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Family Style Dinner with a bit of "Luxury"
 The Adults Table Imagine a stay at home mommy cooking a "Luxury" dinner party for five adults and three toddlers during the middle of a work week? It took some serious planning, patience and organization. Especially when a toddler is involved. This dinner was for Project Food Blog's next challenge and it was held this past Thursday at 6PM. I visited the library on Tuesday to plan the menu. After browsing through several cookbooks, I came across The Silver Spoon  . Italy's best-selling cookbook for over fifty years and quoted as the bible of Italian cooking. And it was set. I chose all but one dish from this cookbook. I was able to do all the shopping on Wednesday while my love was in school. I visited three different grocery stores within a three hour period. First stop, Wholefoods. Second stop, Balduccis. And last stop, Grand Mart a Korean Grocery store. Follow me as I take you on a step by step journey on how I made this dinner party work from start to finish. All the while, my son was running around asking to use the potty, pleading for a snack and of course little breaks along the way to play with the lil man. I never host fancy dinner parties. I don't even own cloth napkins. So I did a little bit of cost effective shopping to create a nice table setting for this dinner. I bought really inexpensive fall themed cloth napkins, some flowers and tiny pumpkins for a splash of color and fun. That's pretty much it on the décor. While my son was taking his nap (thank the lord for naps) I conquered the table settings. Yes, I said table setting(s), plural.  You didn't think I would forget about the toddlers, did you? I mean after all, they are little people that love to imitate us. I even made tablecloth roses. Click here for the tutortial. And while I was just finishing up, the little man woke up and of course he wanted to help.  Adding the Baby Pumpkin  The Toddler's Table He said,"Mommy this is for Meeeee?!" And I said,"Yesssss." He was really excited and did his happy dance. Now that the tables were set. It was on to prepping and cooking!  The Menu First order of business, the desserts. I made the Nature's Pride Brown Butter Spiced Breadsticks and a Tiramisu. Because these items can be served cold or at room temperature.  Spiced Brown Butter Breadsticks with Dark Chocolate Ganache TIRAMI SU Courtesy of The Silver Spoon Ingredients 2 Egg Whites 4 Egg Yolks 1-1/4 Cups Confectioners Sugar 1-13/4 Cups Mascarpone Cheese 7 ozs Lady Fingers 3/4 Cup Freshly Brewed Extra String Coffee, Cooled 7 ozs Semisweet Chocolate, Grated (I used Dark Chocolate) Unsweetened Cocoa Powder for Dusting Directions 1. A) Stiffly whisk the egg whites in a grease-free bowl. B) Beat the egg yolks with the sugar in another bowl until pale and fluffy. C) Gently fold in mascarpone cheese, D) then the egg whites.  2. Make a layer of ladyfingers on the base of a dish, brush them evenly with coffee. Cover with a layer of the mascarpone cream mixture and sprinkle with a little grated chocolate. Continue making layers until all the ingredients are used, ending with a layer of mascarpone cream, Dust with cocoa powder and chill at least three hours.    Tiramisu Next, I made the dish that took the longest. The Lingua Brasata or Braised Beef Tongue. I've never worked with beef tongue before. My grandmother used to made soup stock with beef tongue at our restaurant for Seolleong Tang (a Korean beef soup) and thats the extent of my experience with it. And this was my favorite dish! Tender and flavorful, definitely a keeper! LINGUA BRASATA Braised Tongue Ingredients 1 Tongue, soaked overnight in cold water and drained 3 tbsp Butter 3 tbsp Olive Oil 2 Onions, Thinly Sliced 3 Carrots, Sliced 3/4 Cup Dry Wine 9 ozs Canned Tomatoes Salt & Pepper Parboiling the Tongue 1 Onion, Cut into chunks 1 Celery Stalk, Cut 5 Whole Garlic Cloves Salt Directions 1. Soak the tongue overnight in the fridge, changing the water periodically. A) Parboil the tongue in salted, boiling water with the onion, celery & garlic cloves for 20 minutes. Skin. I kept the broth for soup. B) Meanwhile, heat the butter & oil in a pan, add the onions & carrots and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. C) Add the tongue, cover & cook for 30 minutes. Pour in the wine and cook until it has evaporated. Then season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 2 minutes more. Mash the tomatoes and their can juices in a bowl, add to the pan, cover and simmer for about 1-1/2 hours until tongue is tender (forgot to take a photo of this step, sorry). Remove tongue from the pan, ladle the cooking juices into a food processor, process to a purée.  Slice the tongue, place on a warm serving dish and spoon the hot purée over it.  Lingua Brasata or Braised Tongue Moving onto the first of four side dishes. Yes, FOUR! And they were all really delicious. BROCCOLI FANTASIA Fabulous Broccoli Courtesy of The Silver Spoon Ingredients 2-1/4 lbs Calabrese Broccoli (fancy for your regular ole broccoli) Cut into flowerets 2 tbsp Olive Oil 2 Garlic Cloves (I added a few more) 2 Leeks, trimmed and sliced 1 tbsp All Purpose Flour 1/2 Cup heavy Cream 1/2 Cup Dry White Wine 2 tbsp Butter, Plus extra for greasing 6 tbsp Fresh Parmesan Cheese Salt & Pepper to taste Directions 1. Parboil the broccoli in salted, boiling water for a few minutes, then drain and let cool. Meanwhile, A) heat the olive oil in a large pan, add the garlic & leeks and cook over low heat. B) Stir occasionally until softened, remove garlic cloves. C) Stir in flour and cook stirring constantly, for 2 minutes until lightly browned. Stir in cream and season with salt & pepper. D) Preheat over to 400º degrees. Add broccoli, pour in wine and simmer for about 10 minutes. E) Grease an oven proof dish with butter. pour broccoli mixture into dish, sprinkle with parmesan cheese, dot with butter and bake until golden brown and bubbling.   Broccoli Fantasia or Fabulous Broccoli PERFECT MACARONI & CHEESE Modified from Marthastewart.com Ingredients 6 Slices Good Quality White Bread, crusts removed, torn into 1/4 to 1/2 inch pieces 8 tbsp Unsalted Butter, Plus more for dish 5-1/2 Cups Milk 1/2 Cup All-Purpose Flour 2 tsp Salt 1/4 tsp Nutmeg 1/4 ysp Ground Black Pepper 1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper 4-1/2 Cups Grated Sharp White Cheddar 1-1/2 Cups Grated Gruyere Cheese 1/2 Cup Pecorino Romano 1 Pound Elbow Macaroni Directions: 1. A) Cut crust off the bread, B) cut into pieces and pour melted butter over it and set aside.  2. A) Melt 6 tbsp of butter in a high sided skillet over medium heat. When butter bubbles add flour and stir for 1 minute. B) Heat milk over medium heat. C) Slowly pour hot milk into the flour-butter mixture while whisking constantly until it becomes think. Remove from heat.  3. A) Shred the gruyere cheese, cheddar & pecorino romano cheeses. Set aside. B) Stir in salt, nutmeg, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and add all the cheeses and stir until blended. Set aside. Boil water and cook elbow pasta until outside of pasta is cooked and inside is underdone. C) Pour the cheese sauce over the pasta and stir. D) Pour mixture into prepared, buttered casserole dish and sprinkle with remaining cheddar & gruyere cheeses. E) Scatter with bread crumbs and bake in preheated oven at 375º degrees for about 30 minutes or until browned on top.   Perfect Macaroni & Cheese Caviar Risotto Courtesy of The Silver Spoon Ingredients 6 tbsp Butter 1 Onion, Chopped 2 Cups Risotto Rice 1-1/2 Cups Dry White Wine 1 Cup Heavy Cream 3 tbsp Caviar Salt & Pepper Directions 1. A) Melt the butter in a pan, add the onion and cook over low heat, stirring constantly for 5 minutes. B) Stir in rice, C) then pour in the wine and bring just to a boil over low heat. D) Gradually, stir in the cream and cook, stirring, until rice is tender, adding a little hot water as necessary. E) Season with salt & pepper. Add a bit of caviar on top.    PATATINE NOVELLE AL ROSMARINO New Potatoes with Rosemary Courtesy of The Silver Spoon Ingredients 2 tbsp Butter 1/2 Cup Olive Oil 1 Fresh Rosemary Sprig 1 Garlic Clove (I added more) 1-1/2 Pounds New Potatoes Salt Directions 1. Heat the butter and oil in a large pan, add the rosemary, garlic and potatoes, stir and cover. Cook over low/medium heat until soft and golden. Remove garlic and rosemary, sprinkle with salt and serve.   Patatine Novelle al Rosmarino or New Potatoes with Rosemary And now onto the rest of the dishes... BOCCONCINI DI SALMONE CON BACON Salmon and Bacon Bites Courtesy of The Silver Spoon Ingredients 2 Fresh Sage Sprigs 1-1/2 lbs Salmon Fillets, Cut into cubes 5 ozs bacon Slices, halved Salt & Pepper Can be prepped the day before to save time Directions 1. Preheat over to 400º degrees. Line a baking pan with aluminum foil. Pull sage leaves off the stems and cut them in half. A) Season salmon with salt & pepper and B) wrap each cube in a small slice of bacon with half a sage leaf. C) Secure with toothpicks and place in the prepared baking pan. Bake, turn occasionally, for 10-15 minutes    Bocconcini di Salmone con Bacon or Salmon & Bacon Bites INVOLTINI DI POLLO ALLA SALVIA Chicken Roulades with Sage Courtesy of The Silver Spoon Ingredients 4 Skinless Boneless Chicken Breast Portions 8 Fresh Sage Leaves 3-1/2 ozs Pancetta, Thinly sliced 2 tbsp Olive Oil Salt & Pepper Can be prepped the day before to save time Directions 1. A) Lightly pound the chicken with a meat mallet. B) Lay out the pancatta. C) Place 2 sage leaves on each portion and season with salt & pepper. Roll up, wrap in the pancetta slices and D) secure with toothpicks. Heat oil in a skillet, add the chicken and cook, turning frequently, until browned all over. Cover and cook over low heat for about 20 minutes, adding 1 tbsp of hot water if necessary.   Involtini di Pollo alla Salvia or Chicken Roulades with Sage Now the dishes have been made. Its time for a virtual dinner party. I wish all of you could have joined us. My friend said she felt like she was at a restaurant. Thanks Jo! Please enjoy my Family Style Dinner party....oh with a bit of "Luxury."  The spread. And look there's Squirty!  Italian Red Wine, Poggio al Tufo   Like my cropping?  Dessert Time!  My love and his date(s) Sophie and Maddy! Such a stud.  Satisfied and full guests. Both sets of family live a couple of blocks from our house. We missed you Kristen (Maddy's mommy)! Thank you again for voting and allowing me to advance to this challenge. I hope you enjoyed my Family Style Dinner Party! Voting opens Monday. I will post a detailed reminder for your convenience. Thank you again for your support! 
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