Appetizers & Bites

Any chance to eat before you EAT is a good idea in my book. We now live in a land of grazing (does that make us free range?). Mezze platters and charcuterie boards are where it’s at. Nosh away, but whatever you do, do not call it a snack. That word is like nails on the chalkboard for me. It conjures visions of bags of Fritos at The Shack at the community pool, not a lovely, tasty, tastefully arranged pre-meal – or in lieu of meal – feast. And whatever you do, do not go to a restaurant and tell the chef you want a snack. That is just begging for meal-feasance!!!

Prosciutto puffs to best seeded crackers. How about a whole evening planned around chic food on a stick? Swish kabobs! Whether it’s a light veggie nosh like shishito peppers or garlic scape, or something more substantial like fig prosciutto gorgonzola pizza or pickled shrimp, we have something for everyone. Graze over this list of tasty appetizers & bites.

Lights, Camera, Action - Maranda and Katy Keck behind a table of graduation entertaining ideas

Summer Entertaining – Graduation, Father’s Day, & Grilling!

I just had the chance to join Maranda on WOTV 4 Women’s program Maranda Where You Live to share with her viewers some ideas on how to zhouzz up a party –in this case graduation – by adding a few easy details that give it real style. For entertaining, like...

Katy Keck | 8 | 8 min read

Salt and Pepper Grilled Shrimp on arugula with edamame fritter and chipotle aioli

Sriracha & Chipotle Spicy Grilled Shrimp

Even though #NationalShrimpDay is meant to be a 24-hour thing, I feel it’s more like a birthday and should really be celebrated for a week, a month, or even a season! I mean if Bubba can do it, you can too. “Anyway, like I was sayin’, shrimp is the fruit of the...

Katy Keck | 6 | 3 min read

Edamame & Chickpea Fritters close up with chipotle sauce and shrimp behind

Spring has Sprung: Edamame and Chickpea Fritters

You say fritters? I say falafel? Whatever you do….do NOT call the whole thing off. Something about these little beauties just screams ..."summer, she’s a-coming”. For me it’s the serious dose of herbs and lemon juice, my besties for brightening flavor. In this...

Katy Keck | 2 | 4 min read

Melissa's Fresh Shishitos on a wooden surface

Julia Child, New York’s Bravest and Shishito Peppers: Live from New York

In this impending season of eating too much – and loving every minute of it – here’s an appetizer that is a real crowd pleaser and won’t bust the gut. Roasted shishito peppers! Super-fast to prep, full of flavor with just an occasional touch of heat, shishito...

Katy Keck | 4 | 5 min read

Setting Sail with Pickled Shrimp: Getting Pot-Lucky, Nautical Edition

All ashore that’s going ashore. Or so it should have been. But Mother Nature was a fickle mistress (or was she?) and the pot-lucky aboard our intrepid pontoon Scout was not to be. It’s quite possible that Mother Nature did us a solid – the feast that...

Katy Keck | 8 | 5 min read

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Meet Katy

Well, hello there! I’m Katy. And I’m all about Palate & Passion & Purpose. I’ve spent my whole life weaving together a passion for food, entertaining, and enjoying family & friends with a purpose for improving the lives of others. There’s no better way to live with purpose than to break bread with others. See how that all came full circle? And…I was lucky enough to make a career out of doing so!