Cocktails & Appetizers ~ December 2017

December never disappoints in being a busy time of year... but there's always time to get together for a noshes and a drink or two!

We're all at different phases of life... young kids... tweens... teenagers and adult children with grandkids!  I don't think it matters because Christmas is a magical time for the little kid in all  of us.  

I still enjoy watch Rudolf and Frosty as well as the battle between Heat Miser and Snow Miser.  Maybe one of these Decembers we'll do Dinner & a Movie... and watch some of these old time claymation shows!

However, a special ending to our evening is the Yankee swap.  Although I have to admit we're pretty boring because there is little swapping that goes on!

apple, brie and pecan crostini

garlic shrimp

cocktail meatballs

apricots with gorgonzola and pecans

stuffed dates wrapped in bacon

smoked bass dip

pecan squares

karaokes (walnut & orange zest chocolate dipped cookies)

Another successful cooking club evening.  We missed you Betty! 

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Nina, Cindy, Jeanne, Denise, Angi, Jen & Jen (& Murphy too!)

Dinner Celebration ~ November 2017

It's been 5 years!  Back in November 2012 we met to discuss what our club was all about.  Cooking club... dinner club - whatever you want to call it but we meet monthly to share yummy food and sometimes cook together - but we always eat, drink and enjoy!  

We visited Sorelle Bar & Grill in Abington.  They serve Italian food  - fresh, delicious with decent size portions.  The nice thing about dining with women is that we all share!   

fried oysters with a chive lemon creme fraiche

yellow fin tuna tartar

Barolo braised beef short rib

grilled yellow fin tuna

seared shrimp scampi

seared Faroe island salmon

oven roasted atlantic cod 

pistachio cheese cake with fresh whipped cream

torta caprese (flourless chocolate cake)

limoncello panna cotta with fresh berries

What a special, talented group of women... thank you for the last five years and hopefully we keep it going for another five!

Campfire Food ~ October 2017

Larry & Denise made a killer fire - complete with a cooking grate and a red hot bed of coals.  Great backdrop for us to cook our "campfire" meals.  We had soup, chicken wings, meatballs with 2 dipping sauces, campfire nachos, mini reuben sandwiches, foil packets with sausage potato and beans, corn on the cob, grilled sausages, mac-n-cheese, and for dessert - whoopee pies!  

The corn on the cob was served with a large pitcher of melted butter & hot water.  The hot water kept the butter melted and you simply dipped it into the pitcher.  Voila - corn dipped in warm better ready to eat!

Mulled cider was warmed in a cast iron pot and served with a side of rum.... truly a fun evening with husband and partners joining us for the evening.

wood fire

grilled chicken legs

chicken and pastina soup

sausage & potato foil packets & bucket of corn on the cob

sausages & shrimp

grilled shrimp

mini reuben sandwiches heated in cast iron

campfire nachos 

grilled filled with good eats

Tapas ~ September 2017

Small plates... tapas style!  Love dinner filled with an array of appetizers to nibble on.  Served along with a nice Spanish wine and friends makes for a successful evening.

Our plates were filled with nutty manchego cheese, goat cheese tomato phyllo pizza, stuffed shrimp, spicy shrimp empanadas, chorizo poached in red wine, macaroni & cheese with crispy ham, scallops wrapped in bacon and fried zucchini with a basil aioli.  Some serious eats!

Dessert did not disappoint... we had lemon drop cookies (similar to a wedding cookie) and blueberry cake with fresh whipped cream.

Fun night - great food - another cooking club dinner success!

tomato & goat cheese phyllo pizza 

spicy shrimp empanadas

chorizo poached in red wine

fried zucchini with basil aioli

bacon wrapped scallops

baked stuffed shrimp

macaroni & cheese with crispy ham

lemon cookies

blueberry cake with fresh whipped cream

Jen, Barbara, Nina, Jen, Denise, Betty & Cindy

Thanks to Nina for inviting our guest Barbara.

Family Ethnic Recipes ~ August 2017

sangria

pierogies frying in butter

What are some meals you had growing up?  Any meals that were made by mom, grandma or an aunt that were a family favorite which highlights a piece of your family heritage?  Growing up in my  house we enjoyed many diverse meals which included meatballs & spaghetti to beef stroganoff and stuffed cabbage rolls and on special nights - homemade pierogies.  Jeanne hosted our August cooking club highlighting our memorable family ethnic meals.

potato, onion & cheese pierogies

melon & prosciutto

roasted summer squash & cheese

Cacoula ~ Portugese spicy pulled pork

Dad's meat pie

ground beef, rice & tomatoes

plate full of meat & carbs ~ needs some greens!

Cindy, Jeanne, Betty, Jen & Denise