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Dinner Party Prep

Friday, February 10, 2012
Updated--Lisa asked what I decided to do with my hair...so I put a photo at the bottom...

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{getting ready to make arrangements}

I am busy cleaning, cooking and primping for our Valentine Dinner Party.  I am so excited.  We have some fun things planned but we are a touch out of practice.  While we do entertain a lot, lately most of it has consisted of more casual family dinners.  We have not hosted a dinner party in a while.  And the best part is that these are some of our closest friends and we have all known each other for many, many years.  Because we are all such good friends, I have no nervous jitters at all.  It is such fun to entertain people who really know you and love you just the way you are.  It takes some of the pressure off:)

Here is our tentative menu plan. I say tentative because I keep tweaking it.  I am trying to choose things that will not require me to be cooking much during the actual party. So, most of this can be prepared tonight or tomorrow and then heated or served at the time.

I am planning to serve our appetizers in the living room by the fire.  We will be serving grapes wrapped in goat cheese and caramelized onion and cranberry crostini paired with Champagne or my favorite Prosecco.

Next, we will have a salad course of mixed greens topped with lime marinated lump crab meat with tomato, avocado and cilantro. I created my own recipe but a similar one is here.

For the main course, we are serving Beef Wellington (thanks Olivia for the suggestion) and a potato, butternut squash and gruyere gratin and marinated asparagus.

And for dessert I am making a dark chocolate ganache tart with either fresh whipped cream or Haagen Dazs vanilla ice cream (thanks Kristi for the suggestion and recipe).


Hope y'all have a great weekend!!!


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{above my kitchen sink--it is a dark rainy day}

Dave and quite a few of you thought I should cut my hair and I almost did.  But my stylist and I both wanted to keep it long for now.  So, I got a nice healthy trim instead.  I am not ready to give up my newfound love of curls and sock buns:)  Here is a photo for you, Lisa.  I am SO awkward photographing myself:)

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Oops the flash went off on that one;)

21 comments:

  1. Sounds wonderful and yummy. How blessed your friends are to have you in their lives!! Enjoy!!

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  2. Assuming my invite got lost in the mail? LOL....crostini? Prosecco? Beef wellington? All some of my most favorite things!
    YUM.....and the flowers are GORGEOUS!! Enjoy and hope you will be able to take a few pics.....always fun to see!! Enjoy.

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  3. Sounds like a lovely dinner!! So happy you're making the grapes wrapped in goat cheese - let me know how you like them :) P.S. your hair looks beautiful!

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  4. Yummy! And you would be cute with pink hair!!! PS- LOVE those ruffles on your top! :) xoxo Brooke

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  5. You have to start posting where you get yor clothes! You always look so stylish. I thought the hubbies in your group used to make the dinner, no? Sounds Devine.

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  6. Wow -- what a dinner!! Sounds fabulous!

    Cute hair!!

    Happy weekend!

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  7. Love it, youthful & fun! Also, the persimmon blazer is really pretty. Have fun - menu sounds delicous!

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  8. you look great kim. orange is your color. have fun at the dinner party. you and dave are great hosts. i know it will be beautiful and the food will be fab! SAL

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  9. Sounds like a delightful evening. Getting ready for everything is such fun. I hope you all have a wonderful time. Can't wait to see pictures and read all about it!


    Blessings,
    Robin

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  10. Sounds like a lovely party - enjoy!!! I absolutely LOVE your flowers - they are breathtaking (even prior to arranging!).

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  11. The menu sounds amazing, the house always looks gorgeous when you entertain, and your hair cut looks fantastic! Have lots of fun celebrating Valentine's Day.

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  12. Sounds delicious! And that first photo of all the flowers makes me want to head out and get some pink! Your hair looks so pretty!

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  13. Ummm, are you sharing the ganache tart recipe?! I can eat that alone for valentines day :)

    Love the hair!

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  14. Can I come over for dinner too? Sounds like a lovely dinner party! Happy to hear you didn't cut your hair. I like your hair long! Super cute. Have a great weekend.

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  15. I checked out the recipe for those grapes, yummo! When I grow up, I want to be like you...lol! oOPS! I am grown, you inspire me.

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  16. Hi Kim,

    I know you are super busy but when you have time can you let me know where you purchased your roman shades that are above your kitchen sink? I just moved and have been looking for a while.

    Thanks for the help. No hurry :)

    ~Michele (Simone and Sophie's Mom)

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    1. Michele,

      I bought the fabric at Calico Corner about 3-4 years ago. I wish I could help you more than that. I don't think I have the name/vendor anywhere but I will try to look through my files this week for that info. I usually try to find fabric other places but I could not find exactly what I was looking for anywhere else.

      best,
      Kim

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  17. Thanks Kim :) I never thought of finding the fabric then having them made. Thanks for the idea....I will have fun looking for fabrics. Love your blog. Have a great week, Michele

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  18. Thanks Kim :) I never thought of finding the fabric then having them made. Thanks for the idea....I will have fun looking for fabrics. Love your blog. Have a great week, Michele

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  19. I just realized you updated to include the after photo...... IT LOOKS FANTASTIC!!! I love it:) It really has gotten long. Beautiful Kim!

    Have a wonderful week~

    xo,

    Lisa

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    1. Thank you Lisa!!! I put those photos there just for you!

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Thank you for your kindness.