Foodbuzz 24 X 24: Winter Classics, Elegance, and Friends!

Winter Classics, Elegance, and Friends:

Most recently, I have been given the best opportunity possible:  

To host a dinner party for Foodbuzz's 24 X 24!  

What this means, in 24 food blogs are selected to host 24 different parties all on the same day:  November 26, 2011.  Totally Awesome right!?  And so, the moment I heard I was chosen, my house became a place to celebrate good food, friends, and foodie love.  I am so grateful for this opportunity to share my meal with friends and followers alike!

 And so I thought about all the ways I could present this, and chose to have an elegant winter party with classic flavors made into delicious sides and desserts that together made a fabulous meal....

The holidays are a perfect time for family and friends.  Through good food, wine, cocktails, and laughter the season is full of stories to tell and jokes to laugh about!

With this great year coming to and end, and a look back on all our accomplishments and goals, my Husband and I thought it perfect to host an elegant dinner party with friends and colleagues, that accented the love and heartiness of the season.  

Our featured meal would focus on classic winter foods with a delicate touch to transform the ordinary, into extraordinary -- creating new recipes that fit the season and guests.

Candy Cane Martini
(drink responsibly.. and by that I mean have at least 2!)

The setting would be simple and homey.  A play on the holidays with Red and Green silk place mats, pine cones and needles, candles and spice.  Our dishes included green tinted Martini Glasses, and simple black ceramic plates.  I also kept the "Bargain Theme" and utilized christmas bulbs, cinnamon sticks, and potpourri as table accents.

"An apartment often forgotten on a busy road would soon be transformed into an elegant restaurant with a 5 course meal and laughter."

The menu for this dinner fare had guests talking before the party even began, which set the bar high and the preparation left me anxious to start... The week of my party I wanted to start all my prep, but knew I had to wait to make sure everything was fresh and fabulous... to be quite honest, though embarrassing to say, I almost lost sleep over all my excitement for this party just as kids do the night Santa is coming!!  But it was worth it for a meal like this:

The Menu:

Cocktails

Candy Cane Martini

Adorable Martini with all the fun of a candy cane

Milk and Cookies Martini

Sinfully delcious.. Santa may want one too!

Cocoa Dusted Guinness

For those who are not into the hard stuff, this beer has an orange and cocoa twist!

Hors d'oeuvres

Feta Walnut Date Cigars

A fun appetizer shaped like cigars and filled with a delicious treat

Chevre stuffed Bacon Wrapped Figs

Winter themed figs with a twist of bacon and french chevre drizzled with Honey

Salade

Winter Citrus, Feta, and Mint Salad with Chives

A light fun dish that is refreshing, light, and beautifully elegant

Entree

Honey Maple Glazed Ham

A slow roasted Honey Maple Glazed Hame, spiced with clove, nutmeg, and brown sugar.

Vegetarian Option

Winter Stuffed Acorn Squash

Balsamic  and Rosemary roasted winter vegetables stuffed attractively into squash

Sides

Pommes Duchess Gratin

Creamy potatoes with a winter hint of nutmeg and cheer

Green Bean Almandine with Cranberries

A healthy side with a winter surprise!

Beets and Fresh Horseradish (excellent on fresh baked Ham)

A family tradition to spread on your fresh baked ham

Desserts

Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake

Chocolate Peanut Butter combination served with peanut butter whipped cream

Hazelnut Brown Butter Cake w/ Mocha Ganache

Four words that belong together and disappear quite fast!

Pumpkin and Acorn Squash Pie

A simple fall desert for a refreshing dessert flavor.

(Recipe links at end of post!)

And so began the time to Prep...  Slowly my kitchen became a busy restaurant... and my husband a wonderful, and good looking, sous chef!

Prepping the Figs so they could be wrapped in Bacon!

And stuffed with Chevre...

Dates, Feta, Cream Cheese... OH MY!

Marinated Ham ready for hours of slow roasting and Glaze...

Mocha Ganache melting on the stove...

Phyllo Dough for the Cigars...

To celebrate a house well prepared, I started early and enjoyed a private candy cane martini... it was PERFECT!!  It was the best way to finish a wonderful day of prep!

Finally it was time, and guests began to arrive!  We all decided to dress up and live the high life.  The house smelled like ham and chocolate (awesome!)   Instantly everyone started peeking to see what was ready to eat, and were asking when they could dig in!  I even caught a few sneaking in some ham!

And so we started with drinks and finger foods, stories and laughter.  I love watching friends enjoy food and drinks that I have prepared... and these winter classics brought a whole new element of fun and elegance to the party.  In fact, the date and feta cigars.... let's just say both appetizers never stood a chance!

Bacon, Honey, Goat Cheese.... if tooth picks were edible they would have been eaten too!

Of course a few cocktails down and only a few appetizers left, it was clear everyone was ready and anxious to dig into the next courses to come.  And so we all sat down and started wonderful winter classic escapade:

To compliment both the Ham and the Squash, two sides found themselves onto our table:  Pommes Duchess Gratin, a delicate french classic, and Green Bean Almandine w/ Cranberries, a winter twist on a traditional american side.  I also incorporated a family favorite, perhaps it came from the Ukrainian and Russian influences of my grandparents.... at any rate it's awesome: Beets and Horseradish (to compliment the meat).

Those potatoes never stood a chance...  The Ham too!

We carved the ham and laid it on silver platters, placed the salad and green beans in glass bowls surrounded by pine needles and atop small silver rounds, and served the acorn squash to those who wanted to dabble with the meat free side of meal time.  

The maple and brown sugar caramelized and the Ham was so juicy... 

Finally, full on life and drunk on food, the main course was over.  The Ham, though still gorgeous, was nearly eaten to the bone... the sides sparsely left on the serving platters and casserole dishes...  And all of us ready for a nap.  Of course this was no problem, I had pillows, candles, and coffee to share!

After a good bit of digesting and cleaning up the dinner plates, our final journey was to enjoy dessert, and of course more cocktails!  I don't know how we do it, but no matter how full everyone is, there always seems to be a way to fit in a slice of dessert.

Dessert was so quickly eaten, I couldn't get a good picture of the action!

Because winter classics was the theme of tonight's meal, our desserts played on three huge winter concepts:  Peanut Butter and Chocolate, Pumpkin and Cinnamon, and a personal favorite Hazelnuts and Coffee.

This is actually even better than it looks!

Can this be any more amazing!?

And so a day of labor paid off.  Friends and colleagues were able to sit down and enjoy a huge meal without any stress.  I am so thankful for all I know, and this was a great opportunity to bring all the adults over, leaving kids with sitters and pets with treats, to enjoy the simplicity of a cocktail and dinner party with friends and loved ones

Only 2 slices left of the Cheesecake... breakfast??

I hope that you try if not all, then at least some of tonights recipes.  If you were close by, I would send a plate to your door!

"Happy Holidays, and Seasonings Eatings!  It's the best time for good food and Cheer! (and a run!)"

Here is the Recipe Link List (hope something finds it's way to your kitchen!)

• Milk and Cookies Martini
• Candy Cane Martini
• Feta Date Cigars w/ Spiced Walnuts
• Bacon Wrapped Chevre Stuffed Figs
• Winter Citrus, Feta, Mint, and Chive Salad
• Sweet Pomagranate Balsamic Dressing
• Honey Maple Glazed Ham
• Winter Stuffed Acorn Squash
• Pommes Duchess Gratin
• Green Bean Almandine w/ Cranberries
• Beets and Horseradish
• Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake
• Hazelnut Brown Butter Cake
• Pumpkin and Acorn Squash Pie

I hope the meal brings you happiness and full bellies!

Thank you so much for the 24 X 24 opportunity.  It was honestly a fabulous opportunity that left guests talking, full on life, and interested in learning Foodbuzz!  Win Win Win ;)

Happy Dinner Parties!

Aimee Gonzalez