Birthday Party

A very old friend of ours is celebrating a birthday this weekend. She has no family in the local area, so we decided to throw a bit of a dinner party for her.

I have a nice bottle of rose bubbly wine we can pop. I'm planning to try out a couple of the bruschetta recipes in the most recent Cooks Illustrated. I'm going to try the artichoke heart recipe and the whipped feta with roasted red peppers. I already have a can of artichoke hearts and a wedge of parmesan and can get really nice red bell peppers at the farmer's market. However, both recipes will appear somewhat foreign and frightening to the Phenom. So, I've started the manipulation now.

I frequently don't fill the Phenom in on what actually we're eating until it has been judged "good." I've told the Phenom I'm trying a "pesto like" topping and a "feta and pepper topping" . . . only I then went on the describe how I've been roasting/peeling/using banana peppers all summer and claiming it will be much like that. Sneaky. But I am okay with that.

I'm also making chicken piccata and a nice green salad with a simple vinaigrette. And, Creme Brulee for dessert. I need to look through the wine rack and find a couple nice bottles of wine to chill, and decide if we'll have champagne with appetizers or dessert.

I just love having dinner parties to plan.