Savory Favors For Your Guests -- Cavallucci (o morsetti) di Siena

Photo courtesy of: http://www.academiabarilla.com/

 
As your wedding winds down you'll want to send your guests home with a traditional Italian wedding favor.  If your wedding is Tuscan-inspired biscotti are a good choice.  Make or purchase favor bags with a grape vine pattern or stencil the pattern on bags yourself, and fill them with coffee flavored biscotti or cavallucci, a honey flavored rustic biscotti.  
 
Cavallucci are not beautiful cookies so package them in an eyecatching box or bag.  But ah! the taste with some strong coffee will make your guests feel like they've taken a weekend trip to Tuscany. 

I wasn't familiar with cavallucci, but these delicious cookies are easy to make using acacia honey and melted sugar mixed with flour, chopped, toasted almonds, minced candied citron and orange, anise, cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander powder and a pinch of baking soda. The trickiest part was finding the right kind of honey, although you might be able to sub regular honey for acacia honey. 

For a recipe to make your own cavalucci go to  http://italianfood.about.com/.  I tested out this recipe, and believe me, if I can manage it, it's perfect for a bride who isn't looking for a complex DIY favor for her wedding.

Decorate your favor table with a grape and vine motif and your guests will love taking these cookies home for a late night snack.  You could consider pairing them with a favor-size packet of espresso for your guests to take home with them or some chocolate nut truffles or jordan almonds. 

Proscuitto Grilled Shrimp Appetizers

Photo courtesy of  The Food Network

This simple and easy to prepare appetizer is perfect for your wedding or your rehersal dinner.  Proscuitto Wrapped Grilled Shrimp are something anyone can prepare no matter what their skill level in the kitchen. 

Ingredients:
48 shelled and deveined jumbo shrimp
48 thin slices of proscuitto (about 1 1/4 lbs)

Party Toothpicks suitable for grilling (bamboo skewers soaked in water)

Dijon Mustard for dipping
Sliced Lemons for garnish
48 Grape Tomatos
Arugula

Marinade:
3/4C Olive Oil
1 1/3 C Lemon Juice
2 1/2T minced garlic
4 tsp red pepper flakes

Whisk together all the marinade ingredients. 
Marinate shelled and deveined shrimp for 30 minutes.
Drain Shrimp.
Tightly wrap each shrimp in arugula and 1 thin slice of proscuitto.
Nest a grape tomato into the curve of the prosciutto wrapped shrimp and secure into place with a party pick.
Grill on barbeque two minutes on each side.
Remove toothpicks before serving on bed of thinly sliced lemons and romaine lettuce leaves with a dijon mustard for dipping. 

Glitter for Centerpieces

Photo and design courtesy of: http://www.pryorevents.com/portfolio.portfolio_weddings.html

If you are looking to add some glitz and glitter to a simple square vase filled with orchids and roses Pryor Events has found the answer. Just add a band of sequins glued to the vase, surround it with votive candles so the glitter sparkles as the light flickers and you have an inexpensive way to upgrade your flowers.  This is an easy way to add a little glam without adding a lot to the cost of your centerpieces by  purchasing and adding rhinestone pics or adding rhinestone centers to the flowers.