A Fall Feast

Bridget, Jodi, Lynley & Andrea

Wow! This really is our favorite night of the month! Another gourmet success! We met at Bridget's place on Tuesday, October 7, 2008. We were all sad LS was away on business. Lynley started off the evening with three sensational appetizers: "Smoked Salmon in Endive Cups with Caviar", "Roasted Fingerling Potatoes with Gravlax, Sour Cream & Ostra Caviar", and "Grown Up Ham and Cheese Sandwiches". Jodi made a delicious "Marian's Salad" and Lara provided a yummy "Tomato and Garlic Focaccia". The main course by Bridget was "Lamb Kebabs with Couscous" from Barefoot Contessa at Home, and we polished off the evening with molten chocolate cakes by Andrea. Everything was superb!

Lara, Jodi, Lynley and Andrea

Smoked Salmon Salad in Endive Cups with Caviar ( left)

AND

Roasted Fingerling Potatoes with Gravlax, Sour Cream & Osetra Caviar (right)

Grown Up Ham and Cheese Finger Sandwiches

These were TASTY, and according to the recipe rather simple.

Marian's Salad

Looks beautiful and tastes wonderful too!

1 head Romaine lettuce

1 head Red Leafy lettuce

1 package bacon

3 to 4 sliced pears

1 package blue cheese crumbled

1 pomegranate or craisins

1 package walnuts (roast at 350 with 1 T butter for 25 minutes or can just toast plain)

Dressing:

1 cup sugar (Jodi said she used 1/2 cup)

1 tsp salt

1 tsp dry mustard

1/2 cup red wine vinegar

2/3 cup oil (can use olive oil, Jodi used veg oil)

1 tsp celery seed

3 green onions chopped

Blend the first four ingredients in a processor, then add the rest.

Lamb Kebabs with Couscous

So the Couscous is not really amazing to look at, but was quite tasty.

Tomato and Garlic Focaccia
 

1 pkg (10 oz) refrigerated pizza dough

2 T olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed in a garlic press

1/3 cup pre-crumbled feta cheese

1/2 cup thinly sliced tomato

course salt

Place a rack in the center of the oven and pre-heat to 400. Unroll the dough onto an ungreased rimmed baking sheet. Using your hands, form into an 11x7" rectangle. With your fingertips, make indentations all over the dough. Drizzle olive oil evenly over the dough. Scatter the garlic and feta cheese over the dough. Arrange the tomato slices evenly on top of the dough. Sprinkle salt over the tomatoes. Bake the focaccia until it is golden brown, 15-18 min. Remove the pan from the oven and when cool enough to handle, cut into squares, using a pizza cutter.

Molten Chocolate Cake Unfortunately Andrea did not bring the recipe with her tonight, but stay tuned, we'll get the recipe up! This is one you will definitely want to try!