When I’m entertaining, I tend to develop a game plan that is just a “souped up” version of my weekly game plans, to outline the menu, identify what can or should be prepared in advance, organize the shopping, and occasionally, torture tempt some of my foodie friends.
Years ago, I hosted a monthly potluck dinner party at my then home in Florida, and these gatherings came to be known as, thanks to some excellent libation, the Green Goddess Dinners. Now that I live in North Carolina, the “sisterhood” is a bit more difficult to assemble, but we still try to get together for an annual reunion weekend each fall. This year’s reunion is in a few weeks, so I’ve been working on a game plan for that weekend.
Here is the basic menu as of right now:
thursday – dinner
squash soup with melted blue cheese slurry
peppered pears, blue cheese & fried sage (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Peppered-Pears-Blue-Cheese-and-Fried-Sage-14129)
five spice & coriander-crusted pork tenderloin with soy balsamic cream sauce
wasabi mashed potatoes
garlicky green beans
friday – hors d’oeuvres
baba ghanouj with crudites & crackers
tuscan kale chips
friday – dinner
assorted pizzas on grilled flatbed or gluten-free crusts (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/01/dining/01minirex.html)
- Bbq chicken
- pears, blue cheese, walnuts, caramelized onions with sage
- Bruschetta topping
- sausage & mushroom
friday – dessert by campfire
s’mores
bacon and cashew caramel corn (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Bacon-and-Cashew-Caramel-Corn-360755)
saturday – breakfast
baked eggs and mushrooms in ham crisps (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Baked-Eggs-and-Mushrooms-in-Ham-Crisps-106150)
parsnip bacon
zucchini parmesan bread
cinammon raisin bread
pumpkin chai bundt cake
saturday – lunch
salad of white beans, leeks and bacon
tomato raisins
warm ham & cheese sandwiches with caramelized onions
pear-almond-apricot crumble
cardamom ice cream
saturday -hors d’oeuvres
ginger risotto balls (by Lissa)
crudite with green goddess dip
bread with goat cheese & fresh figs (by KC)
saturday – dinner
cocoa-rubbed pork roast (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Cocoa-and-Spice-Slow-Roasted-Pork-with-Onions-240744)
jerk chicken
roasted root vegetables with balsamic glaze (adapted from http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Balsamic-Roasted-Vegetables-243011)
avocado salad (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Avocado-Hearts-of-Palm-and-Red-Onion-Salad-with-Coriander-Vinaigrette-10030)
Buttermilk biscuits with green onions, black pepper and sea salt
pickled red onions
saturday – dessert
lemon almond yogurt cake with almond cream cheese frosting (http://glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2006/02/almond-yogurt-cake.html) and http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Almond-Cream-Cheese-Frosting-105946)
chocolate cake with blackberry buttercream frosting
sunday – breakfast
lemon cranberry scones
pepper, pear & pecorino scones
chocolate cinnamon biscotti
sliced apples with pumpkin dip
sunday – lunch
leftovers!
sunday – dinner
roasted squash lasagna (http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Roasted-Butternut-Squash-Rosemary-and-Garlic-Lasagne-13479)
green salad with blue cheese & pepitos