Love to entertain!!!
Pork Chops, Mashed Potatoes, Mixed Fresh Vegetables, Bacon Wrapped Jalapeños!
Red Wine.
Peach Cobbler.
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| the plate!... |
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| the beverage of choice tonight... |
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| the dessert... |
Showing posts with label entertaining. Show all posts
Showing posts with label entertaining. Show all posts
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Monday, July 11, 2011
HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY Michelle
One of my friends, Michelle, turned 40! Of course, you have to have a PARTY!!! No matter if they say: I want the day to skip me by, I don't want a party, I don't want anything, I want to ignore the fact that I am turning 40.
Kathy & I have been planning this deal for several weeks and today was The Day! I won't go into all the laboring details that will bore you on how we got this to work and obtained a list of fiddle players she knows and plays music with whom we had no connections with, but let me tell you persistence and determination pays off!
We got the guest list completed of friends and mailed out the hand made invitations. With 21 RSVPs, we started firming up our plans.
The plan was for Michelle to meet me at my house at 7pm so that I could take her out to dinner, in this case a restaurant of her choice and she picked Del Norte. BTW: If you are a local and have not been there, ummm, they have really good food!
I love planning parties, helping with parties and hosting parties...but the one thing that I have not mastered is how to plan the event, cook some of the food, be the host...AND take PICTURES! Yah, you got it, I can't seem to do all that though believe me I wish I could. So, the following are the last minute shots I got. You will have to use your imagination as they are missing all the really pretty, nice finery and details that made this event so special...some of which were white cloth napkins with napkin ring, clear glass goblet sparkling with an ice cold beverage, the individual name place settings with a pink stamped flower, the white plates before they were filled with food, the mix of white flowers with a touch of deep purple, and a picture of everyone with the party girl!
It was a really fun event and I am grateful to everyone that came and participated for this special occasion for Michelle! and doubly sweet for everyone that was such a good sport when I burnt the bread when I put it in the oven to get it hot...wow, that was some charred french bread top!!!
Kathy & I have been planning this deal for several weeks and today was The Day! I won't go into all the laboring details that will bore you on how we got this to work and obtained a list of fiddle players she knows and plays music with whom we had no connections with, but let me tell you persistence and determination pays off!
We got the guest list completed of friends and mailed out the hand made invitations. With 21 RSVPs, we started firming up our plans.
The Menu:
Marinated Grilled Chicken
Cilantro Lime Rice
Veggie Skewers
Roasted Carrots
Balsamic Glazed Asparagus
French Bread
Sweet Tea
Water
Oreo Mud Pie
Strawberry Cheesecake
I love planning parties, helping with parties and hosting parties...but the one thing that I have not mastered is how to plan the event, cook some of the food, be the host...AND take PICTURES! Yah, you got it, I can't seem to do all that though believe me I wish I could. So, the following are the last minute shots I got. You will have to use your imagination as they are missing all the really pretty, nice finery and details that made this event so special...some of which were white cloth napkins with napkin ring, clear glass goblet sparkling with an ice cold beverage, the individual name place settings with a pink stamped flower, the white plates before they were filled with food, the mix of white flowers with a touch of deep purple, and a picture of everyone with the party girl!
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| in my backyard, the Guests enjoying the evening and visiting after dinner |
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| Joy, Michelle, and Sherry {L-R} |
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| Joey with the guitar & Jillian with the fiddle |
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| they played us 3 pieces |
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| Joey with the guitar & Michelle with the fiddle |
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| they played us 2 pieces |
Saturday, November 20, 2010
dinner to a friend...
This month, I did something different...instead of having company for lunch...I took dinner to a friend who had surgery recently and is trying to recover. The plans were made late in the day, so I had to do some last minute planning. I worked until 3pm and then had 3 errands, the last one being the grocery store. I got a few needed supplies and rushed home to prepare and cook the meal.
Menu:
Chicken in a Pablano Pepper Cream Sauce topped with cheese (I do not know the name of this dish...but I have had it out at some mexican restaurants and LOVED it - so I improvised and made my own!)
Gnochi
Steamed Sugared Carrots
Aspargus
Black Beans topped with Feta Cheese
Asiago Bread
Pickles & Olives
I took the food over to Manual & Renee (they are staying at Brent & Jennifer's while they are gone). We ate pretty much as soon as I arrived and chatted all dinner and then moved to the couches in the living room. Maryssa did all the clean up. :) I helped her get Jennifer's batch of Kombucha going and then headed home. So much fun to cook for more than one person! Get well Renee!
Menu:
Chicken in a Pablano Pepper Cream Sauce topped with cheese (I do not know the name of this dish...but I have had it out at some mexican restaurants and LOVED it - so I improvised and made my own!)
Gnochi
Steamed Sugared Carrots
Aspargus
Black Beans topped with Feta Cheese
Asiago Bread
Pickles & Olives
I took the food over to Manual & Renee (they are staying at Brent & Jennifer's while they are gone). We ate pretty much as soon as I arrived and chatted all dinner and then moved to the couches in the living room. Maryssa did all the clean up. :) I helped her get Jennifer's batch of Kombucha going and then headed home. So much fun to cook for more than one person! Get well Renee!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
company for lunch!!!
Today was my scheduled day for company...I made plans a week ago to have Eric & Suzanna and Kelly & Erica and families over, along with Terry.
Menu:
Manicotti
French Style Green Beans
Glazed Carrots
Rosemary Bread w/olive oil & garlic for dipping
Green Salad
Blackberry Sage Iced Tea
Apple Crisp w/Vanilla Ice Cream (if desired)
We all chatted and the kids swam after lunch. Terry & Eric had a nice little visit. Once again, it was fun to entertain and have time with everyone at my own place!
Menu:
Manicotti
French Style Green Beans
Glazed Carrots
Rosemary Bread w/olive oil & garlic for dipping
Green Salad
Blackberry Sage Iced Tea
Apple Crisp w/Vanilla Ice Cream (if desired)
We all chatted and the kids swam after lunch. Terry & Eric had a nice little visit. Once again, it was fun to entertain and have time with everyone at my own place!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
company for lunch!!!
Today was my scheduled day for company...it took some work to find some people in town that could accept the invite to attend lunch at my house but in the end I got confirmations from Terry, Sherry, Steve & Roseann, and Jody & Linda.
Menu:
Chicken Pasta Primavera
Pugliese Artisan Bread ("pool-yee-ay-say" the southern italian loaf with an authentic bubbly center and delicious crust)
Green Salad
Apple Crisp w/Vanilla Ice Cream (if desired)
Once again, it was fun to entertain and have time with everyone at my own place!
Menu:
Chicken Pasta Primavera
Pugliese Artisan Bread ("pool-yee-ay-say" the southern italian loaf with an authentic bubbly center and delicious crust)
Green Salad
Apple Crisp w/Vanilla Ice Cream (if desired)
Once again, it was fun to entertain and have time with everyone at my own place!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
company for lunch!!!
It is June, and I am still purposing to keep to my goal of having company for lunch once a month, I made plans to have company for lunch today two weeks ago for this Sunda.y I am not sure after such a busy week that this was the best plan, but it was already in the works so here we go...I invited Jeff & Lorrie, but they couldn't make it. So I invited Shannon & Cindy, Gilbert & Connie and Terry. Terry went home after meeting and fell asleep, so he arrived just as we were sitting down to eat. Reid & Collin spent some time in the pool...the rest of us, ate & visited. Terry left right after lunch.
Menu: The Chipotle concept ~ make your own Burrito, Burrito Bowl or Salad with Coffee Ice Cream and Cookies & Cream Ice Cream for dessert.
Once again, we had a nice time eating and visiting...I enjoy having company and am looking forward to next month.
Menu: The Chipotle concept ~ make your own Burrito, Burrito Bowl or Salad with Coffee Ice Cream and Cookies & Cream Ice Cream for dessert.
Once again, we had a nice time eating and visiting...I enjoy having company and am looking forward to next month.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
company for lunch!!!
It is February, and to keep to my goal of having company for lunch once a month, I made plans to have company for lunch today! A week ago, I invited Steve & Betty (who had to cancel on me once before when I invited them), Jon & Tracy and Terry. All seemed to be going pretty smooth as I rushed around this morning getting things ready and put together, until I cut my finger deeper than I have ever cut it with my lovely knives...I could not get the bleeding to stop, wasn't sure if it would ever quit, but I had no time to stop and go to a clinic for it to get stopped...I did my best to wrap it in gauze and paper tape several times. It greatly prevented my speed at finishing my preparations before meeting, and did I tell you that it stung and hurt awful???
Menu: Minestrone Soup with Avacado & Tomato Provolone Cheese Melts and mini Banana Splits for dessert.
We had a nice time eating and visiting...I enjoy having company and am looking forward to next month.
Menu: Minestrone Soup with Avacado & Tomato Provolone Cheese Melts and mini Banana Splits for dessert.
We had a nice time eating and visiting...I enjoy having company and am looking forward to next month.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
company for lunch!!!
One of my New Years Resolutions for 2010; have company once a month. So how do I think I am going to achieve this better this year than the last yes, nearly 3 years in my own house? I am going to be different: I will put it on the calendar. The weekend after my wonderful house cleaner has come to make everything beautiful and spiffed up at my place. I will make it a plan. Plan out the plan. Make it happen and enjoy entertaining in my house!
It wasn't too hard to decide who to have for lunch...Jeff & Debbie had invited Terry over 2 weeks ago and when the day came, he didn't go. Warren has been trying to go to lunch with Terry during the week, for a month, but work has been busy and it hasn't happened. So I decided to have those two couples over and let them spend some time with Terry.
The age old question...what do you fix? What do the general people like? I have favorites...but that doesn't mean they will like them. It has been cold and soup is always good, yah soup! One of my favorites is...Tomatoe Soup. But you see, I live alone and some things I have never made from scratch. This includes Tomatoe Soup. Grab the cookbooks, hmmm, which one shall I try...Sylvia Woodall's? Pioneer Woman's? Betty Crocker? oh yes, this one, this Cuisine at Home Tomatoe Soup recipe looks delicious! I can do this...and this I will do. One recipe makes 10cups. Thats probably 2 cups to a soup bowl, so 2 batches. Sunday morning, I wake up like WAY too early for any waking body to be stirring around, its the weekend, whats wrong with me? 5am??? puhhhhlease...so I decide I am going to turn over and sleep some more. Then I wake up an hour later than I had wanted to. It's okay...No problem, I can do this. Tomatoes were already cut up and in pans to be roasted in the oven as I did this last night. Once they were done, I put them in the blender and pureed away. Two batches done. All is going smooth. Then the next batch I decide to fill it up more because if not its going to take all day to puree this 10lbs of roasted tomatoes. Ugh, what were you thinking? seriously Misty??? Due to the amount and the force of hot liquid, it squeezed out everywhere it could! Off button, where are you? Hurry Misty, awh thats VERY HOT and it hurts. Dadgum! Okay, I can deal with this. Take a deep breath, remove half the liquid, wipe everything down, start again. Batches and batches and batches of hot roasted tomatoe stuff. Well, you see the blender is glass, but the top is plastic, this soft plastic stuff and do you know what it does when you do batch, after batch, after batch, after batch of hot mixture? It sinks down in and creates air pockets around the cap and the sides. I thought Cuisinart was a good brand? No??? Oh, you think, no big deal? ugh, you are wrong! More roasted tomatoe soup is escaping and now I am more than slightly irritated...in fact, I probably am mad. It is all over the cupboards, the glass, the floor, the cooking magazine, the walls, EVERYWHERE!!! I dO NOT have TIME for this!!! Irrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhhhhh! Who said I wanted to have company? and that in order to entertain I must make my soup from scratch? Nobody but me, just me with these great ideas that are not always practical to life. Yes, it was me who said this! Okay Misty, chill!!! You have white cabinets, that means at least you can see what needs to be cleaned up, stop chewing yourself out, just get it done. I did, and as I finished up my task, I am thinking, what did I not plan? yup - extra time. How did this happen? life is not perfect, thats how. How can I prevent it next time? allow more time for the mishaps and things not to go as planned. So, yet again, I arrive late to meeting...this time, not just 5 minutes, but 25! Keep your chin up, yah, so you think that everyone is thinking you slept in too long, were lazy, spent too much time on yourself, but they don't know the truth....walk on! *********** Meeting is over, I visit for about 20 minutes and then head out. I get home to get the grilled cheese sandwhiches together: pesto and mozzarella cheese and regular cheddar cheese on bread from Central Market. Then my company starts to arrive. Warren & Kelly & Alec Amyett arrive first. Then Jeff & Debbie. They ask, Where is Terry? Well, I thought he would ride with one of you since we are all going back to the same place tonight...no? Well at minimum he would follow one of you. Did I think to give him directions? Nope...but I gave the others directions! So I call to check in, he is lost, is frustrated trying to talk on the phone to me while driving. I told him I was just trying to help. He says he will figure it out. I knew he was on a street between me and Gilbert & Connie...but which one? and how does he get from there to here? right? left? north? south? He arrives like 10 or so minutes later. Lunch is ready...we eat. Everyone is hungry and says its yummy, but I personally think there is too much ground pepper in it. Either everyone else is just being nice or I am just being overly critical. I told everyone to eat up because I did not make any dessert...and they did! In the middle of lunch, Alec states that "the vent is falling" pointing to one of my airducts in the kitchen. He is right...it is! We all laugh. We sat around in the living room and visited, looked at the binder I have of some of Terry's drawings/artwork, I read Alec some stories, we drank coffee...then it was time for everyone to leave.
As I reflect it was a FUN day...I am glad I made this resolution to entertain and have a plan to have people over and cook for them, Titus 2:8 be hospitable...can't wait for next month!
(Just gonna learn that I must plan a bit more time so I am not upset with myself and have allowance for mishaps...)
It wasn't too hard to decide who to have for lunch...Jeff & Debbie had invited Terry over 2 weeks ago and when the day came, he didn't go. Warren has been trying to go to lunch with Terry during the week, for a month, but work has been busy and it hasn't happened. So I decided to have those two couples over and let them spend some time with Terry.
The age old question...what do you fix? What do the general people like? I have favorites...but that doesn't mean they will like them. It has been cold and soup is always good, yah soup! One of my favorites is...Tomatoe Soup. But you see, I live alone and some things I have never made from scratch. This includes Tomatoe Soup. Grab the cookbooks, hmmm, which one shall I try...Sylvia Woodall's? Pioneer Woman's? Betty Crocker? oh yes, this one, this Cuisine at Home Tomatoe Soup recipe looks delicious! I can do this...and this I will do. One recipe makes 10cups. Thats probably 2 cups to a soup bowl, so 2 batches. Sunday morning, I wake up like WAY too early for any waking body to be stirring around, its the weekend, whats wrong with me? 5am??? puhhhhlease...so I decide I am going to turn over and sleep some more. Then I wake up an hour later than I had wanted to. It's okay...No problem, I can do this. Tomatoes were already cut up and in pans to be roasted in the oven as I did this last night. Once they were done, I put them in the blender and pureed away. Two batches done. All is going smooth. Then the next batch I decide to fill it up more because if not its going to take all day to puree this 10lbs of roasted tomatoes. Ugh, what were you thinking? seriously Misty??? Due to the amount and the force of hot liquid, it squeezed out everywhere it could! Off button, where are you? Hurry Misty, awh thats VERY HOT and it hurts. Dadgum! Okay, I can deal with this. Take a deep breath, remove half the liquid, wipe everything down, start again. Batches and batches and batches of hot roasted tomatoe stuff. Well, you see the blender is glass, but the top is plastic, this soft plastic stuff and do you know what it does when you do batch, after batch, after batch, after batch of hot mixture? It sinks down in and creates air pockets around the cap and the sides. I thought Cuisinart was a good brand? No??? Oh, you think, no big deal? ugh, you are wrong! More roasted tomatoe soup is escaping and now I am more than slightly irritated...in fact, I probably am mad. It is all over the cupboards, the glass, the floor, the cooking magazine, the walls, EVERYWHERE!!! I dO NOT have TIME for this!!! Irrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhhhhh! Who said I wanted to have company? and that in order to entertain I must make my soup from scratch? Nobody but me, just me with these great ideas that are not always practical to life. Yes, it was me who said this! Okay Misty, chill!!! You have white cabinets, that means at least you can see what needs to be cleaned up, stop chewing yourself out, just get it done. I did, and as I finished up my task, I am thinking, what did I not plan? yup - extra time. How did this happen? life is not perfect, thats how. How can I prevent it next time? allow more time for the mishaps and things not to go as planned. So, yet again, I arrive late to meeting...this time, not just 5 minutes, but 25! Keep your chin up, yah, so you think that everyone is thinking you slept in too long, were lazy, spent too much time on yourself, but they don't know the truth....walk on! *********** Meeting is over, I visit for about 20 minutes and then head out. I get home to get the grilled cheese sandwhiches together: pesto and mozzarella cheese and regular cheddar cheese on bread from Central Market. Then my company starts to arrive. Warren & Kelly & Alec Amyett arrive first. Then Jeff & Debbie. They ask, Where is Terry? Well, I thought he would ride with one of you since we are all going back to the same place tonight...no? Well at minimum he would follow one of you. Did I think to give him directions? Nope...but I gave the others directions! So I call to check in, he is lost, is frustrated trying to talk on the phone to me while driving. I told him I was just trying to help. He says he will figure it out. I knew he was on a street between me and Gilbert & Connie...but which one? and how does he get from there to here? right? left? north? south? He arrives like 10 or so minutes later. Lunch is ready...we eat. Everyone is hungry and says its yummy, but I personally think there is too much ground pepper in it. Either everyone else is just being nice or I am just being overly critical. I told everyone to eat up because I did not make any dessert...and they did! In the middle of lunch, Alec states that "the vent is falling" pointing to one of my airducts in the kitchen. He is right...it is! We all laugh. We sat around in the living room and visited, looked at the binder I have of some of Terry's drawings/artwork, I read Alec some stories, we drank coffee...then it was time for everyone to leave.
As I reflect it was a FUN day...I am glad I made this resolution to entertain and have a plan to have people over and cook for them, Titus 2:8 be hospitable...can't wait for next month!
(Just gonna learn that I must plan a bit more time so I am not upset with myself and have allowance for mishaps...)
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