Menu redux for Anniversary dinner
So, despite getting no suggestions* for what to make for our anniversary dinner, last minute inspiration struck and we had a delicious dinner.
On the menu:
- Cold avocado and roasted corn soup, garnished with cilantro oil and creme fraiche.
- Sourdough grilled flatbread**, served with:
Tyrosalata - A whipped feta and ricotta dip with garlic, chives & olive oil.
Muhummara - Roasted red pepper spread with pomegranate molasses & walnuts.
- Black Bean Plantain Parcels with cheese, green chiles and cilantro pesto.
- Mangoes and Strawberries tossed with tequila, triple sec, lime zest and honey -- topped with a dollop of vanilla minted whipped cream
With the Muhummara & Tyrosalata, I was trying to replicate one of my favorite appetizers at Carmelita, my favorite Seattle vegetarian restaurant. The Muhummara wasn't exactly the same as what Carmelita makes, it was damn tasty and I highly recommend it (perhaps I'll post my modified recipes later). The tyrosalata recipe needs work (more chives? a less salty feta?). I was also pleasantly surprised with the black bean banana empanadas, as I thought they were a bit of a gamble. The avocado corn soup, although the recipe suggested serving it cold, would be equally good warm or hot. And the mangos and strawberries, margarita style, were luscious but I thought the whipped cream (a separate inspiration) was a bit much (D disagreed).
All in all, the menu satisfied most of my requirements: vegetarian, no hard/crunchy food, and based (only partly) around seasonal produce. Hooray for one amazing, beautiful year with dtto and one tasty meal to celebrate.
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*I thought I had created a filter for everybody except my sweetie and made a post asking for recipe suggestions. I must say, I was a little disappointed when no one commented (especially given how many foodie friends I have)- and in a pathetic gesture to make myself look loved, I posted my own comment. Tonight during dinner, I told D that I had even solicited menu suggestions on LJ, to which he responded, "I know." "What?!?" I responded.
I immediately went to check the post, and sure enough, I had created a filter where only D could see and everyone else was excluded. *sigh* Now the filter is fixed, so any future planning, secret from D, should be viewable to you, my fair friends, but not the boy.
** Made by dtto with his delicious and lovingly tended sourdough starter.
On the menu:
- Cold avocado and roasted corn soup, garnished with cilantro oil and creme fraiche.
- Sourdough grilled flatbread**, served with:
Tyrosalata - A whipped feta and ricotta dip with garlic, chives & olive oil.
Muhummara - Roasted red pepper spread with pomegranate molasses & walnuts.
- Black Bean Plantain Parcels with cheese, green chiles and cilantro pesto.
- Mangoes and Strawberries tossed with tequila, triple sec, lime zest and honey -- topped with a dollop of vanilla minted whipped cream
With the Muhummara & Tyrosalata, I was trying to replicate one of my favorite appetizers at Carmelita, my favorite Seattle vegetarian restaurant. The Muhummara wasn't exactly the same as what Carmelita makes, it was damn tasty and I highly recommend it (perhaps I'll post my modified recipes later). The tyrosalata recipe needs work (more chives? a less salty feta?). I was also pleasantly surprised with the black bean banana empanadas, as I thought they were a bit of a gamble. The avocado corn soup, although the recipe suggested serving it cold, would be equally good warm or hot. And the mangos and strawberries, margarita style, were luscious but I thought the whipped cream (a separate inspiration) was a bit much (D disagreed).
All in all, the menu satisfied most of my requirements: vegetarian, no hard/crunchy food, and based (only partly) around seasonal produce. Hooray for one amazing, beautiful year with dtto and one tasty meal to celebrate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
*I thought I had created a filter for everybody except my sweetie and made a post asking for recipe suggestions. I must say, I was a little disappointed when no one commented (especially given how many foodie friends I have)- and in a pathetic gesture to make myself look loved, I posted my own comment. Tonight during dinner, I told D that I had even solicited menu suggestions on LJ, to which he responded, "I know." "What?!?" I responded.
I immediately went to check the post, and sure enough, I had created a filter where only D could see and everyone else was excluded. *sigh* Now the filter is fixed, so any future planning, secret from D, should be viewable to you, my fair friends, but not the boy.
** Made by dtto with his delicious and lovingly tended sourdough starter.