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GAME PLAN: GAME NIGHT

Saturday Night

4 Weeks Before

  • Invite guests
  • Think about Menu
  • Decide logistics such as where to set up bar, buffet, etc.

 

3 Weeks Before

 

2 Weeks Before

  • Review menu
  • Book support staff if needed
  • Organize all dishes and glasses and serving platters
  • Buy all beverages including alcohol
  • Make Salted Caramel Sauce

 

1 Week Before

  • Finalize menu and confirm guest list
  • Buy and store ice

 

Monday

  • Set-up table, dishes, glasses, silverware, serving platters and utensils

 

Tuesday

  • Do all grocery shopping except lamb, fish and shrimp
  • Wash all vegetables.

 

Wednesday

 

Thursday

 

Friday

 

Saturday

 

MORNING:

  • Buy shrimp and tilapia
  • Take all prepared food out of refrigerator to come to room temperature

 

AFTERNOON:

 

 

June 29, 2015

June 29, 2015

June 26, 2015
At Home with Friends

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Game Night

Lots of people have game nights on a regular basis but this was a first for me. Lots of people play Cards Against Humanity but this was also a first for me. A first, but definitely not the last. I wanted the food to be fun food, kind of like bar food but my style. […]

June 22, 2015
At Home with Friends

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Videos: Antipasto Platter

The first time I created one of my Antipasto Platters my guests thought it had been catered by an Italian deli. This is one of my go-to appetizers that pleases everyone. You can alter the ingredients based on what’s in season, what’s in your pantry and your guests’ taste. For the detailed recipe, go to: […]

June 19, 2015
At Home with Friends

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Videos: Pizzas

These are the pizzas I made for my friends who courageously volunteered to put my house back in order after the termite battle. We all sang, “Ding-dong! The termites are gone!” as we scarfed down these homemade rustic delights. P.S.: Don’t tell anyone that you used store bought pizza dough. For the recipes on each […]

June 17, 2015
At Home with Friends

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Roasted Vegetable Salad with Hazelnut Vinaigrette

This is a composed salad. It looks like a work of art, Dutch Old Masters, when you present it; but then when the guests dive in, it morphs into a Jackson Pollock: a mess of colors and shapes. A composed salad can include anything. I choose seasonal ingredients, keeping in mind what I know my […]

June 15, 2015
At Home with Friends

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Crostini with Gorgonzola & Figs

This is my friend Brent’s favorite appetizer. It is one of those super simple recipes that is easily scaled up or down, depending on the number of guests. I’ve made it for huge parties and intimate dinners for two. Every time I served it, there wasn’t a piece left. The nice thing about this recipe […]

June 12, 2015
At Home with Friends

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Roasted Cauliflower

If you’ve been following my blog, you already know that I serve a lot of vegetables. I never get tired of cauliflower and prepare it many different ways. I’ve been known to serve it Indian style, with potatoes and mustard seeds, which is spicy and delectable. But for this menu I wanted something simple. The […]

June 10, 2015
At Home with Friends

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Halibut with Homemade Tomato Sauce

When halibut is fresh and wild, it is totally delectable, providing you don’t overcook it. It takes much less time than you think and pairs well with many different sauces. For this dinner, I made a quick tomato sauce using canned diced organic tomatoes (from Costco), capers and diced black Kalmata olives. Other than the […]