Girl's Night In-Menu/Drinks help

[bekki]

I'm hosting a dinner for 5 of my close friends. We haven't seen each other in a while (work, moving etc/0, so I wanted to have dinner at home, where it's more comfy to lounge on the couch and chat. For the menu, I wanted stuff that would be easy to eat on the couch, yummy and fun. Here's what I'm thinking

staters
Buffalo Chicken Dip, so good with chips and celery

Maybe one other thing

Dinner
Orzo w/Roasted Veggies and chicken (a great barefoot COntessa pasta salad)

Baked Potato Soup with all the fixings

Dessert
Chocolate Fondue (our favorite meal together is at a local fondue place, but it's so expensive, so I thought I could do the best part at home:) )

So, do we need another starter? What fun drink could I serve? I was thinking Sangria or something. Do we need bread with the main course?

Thank you all for being my sounding board!

[layla14]

Yummy sounds so good. Would you mind posting that Barefoot Contessa pasta salad?

I would say that you don't need any bread with dinner. Beside it would only fill people up and then they wouldn't have room for the yummy desert.

Another starter might be good. People always seem to love the picky stuff. What about the Spinach balls everone is always raving over. That might be nice.

Maura

[Kismet]

Sounds like a yummy dinner! I would maybe stay with one starter and then have bread with the main course. It's always nice to have bread to dip in soup. :D

As far as drinks, check out CL's Pomegranate Cocktails from Dec 03. These were a HUGE hit at our Valentine's party. Yummy!

[bekki]

Here's the pasta salad recipe:

This is a Barefoot Contessa recipe I saw on the TV show. I made few changes with the veggies (zuccini instead of eggplant and added mushrooms). Just the pasta, dressing and veggies alone is pretty good (totally cut back on the oil, there was so much from the veggies, more than a couple tbls was too much for the dressing), the addition of green onion and feta (and I threw in some roasted chicken too) was outstanding. I've been eating it for lunch for the past few days, and it's still great.

It would be perfect for a lunchon or BBQ this summer too

Orzo with Roasted Veggies (Barefoot Contessa)

1 small eggplant, peeled and 3/4-inch diced
1 red bell pepper, 1-inch diced
1 yellow bell pepper, 1-inch diced
1 red onion, peeled and 1-inch diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup good olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 pound orzo or rice-shaped pasta

For the dressing:
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
1/3 cup good olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

To assemble:
4 scallions, minced (white and green parts)
1/4 cup pignolis, toasted
3/4 pound good feta, 1/2-inch diced (not crumbled)
15 fresh basil leaves, cut into julienne

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Toss the eggplant, bell peppers, onion, and garlic with the olive oil, salt, and pepper on a large sheet pan. Roast for 40 minutes, until browned, turning once with a spatula.

Meanwhile, cook the orzo in boiling salted water for 7 to 9 minutes, until tender. Drain and transfer to a large serving bowl. Add the roasted vegetables to the pasta, scraping all the liquid and seasonings from the roasting pan into the pasta bowl.

For the dressing, combine the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper and pour on the pasta and vegetables. Let cool to room temperature, then add the scallions, pignolis, feta, and basil. Check the seasonings, and serve at room temperature.

[layla14]

Oh, that looks so good. Adding roasted chicken to a salad is always such a great way to make a meal out of it. I have a chinese cabbage salad and rice salad recipe that I do that with too. Also it is good for stretching it out.

Thanks again!!

maura

[aggie94]

There is a Red Delicious (as in apple) Martini recipe in this month's Bon Appetit that looks AMAZING that I am planning to make for a gathering next weekend, that calls for apple vodka, apple schnapps, and apple cider. YUM. :D If you want me to post the recipe tonight, I can.

Also, my friend served an excellent white wine sangria at her wedding reception. I know she's posted the recipe on this board before, but the search function isn't turning it up. :(

[MISSINDI]

Can you post the Red Delicious Martini recipe? Either I missed it, or didn't get the issue yet... thanks!

I have a great recipe for White Strawberry Sangria, if you're interested. I made it for our Supper Club back in December and several times since then. In fact, there's a pitcher in my frig right now. Hope this helps!

I would agree with another "starter." Those are always the best parts of a meal, and with girlfriends just sitting around and chatting, seems that's more fun than actual "real" food, ya know?

[Jollyjo]

MISSINDI - I don't know about bekki, but I would love to have the recipe for the sangria. Could you please post? Thanks!

[MISSINDI]

Sure - here you go. Hope you like it!

White Strawberry Sangria
Prep: 10 minutes
Chill: 1 hour

Ingredients
1 750-ml bottle dry white wine (I used Pinot Grigio)
1/2 cup strawberry schnapps (I used Creme de Strawberry)
1/4 cup sugar
Whole bag of frozen strawberries (since they're out of season)
Ice

In a 2-quart pitcher stir together wine, strawberry schnapps, and sugar until sugar dissolves. Add strawberries and chill for 1 to 4 hours. Serve over ice. If desired, garnish with whole strawberries. Makes 5 or 6 (about 8-ounce) servings.

[Jollyjo]

Thanks - it sounds wonderful. I can already picture drinking these out on the deck on a nice, warm, sunny day! (Do I sound hopeful??):D

[brendat4]

Your menu sounds yummy! I don't know if you NEED another starter but I always like to have two because that way if someone doesn't like what I have they at least have another option. I have a really good artichoke dip if you want the recipe. Or perhaps some sort of salsa type dip? I'd love your recipe for the Buffalo Chicken Dip--sounds interesting and like something my DH would love!

As far as bread, I would pass because you are already having two "starchy" things--the orzo and potato soup. Perhaps a light salad might be nice with this?

I'm not very good at drinks since I don't really drink myself (opening a bottle of wine is about as far as i get), so hopefully you'll get some neat suggestions. But Sangria is always good and easy to put together too!

Have fun!

['lil cooker]

Some cocktail ideas for you on another thread - enjoyed reading this one:
http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=54780&highlight=cocktail

[VctRsgrl]

I personally enjoy fun starters and drinks the most! I'd go with more than one starter, a hearty salad, and a sinful dessert!

[aggie94]

Red Delicious Martini

1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 lime wedge

1 1/2 cups ice cubes
1/4 cup Van Gogh Wild Appel Vodka
1/4 cup Berentzen Apfel Korn (premium apple schnapps)
1/4 cup apple cider
1 cinnamon stick
1 whole star anise

Mix sugar and cinnamon in small bowl. Rub rim of martini glass with lime wedge. Dip rim in sugar mixture, turning glass to coat rim.

Combine ice, vodka, schnapps, and apple cider in cocktail shaker. Shake well to blend. Pour into prepared martini glass. Garnish with cinnamon stick and star anise and serve.

Makes one serving.



I can't wait to try these - they look awesome!

[AZLorena]

We have been having fun with flavored martinis lately.....I found a lot of great drink recipes here (http://www.webtender.com). We have tried a chocolate martini, apple martini, and the martian martini. Each time we go to the store we get another ingredient to make a different martini. It is a lot of fun.

Lorena