That Planner Friend

  • restaurant style fire roasted salsa

    Restaurant Style Fire Roasted Salsa

    You know when you go to a Mexican restaurant or even (let’s be honest) a Chili’s and you can’t stop eating the chips and salsa? This Restaurant-Style Fire-Roasted Salsa makes you wish the chips and salsa were bottomless at your house, too.  In Mexican cuisine, this type of salsa is called Salsa Tatemada, meaning it’s…

  • Hudson, NY nyc day trip

    NYC Day Trip: Hudson, NY

    Hudson, NY is a small town on the Hudson River in Upstate New York that attracts outdoorsy NYC expats and city dwellers with a taste for art and antiques. It’s the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of New York City for the day and pretend you’re in a Hallmark movie. Hudson is…

  • ice cream sundaes

    Ice Cream Sundaes on Sunday

    Start your week off with something sweet with an Ice Cream Sundaes on Sunday get-together.  Whether it’s a bottle of wine at the dinner party or a six-pack of beer for Sunday Night Football, sometimes it feels like every get-together revolves around alcohol. And, we’re especially reminded of this during Dry January when people are…

  • 24 Places To Go In 2024

    It’s that time of year when you start to make travel plans. How will you use your time off? Where will you go? Who will you spend it with? In this guide, you’ll find 24 ideas for places to go in 2024. I’ve visited over half of these destinations and the rest are on my…

  • car for group trip

    How To Get The Group Trip Out Of The Group Chat

    Why is it so rare for trips to “make it out of the group chat”? Group trips with friends have become the butt of jokes because they never end up happening. You talk about that trip with friends to the French countryside for years but never end up going.  Everyone loves to travel and dreams…

  • steamed mussels in garlic white wine sauce

    Steamed Mussels in Garlic and White Wine

    These Steamed Mussels in Garlic and White Wine are a take on Moules Frites, a classic French bistro dish. Moules Frites directly translates to “Fried Mussels” but they’re never fried, they’re served with French fries. The mussels are steamed in a garlic white wine sauce and served with the side of fries to soak up…

  • Five-ingredient Cuban coquito

    Five-Ingredient Cuban Coquito

    Coquito is a creamy Puerto Rican drink that is enjoyed in Caribbean and Latin households around the holidays. Some people refer to it as Puerto Rican eggnog, but don’t be fooled. You don’t need eggs to make this Five-Ingredient Cuban Coquito recipe.  There are many different ways to make coquito. This recipe is a simplified…

  • New Year’s Goal Setting Party

    New Year’s resolutions are out. Goal setting is in. So, ditch your resolutions list and plan a New Year’s Goal Setting Party for your friends this holiday season. A New Year’s Goal Setting Party brings people together to share their visions for the upcoming year in a fun, communal way. It’s a wholesome holiday party…

  • Duck Breast with Orange Cranberry Sauce

    Pan-Seared Duck Breast With Orange Cranberry Sauce

    Duck is decadent. It has the elegance of a perfectly cooked New York strip steak but with a distinct gamey duck taste.  This Duck Breast with Orange Cranberry Sauce makes a great holiday centerpiece or main dish for your next dinner party. The tart and sweet flavor combination of the orange cranberry sauce balances out…

  • creamy garlic and herb mashed potatoes

    Creamy Garlic and Herb Mashed Potatoes

    Mashed potatoes are the quintessential American side dish. These Creamy Garlic and Herb Mashed Potatoes pair elegantly with whatever main dish you’re serving for a dinner party, from Thanksgiving turkey to pan-seared salmon.  There are many ways to make mashed potatoes, but after testing recipe after recipe, these Creamy Garlic and Herb Mashed Potatoes are…