A Concert, a Tailgate, and Cocktails, Oh my!

Gimpy's birthday was back in April, and he is a huge Dave Matthew's Fan, so I got him tickets for this Memorial Day Weekend.  We were able to drum up some additional friends, and turned out a 30 person tailgate.  Yay!

We made a ton of jello shots to start the day, packed up our coolers of beer and snacks, and brought the new little grill I bought at Walmart.  It was a terrific deal!  Only $25 for a small propane grill, and then gas itself was super cheap too.  It turned out to be one of the best investments I could have made, I fully intend to use it more this summer, and next Fall during tailgate season.

I made a big batch of guacamole, turkey burgers, cheddar beef brats, and some killer jalapeno mango chicken sausages.  I am going to find the brand and add that here for you guys.  I also made some veggie skewers, which were also a surprising hit - you never expect people to want veggies at a tailgate, but they totally do!

Unfortunately we were too drunk to take pictures of the food, so I promise those for next time.  In the meantime, here are some lovely images of me grilling and people waiting hungrily for food!

  

Time to Throw a Pub Crawl!!

Two years ago, I was sitting at Kona Bar and Grill with my friend Bob.  It was November, and we were discussing which bars we would hit that night.  The bartender, Megan, got excited and asked us, "Are you guys doing the 12 Bars of Christmas?"  We were intrigued - she then explained that she knew some people who did a pub crawl in December and they did 12 bars in ugly Christmas sweaters.  I hate ugly Christmas sweaters, so we decided just Christmas costumes, and in December 2008 - the 1st pub crawl I ever threw was born!

The problem was, in January people starting asking when the next pub crawl was!  My roommate and I decided that we needed to keep it limited to two a year, and we needed some time off between them.  I don't like when people can't express their individuality, so the decision to get custom koozies instead of t-shirts was an easy one.

This May marked the 2nd Annual Preppy Pub Crawl!

The secret to throwing a killer pub crawl is simple - invite everyone you know, invite them to bring their friends, get people who love to express themselves, and choose a great line up of bars!

I order my koozies from Custom Ink - I get the collapsable kind, which works well for packing in to purses, pockets, etc.  I order about 100 of them, and charge $3 each.  That way, people aren't spending a ton of money, but everyone can identify each other.

My friend Tristyn got me a big bag from Vineyard Vines to keep my koozies in this year - it was a huge score!  I am totally glad it made it home for the next Preppy Pub Crawl too.  She also picked up my headband for me.  It was red with navy blue anchors, and it totally rocked with my navy blue Ralph tennis dress (from the kids section, thank goodness I am short!).

The night was a huge success.  We had about 75-80 people in total, and with the exception of a huge jerk at Bradfords (hate that bar anyway) who tried to fight a bunch of us - and told me that I need a boob job (um, are you kidding??) - the night went off without a hitch!

Gimpy even rocked an outfit that kind of matched mine, and we didn't even plan it.  Isn't he cute with his little lobster shorts?  

Date Night - Lobster Ravioli and Crab Cakes!

Last week I went to Trader Joe's, and found that they carried some packages of lobster ravioli.  I obviously had to buy it, as in my head I was already imagining cooking it up with some lobster tails and a white wine garlic butter sauce!  I stuck it in the freezer, as Spring and Summer are insanely busy seasons for me, and I didn't know when I would have a chance to make it.

Luckily for all of us, the chance came this past Wednesday for date night with Gimpy.  I stopped at Stew Leonards on my way home and picked up a couple of 3oz lobster tails and some crab cakes.  The thing that I love about seafood and fresh pasta, is that it is so simple and quick to whip up, especially with a wine sauce like this one.

As promised, I have lots of photos to walk you through it. To start, heat a large sautee pan to medium, and melt in a half a stick of butter (approximately 4 Tbsp).  Do NOT use margarine.  When the butter is nice and melted, add in 3 large cloves of garlic (pushed through your garlic press or dice finely), and cook to mix.


When the butter is all melted and the garlic is nice and golden, add your lobster tails.  Stir them around the pan and cook for 5 minutes, stirring fairly constantly.  Your lobster shells will begin to take on a reddish pink color - this is what's supposed to happen!  At this point, bring the water for your pasta to a boil.  Make sure you salt the water, as this will give your pasta a little bit of extra flavor.

Add to the pan 1 1/2 cups of white wine, either Pinot Grigio or a Sauvignon Blanc (you'll learn I hate Chardonnay and won't ever use it, even for cooking).  Once you add the wine, stir a few more times, and cover the pan.  This will steam the flavor into your lobster tails.  At this time you should go ahead and pour yourself a glass of the wine.  You should always have a glass while cooking!

When your water is boiling, add your pasta, and stir.  Now is when I poured a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil into a small sautee pan, and brought it to medium heat.  With the pasta cooking, I added three fresh crab cakes to the pan.  Cook them for three minutes each side until they are nice and golden, and heated all the way through.  Drain your pasta and add to your lobster and sauce.  Toss to coat.

Meanwhile, set up some field greens on two small plates.  Add the crab cakes (I gave Gimpy two and kept one for myself!).  Put some cocktail sauce on the side of the crab cakes, and serve!

Now on to the main course!  Take two large plates, add some of the ravioli to each, and top with a lobster tail.  For the finishing touch, add some fresh parmesan cheese.  I love to take a vegetable peeler and shave off large pieces.

Now serve!  

Cinco de Mayo!

Sorry it's been so long since I've had a blog post... things have been crazy.

This week/weekend was chock full of Cinco de Mayo parties.  Wednesday night we had to go out to Viva Zapatas in Westport, amazing Mexican food, killer margaritas, and an awesome patio for drinking on.  Add that to 78 degree weather, and it is the perfect way to spend Cinco de Mayo - out drinking till midnight (Yikes!).

Friday night Gimpy's roommate had a Cinco de Mayo themed birthday party, and I made my famous queso, guacamole, and a 5 layer dip.  Queso is honestly the easiest thing to make, the worst thing for you, and the only, only, only time I will ever purchase the ghetto processed cheese food known to the world as Velveeta (I shudder to even admit I buy it). 

Queso

1 small block Velveeta
1 can rotelle
Hot sauce* optional

Melt the rotelle and the Velveeta in a pan on the stove top until melted and gooey.  Add a few dashes of hot sauce for extra spice if desired.  Serve with chips or as a topping in your burrito bar.

5 Layer Dip
1 can vegetarian refried beans
1.5 cup fat free sour cream
1/2 small can diced green chilies
1.5 cup guacamole
1.5 cup salsa of your choice
1.5 cup shredded cheese (pepper jack, cheddar, etc)\
Sliced black olives *optional

In a glass pan, layer the can of refried beans.  In a small bowl, mix the green chilies with the sour cream, and spread on top of the beans.  Layer the guacamole followed by the salsa, and then add the cheese to the top.  If desired, sprinkle sliced black olives on the top.  Serve with chips - I recommend Tostitos Scoops, because they make a yummy little bowl that gives you more per bite.

Guacamole
3 ripe avocado (soft to the touch but not mushy)
Juice of 1/2 a lemon
1/8 cup finely diced onion
1 jalapeno, seeds removed, diced finely
Cilantro, to taste, fresh, chopped
2 garlic cloves, diced or squeezed through a garlic press
Salt and pepper to taste

Blend all the ingredients with a fork, making sure to include the lemon juice.  If you do not add it, your guacamole will be a gross brown color.  Serve with chips :)

I love how easy Mexican food is... 

To reward you all for your patience, on Wednesday I am making lobster in a white wine garlic sauce over lobster ravioli for Gimpy for date night dinner, and I will take pictures along the way to ensure it is an educational blog post for you all!

A little bit about weddings...

It's almost wedding season, which means it is wedding invitation season.  It's been a popular topic among my friends lately because we are at that age where our friends are getting married, having babies, or, if you are us, going out a lot...

So that brings me to what apparently isn't commonly known.  Ladies, if you are getting married, first of all, congratulations!  Now, if you have single friends over the age of 25, invite them with a guest!

There is not much more depressing for your single friends than going to a wedding and sitting with a bunch of couples, all by themselves... or, having everyone around them getting up to dance, and not having anyone to dance with!

Some exceptions do exist, if your group of friends is very large, a lot of them are single, and you are inviting all of them, you don't have to give them an and guest.  If you haven't spoken to your friend in over a year, and you don't know that she isn't dating someone, then you also don't know if she is.  I understand that it costs a lot to throw a wedding, and to feed people, and trust me, so does she.

Let's back this up ladies - I want to review what my grandmother has always said is proper gift etiquette. Figure out how much your friend is spending on your meal (estimate, don't ask), add $50, and that's the total value of your gift.  If you are invited with a guest, you double the meal price!  So, let's imagine you and a date are attending a wedding.  Total value of your gift is probably around $250 - if you live in CT - so divide that between your parties.  Maybe $50 on the shower gift, $50 on the lingerie shower, and then $150 on the wedding gift, which you should mail to their house!

I am sure right now you are thinking "What does she know?" but trust me, I have been to 18 friends' weddings, been a bridesmaid 8 times, and have heard countless friends complain about certain things from both ends.  I am sure you will hear more about it, but now I am off my soap box so I can make creamy mushroom chicken for date night with Gimpy.

Welcome!

So last night I noticed I have two new followers, and this morning another two.  Yay!  I am very excited.  I am guessing you all found me because of V, so thanks, and I am very glad you are here.  I hope I don't let you down, and if you need any help with parties or recipes , let me know!

Easter Dinner for 12

This year I had 11 people over for Easter dinner.  Gimpy is from Virginia, my friends Angie, Marcus, and Richard all have their parents in London, we had a few girls whose parents are in the mid-west, and then a few who just decided that my cooking was more appealing than any other option!

Saturday I went hiking with Gimpy, Mike, and Bridget, and when we get back, Bridget and I went nuts in the kitchen prepping for our respective Easters.  I made my strawberry rhubarb pie and cream of asparagus soup.  I thought it would be a good idea to make my cream of asparagus soup without any actual cream so that it would be nice and healthy!

Cream of Asparagus Soup

1/2 stick unsalted butter

1/2 onion, chopped, (about 1/2 cup)

1 clove garlic, crushed

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 pounds asparagus, ends trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces

6 cups chicken stock

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic, and saute 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add asparagus and saute another 4 minutes. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce to simmer and cook for 30 minutes, until asparagus is very tender.  Next, remove from heat and blend with your immersion blender.  Season with salt and pepper to taste and enjoy! 

I set the table, complete with my little bunny tapers, also known as the cutest candle holders ever, my new light blue table cloth, and some spring tulips.  After a date night at Fat Cat Pie Company with Gimpy, we came back and ended up watching a few hours of Food Network while I prepped and baked my bunny cake, and peeled and sliced potatoes for scalloped potatoes.   

Sunday morning I went to church early with Gimpy and Bobby, then I rushed back to put the ham in the oven.  I made a tangerine/orange glaze to put on the ham, and everyone said it was awesome.  I don't actually eat ham, but I took their word for it!

Citrus Glaze for Ham

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut in chunks

2 tangerines, sliced thin, seeds removed

2 cups orange juice

2 cups light brown sugar, packed

1 cup water

1/4 teaspoon whole cloves

2 cinnamon sticks

Cook all together in a saucepan over medium heat until well blended.  Pour over your ham, and use to baste as you cook.

I also made shrimp cocktail, baked brie with raspberry jam, garlic green beans with slivered almonds, a big salad, the scalloped potatoes, and crescent rolls.

We had a ton of fun, about 19 bottles of wine (really, it was a lot), sat outside in the sunshine drinking for a while, and had dessert.  The bunny cake was a huge hit until someone went to cut a slice and he tumbled off the table!  Luckily drunk me whipped up a new carrot cake and slapped some cream cheese frosting on it when it came out of the oven so there was plenty of dessert.