Farewell Dinner Party

Our wonderful neighbors are moving to Virginia next month and boy are we sad. To show our love and appreciation we recently hosted an intimate dinner for them and a couple of their good friends. I attempted to create a menu integrating foods Tamara especially enjoys this time of year: squash, baked fruit, chocolate, mushrooms, and dried cherries. Somehow it all came together....


Course 1: Winter Squash Soup (I skip the gruyere croutons and instead add a dollop of creme fraiche or sour cream, a sage leaf, and minced tart apples for garnish)

Course 2: Butter Lettuce Salad with Bacon, Dried Cherries & Roquefort Dressing

Course 3: Baguettes with Chevre and Organic Lavendar Salt

Course 4: Chicken with Morels

Dessert: Pain au Chocolate Bread Pudding with Cranberries and Chocolate Sauce

One thing I enjoy about this menu is all the "make-ahead" options. I can make almost every single course ahead of time. This means I will enjoy my own party that much more.

Idea: Host your own dinner party for 10; assign each couple one of these courses; enjoy a wonderful dinner together stress-free (not that I was stressed Tamara--believe me I thoroughly enjoyed preparing these myself!). Seriously, try it. You'll be happy to have something fun to look forward to in blah January.