Friday, January 30, 2009

A Little Bit of Country Living

This past Saturday, after hours of planning, cooking, baking, and craziness, Celeste and I threw a 6 course dinner party. We served a total of 16 people. It's a little something we like to call the Culinary Crew! This is where each month a group of two or three women create a wonderful culinary cuisine for the rest of the group. It's so much fun to get out of the house, have a wonderful meal, and actually have grownup conversation (aka- no kids around!).

January was our turn to dine everyone, and while it was a blast, I'm so glad it's done and I can enjoy the dinners to come!

(Oh, and if anyone called, emailed, or texted me last week and I didn't get back to you this is why...)



Our Appetizers: Orange Cornbread drizzled with Lemon Honey
Fruit Salsa and Cinnamon Chips
Classic Spinach Dip
and Cranberry Cider





Grapefruit Winter Salad with Citrus Dressing

Creamy Carrot Soup with Garlic Croutons

Lemon Sorbet

Flank Steak Pinwheel with Blue Cheese Sauce
Served over Bacon and Spinach Liguini

Devils Food Cheesecake

16 comments:

Kassie said...

Dani!
O my goodness! you are amazing! I totally wish I was in this "stay-at-home-mommy"/"dinner party group"! This looks amazing and I bet you will be ranted and raved about for a long time to come! It's so good to see you so happy and you have a beautiful family!
-Kassie & Hunter

Megan said...

She will be ranted & raved about for a long time!! It was a FABULOUS dinner... and the cake... OH MY! Words cannot describe that sinful pleasure, but I'll continue dreaming about it!

Rachel said...

can I say wow!!!that was great dining! I love stuff like that, it looked so beautiful!

Jessi said...

Ummm, are you kidding me? This is seriously nuts Dani. I am speechless...which doesn't actually work well when your trying to post a comment. All I have to say is that this dinner blows our little fondue party OUT of the water. Seriously, the first thing I thought when I saw that first pic of the table was, 'Is she going to tell us about some fancy restaurant they went to?' You guys really did an amazing, amazing job! (long post for being 'speechless':)

Jessi said...

PS- I want some of that soup...and that sorbet. Do you have any leftovers?

THE BROOKS CLAN said...

Wow! That is amazing. I want some.

Mary said...

Wow! That is incredible. I couldn't have done anything that amazing. Now that I see the salad, I can't wait to make it myself. Thank you so much. Beautiful pictures; everything looks so delicious. I'm sure it was.

Unknown said...

Okay i really should not have read about your dinner on a fast sunday! That looked amazing! I just wanted to say Hello and i hope everything is going well!
Stacie (and of coarse Mitchell)

Topher and Carma said...

Hey Danielle-
I'm so happy I found your blog. I feel like such an awful person, because I always mean to talk to you at church and "introduce" myself, but I am always chasing little tikes or headed to the mother's room. I always hear about you from everybody in the ward but haven't ever "met" you...sorry about that. But, your blog is super cute and so is Hannah. So, anyways I thought I would say hello.
-Carma

Mia said...

oh my word- if you have to share the recipes, I just might have to make them!

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The Wright Fam said...

I am seriously soo impressed with you guys!!! That is a huge undertaking and I have heard nothing but amazing reviews!! Pat yourself on the back and put your feet up, you deserve it!

Erin said...

Did you seriously make all that? I am so jealous. It looks like it come out of Martha Stewart Magazine. Just beautiful.

Anonymous said...

How do I get in on this? That is straight up fan-cie! When I host a dinner, I take my butt to SAMS and buy the most impressive things I can find in the frozen section. Clearly, I could use some culinary help. That table makes me want to sit down and forget my troubles.

cally said...

Oh. My. Food Network Goodness.

When's the next party? Am I allowed to crash?

Anonymous said...

o.m.g. this meal looks totally amazing! i'm so crazy impressed!