Tablescape Tuesday - Week 2 - 2016

One of my favorite things to do here in our house, is our tables. I always say the tables and our dinner parties are my creative outlet. Some people knit, scrapbook or make wreaths, I like to set our tables, come up with the perfect guest list and the perfect menu for a dinner party. That is my creative outlet.  Last week we had planned on having six for dinner, but two had to cancel at the last minute, so we moved dinner from the dining room to the eat in kitchen for a more intimate dinner setting. The holidays just seem to fly by, so right after the holidays was the perfect opportunity to get together and catch up with our neighbors.  I had remembered from last year, that right after Christmas, our Super Target had their standing rib roast on super sale. And it was again this year. Then on top of their sale price, the Target Cartwheel app had another 20% off! Great time to pick up a great roast for a nice dinner!
Here are some of my tables from this holiday season. 

On the Menu Monday (MPM) - Week 4 - 2015

Last week just seemed to fly by, not sure why? Of course we didn't get to everything we wanted to, and having my parents in town changed things up a bit, but we had a good week. We did not get to HH on Wednesday, we are going to try again this week, but I am not holding my breath with this group. We also did not make the walleye, again, because I wound up picking my parents up from the airport, so I just grabbed takeout on the way home.  Friday, we had two couples for dinner and we had such a good time. I have been craving Ina Garten's lamb roast, and it turned out really well and we had people going back for thirds even.  

I also did a crostini bar for appetizers. We had leftover beef tenderloin which was perfect, along with some cave blue cheese, horseradish and olive tapenade. Next time I think I would add garlic roasted tomatoes, caramelized onions and a brie, or some kind of cheese.   

    The salad that we started with was a recipe from my favorite local grocery store. Blueberry, Manchego, Walnut Salad. I loved the dressing for this salad, it was delicious. Dessert was very easy, we just had chocolate truffles with mixed berries, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries and raspberries. It was a really nice evening. We needed a refresher in our guest bathroom, so I bought a new shower curtain, new rug and new shower hooks. It really brightened things up! A nice inexpensive change!

Saturday, after our family friends funeral, we stopped in to my sisters to see her new kitten, she is SO cute! Really takes me back to when Stella was that small. 

After we decided to catch Birdman. We like to try to see all of the movies that are nominated for the Oscars. We enjoyed this one, Scott more than I did, but I can definitely see why Michael Keaton was nominated. After we grabbed a bite to eat out, nothing fancy, but it was good.

Sunday we had a family lunch to celebrate G & G's birthdays. I cannot believe they will be 14 on Thursday. But boy, can you tell they are teenagers. I don't remember being so grumpy all the time at that age, but they really aren't a lot of fun. Grant would not even take a picture with me.

I started getting a tickle in my throat last night, and I am not feeling that great today, so not sure if our plans this week will hold up, but fingers crossed. 

Monday Plans - Our neighbors just got back from a two week cruise, so they are coming over to tell us about their travels.  Breakfast and Lunch - Fruit, Leftovers from Saturday, spaghetti and meatball Dinner - Joey Nova's pizza, our favorite Tuesday Plans - We have not taken advantage of the $5 movie night at our local theater yet, and Scott is really looking forward to seeing American Sniper.  Breakfast and Lunch - Egg and Fruit, Leftovers, probably broccoli and something Dinner - Yard House, I love this place Wednesday Plans - we are going to try, for the third week in a row, to get together with former co-workers for HH. Can't believe that we have such a hard time getting together.  Breakfast and Lunch - fruit, leftovers and a salad Dinner - HH @ Bacio Thursday Plans - getting together with a girlfriend who I always enjoy seeing for HH. Breakfast and Lunch - eggs, fruit, leftovers and a salad Dinner - using up some of the leftover lamb and making gyros Friday Plans - oh boy am I in for fun now. I have a root canal scheduled for the afternoon, so it will be a low key night with some DVR or movies on demand. Breakfast and Lunch - eggs, fruit, salad Dinner - I am thinking the only thing I am going to feel like eating is soup. Saturday and Sunday Plans - We haven't made plans yet for the weekend. I am sure we will try to get another movie or two in that have been nominated for awards. For more meal plans and links to recipes, check out the orgjunkie.

On the Menu Monday (MPM) - Week 3 - 2015

I didn't get to make everything I wanted to last week, but here were a couple of favorites!   Pan fried bone in organic chicken thighs, seasoned with Flavorgod Everything seasoning, roasted broccoli with lemon and pan roasted butternut squash. This made great leftovers as well. 

 Oven roasted pork tenderloin with red peppers and onions. Acorn squash with ghee and roasted brussel sprouts. This was SOOOO good! We both loved it!

  We had a fantastic weekend! Friday I had done some running around for our dinner party on Saturday. I picked up a couple of salads for dinner and we were going to just pop in a frozen pizza for dinner, but we decided to try a new place not far from us called Living Waters, which also has a yoga studio. Lets just say, they should stick with yoga. I could not even eat one slice, all you could taste was raw pizza dough. We even put it back in the oven and cooked it further, but yuck. I hate to throw out food, and we tried a few neighbors, but no takers, so we literally threw out a almost a whole pizza. Sad, but it was awful!  Saturday we spent the morning getting some errands and shopping done for our dinner party. We were supposed to have a chef come in and prepare dinner for 12 of us, but our chef, along with two of his kids got the flu, so I had to pinch hit. We came up with the menu Friday and I made the potato dish and the salmon spread in preparation. I asked one of our neighbors grandsons to come over and help with prep work, serving and clean up. It was the third time he has come to help with something like this, and he is absolutely wonderful and a huge help! Dinner worked out really well, we had a smoked salmon spread on endive, paired with a really nice sparkling wine from New Mexico, a mashed potato dish, I had picked up the recipe the week before from one of our Trader Joe's. It had broccoli, leaks and cave blue cheese, it went really nicely with the beef tenderloin with a mushroom madeira reduction that I made and roasted asparagus. We did a salad course with Kung Fu Riesling, a nice dry Riesling, loved it. The main course we paired with a Mount Vedeer Cabernet and then we had a  dark chocolate cake with a butter cream frosting, paired with The Velvet Devil Merlot. It was a really good time and a great group of people.   

Sunday, our friend Carrie was in town visiting her boyfriend, so we met up with them for lunch at The Bonefish Grill which is new to us here, they just opened a couple of months ago. We have been twice and just love the food. After a bite to eat we went to see Wild with my girl Reese. Pretty good movie. I think she will get an Oscar nod. When we got home, we had Boyhood from Redbox so we watched that before the Golden Globes came on, and we both loved that. Trying to make sure we get all of our "Oscar" movies in. Can't wait to see who will be up! I have set some goals (once again) around meal planning, as best I can. I want to try a new recipe at least once a week. Have one chicken meal, one fish meal, one crock pot/braised meal and one soup or stew. This week we have plans a few nights, so I am doing my best to squeeze these things in.  

Monday

Plans - Home, I need to work on my planner and goals for 2015

Breakfast and Lunch - Clementines, Pear and chicken salad with a vinaigrette (this is a pre-made salad from our local store, they are SO good).

Dinner - Chicken and Pasta with a Champagne Cream Sauce I am changing this up a little to include leftover ingredients I have on hand. We have a half of a bottle of sparkling wine left over from Saturday so I thought it would be a good use of it. I am also going to use pasta I have on hand, add some chicken and try thyme instead of sage. I also will add some of the leftover asparagus. If  had mushrooms, I would add those as well, but I am sure it will be good. 

Tuesday

Plans - Neighborhood Bunco night. This is always one of my favorite nights of the month, looking forward to seeing the girls!

Breakfast and Lunch - Eggs and bacon, fruit. Leftovers (clean the fridge out - unless I pick up another salad!)

Dinner - Usually it is just snacky foods at Bunco. I am bringing Cheesy Beer Smokies I think it seems like something that the girls will like!

Wednesday

Plans - We weren't able to get together for HH last week, it was SOOOOO cold, I was happy to not have to leave the house! BUT, the good news is, more people can make it this week!

Breakfast and Lunch - Eggs and bacon with fruit and a salad

Dinner - Bacio for HH

Thursday

Plans - Hoping to catch up on some things at home and get ready for a dinner party Friday night. 

Breakfast and Lunch - Eggs and bacon and salad

Dinner - Walleye. We didn't have this last week, and I am still working on cleaning out the freezer. 

Friday

Plans - Carrie and Scott are coming for dinner along with another couple, Mike and Kelly. Looking forward to seeing them, it is a fun group!

Breakfast and Lunch - Eggs and bacon with fruit and soup or a salad if there aren't leftovers. 

Dinner - I have not come up with the menu yet, but I am sure it will be good!

Saturday and Sunday

Plans - my mom and dad are flying up from AZ on Thursday to attend a good friends funeral. So my sister and I will be going with them to the services, just waiting on details. So keeping most of the weekend open to spend with them.

For more meal planning and links to recipes - check out the Orgjunkie.

   

On the Menu Monday (MPM) - Week 20

We had an action packed weekend, but it was a ton of fun.    Friday we attended the 19th annual Winefest which is a fundraiser which supports the University of MN - Children's Hospital. They have over 400 wonderful wines, food from some of the best restaurants in town and awesome silent and live auction items. We had a wonderful night!  

Saturday we spent the day running errands and getting ready for friends to come for dinner and game night. A few weeks ago we took an awesome cooking class with wine pairings. I have been dying to recreate the menu at home.   

 

The first course was a french brie, a robiola and an alemar cheese with blackberries, strawberries and barrel aged honey paired with Charles K Voigner (all of the wines were Charles Smith wines, delicious!)  

The second course was roasted peaches with seared scallops and micro greens paired with Kung Fu Girl Riesling. The next course was a roasted boneless lamb roast and roasted fingerling potatoes. I made this recipe back in January and the boy and I loved it. We paired this with K Syrah. Dessert was coconut dark chocolate truffles and carrot cake truffles paired with The Velvet Devil merlot. It was a really nice night and so fun to do a dinner with pairings like that.  Sunday was Mother's day. We took both sets of parents out to brunch and had a lot of fun catching up with everyone over a really nice brunch. 

Here is what we have planned for this week!

Monday
Plans - Home, laundry FUN stuff!
Breakfast and Lunch - Berries, english muffin, chicken pasta salad
Dinner - Grilled chicken ravioli, pesto, roasted tomatoes and fresh mozzarella

Tuesday
Plans - Our new sectional is being delivered for the living room, I cannot wait. Then we just have the finishing touches. I absolutely love the way this room has come together. Bunco night! I am bringing a big pitcher of margaritas and margarita dip with strawberries.
Breakfast and Lunch - I have oatmeal I really need to eat. Leftover soup chicken tortilla soup from last week.
Dinner - Bunco bites

Wednesday
Plans - Maybe a movie, depends on the weather really. If it is nice a walk. Lowe's for mulch!
Breakfast and Lunch - More oatmeal, fresh berries, leftover lamb
Dinner -  Homemade margarita pizza Smashburger - we need to go get a ton of mulch at Lowe's.

Thursday
Plans - Cards with the neighbor girls
Breakfast and Lunch - Oatmeal with fresh berries, leftover chicken tortilla soup
Dinner - Turkey tacos (I love taco night)

Friday
Plans -Waiting to hear back from friends on dinner plans.
Breakfast and Lunch - more oatmeal until it is gone, but I will miss my cottage cheese and berries so that will be lunch.
Dinner -

Saturday
Plans - Waiting to hear back from friends on dinner plans.
Breakfast and Lunch - oatmeal, berries, salad
Dinner -

Sunday
Plans - Grillfest at the Depot - we are attending and not volunteering this year, really looking forward to it
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner - we will be getting plenty to eat at Grillfest!

For more meal plans and links to recipes, check out the orgjunkie.  

Recipe of the Week - Chocolate Mint Trifle - St. Paddy's Day Bunco!

Time for the Tuesday Recipe Link up! I am linking up with Tasty Tuesdays, Hello Happiness and In and Out of the Kitchen.

  I am getting ready for next week and our Bunco themed St. Patrick's Day game night. My sister made this last year, and it was such a hit! Festive, delicious and pretty (at least while in the bowl!).

Recipe
Ingredients:
1 box (19.5 ounces) family size brownie mix, prepared according to directions and baked in 9 x13 inch pan
3 cups cold milk
2 boxes (3.4 ounces) instant chocolate pudding
1 container (12 ounces) of frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
a couple drops of green food coloring
1 ½ cups mint baking chips
a few Andes mints, unwrapped
Fresh mint sprig

Directions:
Cool brownies and cut into 1 to 2 inch cubes. Beat pudding and milk together until it starts to thicken. In another bowl, mix peppermint extract and a few drops of green food coloring into the whipped topping until it turns light green. Place half of the brownie cubes in the bottom of a trifle dish or clear glass bowl. Top with half of the chocolate pudding. Sprinkle on half of the mint chips. Next, carefully spread half of the green whipped topping over mints. Repeat with the remaining brownies, pudding, and mint chips. Cover loosely with plastic and refrigerate until ready to serve. Right before serving remove plastic and decorate the top with a “cloud” of the reserved green whipped topping. Place some whole mints on top and garnish with fresh mint sprig.

Five for Friday - Week 4

Its time for Five for Friday! We are getting ready to head to the lake for a nice long weekend. Can't wait to just kick back and relax with good friends, good food and some good movies, books and wine!   Linking up with these great ladies for Five for Friday! Natasha, April, Christina, and Darci!  

Here are some of my favorite finds that I have come across recently.  1. One of our favorite things that we enjoy with L & J is cheese. I picked up a few at Trader Joe's and we are also stopping at Surdyk's cheese shop on our way there. What I love about Surdyk's is the skilled cheese professionals. You just tell them the occasion, other food you may be serving and they make recommendations. They also have a huge selection of local cheeses as well. These are the cheeses we picked up from Trader Joe's!  

2. The other thing I love about a good cheese platter, is adding in jellies, honey or pate/mousse to enhance the flavors of the cheeses. I have a few that I have picked up that are already packed and ready to go. Our local Byerly's (Lunds) has a wonderful selection which is where I find most of them. Cannot wait to try these.  

  3. The perfect accompaniment to cheese, cute cheese knives! I ordered these from Etsy last week, with the hope that they would make it here on time. They will also make the perfect hostess gift, along with the next item on my list.  

  4. A good slate cheese board. You need a good cheese board in order to display your cheeses. I love using a slate board. What is so nice about the slate is that you can refrigerate it if you want your cheese chilled (I like mine at room temperature) and you can also label your cheeses with chalk. Works perfectly!  

     5. Of course you need the right add ins to go with your cheese and add to your cheese board. Grapes, marcona almonds with rosemary, cornichons. And of course the right dishes to put them in.