3rd Annual Book Club

Yes, it was my third annual catering job for the book club gathering.  But, no I didn't serve this cake.  The picture is just for optical stimulation, because I forgot to take my camera with me for the evening.  This silly little cake actually thinks it's a pie, but it was really good, if not the most beautiful of my creations.

This years book club event was my biggest success, with a stray away from the less familiar Thai and Chinese cuisines.  But, as always, it was a blast to plan - everything from the food and garnish to the plating and dessert.

So what was on the menu?

The first course consisted of crispy mini potato skins, stuffed with aged Gouda and double smoked farmers sausage, drizzled with crème fraîche, smoked paprika infused olive oil and a scattering of chopped chives.  They were beautiful and they tasted fantastic.

And served along side was this recipe for sweet pea and sun dried tomato's on endive spears.  I owe trying this recipe to Cara and Joni, because without them I never would have been able to get past my fear and loathing of mushy peas.  Retch!  But this was worth it!  This simple recipe packs an unexpected amount of flavor and it's *all* good.

And lastly a duo of crostini's.   A rich wild mushroom sauté on top of a Gorgonzola smothered crostini and the other a lightly melted Brie topped with two slices of sweet fresh cherry tomato.

Then for dessert...

A baked Alaska filled with the most intense and addictive caramel almond ice cream.  I haven't been so enthralled by ice cream since Haagen-Dazs banana nut!  I was distraught when they took it off the shelves last year, but then I realized it was in my health's best interest.  And since overcoming the withdrawal my life has almost returned to normal.  And now this!  A reason to relapse - I may never eat anything else again. 

And then lastly I relied on a stand-by.  Pierre Hermé's lemon cream in Chinese tea cups topped with a tuile curl cookie, whip cream and a single berry.  They looked so great that a tear came to my eye when I remembered I had no camera.