The Dinner Party

We're hosting a dinner party for some of our friends. I've been planning the meal for ages and I'm really excited. Today I'll be doing most of the preparation. I know I'll get asked to post the menu, so here goes.


Appetizers


Brie with Cranberries & Thyme baked in Buttered Puff Pastry

Pumpernickel Bread with a Roasted Red Pepper Dip


Main Course


Salad of Mixed Greens, Cranberries & Almonds with Maple Balsamic Dressing

Potatoes Mashed with Sour Cream Green Onions and Thyme

Roasted Root Vegetables

Rutabaga, Carrots and Pears mashed with Butter and Ginger

Cornish Hens with a stuffing of Barley Cous Cous and Dried Fruits
roasted with a Port & Spice Glaze


Dessert

Warm Molten Chocolate Cakes

Shortbread Ice Cream

Handmade Chocolate Truffles

**

The names all sound pretty jazzy (which I worked at), I'm salivating just thinking about it. I have only made the salad and the truffles before, all of the other recipes are new to me.

I've wanted to try making the molten chocolate cakes for a long time. They are individual cakes with a special batter that when baked just enough the warm centre of chocolate sort of oozes out. The ice cream I made on Thursday and I've renamed it because when I tasted it, it tasted exactly like shortbread cookies. Absolutely heavenly.