Dinner Party

Last time I blogged it was a beautiful afternoon and I was drinking a cup of tea. Well, it's a beautiful breezie evening and I am drinking a class of merlot. I have been cooking for the last couple of hours. We are having a dinner party on Saturday and I am doing as much ahead as possible. Our appitizer will be a flakie pastry tart with goat cheese, fresh figs, Neiman Ranch bacon pieces and drizzled with my balsamic reduction sauce. The starter will be my roasted butternut squash soup, made with squash from our garden. It is truly delicious especially if made a day or two before you wish to serve it. The soup is in the refrigerator now and I am starting on the two diffent pastries I will need for the appitizer and the dessert. The main course will be cabernet braised short ribs with a gorgonzola polenta. It is a recipe from Bon Appetit October 2007 and well worth making! I will also serve my roasted carrots with sage butter sauce, they are spectacular and there are never any left-overs! I will end the evening with my homemade pumpkin pie, the first one of the season, yipeee!! It will be a lovely evening and we are really looking foward to it. Our friends will be bringing the wine which we truly appreciate as they always bring wonderful bottles. I hope you all have a fabulous weekend!