October 2 Dinner for Four Five
Tonight's dinner for four was actually dinner for five, which was awesome because the cake I wanted to test drive was plenty big. Everyone said they liked dinner, and I was happy to feed them. Really, though, I feed them only because them I want them to try dessert, then bring home the leftover dessert so it isn't in my house anymore.
I made the ratatouille the night before because I think it tastes better on the second day. it's quick to make, but it saved time.
Lookit my squash! For some reason, they make me wish I could juggle. I chose the one on the left for dinner.
I sliced it up and made butternut squash fries, which taste just like sweet potato fries. Especially when you have them with ketchup, as I did.
I made spinach and ricotta cheese gnocchi. I dusted them in flour so I could shape them more easily. I also have this idea, possibly farfetched, that it helps keep things together in the boiling water while they loll around for a few minutes.
I served the gnocchi with brown butter and crisped sage ... the second batch of browned butter and crisped sage, since the first batch turned into blackened butter and burnt sage. I opted to remake the quick sauce; I'm not that avant garde.
The naked cake: gingerbread and pumpkin pie cheesecake filling. It's basically an upright trifle, or just a two-layer cake with a woo-hoo lotta filling.
The cake in costume (dressed as a cube of whipped cream).
The cake on stage. Ta-da! Nothing fancy, but enough for my guests to get the idea. The five of us didn't eat the entire cake; I sent the last two pieces home with two of my friends.
Scraped clean! I call that a success. =)
Post-cleanup trifle--dessert by desktop.
There are other desserts I want to try out. I think I'll have a Screw Yer Diet party, but I'll make sure it won't coincide with Mario's 4th Annual Curry and Ice Cream Social on the 20th. Woot! Good times in October!
I made the ratatouille the night before because I think it tastes better on the second day. it's quick to make, but it saved time.
Lookit my squash! For some reason, they make me wish I could juggle. I chose the one on the left for dinner.
I sliced it up and made butternut squash fries, which taste just like sweet potato fries. Especially when you have them with ketchup, as I did.
I made spinach and ricotta cheese gnocchi. I dusted them in flour so I could shape them more easily. I also have this idea, possibly farfetched, that it helps keep things together in the boiling water while they loll around for a few minutes.
I served the gnocchi with brown butter and crisped sage ... the second batch of browned butter and crisped sage, since the first batch turned into blackened butter and burnt sage. I opted to remake the quick sauce; I'm not that avant garde.
The naked cake: gingerbread and pumpkin pie cheesecake filling. It's basically an upright trifle, or just a two-layer cake with a woo-hoo lotta filling.
The cake in costume (dressed as a cube of whipped cream).
The cake on stage. Ta-da! Nothing fancy, but enough for my guests to get the idea. The five of us didn't eat the entire cake; I sent the last two pieces home with two of my friends.
Scraped clean! I call that a success. =)
Post-cleanup trifle--dessert by desktop.
There are other desserts I want to try out. I think I'll have a Screw Yer Diet party, but I'll make sure it won't coincide with Mario's 4th Annual Curry and Ice Cream Social on the 20th. Woot! Good times in October!
Comments
Cinnamon butterfly, huh? LOL!
The cake looks incredible. In fact so far everything I have read here sounds fabulous!
Mike, I think we've had more than one conversation about butter sage sauce. I agree--it's amazing, and few things smell as wonderful!
I think my children would love the squash fries too!