Cindi sippin' Peppermint Wonderful-ness
Once again, THE Christmas party to be at. This one always boosts the Christmas spirit for all of us, especially since we share it with the hubbies and make a big deal of it. Keri was in good form (but not such great health — what a trooper!!) and started us off with peppermint cocktails that fogged like a deep lake in December. (Bubbling Candy Cane: one shot each Godiva White Chocolate Liquer, vanilla rum and peppermint schnapps served with a nugget of dry ice in the bottom of the glass.)
Then on to that exquisite table in the new dining room for a snowscape and candlelight, and SIX dinner courses, with and intermezzo course of homemade cranberry and lemon-ginger sorbets.
Next we adjourned to the winter-wonderland in Keri’s living room for gift swap and our final course of a trio of mini-desserts by Mary, and just a whole lot of laughing.
Click for more pix!
We had planned some shagging lessons, but we were all so stuffed and mellow from the cuisine, we’ll have to re-visit that idea another time. Enjoy the pictures (click the sorbet picture for more).
Menu:
- Gorgonzola Fig Loaf w/crackers (Cindi)
- Spiced Nuts (Amy)
- 1st course: Crab-stuffed Mushrooms (Bruce K.)
- 2nd course: Roasted Acorn Squash & Sweet Potato Soup – Cindi (Cindi)
- 3rd course: Salad Tower of Fresh Vegetables with Buttermilk Dill Dressing and Parsley-Chive Oil (Keri)*
- Intermezzo: Amy’s Lemon-Mint and Cranberry Sorbets (Amy)
- 4th course: Salmon over Harvest Grains with a side of Celery, Apple and Fennel Slaw (Susan)
- 5th course: Grilled summer vegetable terrine (Wendy)
- 6th course: Barbecued Turkey – Pamm (Pamm)
- 7th course: Trio of Mini-bites: Chocolate-Orange Cheesecake, Pecan Pie Squares – Mary J., and Cranberry Meringue Tartlets (Mary)
*Keri says here’s how: Layer (in molds/empty soup cans) chopped yellow peppers & fresh parsley; steamed carrots with buttermilk dill dressing; sun dried tomatoes in olive oil; barbequed corn with fresh chives; and steamed asparagus — served with a dollop of the buttermilk dill dressing and a squirt of fresh chive/parsley lemon olive oil.
Dinnerchicks 