by Annika Bastian | Apr 23, 2019 | Bread, Catering, Desserts, Events, Food and Family, Healthy Eating, hosting, How To, Light Lunchboxes, Nourishment, picnic, Produce, The How-To's of Hosting
Spring has sprung and we’re enjoying warm weather and vibrant greenery all over Birmingham. Why not celebrate with a picnic? Kids and pets alike will love the freedom to run and play, while adults can catch up on sunshine and their friends’ lives. In honor of National Picnic Day, here are Market Table‘s picks for what every picnic basket needs.
Text By Annika Bastian
The Food
The kind of food you pack in your basket depends upon the time of your picnic outing. Is it a brunch picnic? (Yes, those exist, and they are just as awesome as they sound.) Is it a lunch picnic? An afternoon snack picnic? Picnics early in the day can feature inventive brunch options, like our scrumptious Spinach, Artichoke and Goat Cheese Frittata or an eggs-cellent sandwich tray.
If your outing falls around lunch, provide hearty deli style options, like White BBQ Chicken or Beef Brisket Sliders. Or, if you’re serving guests with wildly different tastes, check out our Light Lunchboxes. From Cilantro Lime Chicken to our Zesty Quinoa Salad, you’re sure to find healthy options to keep your whole picnic party happy.
And if you’re picnicking between meals, go for fun snack options — both sweet and savory. For larger picnics, invite everyone to bring one of their favorite snacks to make a potluck fun-in-the-sun picnic at the park.
The Accessories
There are a few things every picnic basket needs, but they may not be the first things on your mind. First, don’t forget to bring trash bags. You’ll want the leave the beautiful outdoor space that hosts your picnic as pristine as you found it. Next, make sure to include insulated water bottles among your drink selections. When it comes to hydration, there’s nothing like a cool bottle of water. Lastly, paper towels will come in handy to both hold food and to clean sticky fingers.
The Desserts
The perfect way to end your sweet day? With something sweet, of course! Dessert is a delicious must at any spring picnic. Often, you’ll find Farmer’s Markets with fresh food and tasty treats to bring a picnic from good to great. So make sure to pick up easy-to-eat desserts for a sweet finish to your fabulous outing. Market Table‘s Cookie and Marble Brownie Trays are picnic-basket-ready perfection!
by Nick Adrian | Nov 20, 2018 | Eating Seasonally, Events, Food and Family, Holidays, How To, Recipe, Thanksgiving, The How-To's of Hosting
Just as soon as Halloween’s over, Thanksgiving rushes toward us and suddenly it’s Christmas. The holidays can be a little hectic, especially if you’re hosting friends and family in your home. Here are five holiday hosting tips to make your seasonal gatherings warm, merry and bright.
Plan Ahead
Whether you’re preparing the Thanksgiving or Christmas meal, chances are you’re going to have a lot of mouths to feed. Try making a list of everything that needs to be accomplished before the big dates, including food, entertainment, etc. Stock up on items you might need — and buy a few extra so you won’t be short. As for the meals, it might be wise to begin preparing them the day before they’re served. It’ll take more pressure off you and give you time to focus on other preparations.
Accept Help
Don’t be proud. Preparing holidays meals by yourself is hard, if not impossible. If the kids or other family members want to help, it’ll make your work much easier. You’ll have free hands to tend to other matters, a true culinary form of multitasking!
Prepare Non-Food Items Early
Plates and silverware are just as important as the food you’ll be preparing, so make sure to stock up. Try and take inventory of them the day before the holiday. You might also want to set the table the day before as well, freeing yourself of the task later.
Don’t Forget Beverages
There’s so much going on while preparing holiday meals that it’s easy to forget the all-important drink. Ideal compliments for a Thanksgiving dinner could be apple cider or white wine, while hot buttered rum or eggnog would make a perfect Christmas quencher.
Enjoy Yourself
Once the meal is prepared, it’s time to kick back, have a few plates, catch up with the family and relax. Now that the work has been done, your holiday is finally beginning.
Text by Nick Adrian
by Kendal Harris | Sep 5, 2018 | Beer and Beverages, Desserts, Events, Food and Family, Parties and promotions, Recipe, The How-To's of Hosting
Football season is here, which means Christmas has come early for football fans. Besides the actual sport, fans unite over something else — tailgating. Tailgating brings the food, fun, and fellowship right before the competition gets heated. If you’re planning an ultimate tailgate party, here’s the menu you need to make sure everyone’s having a great time.
Guacamole
Get the party started with this simple dish. Guacamole is a natural classic for any tailgate and the perfect appetizer for your tailgate party. Serve this party favorite with some salty chips, and you’ll have your guests begging for more. Not a guacamole fan? Try mixing it up with some of Market Table‘s freshly made dips, like our Hot Bacon and Swiss dip or guacamole’s dear friend, Texas Caviar.
Chili
Meat lovers rejoice! This hearty bowl of chili will warm you up on those fall Saturday afternoons. This recipe comes from Chrissy Teigen’s cookbook, Cravings. If a celebrity-made dish isn’t enough for you, then your guests’ appetites will speak for itself.
Mexican-Style Grilled Corn
Compliment your meaty chili with this tasty veggie dish. This corn is brushed with a smoky chipotle spread. After coming off the grill, it’s topped with crumbled cheese, cayenne, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice. This dish will make you feel like you’re on the streets of Mexico.
Triple-Chocolate Brownies
No tailgate is complete without a tasty dessert. When chocolate brownies aren’t enough, whip out a recipe with three times the chocolatey goodness. It’ll be sure to please even the biggest sweet tooth. Set these out for your guests and watch them get devoured.
Pumpkin Beer Cocktail
You’re going to need something to wash down all this delicious food, right? Try this Pumpkin Beer Cocktail that screams fall weather. Instead of the normal cans of beer, this is a perfect seasonal twist to any tailgating party.
Text by Kendal Harris
by Emma | Aug 15, 2018 | Contests and Giveaways, Events, Food and Family, Freezer Meals, Prepared Meals, Promotion
Back to school means back to the craziness of after-school activities, homework and everything else you forgot about (or tried to!) over summer. Let Market Table ease your burden and save your sanity with 5 DAYS OF FREE MEALS!
Follow the instructions below for your chance to win!
To Enter:
Head on over to our Instagram account and find our Sanity Saver Meal Giveaway announcement. Then, you’ll need to:
1.) Follow (or make sure you’re following!) Market Table on Instagram
2.) Like the contest announcement post OR the contest reminder post on Market Table’s Instagram timeline, and
3.) Tag a friend in the comments of the contest announcement post OR the contest reminder post on Market Table’s Instagram timeline. Tag two friends for an extra entry!
We’ll accept entries from 8/10/18 until 12 AM CST on 8/15/18. The winner will be selected at random and notified by direct message on Instagram by 12 PM CST on 8/16/18.
The winner will receive 5 of our local, healthy, hearty prepared dinners or freezer meals that will please your whole family and give you time to settle back in to the school year craziness!
You must be 18 years or older at the time and date of entry and a resident of Alabama to win. This giveaway is in no way associated with Instagram. See the official rules here.
by Jonathan Mendoza | Jul 31, 2018 | Cooking Tips, Events, Food and Family, Recipe
Summer coming to an end. That means it’ll soon be time to send the kids back to school. Celebrate the end of summer with a neighborhood back-to-school party and showcase these five recipes that every kid — and parent! — is sure to enjoy.
Mini Corn Dog Muffins
Who needs those frozen corn dogs from the store when you can make these delicious corn dog muffins at home? This easy and homemade alternative recipe for regular corn dogs makes for a great snack any day.
Pencil push up pops from http://www.bakerella.com/pencil-pushers/
Pencil Pushers
These school-themed dessert treats are sure to be a hit for guests of all ages. Using cake push pop containers, you can create your own tasty pencil-shaped cake pops. These treats make for a cute and delicious decoration for the party.
Stuffed pizza cupcakes from http://www.pennywisecook.com/stuffed-pizza-cupcakes/
Stuffed Pizza Cupcakes
Pizza is an all-time for most people. These stuffed pizza cupcakes are guaranteed to be the life of your back-to-school party. Made with pizza dough, sauce, cheese and your favorite toppings, everyone is bound to love these.
Ham and Cheese Pinwheels
These fluffy ham and cheese pinwheels make for a great party snack and the perfect lunch to pack for the first day of school. With a sauce made of mustard, mayo and horseradish, these pinwheels will become a classic dinner favorite for the whole family.
Decorated cookie pop from http://www.the36thavenue.com/back-to-school-apple-pops/
Oreo Cookie Apple Pops
The whole neighborhood will be raving about these tasty treats made from double-stuffed Oreos, candy melts and fondant. These Oreo pops make a great treat for the party and for a sweet snack in the lunchbox.
With these tasty recipes, there’s no need for the end of summer to be a time of mourning for the kids. Your back-to-school party will have the whole neighborhood excited for school to start.
by Kendal Harris | Jul 10, 2018 | Events, Parties and promotions, Recipe, The How-To's of Hosting
Like the Summer and Winter Olympics, the World Cup only happens every four years. That means major media coverage, lots of buzz on social media, and a global unification over one thing: the love of soccer. Like soccer, food brings people together. What better way to celebrate this global sport than with winning dishes from the top teams’ home countries? These World Cup party recipes will take your tastebuds on a thrilling trip around the world.
Portugal: Filos
These Portuguese doughnuts are deep fried to a golden perfection and topped with a light dusting of powdered sugar. Although these are a holiday delicacy, the World Cup is a justified reason to whip up this tasty treat.
Spain: The Ultimate Paella
Here’s a surf and turf you don’t have to go to a fancy restaurant to get. This recipe is packed with chicken, chorizo, and plenty of seafood. As if that’s not enough, you’ll enjoy the slightly charred crust at the bottom of your paella, called socarrat.
Netherlands: Bitterballen
Bitterballen is super popular amongst the Dutch. This savory snack is a combination of meat, beef broth, spices, and more. The bite-sized meatballs are then covered in breadcrumbs and deep fried to perfection. Deep fried balls of meat? That’s not something you see every day (although you really should!).
Mexico: Red Chilaquiles with Chicken
Mexico beating Germany, the defending World Cup champions, is not something you see every day, either. Although their Cinderella run may be over, our neighbors on the southern border deserve their props. What better way than with this delish recipe? Or, if you’re in a rush, try our fully prepared Low Carb Chicken Enchilada Casserole — just thaw, cook, and serve!
Japan: Grapefruit, Ginger, and Lemongrass Sake Cocktail
If you’re a rice-lover then you’ll love this cocktail. Maybe because Sake is an alcoholic beverage made by rice fermenting. This drink’s perfect for toasting to a good match. With all the vitamin C and ginger, this drink’s also perfect for the common cold.
Try these five recipes from around the world, and you’ll have an international food fest that will score major points with all your friends.
Text by Kendal Harris
