July 16, 2023

Angie hosted and started us off with a sangria recipe from the Whistling Duck.  

Red Sangria

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup lemon juice or juice from 3 lemons

1 cup orange juice

1 bottle Whistling Duck Cattle Guard Sweet Red Wine

2 cans Sprite

Lemon, oranges, blueberries

Pour sugar, lemon juice and orange juice into pitcher and stir well to dissolve sugar.  Add wine and Sprite and stir again. Garnish with fruit.

 

Talia started us out with a triple appetizer tray!  All were delicious and the goat cheese bites so pretty with the pomegranate seeds. The sausage balls are always a hit at parties!

Cream cheese sausage balls

Potatoes

Goat cheese bites

Next was Tonya's beautiful tomato salad. Tonya did NOT put almonds in the dressing and substituted white wine vinegar for the sherry vinegar.

Our main dish was weeknight paella. It reminded us of jambalaya.  I think most cultures have a seafood rice dish. This one is Spanish. I even splurged on the saffron threads.

Mary brought a mushroom side dish. It had some kick!

Angelica finished with dessert. These precious little cakes have almonds which seem to be a common theme in Spanish cooking. According to the google, "Almond trees flourished in areas such as Spain, Morocco, Greece, and Israel, and their harvests fed explorers traveling along the Silk Road to China. Spain is the only country that maintained a significant almond industry, and they are still a producer of almonds."

August 14, 2022

 We met at Mary's for a Moroccan feast!  

Angelica brought Mixed Mushroom Medley appetizers. These were really hearty and flavorful with the crisp wonton shells.  Since the filling is damp it is best to plate and eat these immediately or the shells get soggy.  The presentation is also very fancy!

Along with the appetizers I served this sangria.  Did I make it by scratch?  No, I did not.  Did I pour it into a pitcher, add some orange slices and fresh raspberries 24 hours in advance?  YES I DID.  We topped with club soda.  It is already pretty bubbly so perfect if served straight out of the bottle WHICH I DID NOT DO.

The salad was this Mediterranean Chickpea salad.  I have made this several times and I am surely blessed to have a husband that enjoys a summer salad.  The chickpeas add protein and in fact are "what's known as a complete protein because they contain all nine essential amino acids, which are building blocks that help our bodies function properly." You're welcome.

This is our action shot of the lentils simmering away.  Imagine an Instagram boomerang filter for the action.

Here are the Moroccan meatballs with lentils on top of Tonya's Moroccan couscous.  We made both lamb and turkey meatballs and by we I mean Mary and Talia.  I ate the turkey and they were delicious. The lentils have cloves which I loved. Tonya's couscous is my favorite variety that has both a sweet and crunchy component.

Talia concluded our Moroccan meal with rice pudding topped with toasted pistachios, coconut and pomegranate seeds.  It was creamy and delightful with the slightly crunchy add-ons.