Dinner Parties

In this heat, it's best to stay in. So, we planned and successfully hosted a lovely dinner party for our guests and new friends.

I found I was missing many of my go to items that help when I host a get together.  My platters, bowls and serving dishes all sit, quietly in a storage container somewhere in Texas, while I grieve the loss of my friendly party partners.

Mostly, I miss my Kitchen Aid mixer, but I made do by getting a small hand mixer, after attempting to make whipped cream with a whisk.  Haha! That made me think I might need to be working my arms out a little more than just lifting a hefty toddler.  My whipped cream was little more than a thick soup, but we made due with what we got, and ran out to get the hand mixer for future whipped cream adventures. 

I've used it (mixer) a lot! For my dinner party, it was to make the most delicious Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Cream Cheese frosting.  Oh my, it was heavenly!  My only regret was not making two cakes, as after the party was over, there was just one piece remaining that my hubby and I shared the next morning for breakfast.  This is one for the books, and I will be making it again for some lucky folk.  Oh, who am I kidding, I am making it for me.  ;)

Dinner was amazing as well, if I do say so myself.  If you remember, I hunted the town for a block of Asiago cheese to make this meal.  It was a hit!  Deliciousness, I tell ya! It was a chicken dish full of all things fattening and delightful.  We definitely indulged on this meal.  It's full of cream, butter, mushrooms, cheese, and white wine.  Yum! It's the perfect topper for perfectly cooked pasta, which I happened to get cooked to the perfect al dente, this time.  This doesn't always happen, mostly it's not al dente, as I get easily distracted by a couple of cute little renegades running around this house.

It was a great night, and I do look very forward to the next get together.  The putting together of these type of dinners are actually quite fun for me.  Looking for the ingredients and finding all the parts are an adventure that resemble a scavenger type hunt, each time.  It's fun, and it's out of the norm for me.  It is however becoming, my new normal.

Time to plan a new menu for the next party!