I've taken today off to recover from shoveling snow, eating, and drinking. Last night we had a feast.
We started off with Blackberry Martinis and assorted appetizers. I had some nice chunks of cheese (some white cheese studded with cranberries and a white cheddar with port), kielbasa sausage, and a olive and pepper tapenade. We had this with crackers and wedges of toasted sourdough bread.
The next course was a crab lasagne. Palma, a kitchen goddess from Palm Desert who I ran into at the slowtravel website shared the recipe with me and it is amazing! We had made this for New Year's dinner with fresh pasta we made before the incident now known as the 'unfortunate pasta maker incident'. We've not made pasta since because I am searching for the pasta maker attachment for my Kitchen Aid mixer. Anyway, I discovered that these froze very well!
With these I served a sparkling wine from Italy - Proseco.
Next up was a salad I've made before. Arugula and figs tossed with a balsamic and shallot vinaigrette. The salad is finished off with shaved parmigiano reggiano. Easy, fresh tasting, and light.
The main course (I know, you're thinking haven't they finished eating by now?) consisted of a prime rib roast with a garlic thyme crust, Yorkshire puddings, roasted root vegetables, roasted potatoes, gravy, and rolls. Paul selected the menu and I just went with it. Nothing was a new recipe so it was familiar cooking - comfort food really, perfect for a day with a dump of snow! *smile*
With this we had a bottle of wine we had brought back from California in 2005. It was a Ledson Primitivo and it was luscious! Unfortunately we only had the one bottle and now it is gone!
For dessert we had panna cotta with cranberry gellee. Again I used a recipe from the great Palma. I had made this for New Year's Eve and the recipe made so much (even though I halved it) that I made some in individual heart-shaped molds and froze it. I discovered that the gel didn't freeze that well. Oh well, it tasted great. I served the panna cotta on my pink depression glass plates with two of the heart-shaped shortbread cookies I had made.
With dessert we had a small glass of the vin santo that we had brought back from Casa Emma winery in Chianti in the fall. We only have about 1/3 of the bottle left. I don't think that this will last us until we go back to Italy in 2008. Gasp - a crisis!
By now we were stuffed even through we spread the courses over 3 hours. We cleaned up (remarkably few dishes - yeah!), and opened gifts - woo hoo! I so love gifts and Paul made perfect selections this year.
I hope that all of you had a wonderful day as well!
Wow! Yummers! It all looks perfect!
Now, when we make pasta dough, I cut extra circles the size of those little ramekins, and freeze stacks of them in zip-lock bags. Then it is easy to whip up a couple of those baby lasagnas without the whole dough process! They look like "Pasta Pringles" in my freezer!
Palma
Posted by: Palma | February 15, 2007 at 10:36 AM
Everything looks FABULOUS!!
Posted by: Diva | February 15, 2007 at 12:48 PM
Looks wonderful! I haven't tried the infamous Palma's lasagna...but I will.
Sounds like you will have to make a trip before 2008~ or drink less.
Happy VD day to you!
Posted by: sandi @ the whistlestop cafe | February 15, 2007 at 01:44 PM