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Hospitality is well-celebrated across the South, and few people I know exemplify this better than Camille Styles, of CamilleStyles.com and Camille Styles Entertaining, and her husband, Adam. It’s easy to feel at home from the moment you walk through the doors of their gorgeous Austin house (which also happens to have the most amazing back porch, as seen in the pictures below). I interned for Camille during my senior year of college, and one thing that always struck me about her and Adam is how much fun they always seem to have together! They truly act like best friends, and even though they’re both incredibly busy as business owners and parents, they always found time for dinners and date nights–something y’all know we believe in fiercely. I am so delighted that Camille is sharing their top ten favorite recipes in Southern Newlywed today, complete with beautiful photos by Buff Strickland–enjoy!

By day: Camille runs the lifestyle site, Camille Styles, and is the author of Camille Styles Entertaining; Adam is the founder and CEO of SpaceCraft, a software platform for small business websites.
How they met: We met at work! I planned the events for Adam’s former marketing agency–we were both in relationships when we met, so we were just friends at first. Later on, when we both found ourselves single, Adam asked me to meet him for a drink one evening after work. We’ve been inseparable ever since.
Their wedding: When we got engaged, I owned my own event planning company and had been on the planning side of lots of weddings. If there was one rule I knew I wanted to stick to with my own, it was “Keep it simple!” We invited 70 of our closest family and friends to a Sunday morning ceremony and elegant brunch reception, and by late that afternoon, we were on a flight to our honeymoon in Italy! It was a little untraditional, but for us, it was just perfect.

Who does the meal planning? We both love food, and it’s not uncommon for us to talk about what we’re going to have for dinner while we’re still sitting around the breakfast table! Adam throws out ideas, and I’m usually the one who gets our plan organized, makes a massive grocery list, and tackles the shopping for the week.
Who does the cooking? I cook on most nights of the week, but my favorite thing for us to do together is to turn on music, open a bottle of wine, and make a meal together in the kitchen. For me, it’s the most romantic “date night” there is! Usually, we’ll make something Italian, like grilled pizza or Adam’s signature caprese pasta dish that he used to woo me with when we first started dating.
What’s your favorite meal-related memory? A few summers ago, Adam and I took a trip to Greece, and one day, we took a sailboat ride around to some different islands. In the afternoon, our boat captain pulled out a loaf of crusty bread and big chunks of salty feta made fresh on the island, then started slicing tomatoes and cucumbers he’d plucked from his garden that morning. He spread it all out on a wood chopping board and added a bowl of mixed Greek olives and liberal sprinkles of sea salt. To this day, I’ll never forget the way those olives tasted like the saltiness of the sea, and the cherry tomatoes like sunshine; that simple meal will forever define the taste of Santorini in my mind.

Camille and Adam’s ten favorite recipes:

1. Dutch Baby Pancakes: When Adam and I first started dating, he had a couple of “signature” dishes he would make when he wanted to pull out all the stops for an at-home date night. This Dutch Baby is still one of our very favorite brunch dishes; we serve it with fresh berries, lemon wedges, and lots of powdered sugar.
2. Tuna Tartare with Avocado & Radish: Many of our favorite recipes to make at home are inspired by great dishes we’ve had in restaurants, this tuna tartare included. It couldn’t be simpler, but makes any night feel like a special occasion.
3. Kale Caesar Salad: Adam has a major thing for caesar salad, and I like to make ours a little healthier by using dark, leafy kale. It’s the perfect starter for a pizza or pasta night!
4. Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries: Finally, sweet potato fries that are baked in the oven and are actually super crispy! It took us years to perfect this recipe, and now it’s on weekly rotation at our house, usually served with chicken piccata, grilled salmon, or BLTs.
5. Shaking Beef: I was so excited to nab the recipe from The Slanted Door, one of our favorite San Francisco spots. It’s simple enough to make for just the two of us, though I love placing a big family-style platter of this dish in the center of the table for a summertime dinner party.
6. Asian Sesame Chicken Salad: A Chinese chicken salad is one of those things that if I spot it on a restaurant menu, I’ll probably order it, and this is our super healthy, super yummy take on it. It’s one of our most frequently-made weeknight meals, and we always devour every last crunchy bite.
7. Bucatini all’Amatriciana: This delicious pasta reminds us of some of the versions that we sampled on our honeymoon in Italy. Lucky for us, there’s a shop down the street from our house that makes bucatini (similar to spaghetti, but with a hole running through the center so it catches every last bit of sauce!). We pick up a batch of the fresh pasta on our way home from work and toss together an authentic Italian feast.
8. Sweet Potato Tortilla Soup: We eat tons of Mexican food at our house (we live in Austin, after all!), and this is our favorite unexpected take on tortilla soup: a super spicy broth made with toasted spices, adobo sauce, and black beans.
9. Dark Chocolate Orange Soufflés with White Chocolate Chunk Whipped Cream: If you were to ask Adam the way to a man’s heart, he’d probably answer “chocolate soufflés!” This one takes a bit of time, but on nights when I want to turn up the romance, it’s a decadent recipe that always does the trick.
10. Sparkling Citrus Punch: We love to invite friends over and entertain, and lately, we’ve been mixing up big bowls of boozy punch. There’s something about it that instantly gives off a “let’s get this party started!” vibe the second guests walk in the door, and most importantly, it saves us from playing bartender all night, since guests can serve themselves. This bubbly citrus concoction is our current favorite.

Thank you so much for sharing, Camille! Follow along with her on CamilleStyles.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and be sure to pick up a copy of her gorgeous new book, Camille Styles Entertaining for lots more food and entertaining inspiration!

P.S. We’d love to hear from you! Our hope is to feature real couples in the South – your inspiring friend, super talented cousin, or neighbor with the cutest house – the kind of person everyone would love to “e-meet.” If that sounds like you or someone you know, take a peek at our Southern Newlywed submission page and shoot us an email!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
2 Comments
  1. avatar Lindsay Jensen reply

    I love Camille Styles! Her book is amazing and I find myself going back to it often. Thanks for the great post-I can’t wait to try some of these recipes!

  2. avatar Emily reply

    These all sound incredible! Bookmarking the sweet potato fries and Asian sesame chicken salad to start :)

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At Southern Weddings, we’re big believers in family dinners–cell phone-free quality time spent at the table with your significant other. One of the best tools to have in your arsenal in order to make that happen? An inventory of delicious, healthy meals that can be prepared quickly and easily after a busy day of work. That’s why we love Dana and John of Minimalist Baker, and their commitment to sharing recipes that consist of 10 ingredients or less, use only one bowl, or take under 30 minutes to prepare. Their blog is a fantastic resource for making those family dinners happen, and we’re so excited to introduce this Kansas City couple to y’all!

Thanks so much to Whitney Knutson for these sweet photos!

By day: I’m a recipe developer, professional food photographer, and content creator for Minimalist Baker. John is the designer, technical guru, and brand strategist for Minimalist Baker, among many other roles.

How they met: We became familiar with each other through a group of friends who were in the same college church group in Wichita, Kansas (where we grew up). We first met at a dance party a friend of ours hosted. John says we locked eyes on the dance floor, but it wasn’t until months later that I fell for him and we began dating.

Their wedding: Our wedding was on a chilly day in March 2010, and it was simple and elegant. Since we were only engaged for a few months, the planning process went rather quickly. Friends and family watched us exchange vows at our church, and a dessert reception nearby followed. We may be biased, but it was kind of perfect.

Meal planning: I do the meal planning! Every Saturday, I plot out the week ahead and make a grocery run on Monday for everything we need. The grocery store is my happy place.

The cooking: That’s me again! John isn’t big on cooking, but thankfully, I happen to love it.

Favorite meal-related memory: There are so many, but I’d have to say eating sushi together during our trip to Bali, Indonesia last summer. We’d had a long day of lounging on the beach, and we got all dressed up and went out for dinner. I remember our time being particularly sweet, and John making me laugh a lot (which he does frequently).

Top ten favorite recipes:

1. My Favorite Vegan Pizza: I make this simple, healthy pizza every Sunday. It’s our favorite standing meal tradition.

2. Crispy Baked Peanut Tofu Stir Fry: I make some version of this dish every week. I love how bold the flavors are, and how it yields crispy, perfect tofu every time, even without frying!

3. Creamy Vegan Garlic Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes: This pasta gets thrown into our meal rotation at least every other week. I’m a sucker for white sauces, and this one satisfies my cravings every time, no dairy required.

4. Vegan Chai Ice Cream: Hands down the best ice cream I’ve ever made! I’m smitten with how creamy and perfectly spicy and sweet it is.

5. One Bowl Gluten Free Banana Bread: This is the most tender, moist banana bread I’ve ever had, and I love that it’s gluten free! I whip up a batch any time I have overripe bananas.

6. 5 Ingredient Detox Smoothie: I make some version of this smoothie most mornings for breakfast. It’s a simple way to squeeze more greens into our diet, and the tart-sweet flavor and creamy texture are near perfect.

7. Baked Herb and Pistachio Falafel: I’m a sucker for Mediterranean food, and this dish by Sara of Sprouted Kitchen satisfies my falafel cravings every time.

8. Chickpea, Spring Onion, and Tuscan Kale Panzanella Salad: I could eat this salad by Laura of The First Mess every day for the rest of my life and be one happy woman. Every time spring rolls around, I find myself reaching for this recipe as often as I can.

9. Shawarma Nachos: This recipe from My Name is Yeh looks like absolute perfection. This is technically cheating because I haven’t made it yet, but it’s on my menu plan for this week! I mean, look at all those flavors and textures! Amazing.

10. Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Pancakes: Hands down, my favorite pancakes of all time, and the recipe that started it all on Minimalist Baker. I whip them up whenever I’m craving pancakes (which is rather often). I love their moist, slightly dense texture and how they taste just like an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie, only healthier!

We’re so grateful to Dana and John for sharing their favorite meals with us! Be sure to follow along with them on their blog, Minimalist Baker, as well as on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

P.S. We’d love to hear from you! Our hope is to feature REAL couples in the South – your inspiring friend, super talented cousin, or neighbor with the cutest house – the kind of person everyone would love to “e-meet.” If that sounds like you or someone you know, take a peek at our Southern Newlywed submission page and shoot us an email!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
5 Comments
  1. avatar Laura reply

    Love this and love Dana to bits. These photos are so wonderful!

  2. avatar Mandy volpe reply

    Love this and totally agree that dinners around the table are important. I think I will try those oatmeal pancakes!

  3. avatar Kathy Mader reply

    What a fun article. Minimalist Baker is my favorite food blog. I thought you were going to show us some wedding pictures, though :)

  4. avatar Best of September | My Recipe Network reply

    […] did an interview with Southern Weddings about how we met, what our wedding was like, and what our 10 current favorite recipes are. Check […]

  5. avatar Best of September 2014 | Minimalist Baker Recipes reply

    […] did an interview with Southern Weddings about how we met, what our wedding was like, and what our 10 current favorite recipes are. Check […]

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Events that are beautiful and elegant, but also approachable and stress-free, may sound like an oxymoron, but as Jenny Steffens Hobick demonstrates time and time again on her inspiring blog, Everyday Occasions, with a little bit of planning and a big dose of Southern hospitality, they are absolutely doable. The Southern Weddings gals all share a love for celebrations, so it’s no surprise that Jenny’s thoughtful approach to entertaining and meal planning is a favorite of ours. We are so grateful that she shared her story with us, as well as the recipes that she and her adorable family gravitate toward again and again!

By day: I am the owner of Everyday Occasions by Jenny Steffens Hobick, a home entertaining blog and online store. Mike works in commercial real estate for a real estate investment trust.

How they met: We met and became friends in college. After college, we had both moved to the same city and were in the same very close circle of friends. After becoming even better friends, we started dating a year later.

Their wedding: About six months after we started dating, Mike took me to Seaside, Florida for my birthday. Three years later, we were engaged, and decided Seaside would be the perfect place for a destination wedding. It was our favorite place in the world and we wanted to share it with our closest family and friends. We were married on the front lawn of a grand house in Seaside, and our guests watched the ceremony from the large porches. We had long tables set for dinner in the backyard under lanterns. Our colors were ivory, pale blue, light gray, and navy.

Jenny Steffens Hobick

Meal planning: Since I am a food and home entertaining blogger, the kitchen is my domain. I do ask him what he’s in the mood for for dinner, but we have a running joke that his suggestion is always either steak and baked potatoes, or tacos. Such a typical guy!

The cooking: I do all of the cooking with the help of our two-year-old daughter, Emma. She is a great help washing the veggies and baking treats for her dad! Mike is in charge of the dishes, which he is much better at than I am!

Favorite meal-related memory: Our favorite meal of all time was on our honeymoon in Florence, Italy. It was our last night there, so we splurged on a very fancy dinner, where we discovered white truffles with homemade pasta and Brunello wine. That meal has inspired so many hands-on homemade pasta dinners at home, as well as special dinners out.

Jenny Steffens Hobick

Top ten favorite recipes:

1. White Truffles with Homemade Pasta and Seared Filets: This is our favorite “fancy dinner”–we make it for our anniversary, birthdays, and other celebrations.

2. Braised Beef and Italian Vegetable Stew: This is my favorite cold weather entertaining recipe. It is an elegant and indulgent beef stew that everyone loves.

3. Spaghetti and Homemade Meatballs: We fix spaghetti and meatballs almost every Sunday night–it is our go-to comfort dinner.

4. Korean Beef Tacos with Mango Cilantro Slaw: Mike is a huge taco fan. These are our new favorite from Tessa’s blog…also my favorite :)

5. Rustic Penne Shrimp Pasta in a Parmesan and Red Pepper Cream Sauce: This is a great make-ahead recipe for entertaining. I make it in individual bowls for an elegant presentation.

6. Shrimp Scampi and Linguine: Simple and elegant–one of my favorite recipes for an easy dinner party.

7. Tomato and Goat Cheese Salad: I’m obsessed with this salad right now–which is saying a lot, because I’m not a salad person. There is so much going on with it, from the creamy goat cheese, to the heirloom tomatoes, to the crunchy marcona almonds.

8. Slow-Roasted Filet of Beef: A staple for us around the holidays–this recipe tastes luxurious and feeds a large group. You’ll be shocked by how easy it is to prepare!

9. Cranberry Orange Scones: We make these almost every weekend. They take about five minutes to stir together and fifteen to cook–much quicker than a run for donuts!

10. White Pizzas With Arugula: The Barefoot Contessa is my ultimate recipe resource–her food is just so good. I love these goat cheese pizzas with arugula. Emma loves homemade pizza night, too!

We’re so grateful to Jenny for sharing her family’s favorite meals with us! Be sure to follow along with Jenny on her blog, Everyday Occasions by Jenny Steffens Hobick.

P.S. We’d love to hear from you! Our hope is to feature REAL couples in the South – your inspiring friend, super talented cousin, or neighbor with the cutest house – the kind of person everyone would love to “e-meet.” If that sounds like you or someone you know, take a peek at our Southern Newlywed submission page and shoot us an email!

lisa Written with love by Lisa
1 Comment
  1. avatar Jenny Steffens Hobick reply

    Thanks so much for sharing my story and favorite recipes! I enjoy your site so much – lots of great inspiration!

    Best,
    Jenny

Southern Weddings reserves the right to delete comments which contain profanity or personal attacks or seek to promote a business unrelated to the post.  And remember: a good attitude is like kudzu – it spreads.  We love hearing your kind thoughts!

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