The Dinner Party

We hosted a small dinner party last weekend. After struggling for two weeks with menu options and timings, I figured it out and it worked!

The day started out fine with Jamie Oliver's Creamy Mushroom Soup. It was super easy to make after chopping a couple of pounds of mushrooms. Once it got going the apartment was smelling amazing and I felt better knowing that if everything turned out horrible at least we would eat nice soup.

Right when I was about to start on my Apple-Pie Cake I had to run to the tailor for a dress fitting for an upcoming wedding. I called Mark in a panic from the car. I was hitting every red light! Doesn't that always happen when you're in a rush? Anyway, I asked Mark to peel and slice apples since I would never have enough time. When I got back there was a bowl filled with perfectly sliced apples. So that was dessert done!

For the main we had Pumpkin Mac & Cheese. It's practically a health dish. Pumpkin and whole wheat pasta! Ignore the butter and cheese and you're fine. It was super easy to make (I might've use canned pumpkin purée) and it made the whole hosting thing so much easier since I just had to throw it in the oven when we sat down for soup. They were all easy dishes but they boosted my confidence in hosting a dinner. And the company was pretty good, too! My only note for next time is buy more wine.

 

Posted with Blogsy

What a week!

This week has been pretty boring for food and everything else, I guess. And isn't it always the case that when the week feels so long the weekend flies by. I thought I was coming down with a cold on Tuesday so Mark cooked. Then I thought I had the flu by Thursday! I didn't. Just a bit run down. And after the longest week it's already Sunday. I've got big plans for next weekend, though!

We've invited a few friends over for dinner. I've only hosted one dinner party and while it was a success (at least I think it was), it was a year ago. I've been working on a menu and I'm excited to try some new things. I'm not going to go crazy with anything but I'll probably have a panic attack at some point.

In the meantime, I've been knitting a hat for Mark. I realized once I started on it I was using the wrong size needles so I've ordered the correct ones and while I wait for them I'm just going to see how this hat plays out. I've been a bit desperate to knit recently.

 

Posted with Blogsy

A Bit of Knitting: Trendy Baby Hat

I have been itching to knit lately. I think it's because it's finally cool out. I've promised Mark a winter hat for AGES so on Friday night I ordered all sorts of yarn. I ordered two different colors of yarn so Mark will have at least two new hats this winter. Then I ordered a pretty yarn for a snood for me. Since that yarn won't arrive for a few days I needed something now. I thought about friends that are expecting a baby soon and decided that baby needs an orange hat. A trendy baby hat.

We went to the Texas Renaissance Festival yesterday (I didn't take a single picture!) and on the way there I started the hat. Three times. I think I've out of hat-knitting practice. But once I got going it was a great way to pass the time since traffic was quite backed up. I finished it this afternoon after making Joy the Baker's Mushroom and Brussels Sprout Hash. I swapped out the egg for fancy Whole Foods sausages but next time I might follow her lead with the eggs. The sausages were really good but it would be nice to see what it's like with eggs.

I'm going to start a new soup recipe soon and make quinoa stuffed peppers for tonight's dinner. I've made the peppers with couscous in the past but I thought it might be nice to try something different. We'll see.

Posted with Blogsy