I remember friends remarking at an early December cocktail party one year, “What a civilized way to start the season!” This is definitely the season where I like to entertain, decorate and cook delicious and decadent food.
This is also the time when we polish all the silver, bring out the the Christmas platters and bowls, the boxes of ornaments and garlands and wreaths from storage and start to decorate our home for the holidays. I think that the timing for this dinner party certainly set the mood for the Christmas season! And to help things along, we had our first snow fall this morning, what a pretty sight!
My menu was all make ahead, which works well in our open concept home, and it also eliminates all the last minute rushing around and cooking after friends arrive. I always plan my dinner party menus so that the most that has to be done is to reheat and serve. But this menu went even further as I made the appetizer, main course and dessert days before our party! And none of it suffered. You’ll see what I mean when you read the menu. In fact, the dessert needed extra time anyway to macerate and absorb all of the delicious juices.
This left me with just the hors d’oeuvres, but these are always last minute anyway.
Hors d’Oeuvres
Cumin and Paprika Spiced Marcona Almonds
Sweet and Salty Feta Cheese Cubes
Appetizer
Main
Dessert
Prunes in Armagnac (Pruneaux à l’Armagnac)
with
Soft Vanilla Ice Cream
It looks complicated, elegant and even decadent. It’s not and I think that you will agree, and after all, ‘Tis the Season’….have fun and enjoy the Holiday Season.
