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Convivial Dinner Party: Winter Supper for Close-knit Friends

Warm up an otherwise cold January evening by gathering a few close friends for supper.  Stoke up the fireplace, turn on Paolo Conte, light a zillion candles, and feast on Italian comfort food.  

A casual, mostly do-ahead menu lets you be with your guests, instead of the stove:

Bagna Cauda Piedmontese

Vernaccia di San Gimignano

Steamed Clams with White Wine & Fresh Herbs

Grilled Bread

Late-Summer Dinner Party Menu

Taking a few days off after “the summer from hell” will make a girl giddy. Giddy enough to quickly arrange an intimate gathering, swing by the local farm for ingredients, and grab a dusty bottle or two from the wine cellar.

Didn’t take many photos - I was terribly remiss; but if you’ll indulge, I’ll give a few details. The evening was just beautiful -- warm, with a few clouds and a slight breeze; the music was soft Latin jazz; the double-doors to the back deck were opened wide, leading to the table set in Provencial hues with lots of candles, and even more wine glasses; the view was tall evergreens & neighboring horses.

Eric & Renee were the first to arrive on the scene, bearing gifts of wine, chocolate, cheese & a baguette. After the kiss-kisses and hugs, Brett shook up the first batch of ginger-lime martinis. A few moments later, our dear friends Kimberly & Darren, armed with even more wine, appeared just in time for me to forcefully scrape a reluctant first batch of potstickers out of the pan and shatter the martini shaker to the ground -- and it was going so well up to that point. But, knowing that every party has a few glitches, the glass was swept away, the pan was changed, and all was right with the world.

Easter Baby Barnyard Feast

“I dunno. Maybe rabbit,.... a baby chick and a baby lamb? What if we ate all the baby animals associated with Easter? THAT would be hilarious,” said the Kid.

A Week of Kuidaore

I don’t usually overindulge. Not even during Christmas. As a confirmed foodie & pleaser, the holidays are usually more of a distraction from eating in order to overindulge family & friends with food. Oh I can pack it away,

New Year’s French Dinner

This year it’s all about France - I’m polishing up my accent, dusting off my passport & booking a flight. My heart has always belonged to France, I think it’s about time I go find it.

Florentine Crostini Bar

We thought it might be fun to have a small gathering of foodie friends over this weekend for crostini and Italian wines.