Race for the Roses

My knowledge of horses does not span much farther than their beauty and loving my mother’s barn friends. Now big hats, traditional cuisine, and a ready-made party theme? That, I know quite well.  So, with the Kentucky Derby this weekend, Food Intolerance and I are going to join forces and celebrate fashion, food, and the race for the roses.  Our menu: 

Mango and Black Eyed Pea Salsa with Corn Chips

Burgoo Burgers and Southern Succotash 

Lemon Lime Cheesecake

Dressed to the nines for a backyard BBQ?  If that isn’t Texas I don’t know what is. 

The Language of Food

Party #35 was a unique monster; it was a mere 24 hours after the poolside luncheon, the menu changed the day of the party, and it fed my mother. Truth be known, the day after a party I usually try to enjoy a cup of coffee and bowl of oatmeal before diving into the day.  As I attempted this ritual, the thought dawned; I had another party that very night; time for coffee in a go cup and a muffin eaten in the car.  One draft of party #35’s menu included eggplant and scallop gratins, however without time to shop for gratin dishes, I was sent back to menu development as time ticked away.  Our main course was selected form Nigella’s Bites cookbook due to its easy marinade and promised results.  The rest of the meal’s components were small dishes I had set aside for the mom dinner.  Time to execute: I completed the lemon juice and grape seed oil marinade and headed to Whole Foods. I usually think of Whole Foods as an oasis of great food and healthy intentions. Not this week.  Their fall from grace was courtesy of the deli guy.  After I explained thoroughly my need for thicker cut prosciutto, the deli nazi continued to argue with me and finally declared that he would not cut sample slices due to the price of this meat selection.  Where is Chester Meat Market when you need it?  

A few hours later, all of my food was prepped, the table was set, and my husband promised to grill the chicken to perfection... I really believe that had we not run out of propane he would have delivered on that promise. 

When our guest of honor arrived, she took one look at the dining room and expressed 

gratitude and appreciation.  Once seated with a glass of pinot grigio and a sample of the herb garlic bread, mom appeased the grandkids and took in the relaxation of a night at home.  Once the propane issue was discovered, the chicken was moved into the oven.  One look at my mother’s weary eyes, and my children’s tired-ridden emotions we decided to experience our dinner in courses.  We began with herbed garlic bread and salad, moved on to the pasta dish, and finished with some lovely spotch-oven roasted chicken.  The meal was nothing short of fantastic with special note to the creamy pasta. This was a beautiful and rich dish that worked very well as a first course. 

The star of party #35?  Without a doubt, the French apple tart.  With a crisp crust and the fresh flavors of apples combined with the apricot and rum glaze, this dessert had the rustic charm and soul comforting flavors to end a family dinner with style.  

With dinner complete, it was time to move on to the regular weeknight routines of bedtimes, stories, and baths.  Mom thanked us profusely and offered a family dinner out to following evening.  Our response?  Come on back over, we make great enchiladas. 

Cooking Notes:

Spatchcocked: I can’t wait to try this recipe again with a full tank of propane.  The mere hint of grill marks offered a wonderful insight to what the real thing would be.  

The Party In Numbers:

Parties Completed: 35

Weeks Before Deadline: 18

Bottles Consumed: 1

Justified Purchases: zero! 

A Great Meal on Wheels!

Take a large wicker basket filled with tupperware, conceal a few bottles of wine and some plastic cups and you have the recipe for a fantastic lunch on the go. 

Faced with a gorgeous spring day, Food Intolerance and I met early Monday morning to put finishing touches on our meal set for travel.  The white bean dip and shortbread were easily completed the day before which left Monday morning dedicated to wrap construction.  Once these treats were built, wrapped, and packed, we donned our coverups, slathered on the SPF and headed poolside.  By 12:30 the group was fully accounted for under the shade of an umbrella and we presented our fresh cut veggies and dip along with the parchment covered wraps in the red plastic baskets circa party #23. 

In the 'Wichcraft cookbook Tom Colicchio insists that the key to a great sandwich is the attention paid to its ingredients.  

"It's all made from real food, and nothing is 'filler'." 

At the risk of sounding arrogant, this wrap encompassed that philosophy to perfection.  With a spread made from cream cheese, blue cheese, toasted pecans, dried cranberries, shallots and garlic, paired with smoked turkey, fresh greens, sliced apples, and shredded carrots this sandwich was a small piece of art contained in a gluten free tortilla.  (Well, not so much contained as the gf tortilla is not very pliable and therefore cracked a bit; thankfully the parchment acted as a brace and enabled easy eating.) 

The shortbread was a bit soggy for my taste.  I used fresh blackberries rather than the suggested frozen and now wonder if it was this or the fact that they were in a tupperware container for 45 minutes that effected the overall consistency.  Thankfully, people still enjoyed them as a sweet ending to our meal.  

Spanning about three hours, this pool party was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.  When we said our goodbyes and rejoined the real world the group promised to meet again; a common theme at the end of a luncheon.  It appears that this is a party [and a group] with staying power. 

Cooking Notes:

Picnic: Planning a visit to your local pool or park?  Pack a lunch of 100% finger foods; it will eliminate the need for utensils and ease the clean up.

White Bean Dip: This dip was ridiculously easy and oh so delicious.  If you need an appetizer on the fly, this is your recipe.  Puree two cans of cannellini beans and play around with some herb infused olive oil and seasonings. Cut up some vegetables and you’re done. 

Plastic Baskets: I bought twelve of these for the Superbowl party however they are perfect for picnics and backyard barbecues.  If you casually entertain I high recommend this purchase.  They are nearly as cheap as paper plates and much more attractive.http://www.surlatable.com/product/blue+burger+baskets%2C+set+of+six+.do?keyword=burger+basket&sortby=ourPicks

The Party In Numbers:

Parties Completed: 34

Weeks Before Deadline: 20

Bottles Consumed: 2.5

Justified Purchases: zero!

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

One day after a successful pool party (aftermath post to come) I am back in the kitchen for another impromptu dinner.  I have never thrown parties on consecutive days so I guess we will see what happens. 

Though it has come on last minute, I have been preparing for this dinner since September 12, 2009... The menu has gone through several drafts, multiple guests lists, and at least 4 rescheduled dates.  She is the one person for whom I can not wait cook. No, Ina Garten is not gracing my doorstep...my mother is. 

I did have the pleasure of cooking for my mother back in March when I took Just Bring Wine on the road, however I have always wanted her to see how my weekly parties run.  So, when a last minute in-and-out visit was put on the calendar I bought some fresh flowers, scheduled a house cleaning, and cracked open my Back to Basics cookbook.  Our Menu:

Spatchcocked Chicken 

 Farfalle with Spring Peas, Cream and Proscuitto

Garden Salad with Fresh Vinaigrette 

Garlic Ciabatta Bread

French Apple Tart

When I told my mother to come to my house for dinner tonight, she said “please don’t fuss, but out of curiosity what are we having?” seems like we are off to a good start.  

The Luncheon Afloat

Back in February, Food Intolerance and I proved that a rainy Tuesday is fabulous when combined with a few well-dressed ladies and a great meal served during the afternoon hours.  Nearly three months later, we all look forward to these midweek gems with a certain intrigue; they aren’t as trendy as a girls night out, and not as tame as a family dinner. This week, as we bask in the final days of spring we have moved our luncheon from the dining room to the chaise lounge for a Just Bring Wine poolside picnic.  Our menu:

Crudites with White Bean Dip and Sage Oil

Turkey, Spinach, Blue Cheese and Cranberry Wraps

Blackberry Shortbread Cookies

Beach bags filled with wine and sunblock and a menu of tasty poolside cuisine; when has Monday ever sounded so good?

Ina... you get me in trouble every time!

The week was light, the weather was beautiful and it seemed time to head back to the kitchen.  I wanted to host my weekly party, and use up the groceries intended for the my unexpected no-show, so, a Thursday night Mexican fiesta was scheduled. 

After roasting two rock cornish hens with a diligent white wine basting, I began making the best chicken enchiladas my kitchen has ever seen.  I attribute the success to the rare step of faith made with the sauce: recipe deviation.  Yes, after a quick read of the instructions and 32 parties of experience, the enchilada sauce procedure reminded me of making gravy.  Keep in mind, I’m a home cook and not a chef so I can’t say if it technically is a gravy or not.  Rather than using chicken stock, I used the strained and skimmed pan drippings from my two hens.    Exhilarated, I whisked until the sauce had reduced and thickened and, after a few dashes of Tabasco sauce, my enchiladas were filled, rolled, sauced, and placed inside the fridge with great anticipation.  

A few hours later, guests arrived to a spotless kitchen and a poised blender.  Wanting to keep the integrity of the no repeat rule (which went to hell later that night) I threw together Ina’s Real Margaritas with an added twist: freshly squeezed orange juice and a few pinches of raw sugar.   The result?  For some, it was a smooth and dangerously delicious drink, for others it required another handful of sugar.  Soon, Little Brother compared these cocktails to the Broccoli Soup ordeal and opted for white wine leaving more margaritas for the rest of us which seemed like a great idea at the time.... not so much the following morning.  

On to the entree, the enchiladas were heavily praised.  With a glow of both pride and tequila, I munched through the laughter, stories, and deep discussions as guests ate plate after plate of my creation. I would love to continue with a description of dessert success, however, after my husband passed out some leftover mexican brownies that I had made the day before, nobody cared for ice cream.  Thus, I give you my first no-repeat infraction: with freshly made ice cream sitting in the freezer, spicy Mexican brownies were served and happily devoured... the same way they were at party #2.  

Around 1:00 the next morning with guests safely at home and dirty dishes littering the counters, I made my way to bed pleased with the evening on two levels:  after a plethora of formal events, this small and comfortable evening was a welcome reminder of why I began this blog 33 parties ago.  Add to that, I now have the courage to AWOL an enchilada sauce and that’s a damn good night. 

Cooking Notes:

Brownies: A dessert with chocolate and peanut butter usually makes guests swoon; however my homemade ice cream took a backseat.... more accurately, was left in the driveway.  These are easy, delicious, and it is possible that you already have the ingredients in your pantry. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/aaron-sanchezs-mexican-brownies-recipe/index.html 

The Party In Numbers:

Parties Completed: 33

Weeks Before Deadline: 20

Bottles Consumed: 2 pitchers margaritas

Justified Purchases: none! 

Roll with the punches, tomorrow is a new day...

And if you are lucky, a new party!

What’s the hardest part of this blog?  Not the cooking, not the budgeting (although that has its moments), not even the dishes; without a doubt it’s the scheduling.  Throwing dinner parties amidst every day life is difficult as a host, and then you add the schedules of your guests.  People have bad days, they get sick, they get summoned to traffic court, and as I learned this week, they confuse travel destinations. 

Anticipating a family member’s visit, I planned to host a spring happy hour.  After this visit was rescheduled via transatlantic phone call, I canceled said party and decided to take the week to enjoy my husband, our new patio, and the peace and quiet of having the oldest child away at sleep-away camp.  However, then I learned that some great friends also had an open week and it seemed a better idea to share an evening on the patio with a family style dinner.  Our Menu:

Chips and Salsa with Fresh Guacamole

Emeril’s Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas

Homemade Chocolate and Peanut Butter Ice Cream

All this Mexican food makes me crave lime juice and tequila.... Ina, can you hear me?