Before Christmas I had made a big Spaghetti Casserole and stored it in the refrgerator. It was way too big for our family so it was the perfect excuse for a party!
Tim (he of the Direct Method band http://www.myspace.com/thedirectmethod) came. They play Indie/Alternative Rock music, here’s their My Space page if you want to hear the band.
Also Michaela and Greg. They are pregnant with their first child so Michaela stayed with water for the afternoon. Greg is a teaching golf pro, who, from the many comments I hear, is an excellent teacher and coach for both professional and amateur golfers. He travels to teach all over the US but most of the time takes clients here in Las Vegas.
With the casserole, I served a salad and sourdough baguette that Vic bought at Whole Foods and I heated and served with two different olive oils to dunk the bread in.
I had ½ a jar of red jalapeno jelly in the refrig so my appetizer was a block of cream cheese at room temperature with the jelly spread over it and served with crackers. This is a old-fashioned Southern appetizer that’s simple and delicious.
Hot & Sweet Cream Cheese
Charles Boyer’s French Dressing (if you sign up for email you can get that recipe!) was tossed with the red and green leaf lettuces and cucumber.
Fresh Green Salad
Since I left for church at 10:15 AM and people were coming right after church, I decided to put the casserole in before I left at a low temperature, cover it well with foil and leave it for almost 3 hours until I got home at 1 PM. Well, it worked. Of course it helps that the casserole’s ingredients are already cooked, but it was really perfect and the house smelled amazing when I walked in.
As soon as I came back, I mixed some pesto and heavy cream together and drizzled this over the top of the casserole and put it back in the oven as we were having our appetizer.
I opened a Pinot Evil with the app. This is a Pinot Noir from France and was cheap at $6 or $7. Well, a little thin tasting, faint cherry aromas, kind of dry and not much acidity. By itself it wasn’t that great but with food not too bad. I think I remember that the last glass was better than the first. So maybe it would have tasted better if I decanted (poured it into another container to get some air into it) it about an hour before drinking?
Pinot Evil Pinot Noir
After we finished the Pinot, I opened a 2006 Bogle Vineyards Phantom which was an Interesting blend of petite sirah, zin, and mourvedre grapes. I believe this wine is right under $20 and definitely was the favorite of all who were drinking. Very rich and fruity tasting. Flavors that you could taste after the wine was swallowed for a few moments. Really enhanced the meaty casserole that we were eating. As with the Pinot, I wish that I had opened it sooner. But it was delicious and I’d buy it for sure. (Tim gave it to us for Christmas).
So, we lingered at the table, talking laughing and sipping the Bogle—enjoying.
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