While Mom is away the kids will play......isn't that an old saying? Well I'm not a kid, or at least age wise I'm not a kid but Mom is away and I felt like it was time for an annual dinner party at my house. The planning actually started weeks ago. Who to invite? What to eat? The who to invite actually became difficult because there are a few people that I wanted to invite but other's that I really wanted to come would not have if I invited them. It's always amazing to me how childish people are even when they are older. I find that at work as well but that's a whole different topic, post.
I planned this one about two or three weeks before it was going to happen. I had grand plans. I was going to make tenderloin, then I was going to make sweet and sour pork with fried rice. But as the number of guests coming to the party swelled to 15 I decided that I would keep it as easy as I could get it. Actually make something that I could prepare on the weekend and all I would have to do is throw it in the oven. I went with my old stand by chicken tetrazinni. That's when this website came in handy. I couldn't find the recipe for it the day I was planning to cook it so I actually looked it up on here. I spent all of last Sunday cooking and preparing. I made so much of the stuff that actually I am still eating it today. Friend's offered to bring things so we also had home made pecan pie, and a wonderful black bean salsa, thanks L! I also made my favorite Spinach Salad. Have I mentioned it here on this website? All it is is spinach, hard boiled egg, bacon, mandarin oranges and Paul Newman's Sesame Ginger Dressing. It's delicious! Then I found some nice looking green beans so I took them blanched and shocked them, cut up a red onion, added feta cheese and Paul Newman's Raspberry Vinaigrette. It came out pretty good. I think next time I might try it with Balsamic. It needed a little more acid.
All in all it was a great evening. Zoe had fun because two of her friends came over and played with her. It was good to see old friends that I hadn't connected with in a long time! What are your holiday party plans?
