Dinner Party with Friends - How To (Winter Edition)

Party of 4
Winter dinners are usually rich and comforting. It's about a menu full of warming dishes made with lots of love. For those whom love wine, jazz and candlelit dinners. Enjoy good food, good company and indulge in great conversations.

Menu
Baked Fennel with Butter and Dill Dressing
Korean Style Baked Chicken
Garlic & Cheese Bread
Simple Tiramisu Cups

Baked Fennel with Butter and Dill Dressing
1 fennel bulb
1 sprig of fresh dill, minced
1/2 tsp sugar
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
1 garlic clove minced
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2 sprigs of green onion, sliced thin
sea salt
black pepper
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

Cut the fennel bulb in half, trim the stalks and core the bulb. Cut the halves into 8 equal wedges each. Coat with ingredients above dotted line. Bake at 325F for 30 minutes in an oven proof dish.

Garnish and season to taste with green onion, salt, pepper and lemon juice prior to serving.

Korean Style Chicken
4 chicken thighs, bone in with skin, trimmed
1/8 cup sesame oil
1/4 cup Bragg's soy sauce
4 fresh garlic cloves, minced
1 fresh red or green thai chilli, seeded, roughly chopped
1 tbsp honey
3 green onions, finely sliced
1 tbsp freshly ground black or white pepper

Marinate chicken with all the remaining ingredients overnight. 

Preheat oven to 375F. In a heat proof glass baking dish, spray with cooking spray and place chicken thighs into dish. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until juices run clear.


Garlic & Cheese Bread
1 loaf of rice bread, sliced thick, approximately makes 6 slices
6 garlic cloves, sliced in half
1 cup grated almond cheese

Preheat oven to 300F. Toast the bread for 5-10 minutes until slightly crispy. Remove from oven and rub a fresh garlic clove on each side of each slice of bread. 

Place bread slices back on baking sheet and sprinkle with almond cheese. Bake for another 5 minutes until the cheese has melted and is bubbly. Remove and serve with Korean Style Chicken.

Simple Tiramisu Cups
4 balloons
3/4 cup dark Hersey's chocolate, roughly chopped
1/4 cup dark Hersey's chocolate, shaved <this is your topping>
1 dozen gluten free lady fingers <see my blog post on making gluten free lady fingers on my other blog yourinnergreek.blogspot.ca>
1 tub cool whip

Espresso substitute in a hurry: <dip the lady fingers in this before layering>
2 instant dark roast coffee singles
1/8 cup hot water

Melt your 3/4 cup dark chocolate in a double boiler. Dip your 4 half blown balloons into the chocolate coating them half way evenly. Place each on a wax paper lined baking sheet to set. To speed up the process place the baking sheet in the fridge. Once the chocolate has set, pop the balloons and remove the rubber pieces from the chocolate cups.

In the bottom of your chocolate cups layer a spoon of cool whip, followed by a layer of lady finger. Repeat till you have a layer of cool whip at the top. Sprinkle with chocolate shavings. 

Refrigerate until serving.

 




 

Gifts for Her: Under $15

Philosophy Purity Made Simple 3-in-1 cleanser for face and eyes $13.00 CAD at Sephora.

Essie Nail Polishes available at most drug stores $7.99 & up.

Bath & Body Works miniature hand sanitizers, candles, body lotions, lip gloss and body sprays. I recommend scents like Winter Candy Apple, Twisted Peppermint, Vanilla Bean Noel & Warm Vanilla Sugar.

Old Navy Printed Flannel PJ Pants $14.94 each.

J. Crew Printed Socks $15.50 (a little bit over our margin).

Aldo has some nice gloves and hats going for $12 & up.

CD: RED by Taylor Swift $12.99

CDs by MoZella $9.99 & up, you won't regret buying her music. She's got a fantastic voice.

Christmas Gift Guide for Her

I know there are lots of procrastinators out there when it comes to Christmas shopping. I try not to procrastinate and purchase gifts year round. It's also better on your wallet too. Rather than paying a lump sum in the New Year. I rather spend in smaller amounts spread out in the year.

But that really depends on how much storage space you have. And whether or not you will remember where you've placed the present when Christmas comes around.

In this blog post I will recommend a few things to purchase for "Her" this Christmas.

A pair of pearl studs or perhaps something more extravagant. Diamond studs perhaps.

Is her favourite perfume running low? Perhaps buy her a new one.

Cashmere cardigans are definitely a girl's best friend. It's soft and it's warm. Well as long as she's not allergic to it. Then all is good. Buy it in a neutral colour then she can match it with everything.

Does she need a new purse? Or perhaps a nice pair of boots for the winter.

How about a new wool coat for the chilly winter days? Following with a pair of super soft leather gloves.

If she's tech savvy then how about a new smart phone or some smart phone accessories. The Nexus 7 tablets are quite popular as well.

Everyone can use a nice spa kit. No matter if it's a new robe and slippers; or if it's foot scrub and polish. The ones whom enjoy being pampered will love this. Or better yet get her a spa treatment.

Chocolate dipped strawberries are available at edible.ca as well as many other edible treats. Perfect for the fruit lovers.

For coffee lovers I suggest Second Cup Hazelnut coffee. It's the best I've ever had and trust me I've tried many. For those that don't live on the Eastern side of Canada. This coffee brand is not available for purchase. I would recommend Seattle's Best.

For tea lovers I would recommend teas from Teavana and David's Tea.

For body and bath products I tend to aim for Organic Paraben free items. These products are widely available at health food stores such as Whole Foods, Capers & Choices.

Are there any macaron lovers out there? If so I would recommend ones from Leonida's Chocolates. Gluten free fluffy goodness.

That's all folks. If you have any questions please leave a comment below.