Tag: dinner party

Caesar Salad Dressing

Stephen loves Caesar salad. It is his all time favorite meal. Caesar salad used to be our traditional anniversary dinner. That was until we went to the Pasta Moon in, our anniversary vacation spot, Half Moon Bay and tried their Risotto Sea Scallops and tomato 

Vanilla Peach Pork Chops

The kids and I waited all spring and early summer for the nectarines to ripen on the the tree in the backyard. Finally our patience paid off. One day while making our routine check of the fruit we found several ripe ones. The nectarines tasted 

Bacon Wrapped Chicken

Bacon Wrapped Chicken

Several years ago, a group of moms started a monthly Bunko night. There were 12 of us with alternates in case one of us could not make it. Each member had to play hostess to a game night. She would provide the house, the meal, dessert and the prizes. Every month, we contributed $5.00 to the next month’s hostess to cover the cost for prizes. Everyone walked away a winner. That might be the most wins with a $15.00 prize to a complimentary $6.00 prize. The food was great, but the company was the best part. Being all moms, it was nice to let loose once in a while.

One month, my friend Lindsey surprised us all with this simple, yet elegant dish served with Parmesan Garlic Asparagus and Boiled Red Potatoes. I tracked the recipe down only to discover it belonged to my friend Cathy’s grandmother. She is also the woman who gave us the caramel recipe and Easy Crock Pot Chicken. Bacon wrapped chicken quickly became a Valentine’s Day tradition in our home. The meal is finished off with a rich chocolaty dessert of Molten Lava Cakes and vanilla ice cream.

6 chicken breasts (you can use regular chicken breasts and fillet them and pound them flat or buy the thin cut chicken breast. I still had to pound the thin cutlets. You want to be able to roll them up nicely)
Butter, softened
1-2 containers of chive and onion cream cheese
Salt and Pepper
6 bacon strips
Toothpicks

Preheat oven to 350.

Dot or spread each thinned chicken breast with a pad of butter. (A pad of butter is like half a tablespoon). Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Spread 1-2 tbsp of Onion/Chives Cream Cheese. Roll up. Wrap with a slice of bacon. Pin with toothpick.

Bake 350 for 20-30 minutes, or until juice runs clear. Put under the broiler for 5 minutes to crisp the bacon.

Apple and Ice Cream Pie

In many parts of the world September brings show tail signs that fall is close at hand. Here in the valley we will not feel the effects for another couple of months. I should have been born or at least moved to the northern east 

Lemon Orzo with Mushrooms and Pine Nuts

Orzo is a type grain often times referred to as Orzo Pasta. Depending on the market it is either shelved with the pasta or the rice. Or you can readily find it in the bins of a health food market. All my small town grocery 

Glazed Salmon on Green and Orange Salad

Good Seasons used to make a nice make-it-yourself Asian salad dressing. Sadly I can never find the Asian flavor or Cesar at any of the grocery stores in the area. I used the dressing from an Asian spinach salad recipe and omitted the OJ.

Source: unknown
4 (5oz) cooked salmon fillets
1/3 cup Asian Ginger salad dressing
2 tbsp clementine or orange juice
1/2 cup thinly sliced red onion
8 cups mixed salad greens
4 clementines, peeled and sliced
1/3 cup chopped unsalted toasted almonds

Heat broiler. Place salmon on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Spoon on or brush salmon with 2 tablespoons of the dressing. Let sit 15 minutes. Broil salmon 8-10 minutes or until just cooked through.

Meanwhile, put the remaining dressing and the juice in a large bowl; add onions and toss to coat.

To serve, add salad greens and clementines to the bowl with the onion; toss to mix and coat. Arrange salad on serving plates. Place salmon on salad and sprinkle with almonds.