13/52: Let the 50th Celebrations Begin.....

I have an amazing group of friends.  New friends and old friends.  Best of all, friends that know how to throw an amazing dinner party in honor of my 50th year.

Jenny and Brent hosted an elegant dinner party for 9 including a champagne fountain, a 4 course meal and a jazz duo (Jenny provided amazing vocals) the first Saturday in April.

It was an amazing evening and one that I won't soon forget.  Thanks for my friends who are like family for celebrating my birthday!

Enjoy!
Stacy

9/52: Party Weekend

We had two celebrations over the weekend.  The first was an Italian inspired dinner party with friends.  A wonderful bottle of wine, a cheesy homemade lasagna and a fire in a back yard fire pit.  It was a lot of fun!

Sunday was Oscar Sunday back in Portland and we had a wonderful three course meal, complete with sparkling wine and small plates, inspired by the movies nominated for Best Picture Oscars this past year.

Good food, good friends, good wine, good times!

Enjoy!
Stacy

17/52

Traveling the 17th week of the year!

Arvada/Golden, CO

BBQ with friends Russ and Sue

Sue, Russ, Cliff, Joe, Tim, Wendy and Brian

 

Sam's #3 Diner in Denver, CO

Established in 1927

Recipe of the Week: Oscar Party 2014

And the Oscar goes to……..

Once again, it’s time to unveil our Oscar Menu for 2014 (here is 2013 and 2012).  As always, our menu is based on the nominees up for awards this year.  This year I focused again, on the Best Picture Nominees.

When the Oscar Nominees were unveiled a few weeks ago, I knew this year would be a challenge.  None of the films this year made it easy...with very few exotic locals or food heavy scenes.  Then again, I am always up for a challenge and it didn’t take me long to come up with some really good ideas.

This year’s challenge is to create a small plate menu that combines different cultures, themes, places and people that come together in some of the nominated films. 

Don't forget to print out your Oscar Ballot and check out movie clips on the Oscar website.

The Oscars are broadcast LIVE on Sunday, March 2nd at 5PM PST.  Red Carpet Party begins 3hours before on the E Network.

Enjoy!
Stacy

Red Carpet Snacks:  Sparkling Wine with “Captain Phillips” Warm Crab Dip - In Honor of Best Picture Nominee “Captain Phillips”
Recipe Link: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/hot-crab-dip-recipe.html

First Appetizer:  – New Orleans Style Roasted Shrimp, Watermelon and Goat Cheese Salad - In Honor of Best Picture Nominee “12 Years a Slave”

Recipe Link: http://www.nickstellino.com/recipes/Menu/Recipe/Default.aspx?men=10&rec=763

Second Appetizer:  Mini Irish Meatloaf with Cabbage Cream Sauce and Baby Red "Smashed" Potatoes – In Honor of Best Picture Nominee “Philomena”

 Recipe Link: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/irish-meatloaf-with-cabbage-cream-sauce-recipe.html

Final Act Dessert:  Upside Down S’more Brownies – In Honor of Best Picture Nominee “Gravity”
 Recipe Link:  http://allrecipes.com/recipe/smore-brownies/

Old Photo Friday: Dinner Party

WHO: Don and Marie; and a group of friends
WHAT: Dinner Party (I believe this might have been a holiday gathering)
WHERE: Eugene?
WHEN: Early 1940's

I've been thinking a lot about dinner parties, cocktail parties, celebrations and gatherings and I came across this homemade Christmas card featuring my grandparents (father's side) taken in the early 1940's.

These pictures have been glued to a homemade card for almost 70 years so I was unable to remove them. To enlarge picture, click on them

Enjoy!
Stacy

2012 Oscar Night Menu

We have an Oscar tradition on our blog to create a menu inspired by the Oscar nominees, share that menu with the world and host one fun evening of eating and drinking Hollywood style.

This award season brings a particularly rich mix of themes, including a 3-D and a silent movie nominee. As always, this makes for some very compelling eating and drinking options.

This year’s twist…..I am using Weight Watchers to help me with my menu. It's challenging, but inspirational at the same time (just like movies inspire our lives).

It’s Hollywood’s night to shine! Once again, it’s time to unveil our Oscars Menu for 2012.

Red Carpet Appetizer: French Artichoke Tarts along side a Blue Cheese Spread with Crudités – In honor of Best Picture Nominee Midnight In Paris, in which an American writer travels through time to meet Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Gertrude Stein. We look to Hemingway's A Moveable Feast, with fancy appetizers and a Champagne toast.

Entree: Hawaiian Sweet and Sour Mini Meatballs - In honor of Best Picture Nominee The Descendants (filmed in Hawaii), starring George Clooney (nominated for Best Actor). This movie takes place in Hawaii, so traditional Hawaiian foods are the perfect fit.

Main Course: Southern Style Fried Chicken with Coleslaw - In honor of Best Picture Nominee The Help, starring Viola Davis (nominated for Best Actress), Octavia Spencer and Jessica Chastain (both nominated for Best Supporting Actress). The Help is about the African-American domestic workers in Jackson, Mississippi, and food plays a significant role in the plot, so our menu shines the spotlight on classic Southern cooking, including one of Minny's specialties, fried chicken.

Dessert: Blondies – In Honor of Best Actress Nominee Michelle Williams for My Week with Marilyn (the ultimate blonde)

And the Oscar goes to..............

Enjoy!

Stacy

Official Oscar Site

Birthday Dinner @ DeCarli

Pop and Rosemary treated me to birthday dinner at one of my favorite local restaurants, DeCarli last Wednesday night. Unfortunately, Rosemary couldn't get away mid-week, but my Pop came up from Eugene. We had a little pre-birthday dinner celebration at Rebecca Lane first.

Tops and sparkly shoes from Chick for my Las Vegas trip

Cute cards and thoughtful gifts including a box that arrived by surprise all the way from Virginia. Thanks, Mom!Soon it was off to dinner in downtown Beaverton. Decarli has been open for a few years now (we first checked it out in March 2008) and serves an Italian inspired menu that changes weekly featuring local seasonal ingredients.

I really love the "homey" and comfortable decor of this renovated 1924 building. The vibe is relaxed and family-friendly though the setting is rather elegant - even for downtown Beaverton.

Menu for April 21, 2010

A highlight of the restaurant is the large chandelier salvaged from downtown Portland’s historic Benson Hotel. The open kitchen overlooks the bar and dining area, giving diners an intimate feel.

I guess my only complaint would be that the noise level was HIGH! But the restaurant was completely packed (with several large tables) so it's expected.

The menu is well thought out and still reasonably priced - considering the buzz and recent economy. Pastas are around $15 and, aside from a few entrees above $26, most are under $20.

Pop and I each had a beet salad with this wonderful horseradish vinaigrette dressing. Fabulous! Sandra had the "little gems" salad with blue cheese and hazelnuts and the entire table shared the polenta fries in gorgonzola butter (to die for).

Stacy and Sandra sipping on a wonderful 2007 Clos du Val Chardonnay

Our entrees were all wonderful....

Pop had 1/2 dozen oysters on the half shell.

Brian had a huge mound of Tagliatelle with milk-braised beef and pork bolognase and Sandra had the New York Steak which was cooked to perfection.

I think the highlight of the table was my Beef Short Ribs braised in espresso and served on top fresh spaetzle.

A very thoughtful ending to a truly superb meal......a candle on my salted caramel cheesecake.

Enjoy!
Stacy

Oscar Night

We had an awesome Oscar night at Rebecca Lane. Chick and I got all glamoured up!

Even Blondie got into the act.

All of our tapas/small plates came out wonderfully.....champagne flowed freely and all our favorites won.
It's fun to add a little celebration to your Sunday, isn't it?

Enjoy!
Stacy

Weekend Update: Ken's visit and Ann's Birthday

View of Olympic Mountains from West Seattle (2 blocks from our house)

Brian was supposed to get together a few weekends ago with both his brothers, Ken and Kerry - but plans change and schedules get rearranged. Ken kept his reservations and flew up to spend last weekend with Brian and visit their mom, Ann who celebrated a birthday on Saturday.

It's always great to catch up with Ken and I know Brian really enjoys the time he spends with both brothers.

Sammy and Uncle Ken

Brian and Ken took at walk through Lincoln Park on a rare (dry) and beautiful Saturday.


In the afternoon, we explored California Avenue and a cocktail at the Shadowland. New CD's at Easy Street Records. Then, Ken took us all out to Olive Garden on Saturday night for a wonderful dinner.


I enjoyed being back in Seattle after three weeks away.....especially spending time with my little boy, Sammy.
Enjoy!
Stacy

Oscar Party 2009!

The 81st Academy Awards will be broadcast tomorrow night at 5PM/PST. Chick and I always have an Oscar party - from the Red Carpet all the way through the Barbara Walters special.

Film buffs look forward to the Academy Awards to see which movies win, but at Rebecca Lane, we're more interested in planning the food and drink for our gathering.

Hoping to satisfy both film lovers and foodies, I've created my small plate menu based on this year's nominees. The menu plan wasn't easy (as I have not seen all the nominees) but I tried to feature specific dishes that make an appearance in the film or speak to the people and places in each film.

Here is our party plan:

Red Carpet Spiced Gonzo Garbanzo Beans served with Barefoot Bubby (let's get the party started with a 2 hour Red Carpet show)

Goats "Milk" Pistachio Crusted Cheese Log with an assortment of crackers (honoring Best Actor Nominee, Sean Penn for his portrayal of Harvey Milk).

Chorizo and Manchego Cheese Quesadillas served with a Salneval Albarino 2006 from Spain (honoring best supporting actress nominee Penelope Cruz for her role in Woody Allen's Vicky Christina Barcelona)

Tandoori Chicken Skewers with Indian Rice (honoring Best Picture nominee, Slumdog Millionaire)

Cajun Deep Fried Tiger Prawns (honoring Best Picture Nominee The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)

"Dark Night" Chocolate Lava Cakes served with Apolloni 2007 Dolce Vino Viognier (honoring best supporting actor nominee, Heath Ledger for his portrayal of the joker in the Dark Night).

Enjoy the show!

Stacy

Medicare Party

(click on invite to make larger)

We spent part of the weekend in my hometown of Springfield last weekend to attend the Medicare Party (Jimmy Willis and Rosemary Brady’s birthday’s). Jimmy and his wife, Linda host legendary parties.

Brian and Brady

Brian and Steve Suter

Sandra, Brian and Steve

Osano, Rosemary, Mac and Bonnie

Dave, Jimmy and Brady

They have a great mix of friends and everybody has a good time. The food was wonderful (pulled pork, Yoshida chicken thighs, pasta salad with shrimp) and Linda made two homemade cakes (chocolate and carrot).

Jimmy and Linda's backyard

Linda's cakes! YUMMY!

You can’t have too much fun… just ask Brady-Mon!

Stace

Our First Tacoma Dinner Party

Geoff, Stacy & Sonja - First Dinner Party, October 14th, 2006.


Hump Day!

I am so glad this week is half over! I just can't believe how fast life seems to be flying by. Does that just happen when you hit your 30's? I am coping well with the changes since Brian's move to Tacoma. I don't think it's quite sunk in yet...the idea that he's not going to be in Portland except for a weekend or two a month. Sundays are hard and at times a bit depressing, but if I can just get to HUMP DAY, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Our first dinner party last Saturday night in Tacoma was a big hit. Geoff and Sonja were very impressed with the meal. We kept giving Sonja a hard time about a dinner she prepared earlier in the summer. Sonja's a veggie (vegetarian) and she BBQ'd some gardenburgers and accidentally burned them. Well...it was not a big deal, we still ate them and they were good, but we all joke about it. She since redeemed herself and our last meal in Greenwood was great, topped off with this berry cobbler to DIE FOR! But, part of me felt like I didn't want to make a big deal out of the meal....you know....and hurt her feelings. Part of me can't help but make this over-the-top dinner because that's what MOVES me. The menu:

Carmelized Pear and Hazelnut Salad
Vegetarian Sheppard's Pie (which Brian cooked to perfection)
Chocolate Lava Cakes (thank you Tradder Joe's) with cream and raspberries

Simple, but REALLY GOOD!

We all dranks tons of wine. We started out with a Sterling Vineyards North Coast Sauvignon Blanc 2003, which paired nicely with the salad. Brian decanted a 2004 Robert Mondavi Private Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast for the main course followed by a Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir - Vintage Selection 2004. Then ended the evening with a Sandeman's Tawny Porto.

Can you say HANGOVER??? But, well worth it.