Housewarming Party

We had a wonderful turn out - and most important TONS of yummmmmmmy food. I was so busy entertaining/ leaving half drank coronas around the house that I - sadly- did not take many pictures. Good times, good food and good booze were had by all - except Aidan, he mostly stuck to juice boxes.

I will list a few of the recipes here (mostly because I am throughly enjoying my brand new MacBook pro - lots of pictures and blogging in the future - and it beats the hell out of using mine which basically said "Kate, I quit - we're over. Yes, my pink Dell broke up with me then had a breakdown of it's own.)

Menu
- Ravioli Bruschetta Salad
- Strawberry Spinach Salad
- BBQ "CHICKEN"Corn Salad
-Deviled Eggs
-Spinach Dip
- Pulled Pork Sliders
- Loaded (w/veggies) Potato Salad
-Nacho Cheese Dip
-Fruit &Veggie Tray
-Mini Burgers On a Stick - the favorite
- Penne Pasta Salad
- Too many desserts to list...chocolate chip cookies, apple pie a la mode, scones, brownies
- JELL-O CAKE

Per request from one of my devoted and faithful blog followers, Patti -who also made the yummy Nacho Dip - we'll start here....

BBQ "CHICKEN" Corn Salad
 Adapted from Vegetarian Times
Vinaigrette:
1 C cilantro leaves
1/2 C vegetable oil
1/4 C lime juice
1/4 orange juice
1 T agave nectar
2 cloves garlic, minced
Dash of cayenne pepper
Salt & Pepper to taste

Salad:
1 package Quorn fake chicken - you can use real chicken too, cut into chunks

1/2 C BBQ sauce

1 C frozen corn
1/2 diced red pepper
1 C garbonzo beans
1/3 C diced red onion
1 package of mixed (organic!)greens, I use a mix of spinach and arugula

To make vinaigrette place all ingredients in a blender and puree until smooth. Set aside. Take entire bag of fake chicken (I believe 1 12 oz bag is about a 1lb real chicken) put in small frying pan, add BBQ and cook  on med/high heat just till heated through, set aside. Toss chicken, corn, pepper, beans and onion together with the vinaigrette. Toss salad mix in with other ingredients just before serving - best served cold.

BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders

*This serves around 20 people*
Ingredients
6 lbs Pork Shoulder (tell your butcher your making pulled pork - they are a great help in selecting the cut of meat!)
24 oz (2 cans) Root Beer
1 Jar of bbq sauce

Add all ingredients to a slow cooker, set on high until it simmers, then reduce to med/low heat. Should take around 7 hours to cook. Serve on mini slider buns.

Jell-O Cake
This is the PERFECT go to summer dessert. Everyone will love it - guarantee - and be asking, how the hell DID you make that??
Ingredients:
2 boxes of sugar free jello (I use strawberry, you can pick 2 different kinds)
1 box of yellow cake (and whatever you'll need to bake it - eggs, oil, ect)
1 container cool whip

Bake cake according to package instructions and let cool. Pierce the cake all over with a fork, think like 20 or so stabs - be generous! Empty both packages of mix into a bowl along with 1 1/2 C water, mix with a fork until it is all liquid. Now comes the scary part, pour the liquid mixture over the cake. You will think it will turn to mush and that there is too much liquid - there isn't - keep the faith! I let mine settle for around 20 minutes. Cover with cool whip, add sprinkles if you wish.


Mini burgers and Grown up grilled cheese to come!

Until next time...eat,love,live and eat some more.