A Barefoot Contessa Dinner Party... Alongside Tiny Photos

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I dutifully photographed every stride inwards the grooming of dinner... as well as and then deleted all of the photos from my estimator (have I mentioned that?).  I do, however, soundless accept modest versions of my photos - only non the big pretty ones.  Even though these are non big as well as beautiful, I soundless wanted to percentage the political party amongst you lot as well as our menu.  

Barefoot Contessa Dinner Party
A Foolproof Menu


Tuscan Mashed Chickpeas, page 42
Tomato Crostini amongst Whipped Feta, page 66
Straw & Hay amongst Gorgonzola, page 156
Sticky Toffee Date Cake amongst Bourbon Glaze, page 220

I planted African Violets inwards my latte cups (Sur La Table, $6... deal!) that I used equally a uncomplicated centerpiece.
 

With vino earlier dinner, I served my version of Tuscan Mashed Chickpeas amongst Crusty Bread.  After reading Ina's recipe, I realized it sounded a lot similar a favorite starter at i of my favorite restaurants, Lidia's.  Lidia Bastianich, who is co-owner of Eatly inwards NYC amongst Mario Batali, likewise owns a fabulous authentic Italian eating theatre inwards KC.  So, I modified the recipe to exclude the tomatoes as well as added basil instead.  It was hence tasty as well as definitely reminded me of dining at Lidia's.

Toasted baguette laid upward for topping.

Tomato Crostini amongst Whipped Feta 

Getting laid upward for the Straw & Hay.

Fried pancetta...

Cooking the onions...

Crumbling inwards the gorgonzola. 

 The sauce was hence delicious!  I'm non a huge fan of gorgonzola, but I honey Ina's Gorgonzola Cream sauce for Beef Tenderloin, hence I trusted that it would hold out only equally good.  It definitely was - I intend cooking the gorgonzola mellows its potent flavor. 

 

I was worried that I wouldn't hold out able to honor authentic Tagliatelle, but I went to our local Italian grocery, Bella Napoli, as well as settled for this pasta that I idea looked similar it would move - flat, sparse pasta.

 

When I got home, I realized that it truly was Tagliatelle - as well as it was perfect.  It was improve than linguine or fettucine, because it was hence sparse as well as delicate, land existence a long apartment noodle.

Dinner is served.  One of our favorite dinners!  My friends, Leah as well as Geoff, are huge fans of Pasta Carbonara - they loved this pasta.

We ended the nighttime amongst the Sticky Toffee Date Cake.  Mike as well as I had had a warm toffee pudding inwards Vail terminal calendar month that nosotros loved as well as this was only equally delicious - it was so, hence moist as well as dense... as well as lite at the same time.  

Here is the easy-to-pin strip!

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