dinner @Tate's / june 2013

Cook, cook, cook...eat, eat, eat...

and it's a bajillion degrees in this house with no real air conditioning!

Is it worth it?

Of course it is.

LOVE hearing everyone at the table chatting and laughing and then the moments of silence when someone takes a bite and encourages all others to do so.

...perfect...

Here was the June dinner...

We started with a mushroom bruschetta,

And an avocado, lime soup with fresh crab, red radishes and cilantro,

Next up was a spicy grilled shrimp served with a traditional risotto and some kale chips,

Also a Tilapia with paper thin slices of potato baked until crispy and delicious,

Another photo of the Kale chips which everyone MUST try soon,

I also tested this recipe for a kale and zucchini bread pudding which I have made 3 times since this dinner - I will get that recipe up very soon,

Finally it's time for dessert,

Some lemon curd filled thumbprint cookies,

Some Florentine cookies,

And a bittersweet chocolate Cremeux served with raspberry coulis, fresh berries and a little touch of fresh cream,

WHEW

Until next time...

if "Bake It With Booze" had a party...

If the ladies who write Bake It With Booze ever invite you over for a little soiree/pot-luck you say YES, where and what time. 

There may then follow a small moment of panic when you realize this little pot-luck includes several other food bloggers ...amazing...fantastically talented food bloggers. Then you have a medium sized moment of panic about what you should bring. Since this was being hosted by BIWB I figured I could skip making a dessert...

probably good thinking on my part...safe...whew...

This was such a fun evening. So many delicious edibles. Ending with some crazy something, something, whiskey, something that was beyond delicious and sinful. I am sharing photos and links and introducing you to some amazing women and their blogs (if you haven't already met).

Enjoy...and get cooking!

We entered her yard and were welcomed with the following...

"...hello lover..." was pretty much all I could think for a few seconds.

And are those the best napkins?

After visiting for a bit and sharing cocktail ideas - then drinking said cocktail ideas - we got down to the business of eating...ALL of what you see in the following photos - and a few other items I did not get photos of (sorry).

...eat, eat, eat....repeat...so good...

The top right corner of the above plate has a Farro salad that is delicious. 

Ally from A Girl and her Fork brought this little dish.

...make this...

Farro salad with mandarin vinaigrette

Below to the left are these little phyllo cups filled with a spicy shrimp, avocado and mango ceviche - I will eventually get that recipe up on this site.

(i know i know....tsk tsk...)

I brought something else as well but didn't even get a photo of that dish 

(i know i know...)

On the toast was a mango chutney made by Ellen

Ellen also provided these shrimp skewers (holy hell good)

This occasion also introduced me to the lovely woman who writes 

the food blog Guava Rose.

She brought with her the following,

Now I don't even like SPAM - but here's the link to this recipe because you all need to try these (if you haven't already)

Musubi by guava Rose

She also brought these super cute little Hawaiian roll things that I could eat every day until I die.

...definitely make these asap...

Guava cream cheese custard rolls

Bake it With Booze then pulled out a few little treats.

First we had these filled strawberries from Jacqueline,

yum.

Then Ellen pulled out these things,

...no words...

Here's the link, you're going to want it.

Whiskey ginger mini cheesecakes by Bake it With Booze

There were also sausages and cheeses and various meats and Karla made this delicious cheddar topped apple pie and by the time we were done I pretty much rolled myself home and to bed.

I guess the moral of this little tale is, again, if BIWB invites you to dinner - you go.

THANK YOU SO much to this group of ladies for such a fun evening.

Looking forward to getting together again soon.

:-)