Monday, January 22, 2007

A couple of dinner parties!

Last night one of Musty's friends came over for dinner. In fact, Musty invited him over at the last minute! :) But that's no problem, I love having dinner parties!!


Anyhow, Musty was very eager for more roasted veggies, so I made a BIG batch of roasted goodness: rutabega, red beets, chiogga beets, butternut squash rings, and some fennel. I wasn't sure if I would like the fennel, but I LOVED it! I roasted them with a tiny big of olive oil and salt, and added some chopped up garlic bits for the last 7 minutes or so. Total roasting time: 1 hour. See my neat new square red Pyrex dish? :)



Also, we had a big dinner salad. I'm ashamed to say that Musty actually went out and bought this salad from our local veg restaurant (Dharma's). They make great salads, Musty loves them, and we were having company and had no salad fixin's ! Their salads are loaded full with olives, artichoke hearts, sunflower seeds, avocado, grated beets, carrots, cukes... mmmm.


And - of course - we ate some more of our yummy piroshkis. Still have 4 more unbaked in the freezer!



Tonight we had a nice family dinner at my parents' house to celebrate my brother's birthday and my nephew's birthday. Their bdays are a week apart, so we had a joint party. It was so fun. Traditionally, my mom makes "taco joes" on their birthday - spicy ground meat over fritos with mexi-toppings. But, because she's awesome, she made some super tasty vegan kidney bean chili for my two aunts and I (the veggies!). I topped mine with olives, lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, & hot sauce - and skipped on the fritos. MMM


Also, I made them a birthday cake. It turned out great! I made a two layer chocolate cake, using the vegan chocolate cake recipe from the Joy of Cooking. Have you ever tried that recipe? I don't know if it's in the brand new edition, but it's super easy and great! My brother is on a diet, and wanted a low fat cake - so I subbed half the oil with silken tofu. This whole cake has 1/4 c of oil! Also, I used de-seeded raspberry jam in the middle, rather than frosting. I frosted the top with a very simple, low-margarine frosting... and just left the sides plain. Also, I used half whole wheat pastry flour. All that - and it was STILL a totally delicious and amazing chocolate cake that everyone loved. Hoorah for vegan dessert!

11 comments:

  1. Beautiful veggies and cake! I totally dig your new square dish. AwEsoMe!!! :)

    I recently made pizza pockets and we ate them all week. It was really great and helpful! :)

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  2. Oh, and way to go healthifying that cake!

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  3. Everything looks wonderful-especially that cake! It's beautifully decorated! Well done!

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  4. It's been oven a year since I've had a dinner table, a sad part of having a nice apartment, but no dinner or coffee table. Yours look fab! Last minute ones are such a lovely rush.

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  5. piroshkis - wow these look awesome. I always thought that these just had potatos inside of pasta, but yours g=have cabbage... I think I must find this recipe. Great dinner party food.

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  6. Your dinner parties look more like dinner feasts. And love your peroshksis--we call them pierogies. My babci is smiling at you from up above.

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  7. Awww, what a sweet cake. And I love your taco joes... make me hungry.

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  8. Hi Ruthie!
    Yeah, I'm all for yummy little meals wrapped in a dough packet! It's so easy and tasty. :) And thanks for the healthy cake props!

    Hi Nikki!
    Thanks! I had fun decorating the cake... I thought I'd keep it clean and simple, for a more manly asthetic.

    Hi Jess,
    Oh, you gotta have a dinner party! Just sit around on the floor or whatever. It wouldn't be the same, but it'd still be fun.... It could be Indian or Japanese food, so that the floor sitting would be thematic!

    Hi Dori,
    Yeah, that recipe was very nice, I definitely recommend it!

    Hi UV,
    I was thinking of you and your babci when I made these!!! It seemed like your kind of food. :)

    Hi Bazu!
    Oh no, I didn't mean to make you hungry while you're still recuperating your wisdom teeth. How's that applesauce and soy yogurt?

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  9. *giggle* I just had to answer your question: I'm so sick of applesauce and soygurt and pudding! I keep trying to chew stuff, only to hurt myself!...

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  10. I believe I have that same red dish! Mine has a lid...

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  11. What a pretty cake :) Love your new Pyrex dish. Is that dish from the Pyrex Hostess set?

    I have that yellow mixing bowl too. I bought mine at an estate auction a few years ago. I love blogs where people use vintage kitchenware :)

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