Join us for a Twitter event dedicated to all the color and flavor spilling from the basket on your arm. We’ll cover everything from where to get the best to where it tastes best, and how to keep it just right in between. Bring nothing but your sunshiney self and the biggest Longaberger you can find.

NEW! We’d love to start sharing all recipes exchanged during Foodies’ Night In via Pinterest by inviting you to pin on the #FNIchat boards. Please shoot us a quick email (molly@cookingwithcaitlin.com) to give us your email address or Pinterest name, or leave in a comment below.

What: Foodies’ Night In (#FNIchat) Twitter party
When: Monday, May 21st, 2012, 4-6 EST
Where: On Twitter (or through this custom tweetgrid) with hashtag #FNIchat
Topic: In Your Basket
Who: @cookingwcaitlin, @foodiesnitein, @cozifamily, and YOU!!

Spread the Good Word

Pass along the party scoop with the following tweet:

Digging In Your Basket with a superfresh #FNIchat TODAY 4-6EST: http://bit.ly/KrzDd3. Be there.

How Foodies’ Night In Works:

Late Monday afternoons (4-6pm eastern to be exact) we meet through Twitter. Using the hashtag #FNIchat we greet each other at the virtual door, and get cozy to talk about whatever food-related topic we are featuring that day. Typically the topic will be determined by the weekly sponsor of #FNIchat. We, at Cooking with Caitlin, compile at least ten questions that serve as the framework of the conversation over the two hours of #FNIchat. Then, the hosts throw out each question at pre-determined times throughout #FNIchat. We hope that YOU will join in the fun-filled foodie conversation and share your thoughts, recipes, tips, ask questions…and most certainly make new friends! Can’t wait to *see* you there.

NEW! We’d love to start sharing all recipes exchanged during Foodies’ Night In via Pinterest by inviting you to pin on the #FNIchat boards. Please shoot us a quick email (molly@cookingwithcaitlin.com) to give us your email address or Pinterest name, or leave in a comment below.

What: Foodies’ Night In (#FNIchat) Twitter party
When: Monday, May 14th, 2012, 4-6 EST
Where: On Twitter (or through this custom tweetgrid) with hashtag #FNIchat
Topic: HAPPY BIRTHDAY! (And Other Special Occasions)
Who: @cookingwcaitlin, @foodiesnitein, @cozifamily, and YOU!!

Spread the Good Word

Pass along the party scoop with the following tweet:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! #FNIchat TODAY: Celebrating 5 years of @cookingwcaitlin w/ @foodiesnitein and YOU! 4-6EST: http://bit.ly/LITWDT.

How Foodies’ Night In Works:

Late Monday afternoons (4-6pm eastern to be exact) we meet through Twitter. Using the hashtag #FNIchat we greet each other at the virtual door, and get cozy to talk about whatever food-related topic we are featuring that day. Typically the topic will be determined by the weekly sponsor of #FNIchat. We, at Cooking with Caitlin, compile at least ten questions that serve as the framework of the conversation over the two hours of #FNIchat. Then, the hosts throw out each question at pre-determined times throughout #FNIchat. We hope that YOU will join in the fun-filled foodie conversation and share your thoughts, recipes, tips, ask questions…and most certainly make new friends! Can’t wait to *see* you there.

Brooke Creative Country Mom

BG Garden

Cooking with Caitlin

Condo Blues

Cozi Family

Farm Flavor

Food Wanderings

Melissa J Bond

Milton’s Baking

Cathy Bouldry

Renee Dobbs

Savor The Thyme

The Martini Diva

Couple a twirly serving of this creamy, crunchy, superfresh recipe with crusty bread and lightly dressed greens from your neighborhood farmers’ market. Set the table on the porch, open a crisp bottle of wine, and make a toast to a sunshiney spring.

pasta recipe cooking information

• Yield: 4 Servings
• Prep Time: 15 Minutes
• Cook Time: 20 Minutes

pasta recipe ingredients

• 1 lb Pasta (spaghetti, linguine, or fettuccini)
• ½ Bunch of Asparagus
• 1 Wedge of Brie, rind removed
• ¼ Cup of Cream
• ½ Cup Whole Milk
• Juice of ½ a Lemon
• Salt and Pepper

pasta recipe instruction

1. Fill a big pot with water and bring to a boil.
2. In a sauté pan combine the Brie, cream, and milk. Turn to medium heat.
3. Stir the cheese mixture until everything is melted together. Season with salt and pepper and turn the heat to low. You want the mixture to remain loose; stir frequently so it doesn’t thicken.
4. Once the water is boiling, cook the pasta to al dente.
5. While the pasta is cooking, set up your food processor with the slicing attachment.
6. Next, feed your asparagus through the spout and slice.
7. When the pasta is finished cooking, drain it and toss with the sauce and sliced asparagus. Season to taste with salt and pepper (I like to use just a pinch of salt and a lot of fresh cracked pepper), and just before serving, squeeze fresh lemon juice over top (it is important to NOT add the lemon juice any earlier as it could cause the cream sauce to curdle). Serve and enjoy!

pasta recipe tips and tricks

• Look for a 6-8-oz. wedge of brie in the fancy cheese cooler of your grocery. It need not be exact; just choose what looks good to you.
• To make this a little healthier you can always substitute whole milk for the cream.
• And turn this into an easy appetizer by serving a platter of individual forks with a two-bite twirl of pasta at the end of each one.

It is this oh-so on-target sentiment, tweeted by our dear @themartinidiva, that really set the tone for our entire #FNIchat Monday afternoon. Presented by the savvy restaurant-goers of @iDine, the Twitterverse of hungry foodies gathered in honor of our many fine mothers (including Caitlin and Kelly’s in the picture up above) and the bread we will break with them come Sunday. And whether the participants were mothers themselves, or simply of mothers, each tweet was as delicious and sweet as a couple pounds of chocolate.

Fifteen questions framed the conversation, and the exchange that was sparked from the first tweet stamped with #MothersDay was rich throughout the event. 140-character notes of motherly love came fast and furiously, and are begging to be repeated. Read on for some of the highlights… But not before you get yourself all situated in the iDine rewards program! (You’ll enjoy the days between now and Mother’s so much more if your reservations are set for Sunday.)

Alright, now you can dig right in. Enjoy the trio of questions that kicked off the chat, as well as the most inspired tweets they generated (even at the last minute, they could very well make this year’s Mom’s Day the best ever). Then, keep reading for a handful of recipes that are special enough to turn any given Sunday into Mother’s Day.

Q1. How do you spoil your mom on #MothersDay? Who else will you celebrate? #FNIchat

@DRYSoda: Brunch with multiple generations of mommas is always the best. So much motherly love and energy! #FNIchat

@KouponKat: I plant flowers in her garden and we usually go out to dinner. #FNIchat

Q2. #Mom or not, on #MothersDay and every other, how do YOU like to be pampered? #FNIchat

@MCJunkie: A good back rub. #FNIchat

@PrimlaniKitchen: Brunch is my fav meal of the week. Lazy Sunday sipping champagne at a nice restaurant. #FNIchat

Q3. Which #restaurant gets your reservation? 5-star splurge or local spot? Do reviews help you decide? #FNIchat

@kermode: I’d vote for the 5-star, but settle for the 4-star! #fnichat

@iDine: #iDine has reviews for all our restaurants to make those choices easy. Don’t leave home without checking! #FNIchat

And a mom-honoring menu of greatest-hit recipes from some of our favorite #FNIchat-ters, starting with one stellar sip:

@themartinidiva: Try muddling in some lovely fresh berries and mint leaves into Champagne for a unique cocktail #FNIchat

@reneedobbs: Chorizo, tomato, & spinach frittata – perfect for brunch. #FNIchat

@themartinidiva: Here’s a really nice EGG STRATA CASSEROLE – Faux Quiche #FNIchat

@RedStarYeast: Had to get some sweets in on this #FNIchat: Pecan Sticky Buns

@FarmFlavor: One more sweet #brunch recipe for #mom: Overnight French Toast Casserole With Mixed Berries. #FNIchat

Thanks to iDine, and especially MOM, for giving us a reason to gather! Whether you land at a spa, beside a plentiful buffet, or never even make it out of bed, enjoy this wonderful weekend.

–posted by Kelly