Corned Beef Birthday Dinner

Menu:
Corned Beef & Cabbage
Colcannon|| Martha Stewart
Chocolate Hazelnut Meringue Cake || Tartlette

Valentine's Day Dinner

Menu:
BBQ Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts
Mussels
Asparagus, Hazelnut & Parmesan Salad || inspired by Kinfolk)
Ricotta Stuffed Gnocchi with Pine Nuts and Browned Butter
Flourless Chocolate Cake || Martha Stewart

Spaghetti Bolognese

Menu:
Spaghetti with Bolognese Sauce || Pioneer Woman
Salad with Hearts of Palm, Beets, Avocado and Pine Nuts
Caramel Budino || Bon Appetit

Pork, Mushrooms, Salad & Dessert

Menu:
Basil and Garlic Marinated Pork Tenderloin
Sauteed Mushrooms and Banana Peppers
Salad
Cherry Clafoulis || Sweet Amandine

Here's something you may not know about me ... unless you know me personally. Recently, I really started getting into making desserts. It's still kind of a shock to me. I've always loved cooking better than baking. And I still cannot for the life of me make cookies. But especially over the last couple years, dessert is kind of my thing. I actually like baking more than cooking! So what do you think? More desserts? P.S. This clafoulis is easy, and super good.

Valentine's Dinner with my Guys

Menu:
Cheese Fondue
Oysters
Bacon-Wrapped Beef Tenderloin
Green Beans
Mushroom Ravioli
Triple Dark Chocolate Tart || Vegetarian Times

Memorial Day BBQ

Indoor BBQ at The Elsmo's:
BBQ Chicken
Prosciutto Wrapped Shrimp with Arugula Salad
Roasted Potatoes
Green Bean
Baked Beans
Watermelon
Potato Chips
Chocolate Cobbler

Valentine's Day Dinner

Menu:
Beef Tenderloin
Scallops
Green Beans
Creamed Spinach
Salt-Roasted Potatoes

Dessert: Chocolate Fondue

Ribs

Menu:
BBQ Ribs
Baked Sweet Potatoes
Brussel Sprouts
Iron Skillet Apple Cake

Bucatini Carbonara

Menu:
Bucatini Carbonara || The Kitchen Sink Recipes
Romaine Salad

I even made dessert: Apple Cinnamon Galettes || Maya Made

We all loved this meal. Perfect ending for a beautiful fall day.

Pizzas on Saturday

Menu:
White Pizza (Ricotta, Garlic, Mozzarella, Shaved Parmesan and Herbs)
Avocado Pizza (Cheese Pizza with Sliced Avocados)
(and an amazing Banana Creme Pie with Pretzel Crust for dessert -- thanks for recipe Melissa!)

Movie:
The Tale of Despereaux

Super Bowl

Yes, I know this isn't dinner. But I forgot to take photos of the Super Bowl party we were at. I had brought a homemade Chocolate Brownie Pecan Pie (seen above), and Brian made Venezuelan Stuffed Corn Cakes.

Dinner at the Z's

Dinner with Brian's boss (and friend) DZ and family:
- Homemade Pasta with Vegan Pesto
- Arugula Salad with Blood Orange, Yellow Beet, Avocado, Yellow Tomato & Balsamic Dressing
- Garlic Bread
- Glazed Chocolate-Avocado Cupcakes (made by Brian)

Tandoori Chicken

Menu on the fly by Brian:
Tandoori Chicken Cutlets (tandoori spice mix from Penzey Spices) with Grilled Pineapple
Saffron Rice
Naan
Gherkins & Olives

Overripe Banana Souffle by me