We hosted two couples and their respective kids tonight. Menu was
Apps:
Cheese plate - aged cheddar, smoked cheddar, dill Havarti, Beemster, plain Havarti, dried cherries, pistachios, homemade blackberry jam, homemade cranberry-apple-shallot relish, Italian croccantini crackers, ww Ritz, Aldi Mezze tray w/olives, feta, and Peppadews, smoked cheese and bacon spread (courtesy my MIL), summer sausage (ditto)
Cacio e pepe popcorn
Pigs in a blanket and assorted mini quiches
Red grapes
Cheddar Goldfish (we fancy)
They thought it would be funny to insert their arms in the shot:
Main(s):
Buttered spaghetti, choice of homemade Cincinnati chili or marinara sauce (Aldi’s Rao’s knockoff) w/meatballs (from frozen). Beef hot dogs and buns for anyone who wanted; I think mainly kiddos partook.
Garnishes of sour cream, shredded colby cheese, mild hot sauce, chopped onion, scallions, kidney beans, oyster crackers, and Fritos
Salad - friend brought blue cheese iceberg wedge salads with bacon, tomatoes, and dilled ranch dressing
Dessert:
Chocolate and sea salt caramel mini cookies
Sour orange pie (ATK) with unsweetened whipped cream - I added more lemon juice and an extra egg yolk to the filling and used a blind-baked regular pie crust
Espresso drinks
Wines:
Two from our local wine shop and an actually quite decent Champagne from Sam’s Club. Got lucky with that one.
Cat photo bomb.
One of our friends brought a bottle of Tott’s extra dry, which I wonder if he confused with extra brut?
And a few of us had a sip of Knob Creek bourbon as a final toast to 2023.
Happy New Year’s Eve!
