.

This is a “use what you have” cocktail—and those are always my favorite kind.

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🍊 Blood Orange Gin Fizz

Makes 1 cocktail

Ingredients

• 2 oz gin
• 1 oz fresh blood orange juice
• ½ oz fresh lemon juice
• ½ oz honey
• Lemon seltzer or club soda, to top
• Ice
• Optional garnish: blood orange slice

How to Make It

1. Fill a shaker with ice.
2. Add gin, blood orange juice, lemon juice, and honey.
3. Shake well until chilled, about 10–15 seconds.
4. Strain into an ice-filled coupe glass.
5. Top with seltzer.
6. Garnish with an orange slice and serve immediately.

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🥂 The Takeaway

This is a cocktail that feels cheerful, relaxed, and just fancy enough. It’s citrusy without being sharp, balanced without being boring, and endlessly adaptable—exactly how entertaining should feel. Watch me make it here:

✨ Subscribe so you don’t miss more real-world entertaining tips and weekly recipes.
✨ Forward this email to a friend who love to entertain.
✨ Follow along for easy menus, decor ideas, and ways to make every gathering feel special, joyful and authentic.
✨ Download Dinner Party Menus here: MENUS
✨ Shop my kitchen here: SHOP
✨ Grab what you need at a discount: HOST
✨ Earn some extra income while you’re at it: SELL
✨ Watch what I’m making for dinner every day on Instagram
✨ Join my Slice, Dice & Dish Community on Facebook

Here’s to sunshine flavors, flexible recipes, and cocktails that feel like a little memory in a glass!

Cheers,
Colleen 🥂

Some nights call for a recipe that feels like a deep exhale.

It was chilly here last night, and when I can’t quite shake the cold, my brain immediately jumps to, “Am I getting sick?” (Spoiler: I usually am not.) Still, I knew exactly what I wanted to make—something warm, nourishing, and bold enough to wake up my taste buds.

That’s when this Spicy White Bean & Wilted Greens Soup comes out.

This is the kind of soup that fills your kitchen with the most incredible aroma, warms you from the inside out, and somehow feels both comforting and energizing at the same time.

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🍲 Why This Soup Works So Well

What I love most about this soup is that it gets its creaminess from white beans, not dairy. The beans break down just enough to give the broth body and richness without weighing it down.

You can easily adjust the heat—add more red pepper flakes if you want a little kick, or dial it back for a gentler bowl. Either way, the flavors are deep, aromatic, and incredibly satisfying.

And then there’s the nutrition—because this is one of those rare dishes that tastes indulgent while being undeniably good for you.

• White beans provide calcium, iron, and fiber
• Mixed greens are packed with vitamins A and C, beta-carotene, calcium, folate, and phytonutrients
• Garam masala brings anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits
• Turmeric supports inflammation reduction and boosts antioxidants

All of that goodness, one cozy bowl at a time.

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🍲 Spicy White Bean & Wilted Greens Soup (GF/DF)

2 tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, pressed
½ tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
1 tbsp Garam Masala
2 tsp ground turmeric
2 15oz cans white beans, drained and rinsed
4 cups vegetable stock
1 lime, juiced
4 cup mixed greens, coarsely chopped

1. Heat the oil in a Dutch Oven set over medium-high heat.
2. Add the onion, garlic pressed with a garlic press, red pepper flakes, ginger, salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft and the onions start the brown, about 8-10 minutes.
3. Sprinkle in the garam masala and turmeric and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is coated and the spices start to darken in color, 1-2 minutes.
4. Add the beans and stock and stir, scraping up any browned bits. Bring to a simmer and cook 15-20 minutes.
5. Remove 1 cup of the beans and transfer to a bowl. Using an immersion blender, blend the beans until smooth, then return to the pot and stir.
6. Meanwhile, coarsely chop the greens.
7. Add the greens and lime juice to the soup and stir to wilt the greens. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
8. Divide the soup among bowls and serve.

Makes 4 servings

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✅ Easy, Easier, Easiest Options

Because comfort food should never feel complicated.

✨ Easy: Use pre-chopped onions available in the produce section.

✨ Easier: Use pre-washed, pre-chopped mixed greens or a frozen greens blend to save prep time.

✨ Easiest: Start with a high-quality store-bought soup base or broth, then add beans, greens, and spices to customize it and make it your own.

Remember: it doesn’t always have to be from scratch—it just has to be comforting.

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🥂 When I Love to Make This

• On cold, blustery nights
• When I want something nourishing but flavorful
• As a make-ahead lunch for the week
• When a friend could use a warm, thoughtful meal

Get ready—your kitchen is about to smell amazing.

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✨ Stay Connected & Keep Hosting

✨ Subscribe so you don’t miss more real-world entertaining tips and weekly recipes.
✨ Upgrade to paid so you won’t miss out on any of the fun dinner parties I’ve planned for you.
✨ Forward this email to a friend who loves a cozy, nourishing bowl of soup—they’ll appreciate this one.
✨ Follow along for easy menus, décor ideas, and ways to make every gathering feel special, joyful, and authentic.
✨ Shop my kitchen here: SHOP
✨ Grab what you need at a discount: HOST
✨ Earn some extra income while you’re at it: SELL
✨ Watch what I’m making for dinner every day on Instagram
✨ Join my Slice, Dice & Dish Community on Facebook

Here’s to meals that warm you up and make you feel taken care of

Cheers,
Colleen 🥂

This is the year of getting together.
Of lingering a little longer.
Of enjoying each other’s company—without waiting for a reason.

Life is full of milestones and holidays to celebrate, but here’s the truth: you don’t need a special occasion to host a dinner party. Sometimes, the best reason is simply wanting to be together.

We all love going to dinner parties. And once you get past the overthinking, there’s so much to love about hosting one too.

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🥂 Why Host at All?

Hosting creates something restaurants just can’t:

• More intimate conversation
• Time to connect one-on-one with each guest
• A chance to try a new recipe (or make a favorite again to share)
• An excuse to use those entertaining pieces you just had to have

And the best part?
You’ll realize halfway through the evening that you’re having fun too.

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🍽️ The Only Things You Really Need

If you’re still overthinking it, let me simplify things even further. A dinner party really only needs 3.5 basic elements:

1. Location

This doesn’t mean a formal dining room.

Have one? Great—use it.
Don’t? Also great.

Gather around the kitchen island, eat at the kitchen table, or set up a borrowed folding banquet table in the family room. One time, our furnace went out on the day of a planned dinner party. The only warm room was the family room with the fireplace—so we moved the furniture, set up a table, and enjoyed a cozy fireside dinner.

It was perfect and memorable.

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2. Guests

The days of “having the boss for dinner” may feel long gone—but why not?

Hosting is a wonderful way to deepen relationships and introduce people to one another. Family, friends, neighbors, coworkers—mix and match. Some of the best conversations happen when different circles come together around the same table.

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3. Food & Beverages

If you’re a paid subscriber, this part is already handled. My dinner party plans take all the guesswork out of what to serve and how to pace it.

If you’re not? Keep it simple. Good food doesn’t need to be complicated to be memorable.

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3.5 Entertainment (Optional)

I go back and forth on this one—which is why one of my monthly dinner party plans includes a built-in activity.

You don’t need entertainment, but sometimes it’s nice to pair dinner with something else: a movie, a game, a shared experience. It can take the pressure off conversation and give the evening a fun rhythm.

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💛 The Real Reward

When the party is in full swing—when glasses are refilled, plates are passed, and laughter starts to flow—you’ll feel it.

The connection.
The ease.
The quiet satisfaction of thinking, “I’m really glad we did this.”

And that’s when it clicks:
You never needed a reason in the first place.

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✨ Stay Connected & Keep Hosting

✨ Subscribe so you don’t miss more real-world entertaining tips and weekly recipes.
✨ Upgrade to paid so you won’t miss out on any of the fun dinner parties I’ve planned for you.
✨ Forward this email to a friend who’s always waiting for the ‘right occasion’ to host—they’ll appreciate this one.
✨ Follow along for easy menus, décor ideas, and ways to make every gathering feel special, joyful, and authentic.
✨ Shop my kitchen here: SHOP
✨ Grab what you need at a discount: HOST
✨ Earn some extra income while you’re at it: SELL
✨ Watch what I’m making for dinner every day on Instagram
✨ Join my Slice, Dice & Dish Community on Facebook

Here’s to hosting just because—and realizing that’s reason enough

Cheers,
Colleen 🥂