Author Archives: Jessica

Easy Dinner

27 Wednesday Apr 2016

Posted by in Cooking, Entertaining, Recipes, Recipes

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When I’m in the mood for a comforting dinner but don’t want to spend tons of time in the kitchen, Ina Garten’s Weeknight Bolognese is one of my go-to’s.  This pasta dish is so flavorful you would think it simmered for hours.  And, I usually have the ingredients in my pantry.  The perfect weeknight meal!

Weeknight Bolognese

Gourmet Group

17 Thursday Mar 2016

Posted by in Baking, Cooking, Dessert, Entertaining, Gourmet Group, Living Room, Recipes, Recipes, Table Design

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After a 6 month break, I’m back to blogging with Gourmet Group!

I hosted the dinner with a Mexican Theme.

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I wanted the night to feel casual and laid back, with really delicious food – and still some elegance.  One of the guys makes yummy guacamole, so we started with chips & guac, and my Dad’s famous margaritas.

The main dish was a barbacoa recipe that I have made for years.  It is so flavorful.  (I usually make extra so we eat it for several nights – the first night over rice, and then next over a big green salad with simple lemon vinaigrette.)  All of the sides:  citrus salad, re-fried beans, and saffron rice with peas, are all from the beautiful Mexico: The Cookbook.  To keep it casual we served them all together on piled-high plates.

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My husband added a sipping tequilla served with homemade Sangrita as a digestif.

And then, my favorite part of all…Cuatro Leches cake with arequipe sauce!!!  Our wedding cake was a cuatro leches cake and and the recipe from La Duni in Dallas seemed similar, so I put it on the menu.  My friend did an amazing job on this masterpiece and it tasted even better than it looked!

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It was a wonderful evening with great friends and great food.