Blog Posts by Coastal Living

Use our crowd-pleasing apps and hostess tips to get your party started and keep it going through the night.

Tip #1: If you're serving small bites such as shrimp or scallops, skewer them with decorative toothpicks for easy handling and a charming presentation.
Thai Shrimp Skewers
Thai Shrimp Skewers
Ingredients
1/2 cup light coconut milk
1/4 cup flaked sweetened coconut
1 Tbsp. fish sauce
1 to 2 tsp. red curry paste
24 large shrimp, peeled and deveined

Preparation
Whisk together coconut milk, coconut, fish sauce, and curry paste in a medium bowl. Add shrimp; toss well. Chill 1 hour.

Grill shrimp over medium-high heat 2 minutes on each side or until done. Place on individual bamboo picks to serve. Makes 2 dozen.

Related: 5-Ingredient (or fewer!) Appetizers

Tip #2: We eat with our eyes, so have fun with unconventional food shapes, presentations, and colors.
Tuna-Avocado Cups
Tuna-Avocado Cups
Ingredients
24 won ton wrappers
1 small lime
1 avocado, cubed
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 lb. sushi-grade tuna

Got some questions about cooking with salmon? Use this basic guide to get your started!
Use our guide to get all your facts straight about salmon—and then get cooking!

Is it OK to buy frozen salmon?
Absolutely. Immediately after being caught, wild Alaska salmon is typically processed and frozen on the boat or at a nearby facility.

What's the best way to thaw frozen fillets?
Thaw salmon wrapped in plastic in the refrigerator overnight.

What is that white film on cooked salmon?
It's a protein called albumin (like egg white) that comes from overcooking, usually with higher-fat salmon such as king and farmed salmon. It's perfectly safe to eat, but can be wiped off.

Is the skin edible?
Sure, as long as it has been scaled. Most people enjoy it grilled, seared, or broiled until crispy.

Related: 20 Super Salmon Recipes

What's the difference between wild and Pacific salmon?
Pacific and wild are used interchangeably to describe any of five salmon species caught in the Pacific Northwest.

Does wild salmon contain toxins?
Salmon are short-lived fish, with a lifespan of

The gingerbread man was just the beginning of this holiday love affair. Catch the next chapter with our tasty new ways to enjoy gingerbread.


Gingerbread Sailors and Mermaids
(You can find mermaid cutters at cookiecutter.com)

Achieve picture-perfect style without going through a total home decor overhaul.

Punch Up the Color
1. Punch Up the Color
Accent walls are a great way to add a little flair to small spaces without committing to the expense and hassle of painting the entire room. Paint your built-ins in an eye-catching color, such as this dining room cabinet's vibrant shade of turquoise. The bold hue will highlight the overlooked space, and your favorite china and accessories will pop against the bright backdrop.

Tip: Order your pain in a matte finish to keep the color amped but the shine factor to a minimum.

Related: Color It Coastal-Inspiring Color Palettes

Beautify with Bamboo
2. Beautify with Bamboo
Single side chairs can serve as the perfect accent in a living room. Here, a bamboo dining chair painted in sleek, glossy black brings a little of the sea to an otherwise landlocked living area. Seat cushions upholstered in a small-scale green print also complement the room's fresh, playful palette.

Related: Colorful Kids' Rooms

Frame Natural Finds
3. Frame

Give your pale winter skin a warm glow with our top picks for self tanners. We tested dozens of lotions, mousses, and sprays to find the best!

Best Overall
Best Overall
Self Tanning Body Milk, $42; aqua-tan.com
"The body milk spread on easier than regular lotion, and because the formula doesn't contain brown dyes, it delivered a great color that faded naturally. My husband's sister couldn't believe my 'glam glow' was from a bottle." -Kristen Shelton, assistant photo editor

Related: 10 Scenic Holiday Escapes

Best Gradual Color

Best Gradual Color
Natural Glow Revitalizing Daily Moisturizer, $7, Jergens; drugstore.com
"This made my fair skin look healthy and just slightly sun-loved, thanks to antioxidants and vitamin E." -Kelly Tomas, web/production assistant

Related: A Model's Secret to Effortless Island Beauty

For Your Face

For Your Face
Bronze Goddess Self-Tanning Lotion for Face, $23; esteelauder.com
"I have sensitive skin, but I applied it before bed and was ecstatic the next morning to find a gorgeous color and an even

Bourbon is not just for sipping. Its smooth, rich flavor can add a whole new dimension to recipes both savory and sweet.

Chocolate-Bourbon Cake
Chocolate-Bourbon Cake
Ingredients
1/3 cup bourbon
1 1/3 cups sugar
12 oz. bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 cup (8 oz.) butter, cut into pieces
5 large eggs
1 1/2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
2 1/2 Tbsp. cocoa powder, divided
Hot water
Coffee-Bourbon Syrup
Hazelnuts

Coffee-Bourbon Syrup
Bring 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup water, and 1/4 cup strong brewed coffee to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in 1 Tbsp. bourbon.

Preparation
Preheat oven to 375°. Grease a 9- x 2-inch cake pan, line the bottom with parchment paper, and set aside.

Combine bourbon and sugar in a large saucepan; bring mixture to a boil. Remove from heat, and add chocolate and butter, stirring until smooth. Set aside, and let cool to room temperature.

Beat in eggs, one at a time, until very well blended. Fold in flour and 1 1/2 Tbsp.

Rich and creamy, our sweet potato pie has garnered rave reviews! It's a must-try this holiday season, but it's so good you'll crave it every time of the year.

Sweet Potato Pie
See More Decadent Holiday Desserts

Sweet Potato Pie
Ingredients
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup self-rising soft-wheat flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
5 Tbsp. ice water
3 large eggs, separated
2 cups baked, peeled, and mashed sweet potato (about 2 large)
1/3 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup cane syrup
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. grated lemon peel
1 cup cold heavy cream
2 Tbsp. powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Preparation
Whisk together first 3 ingredients in a medium bowl until blended. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until crumbles are about the size of small peas. Sprinkle ice water, 1 Tbsp. at a time, evenly over surface of mixture in bowl; stir with a fork until dry ingredients are moistened. Shape into a ball. Roll out pastry to an 11-inch circle.

Steal ideas from these fun and functional kids' rooms that offer smart design, fun themes, and vibrant colors.

Kid-Approved Room
Kid Approved
A child's bedroom should reflect his or her interests. This bedroom subtly points to a young boy's love of treasure hunting and crabs. A framed painting of a crab by artist himself hangs above the bed. Subtle themes allow the room to be adapted as the child grows.

Related: 15 Inexpensive Room Upgrades

Tailored for Tots
Tailored for Tots
Tread-worthy carpet and a mix of natural colors-with a few quirky pieces thrown in-make this room pretty, durable, and child-friendly all at the same time.

Related: 7 Ways to Brighten Your Home

Sleepover Secrets
Sleepover Secrets
What child (or grown-up) wouldn't love these digs? Aside from the cozy sleepover feel you get from the mix of bed sizes, palettes, and open space, we adore the sheer fabric tent-the ultimate spot for sharing memories and giggles.

Related: 20 Easy DIY Projects You Have to Try!

Little One's Loft
Little One's Loft
A converted attic becomes a playful