Welcome!

Here you will find information about our upcoming dinner parties, including dates/times, themes, and locations. All of our recipes will also be posted here so you can recreate some of your favorite dishes and also post your comments. Feel free to tell someone how much you love their Grandmother's famous pie recipe or share a fabulous variation that you tried and enjoyed. This is also a place to discuss theme ideas, start a random food related/unrelated discussion and just catch up on conversations from a recent dinner party! Enjoy!!

Upcoming Dinner Party

When: October 13, 2008 @ 7 PM

Where: Elissa's apartment (see evite for address or call Pam)

Theme: Fresh fall favorites (think about seasonal produce) or Halloween

Monday, September 8, 2008

Deviled Eggs

Submitted by Carla Fazi 

DIRECTIONS

1.  Put 12 eggs in a pot of water and hard-boil them.  

2.  Run them under tap water to be able to touch them.

3. Peel the eggs and slice them lengthwise.

4.  Pop the yolk out into a bowl.

5.  Crumble up all of the yolk with a fork.

6.  Start with 2-3 tablespoons of mayo and a teaspoon of French’s yellow mustard, 1 capful of the red wine vinegar, salt and pepper to taste and blend it all up.  It should be creamy but thick – not lumpy so add more mayo a little at a time if you need more.

7.  When it is blended, use a teaspoon to fill each whole.

8.  Dust lightly with paprika.

Lemon Bars

Submitted by Lauren Madow

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2/3 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups white sugar
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar for decoration

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.

2. Combine the flour, 2/3 cup confectioners' sugar, and butter. Pat dough into prepared pan.

3. Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until slightly golden. While the crust is baking, whisk together eggs, white sugar, flour, and lemon juice until frothy. Pour this lemon mixture over the hot crust.

4. Return to the preheated oven for an additional 20 to 25 minutes, or until light golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Dust the top with confectioners' sugar. Cut into squares.

Danielle's Thanksgiving Corn Casserole

Submitted by Danielle Strein

INGREDIENTS: 

  • 2 cans cream corn
  • 1 can eagle brand (sweetened condenced milk)
  • 3 or 4 eggs

DIRECTIONS

Mix together. Bake at 350 for an hour.

Pasta Salad

Submitted by Sara Fidler

INGREDIENTS:

  •   pasta
  •   corn
  •   yellow pepper(s)
  •   yellow (heirloom) tomato
  •   boursin cheese

 DIRECTIONS

1.  Peel tomato - chop.

2.  Chop pepper(s).

3.  Cook corn - chop.

4.  Cook pasta and add peppers to the boilng water during the last five minutes.  Strain, do not rinse.  

5.  Add boursin cheese while pasta/pepper(s) is still super hot.  Add tomatoes and cooked corn.  Stir.  Serve hot or cold.

Pizza Dip

Submitted by Melissa Zaba

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 stick of cream chesse
  • 2 small cans of pizza sauce
  • 1 bag of pizza chesse

 DIRECTIONS

Spread the cream chesse in a casarolle dish. Then spread the pizza sauce. Lastley sprinkle the chesse till no sause is showing. Put in the microwave for 5 min.

Dirty Bannana

Submitted by Melissa Zaba

INGREDIENTS
  • 2 oz Banana Liqueur
  • 1.5 oz Dark Creme de Cacao
  • 1 oz Milk
DIRECTIONS

Mix together with crushed ice in a glass



Fresh Corn Salad

Submitted by Robin McKinney 

Source: The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook

Pep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 3 minutes
Yield: 4 to 6 servings

INGREDIENTS

  • 5 ears of corn, shucked
  • 1/2 cup small-diced red onion (1 small onion)
  • 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons good olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 cup julienned fresh basil leaves
DIRECTIONS

In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the corn for 3 minutes until the starchiness is just gone. Drain and immerse it in ice water to stop the cooking and to set the color. When the corn is cool, cut the kernels off the cob, cutting close to the cob.

Toss the kernels in a large bowl with the red onions, vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Just before serving, toss in the fresh basil. Taste for seasonings and serve cold or at room temperature


 



Friday, September 5, 2008

Lemonade with Watermelon Ice Cubs

Recipe Courtesy of Paula Dean (lemonade) and Pamela Shurkin (watermelon ice cubes)

2 cups sugar

1 cup hot water
2 cups fresh lemon juice
1 gallon cold water
1 lemon, sliced

Watermelon

Use a melon baller (it looks like a mini ice cream scoop and you can get one at most food stores) to create little balls of watermelon. Place them on a cookie sheet in the freezer until frozen.

In a 1 gallon container, place sugar and hot water, and stir until sugar dissolves. Add lemon juice and cold water to render 1 gallon. Stir until well mixed. Pour lemonade over glasses of watermelon ice cubes.

Macaroni and Cheese

Recipe from Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa)

Ingredients:
  • kosher salt (to taste)
  • vegetable oil (if desired)
  • 1 pound elbow macaroni
  • 1 quart milk
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (divided)
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 12 ounces greyere cheese (grated 4 cups)
  • 8 ounces extra sharp cheddar cheese (grated 2 cups)
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1 1/2 cups bread crumbs

Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Drizzle oil (optional) into a large pot of boiling salted water. Add the macaroni and cook according to the directions on the package, 6-8 minutes. Drain well.
  3. Meanwhile, heat the milk in a small saucepan, but don't boil it. Melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a large (4 qt.) pot and add the flour. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring with a whisk. While whisking, add the hot milk and cook for a minutes or two more, until thickened and smooth. Take put off the heat, add the Gruyere, cheddar, 1 tablespoons salt, pepper, and dry mustard. Add the cooked macaroni and stir well. Pour into a 3 quart baking dish.
  4. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, combine butter with bread crumbs, and sprinkle on top. Bake 30-35 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and macaroni is browned on the top.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Sara's Fruit Tarts

Submitted by Sara Fidler

INGREDIENTS
  • pears
  • kiwi
  • raspberries
  • sugar in the raw
  • cinnamon
  • mini chocolate chips (frozen)
  • puff pastry

DIRECTIONS

Thaw puff pastry (30 minutes); preheat oven to 400; spray muffin tins; cut puff pastry into circles to form outer tartlet; mix diced pears, 2 tsp sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (more or less?); put pastry circles in muffin tin; put pear mixture in pastry circles; bake 10 - 15 minutes; put raspberries and kiwi pieces on top.

Heather G's Special Appetizer

Submitted by Heather Giustiniani

INGREDIENTS
  • 1 loaf Whole Wheat Baguette sliced thin
  • crumbled gorgonzola cheese
  • honey
  • pecan chips (can also use chopped pecans/walnuts)
DIRECTIONS

* toast baguettes in oven
* Once slightly toasted add cheese to each slice
* put back into oven and remove once cheese is melted
* once out of oven sprinkle pecans over melted cheese and drizzle honey over cheese and nuts.

Tomato and Artichoke Tart

Submitted by Pamela Shurkin

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Yield: 4 servings


INGREDIENTS
  • 1/2 (17.3-ounce) box puff pastry sheet, thawed (recommended: Pepperidge Farm)
  • 1/3 cup (about 5) oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained and julienned, patted dry
  • 1 jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained and patted dry (recommended: Cara Mia)
  • 1/2 cup fresh mozzarella, torn into small pieces
  • 1/2 cup goat cheese crumbles
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning (recommended: McCormick)
DIRECTIONS

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.

Roll out each puff pastry sheet to a 12 by 14-inch rectangle. Place on the baking sheet and fold over the edges of each pastry to form a 1/2-inch border. Prick the bottom of pastry with a fork; set aside.

Arrange tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and cheeses on puff pastry. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning.

Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until edges are puffed and golden brown.

Cut into serving potions and serve hot.

Filipino-style Egg Rolls

Submitted by Ryane Necessary

INGREDIENTS
  • 1 lb. ground meat (beef, turkey, or pork; a combination works best)
  • 3 carrots - julienned or coarsely shredded
  • 1-2 potatoes - julienned or coarsely shredded
  • 1 onion - halved and thinly sliced
  • 4-8 cloves of garlic - finely chopped (add to taste)
  • 1-2 handfuls of bean sprouts
  • 1-2 handfuls of napa cabbage, savoy cabbage, or bok choy - thinly sliced
  • 1 package of beef or pork gravy mix
  • 1 package of egg roll wrappers - sliced diagonally to make triangles
  • Soy sauce (to taste)
  • Salt and pepper (to taste)
  • Crisco for frying
  • Duck sauce or sweet and sour sauce for dipping
DIRECTIONS

Brown the ground meat. Mix all ingredients and add soy sauce and salt and pepper to taste. Drain any excess liquid. Roll filling in egg roll wrappers (see below). Fry egg rolls in a heavy pot with very hot melted Crisco. Drain them in a colander or on paper towels while cooking the rest.
To roll the egg rolls:
Start with the base of the triangle...place a small amount of filling in the middle (approximately 1 heaping teaspoon). Fold the left and right corners to the middle (covering the filling and overlapping the points). Roll tightly from the base of the triangle to the top of the triangle. Moisten the point with water to help it stick.
Serve with duck sauce or sweet and sour sauce. You can freeze and re-use any leftover filling and egg roll wrappers.

Artichoke Dip

Submitted by Elissa Rosenbach

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 can of artichokes
  • ½ cup of mayonnaise
  • ½ cup of parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat over to 350 degrees.
  2. Get all of the water out of the can of artichokes. Place the artichokes in a mixing bowl and cut into small pieces.
  3. Add the mayonnaise and parmesan cheese. Mix all three ingredients together.
  4. Place mixture into a cooking dish.
  5. Top mix with paprika and sprinkle a little extra parmesan cheese on top.
  6. Bake for approximately 30 minutes.
You can double, triple, etc. the recipe.

Shrimp

Submitted by Eryn Novak

Saute in about 2 tbsp of butter:
  • 1/2 cup green onions
  • 5-6 garlic cloves
  • 2 large handfuls of shrimp

When shrimp is completely cooked and water has boiled off, add a 28 oz can of diced tomatoes and simmer until excess liquid has cooked off (20-30 minutes).

Meanwhile, mix together 2 tsp of chopped cilantro, salt and jalapeƱos (amount is based on how hot you want the dish) with an 8 oz package of cream cheese

Add shrimp / tomato mixture (while still warm / hot) to cream cheese mixture.

Spread over baguette and top with cheese

Bake at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes.

Top with basil or oregano once cooled.

Mexican Spinach Dip

Submitted by Michelle

INGREDIENTS
  • 16 oz salsa
  • 1 10 oz spinach thawed and drained - I buy the chopped spinach
  • 2 c Monterey jack/pepperjack chez - I buy the Mexican bag of chz
  • 1 8oz cream cheese diced and softened - I buy the lite
  • 1c evaporated milk (light)
  • 1T red wine vinegar
  • Dash of salt and pepper
DIRECTIONS

Throw everything in a baking dish
Put a baking pan underneath in case it spills when you cook
Bake at 400 until bubbly
I usually bake for close to 25 minutes. Stir every 10 minutes.

Crab Dip

Submitted by Shelby Sirkis

INGREDIENTS
  • 1 pound lump crab meat
  • a table spoon worcestershire sauce
  • 1 8oz. package of cream cheese
  • 1 8oz. package of sour cream
  • old bay to season
DIRECTIONS

Mix all together, and add cheddar cheese and bake 30 minutes on 325 degrees.

Stuffed Mushrooms

Submitted by Carla Fazi

INGREDIENTS
  • 24 large fresh mushrooms, 1 1/2 to 2in in diameter
  • 1/4 cup sliced green onions
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup margarine or butter
  • 2/3 cup fine dry bread crumbs
  • 1/2 chredded cheddar or crumbled blue cheese
DIRECTIONS

1) Rinse and drain mushrooms. Remove stems; reserve caps. Chop enough stems to make 1 cup.

2) In medium saucepan cook the chopped ctems, green onions, and garlic in margarine or butter till tender. Stir in bread crumbs and cheese. Spoon crumb mixture into mushroom caps. Arrange mushrooms in a 15x10x1 in baking pan. Bake in a 425 degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes or till heated through.

Makes 24 mushrooms.

Apple an Brie Crostinis

Submitted By Brigitte Pribnow

INGREDIENTS

For the salsa
  • 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon honey
  • Dash of salt and freshly ground pepper, or to taste
  • 1 Granny Smith apple, finely diced
  • 2 tablespoons minced red onion
  • 2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro

To complete the recipe
  • 12 Crostini (French baguette cut into twelve slices)
  • ¼ cup Brie cheese, divided
DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly brush olive oil on both sides of

twelve 3/8-inch-thick slices of French baguette. Arrange the slices in
a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for about 1 minute per side
(until lightly toasted).

Turn on the oven broiler.

To make the salsa, stir together the vinegar, oil, honey, salt, and
pepper in a medium bowl. Add the apple, onion, and cilantro; toss.
Taste and adjust the seasoning.

Mound each crostini with a heaping tablespoon of the salsa. Top with
about 1 teaspoon of the cheese. Arrange on a baking sheet. Broil for
about 1 minute, or until the cheese is melted. Serve warm.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Submitted by Danielle Strein

INGREDIENTS
  • 10 oz chicken breast
  • 2 packages of cream cheese
  • 1 c ranch
  • 3/4 c hot sauce
  • 1 1/2c shredded cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS

Mix & bake at 350 until it looks done!