Always the caterer, never the bride!

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Always the caterer, never the bride!
23
Mon, 10-09-2006 - 8:51pm

You all hear me talk about Dennis & Ric & Luca, the radio comedy team that promotes Curious Chef and asks me to write their trivia game from time to time...Well, Ric is getting married.

hunk 'o, hunk 'o burnin' heartburn!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Wed, 10-11-2006 - 1:14am

I talked to Josephine, the bride, tonight.

hunk 'o, hunk 'o burnin' heartburn!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-16-2004
Wed, 10-11-2006 - 5:58am

I took a Google and found these

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-04-2003
Fri, 10-13-2006 - 6:26am

Oh! I have a nice recipe that is just awesome!!! My mom isn't invited to family gatherings unless she makes and brings her sundried tomato & pesto torta spread! *wink*
It is so easy and yummy, there is never any left! Plus, it has red/orange-white-green layers! So close to the Irish flag!!

To make it easier on myself typing it up, I've found a recipe online and edited it to fit how we do it. In addition, I never measure anyting, so I am using what they say here.

Sun-Dried Tomato and Pesto Torta Spread

INGREDIENTS
* 4 cloves garlic, peeled
* 1 1/2 cups fresh basil leaves
* 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
* 1/4 cup pine nuts
* 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
* 2 2/3 cups softened cream cheese
* 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
* 1 1/3 cups sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil, drained*
* salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Chop the garlic in a food processor. Mix in basil, lemon juice, pine nuts and olive oil. Process until well blended. Mix in 1/3 cup cream cheese and Parmesan cheese. Blend using pulse setting until almost smooth. Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl. (You can also use store bought pesto, but as always it is never as good. *grin*)

2. Coarsely chop sun-dried tomatoes in the food processor. If you used dehydrated tomatoes, add a bit of oil to them. Blend until smooth.

3. Place 2 cups cream cheese, some Parmesan cheese and (my mom uses another type of soft cheese, but I can't remember what) in a medium bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat until fluffy. Season with salt and pepper.

5. Spread in layers into a shallow dish (like a small pie pan) the pesto, cream cheese and tomato mixtures. (Or you can layer the mixtures, but it is more work, tastes the same..so why bother?!) Cover and chill in the refrigerator 8 hours, or overnight.

6. Carefully invert dish onto a platter and serve with crackers or bread. (Our favorites are LU brand water crackers.)

*Sun-dried tomatoes can be purchased dry-packed or packed in oil. If using dry-packed, rehydrate by covering with hot water and letting stand 30 minutes.

(And here is one more recipe from the NY Ronald McDonald House website that is somewhat like my mom's recipe: http://www.ronaldshouse.com/cookbook/sampler/herb-cheese-pesto.htm)


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I participated in Beauty & Style's apple
bobbing contest and look what I got!!







iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sun, 10-15-2006 - 12:29pm

Here's the menu so far:


Fruit tray


Veggie tray


Brandied cheese spread with crostini


Irish cheese board


Sausages boiled in Guiness Stout


Broiled seafood in bacon


Stuffed mushrooms or a sautee of mushroom and garlic in puff pastry


Mini quiche


Potato skins with Irish cheddar and bacon


Spotted Dog (traditional Irish, like a sweet biscuit with raisins)


I'm going to go crazy with the crostini.

hunk 'o, hunk 'o burnin' heartburn!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-16-2004
Sun, 10-15-2006 - 4:37pm
Why crostini and not double baked white soda bread?

themedswede.jpg

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 10-16-2006 - 12:36am

Crostini because I can make it WAY ahead and avoid buying crackers, which I would have to have for this menu.

hunk 'o, hunk 'o burnin' heartburn!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-16-2004
Mon, 10-16-2006 - 9:26am

Double baked
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 10-17-2006 - 8:57pm

there is a lot of rye and seeded bread in the Irish culture, so my plan was to make the crostini from what I can find at the bread store.

hunk 'o, hunk 'o burnin' heartburn!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-16-2004
Wed, 10-18-2006 - 5:21am
Ah, then your crostinis is the
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-10-2003
Thu, 10-19-2006 - 12:55pm

What fun K_roni!

CM Zanna Farlow
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