HAPPY BIRTHDAY KAREN!!! We got her good with a surprise party tonight!!
The plan was for us to cook a dinner for her and to send her for a glass of wine to her good friend Louise’s condo in order to "get out of the condo" while we cooked. Little did she know there was a crowd waiting up there 🙂
Here we are with our first glasses of wine
Louise had all kinds of delicious foods
Pimento Cheese Melts –
Shrimp cocktail –
Bruschettas (navy beans, garlic, olives, tomatoes, EVOO over goat cheese on toast points – fabulous!)
Serving hors d’oeurves
Apples, cheese, mango chutney and the husband’s homemade crostinis !
Plus the BEST hummus , which I forgot to photograph.
Here’s my first plate, which will serve as a representation for the evening. I had too many bites of things to count. Sorry!! (Along with glass of Chardonnay #2 )
Probably 2-3 more pimento cheese toasts, 2 more hummus toasts, more cheese + apples + chutney, 1 more shrimp or so. Hard to guess!
Up close –
Glass #3 (and a had more than my share of sips from the husband’s glass…)
And about 10 apple + chutney bites . This was Stonewall Kitchen Mango Chutney and was amazing!! I normally stay away from chutneys because of the onion factor, but this one was clean and fabulous on fruit!
Then came the hightlight – carrot cake!!!!!! I am NOT a carrot cake fanatic, but this was THE. BEST. I have ever had!!!!! The icing was thick, yet light and fluffy with lemon zest – a GREAT combo with the carrots. The cake part was moist but light enough to not load you down (although I am now loaded down because I had a second piece that I didn’t photograph when Karen couldn’t finish hers!)
Happy Birthday!!
Man, I am STUFFED and fuming with raw garlic breath . I hope I don’t have to get close to anyone but my husband tomorrow! I wish I hadn’t eaten so much cake – it really put me over the top. The plan for a 5am workout has been pushed back to a 4pm workout for me. But what a fun way to spend my non-holiday!!
This afternoon I had some apple/PB/kashi crackers when I got home from school like a good little child 🙂
Off to chug some water and brush my teeth!
Jess. says
Looks like lots of yummy treats! Party foods/appetizers always get me because they are so easy to just keep taking another bite- and always so tasty! Looks like it was a nice party tho and sweet to surprise her! Good night!
Erin says
Wow. Wow. Wow.
That cake looks intense, with perfectly gooey frosting. I LOVE CARROT CAKE.
What a fun night for ya’ll!
Kristie says
Everything looks so good, but most especially that CARROT CAKE. Whoa. I’m not the biggest carrot cake eater either but just looking at that slice, I know I would probably want about five of them.
madison (follow my weigh) says
w.o.w. to the carrot cake!!! looks sooooooooo good
April says
Kath,
I just bought some of the almond butter from Whole Foods that you grind yourself – just wondering, do you refrigerate it or just leave it in the pantry?
Thanks.
kelly says
Congrats on the “success story” in Shape. I saw it on the newstand today while I was picking up some groceries. Love the biceps. 🙂 I know mine are my favorite asset from working out.
madison (follow my weigh) says
almond butter that you grind yourself?? could someone explain that? thanks!
food says
Wow! I think you had a great party with all tasty foods. Next time when you go for such parties try to put some regional foods with some different preparations. So that your invitees could enjoy the taste as well as tradition.
polly says
Hi Madison!
We can sometimes get “grind yourself” almond butter at fresh Market. It’s just the like the peanut butter machines. Whole almonds (or pieces of almonds) in a big grinder and you push the little lever and it grinds it up fresh for you as it comes out “soft serve ice cream style” in a dish of your choice. You put a lid on it and buy it buy the pound. It’s warm and delish! It is quite grainy compared to the jarred the varieties I’ve found, but good!
Yes, we keep our almond and peanut butters in the fridge (the grind yourself and the jarred natural kinds, too) hope that helps!
HangryPants says
Looks like great fun! The bruscetta looks amazing and yum yum to carrot cake. Have a great Tuesday, Kath.
Christie says
Aww what a great night.. suprise parties are always fun… and i think it is a good idea to move the workout to later inthe day haha
Kath says
April ,
I’ve never had the grind-your-own but I’d guess you should keep it in the fridge, as there is nothing added to keep it emulsified.
Kath
Andrea says
Did you brush your tongue too? When I get dragon breath (either from garlic or onions) I brush my tongue, mouthwash, and then chew gum for a bit. It helps break up the breath for me. However, if I’m burping it up (TMI?) then nothing helps till it’s all digested.
What a fun party! And I love the twist on the pimento and cheese idea. 😀
Kath, I can’t find your email on the site? Is it listed and I’m missing it?
Sammie says
I love carrot cake and that piece looks so delicious!!! What a nice party.
Kath says
Andrea ,
Yes, I scrubbed everything hard!! I think today will be a gum day. Anything to mask the taste!
I put my email back on the right sidebar – it had gotten lost in the day I played with the themes.
K
Toni says
I almost never eat garlic because of the aftereffects! I have no idea how to get rid of it, but I feel your pain!
I bought my copy of Shape but I haven’t read it yet! I can’t wait to get to the gym and crack it open 🙂
My favorite thing has to be those bruschettas… I would have eaten twenty of them!
runjess says
I am not a carrot cake fan either. However, I AM a cream cheese frosting fan.
Katie says
Oooh! Your husband’s crostinis are on teh WS provence platter! I’m addicited to that serveware. :::want::: . 🙂
Beckie says
The Pimento Cheese Melts look incredible! Can you share the recipe?
Kath says
Beckie ,
I didn’t make the cheese so I’m not sure, but it was just a homemade pimento cheese put in the oven for 3-4 minutes on baguette slices.
Hope that helps 🙂
K
Tina says
I LOVE carrot cake!!!!!!!!!!!!!