Dinner Party

I love to have dinner parties.  I was trying to remember the last time we had a proper dinner party with all the things I love to have - beautiful food, tablescape, wine, and great company.  I started planning last weekend, made the menu and grocery list on Thursday, shopped Friday after work.  Bright and early (sort of) on Saturday we headed out to Froberg's to pick some strawberries for shortcake.  But before we left I went for a walk through the garden so I could plan the flower arrangements for the table.

I ended up with a great assortment of cut flowers and herbs.  Herbs make a great green backdrop for arranging cut flowers!  How pretty is that?  Simple but lovely.  Yes, I realize it is two weeks past Easter and still there are bunnies on the table.  I left those out on purpose because my friend Thelma and I share the love of the bunnies...all year round.

While piddling around with flower arrangements I got carried away with the views and snapped some random photos...

I just adore all the windows bringing the outside in!

I really did at some point get ready for the actual dinner.  Everything was prepped and ready to go the kitchen was just waiting on the chef!

I made this beautiful antipasto platter - all store bought items but still delicious!  Panera sourdough bread, dipping sauce (olive oil and seasoning), olives, fresh mozzarella, pecorino romano, provolone, hard pepper salami, breadsticks, heirloom cherry tomatoes and some fresh rosemary for visual effect.

It could not have been a prettier evening for enjoying this on the patio!  Mr. Ken and Shane.

Mom and Dad

My delightful and gorgeous friend Thelma

Here is the tricky part of blogging about recipes and a dinner party...

You are supposed to take pictures of the food.  I never made it past the appetizer with the camera!  However, I will give the recipes - the Menu:  greek salad, shrimp scampi with linguine, and sourdough bread followed by strawberry shortcake for dessert.  For the greek salad (my recipe):

In a bowl layer the following in bite size pieces (serves six) - a large head of romaine lettuce, a handful or so of purple cabbage, three pickling cucumbers, one stalk celery, one red bell pepper and a handful of cherry tomatoes cut in half.  Then top with as much or little of pitted calamata olives and peppercini (note, peppercini are better if you cut them open and drain the juice first) as you prefer.  (At this point if you make it ahead of time, and I always do, refrigerate - don't put the feta on or it will make the salad soggy.)  Before serving top with as much or as little feta as you like.  I mix my own dressing in a small mason jar with the juice of one to two lemons, that much olive oil (1/2 and 1/2) a lot of dried oregano, salt and pepper.  Shake well, pour over the salad just before serving.

Shrimp Scampi with Linguine (this was the best scampi recipe I've ever made - but Tyler rarely disappoints!)    Tyler Florence Shrimp Scampi with Linguine

Strawberry Shortcake by the Pioneer Woman herself - Strawberry Shortcake  You might note I only use strawberries in the recipe but it would be delicious either way - the main thing I love are the bisquits...also, I use this for the whipped cream on top - one cup heavy cream whipped until frothy, add one TBSP powdered sugar and one tsp vanilla until peaks form...I just like it better than the yogurt version! And a little tip on making the best whipped cream - put the beaters and the bowl in the freezer for a couple hours before you make the cream...this ensures it will peak perfectly!  Same recipe picture is from last year!

 

You know you've had a wonderful time when it is almost midnight before the kitchen looks like this!  (yeah, snapping photos at midnight but just not of the food...I think some wine may have been consumed...)

 I hope everyone enjoys this fabulous weather - and try the recipes, totally delicious!!

Love, spajunkie

 

Comments

[Lauren Oliver]

I want strawberry shortcake mom!!!!! But congrats on a fabulous dinner party. But really, aren't all of your dinner parties fabulous? I mean come on let's be serious here one of the many reasons you were put on this earth was to throw fabulous dinner parties. Haha.

Love you,
Your daughter!

[Danice]

I love you more! Yes strawberry shortcake for you tomorrow night! Be there.