A Backyard Party How To

Over here at the Perri-Casas household, we like to entertain.  We love hosting and sharing food, wine, music/dancing, and just a plain ole good time with family and friends.  When the parties are small; but a handful of folks, the preparation is easy, breezy.  But when the guest list gets bigger, so does everything else.  Including the ideas for hosting a successful event.  Top of list; effortless decor and easy, crowd-friendly dishes.  Hearty, simple to prepare, allergy-friendly, and most of all, delicious. Foods that hit all the right notes.  

Just this past weekend we hosted a pig roast. On our guest list were a handful of vegetarians and vegans. 
Yeah, you read that right.  We invited vegans to a pig roast.  According to my husband, that's completely kosher because the pig only ate vegetables thus making it vegetarian/vegan!  Oh, my Taurus husband can justify anything!

We structured the party to be about mingling, not about a formal sit down meal.  One main reason for this is that our patio, though large, really cannot comfortably seat more than 24.  Plus this style of entertaining helps with flow of both food and people, as guests go to the buffet table to partake of various treats then bump into different guests to chat with.  

My sis, Alyssa and cousin Therese (photo credit: Dori Eckert)

George contemplating fire with my brother in law Peter

My dear friend Jackie catching up with my nephew, John

Organization is essential with a party this size.  So I ALWAYS make a list.  I am famous for making lists both in my professional life and home life.  Make fun all you want but this is key to staying organized and not accidentally missing things.  Just ask JuanCarlos who forgot some items in the basement fridge.  (He said I left one item off my list: Remind JC to make his own list.)

The day before I also place out all the platters I want to use with notes of which dish will go where.  This helps for two reasons.  First; one less thing to think or worry about the day of. Two, if a guest wants to help serving up dishes, this identification system tells them what they should use. Takes all the guess work out of the equation.

As far as what to serve, my game plan was to make sure we had a wide variety of food options for everyone.  30 guests were expected.  The best way to keep it manageable was to make some dishes from scratch and mix it up with some prepared items. Here was my thinking.  Note the ones with (*) are the ones I just had to put on a plate!

Appetizers
Cheese Platters with Jams, Grapes, Cucumbers, Radishes *
Breads/Gluten free crackers *
Assortment of Tapenade & Olives *
Roasted Chick Peas * (these were store bought but here is the link to my version which I prefer)
Pickled Mushrooms * 
Marinated Artichoke Hearts *
Crostini platter with Fresh Ricotta, roasted garlic mash, Roasted Tomatoes, Mushroom 'Bolognese'

All these can be plated well ahead of time and placed out as guests arrive.  These are perfect starter offerings to let them mingle and jingle amongst themselves with a drink.

Abundant cheese platters with jams and grapes, cucumbers and radishes.

Ready made items ready to go.

Roasted tomatoes, garlic, mushroom bolognese, ricotta, crostini.

JuanCarlos at his beloved grilling station.

Since a whole roasted pig takes hours upon hours upon hours to make, there needs to be food in between the appetizers and the main course.  This is what I call the intermezzo eating portion of the festivities.  I know, you are thinking; more food before the meal, that is hog wild nuts.  But believe it or not, people come to our home ready to eat.  So we make sure they are well fed.  Plus it's cool because we like to experiment on them!

Intermezzo
Grilled meats served with bread & chimichurri sauce
Grilled sausage
Grilled Corn on the Cob

Farm fresh corn roasted on the grill. (Photo credit: Dori Eckert)

Main
Potatoes with Basil/Garlic oil
3 Bean Salad
Tomato Salad
Roasted Salmon Platter
Puerco Asado

Once the roasted pig was ready, the main portion of the meal was served.  All the above items were easy to get onto the table since I prepped them earlier.  The tomatoes were sliced and assembled on a platter in the morning and refrigerated. So was the bean salad.  I boiled the potatoes the day before, cooled them down on a sheet tray and in the fridge they went.  Right before serving, I popped them in the oven just to warm them enough to absorb the basil/garlic dressing I made the day before.  The salmon was roasted earlier in the day then served at room temperature.  And that is how you get a bunch of big platters out without being taken out on a stretcher yourself.

3 Bean Salad is easy when you prep everything ahead of time so right before the party all you need to do is combine the ingredients.

Chick peas, cannellini & black beans, yellow pepper, red onion, English cucumber, scallions and hearts of palm.

Tossed with a simple lemon/lime mint viniagrette

Oven roasted Wild Caught Salmon with cucumber slices, capers, radishes and homemade 'tartar sauce' of sour cream, greek yogurt, shallots, dill.

The whole hog, roasted to perfection.

Fall off the bone tender chunks of pork.

Desserts
Gluten free chocolate cake with coconut cream/fruit
Black bottom cupcakes (Mom made these, YEAH for me)
Apple Tart
Fresh Fruit Platter * 
Goat cheese & blue cheese & honey & figs * 
Turron *

In my opinion, desserts should be just like the meal, offering a mix of items to your guests.  That is why I like offering baked sweets along with a cheese plate and fresh fruit. 

Since it was getting chilly outdoors, we moved inside for dessert. A few choices giving some variety to make everyone happy.

But wait, the details aren't done yet. Food is the key component, but let's not forget the 2D's.  Drinks and Decor. 

Drink wise; we mostly focus on having wine but usually have a few other drink options such as Vermut, Scotch, Gin and Vodka.  We always have plenty of sparkling water, too.

Decor; an informal outdoor gathering requires nothing more than cohesion.  So let me briefly run down how I handled the tables and flowers. Can you say wing it!  (Was that brief enough?)

Normally I have a visual theme planned out but this time it was indeed a last minute pull together. Evidence that you can create something from nothing on the fly.  I didn't have time to get flowers from my favorite place Dahlia NYC so I took my scissors and went hunting in my backyard and a nearby park.  I cut hydrangeas from our big tree and some other flowers to help fill out the vases for big bursts of florals.  

I arranged one large vase for the food table and smaller ones to place on all the other tables, bringing the look together.

Also, while I was raking the yard I notice there was an abundance of pine cones and thought I could use those somehow.  

Hunter gatherer.

Using the flowers I cut from the park plus the extra leaves from the hydrangeas, I laid them across the stone wall then nestled the pine cones on top to create a fall festive row of flora.

Tablecloths. I didn't even bother to iron.  It was an informal outdoor gathering, so I was ok with that.  I went with a blue and cream theme because I knew I had a variety of coverings that could work in tandem.  When you have several tables, do not fret over everything being matchy matchy.   Coordination is the name of the game.  Just make it all look visually cohesive. I used different patterns all within the same color scheme layering cobalt blue placemats to tie the tables together.

There was plenty of food, good wine, dancing music and joyful guests.  The perfect party mix.  I think a good time was had by all.  I hope some of these tips can help you throw your next gathering with ease and less stress so you, too, can enjoy along with your guests.

My sister, Alyssa

Grill masters tossing success

Aleida and my mother in law Dora tearing it up to salsa music.(Photo credit: Dori Eckert)

My sister in law Dori

My always helpful, cheerful parents.

JC with our dearest friends, Angelica and Marcos

CHEERS to all!

Mushroom 'Bolognese' - A Pot Full of Love

John, a deep and thoughtful thinker and soul. Don't you love that face!

I am the proud aunt to some awesome kids. For the past two decades I have had (and continue to have) the great privilege to be a part of my nieces and nephew's lives in ways big and small.  A gift that couldn't be more rewarding, more fulfilling, more enriching, and one for which I am truly grateful.

As these munchkins get older it comes with some real plusses... and a few minuses.  Bad part first: it means I'm getting older too, Boo Hoo.  It also means that the amount of time I get to spend with them has been reduced due to their work lives, busy social lives, where they live and all the rest.  However, the plusses outweigh those by a long shot as we enter into a different kind of relationship.  Before I was the whacky aunt.  Well, I'm still that.  But now I don't have to pick them up anymore. Instead they drive over to hangout with JC and me for dinner.  They are young adults with big imaginations, big dreams, open minds and hearts. The conversations have gone from 'What's your favorite Disney movie?'  to 'How do you see driverless cars effecting society? to much more deep and engaging exchange of ideas. And although I miss their little, adorable selves, I'm grooving on spending time with their beautiful adult selves.  

This past week my nephew, John, dropped by for dinner.  He is bright, sensitive, socially and emotionally aware and responsible, thoughtful and a deep and loving soul.  I'm telling you, hanging with these kids is one of the greatest joys of my life.  

Besides coming over to discuss some new business ideas we all had (how cool is that!!!), it was a chance to share some new recipes with him.  Normally, a meal for John would have required making some type of meat and starch.  But over the years his palate has changed, broadened and matured.  Just recently it has changed quite dramatically with him becoming a vegan.  So the question was what to make to feed a growing young man and his active mind.

I have been reading a lot about Vegetable Bolognese.  I love when vegetarians or vegans decide that they aren't going to eat that yummy, delicious thing anymore, but still really want to eat it so they reinvent it with a replacement.  I'm not making fun. It's quite creative, and I'm all about that.  But it still makes me giggle a little. I, too, fell victim to that years ago, when after craving bologna and missing it, I began eating fake bologna and loved it. Until such time that I realized it was probably better to eat the real one full of crap instead of the fake one full of really crappy crap.  I haven't eaten bologna in decades; real or fake.  

I saw mushrooms in the market and thought it's dark and could look and act like meat. (Isn't that mushroom's new claim to fame.  It's meaty!) Mushroom 'Bolognese' sounded like it had potential to be hearty and filling.  Since traditional Bolognese has milk and he is vegan, that put a halt to the traditional style. Even though cream and mushrooms are yummy, milk, tomato and mushrooms sounded kind of yucky to me.  In times like these I rely on my internal gut knowledge. I checked my gut and it said;  make it just like my Meaty Ragu dish, replacing the chop meat with mushrooms.  I guess that replacement idea is a pretty good one after all. Here's how it went down.

The basics: mushrooms, carrot, celery, onion, garlic and tomatoes.

ingredients

10 c cremini mushrooms, chopped
2 medium sized Portobello mushrooms, chopped
4 c grape tomatoes, chopped
1.5 c carrots, diced
3/4 c celery, diced
1 c onion, chopped
4-5 garlic cloves, crushed
1 T tomato paste
1.5 c white wine
salt, pepper to taste (if you want heat, add red pepper flakes)

instructions

Cut up the vegetables as stated above.  Remember, I'm a big fan of mise en place.  Prepping everything, having it ready and in place.  It makes the whole process easier and faster.

Sauté the onions, carrots and celery until almost tender. Add the garlic and tomato paste and cook through. Then add the mushrooms and let cook down a bit, until they soften and caramelize a bit.

This really is a pot full of mushrooms.

 Next, add the wine and the tomatoes and cook over a low heat for 45 minutes.

The grape tomatoes add a nice freshness. I decided not to use any canned tomatoes, and it proved to be a good decision.

Since this was the replacement for Bolognese sauce, the natural base for this dish was pasta. (Hello, it's me. You should know by now pasta will always be my first choice.)  And meat lovers, I think you're gonna like this.

Also making an appearance for dinner was shishito peppers, Apple Crisp Salad and an heirloom and sour tomato salad served with a crisp Italian white wine, Verdicchio Podere Laila. 

Two handsome, hungry, thought provoking men waiting for the picture to be taken so the eating can begin.

Now, there are dozens of ways of uses this yummy mushroom mixture.  I'm sure I don't have to tell you that grilled bread is another great choice, but a picture is always nice.  Please slather it, pile it, spoon it on whatever you like, and share with me your wonderful ways.  So if you are vegetarian, or vegan or just need to avoid certain foods, go ahead and find healthy replacements for the dishes you love.  No giggling from me, just smiles.

The recipe made such a big batch that I brought the leftovers to our friends' home and enjoyed it al fresco on crusty, grilled bread.

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Apple Crisp Salad

I am one of those writers who loves journals.  I have a million but that doesn't stop me from buying more when I see one.  I am drawn to them like bees to honey.  I love the texture. I love holding them in my hand. I love all the styles, designs and colors. I see one, and like some fiend that has been implanted with a chip that orders me to buy every time I see one, I do so willing, happily, adding to my ever growing collection.  And because I have so many journals I write in different ones at different times.  Sometimes it depends on my mood; does the cover and feel of the journal match how I'm feeling?  Sometimes it's the contents; is what I'm about to write similar to what has already been written in that journal.  Other times it's simply about the weight of the journal.  If I am traveling, I choose the lightest, thinnest one.  While other times I could be in one location but still slightly traveling slowly side to side on the hammock. For those times, I choose a weightier journal than the one intended for trains, planes and automobiles.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. But aren't they all so pretty. Wouldn't you buy them, too?!

Scribbles with no amounts. The green notes are from me recreating it for this blog, so I could give you measurements.

The happy result of having started but not finishing
a journal is that I happen upon poems, writings, rantings, recipes and ideas from moments past.  There is a certain excitement upon discovering these nuggets. I can relive times in my life and feel a sense of journey and accomplishment. They also seem new and fresh to me, usually bringing me joy.  This occurs particularly when I'm thumbing through and unearth a recipe I want to try again. I can't tell you how happy I am that a few years back I started writing recipes down.  I've always written my thoughts and feelings
in journals but not recipes. So being able to recreate dishes that I made once and almost forgot is a real treat.  Like this Apple Crisp Salad.  I remember it now, and would have totally slipped my mind and fallen into the vast past of recipes lost had I not jotted it down.

It is exactly how I named it.  A salad featuring apples where the crispness comes from the way they are cut.  I believe I have mentioned this before but the cut of food, especially fruits and vegetables can make all the difference in world.  It can either enhance or overwhelm a dish.   In this recipe, the apples are cut like matchsticks, allowing them to mingle themselves throughout the entire salad providing a crisp crunch with every bite.

ingredients

(4 Lunch or 6 dinner servings)
4+ c apples, sliced into matchsticks               10 c Boston, Romaine lettuce        
1 c parsley leaves
1 c cilantro leaves
1/3 c scallions, sliced
1/4 c heaping red onion, thinly sliced

Dressing
2 T lemon juice
2 T lime juice
1 t dijon mustard
1/4 t fresh ginger, grated
1/2 t garlic, crushed
salt, pepper to taste
1/3 c olive Oil

Instructions

Prepare all the ingredients as directed above, leaving the apples to the very last so they don't turn brown.  You can also squeeze lemon juice on them to keep them from turning.  For both the parsley and cilantro, pick the individual leaves off the stems and leave whole.  This adds so much flavor.

Arrange the lettuces on a platter or big bowl. Then mix in all the other ingredients.

Using my "beautiful bowls of love"

Cut 1/8" slices of the apple.

Then cut them lengthwise to create matchstick pieces.

Using a mandolin, I also like to thinly slice some of the apple for garnish.  

Add it to the top of the salad in various places.

Make the dressing and then pour over the salad right before serving.  Toss until coated.  

This dressing has a nice kick provided by the dijon grain mustard, the fresh grated ginger and garlic.

This is a perfect salad for this time of year as apple picking is in season.  Go pick a few then make this salad to accompany my Apple Butter/Spicy Sausage Sandwich.  Since the weather is still warm the salad is a great sub in for the roasted tomato soup that I originally made with that sandwich.  Either way...

An apple a day...

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Orange Napkins - 2 Outdoor Tables - A Warm Summer Glow

For those of us who suffer through cold, snowy winters, the wait for warm summer nights is as anticipated as Santa and his gifts.  It's the time of year when grilling and gathering are top of mind.  Entertaining outdoors can be as easy as grab a plate and line up at the BBQ. Or it can be as elaborate as a formal sit down dinner, and every notch in between.  As we wind down the summer and head into cooler days and crisp nights, enjoying early evening dinners is still a joy.  

After all the growth of the summer, flowers are still in full bloom. Our yard is like a fairy tale garden.

The view of part of our yard as our guests dine on our patio.

The view from the other side of the patio.

With the yard so magical, I'm less inclined to just throw down some plates on the table, and more likely to toss even the most casual tablecloth down. Usually our outdoor events are daytime, but this time of year the weather is ideal for evening entertaining. Setting the mood doesn't require a great deal of effort.  I promise.

Keep in mind that you have to place out the plates, napkins, cutlery and glasses anyway. Tossing a tablecloth underneath, adding some candles and flowers takes but a few minutes more, and creates an entirely different scene.

The key to an evening setting is to create a warm glow.  

Lanterns and candles always up the ante and provide that glow that somehow makes it special.

When it comes to the flowers keep it simple.  Use what you've got.  I like going around our garden and snipping what's in bloom. 

Our giving tree.

These were from our enormous hydrangea tree.  The voluminous flower bursts are originally white when in their prime bloom but late in the season turn sage green and dusty rose. They are perfect additions, building on to that warm glow. Without any fuss, simply cut down to size to fit into a few small vintage vases.  A simple touch of botanicals that mimic the movement on the tablecloth adding to the romantic feel.   Brighter orange napkins turned up the color factor while the green vintage glasses keep the style in a whimsical feel.  

And since the weather is still glorious this time of year, there are those occasions when daytime events stretch lovingly into the evening.  For this day to night table setting, keep it festive for the day by adding a fun, colorful runner over a darker neutral.  Then add those same orange napkins for the color pop.  The florals for this setting mimic the boldness of the napkins and keep the eye from having too much to focus on. 

The most lively color rose picking up the bold strip in the playfully colored runner.

(When trying to coordinate color for your table, here's a helpful tip for casual entertaining moments.  Don't make yourself crazy searching for the perfect color combo.  Work backwards by choosing from the flowers that are readily available and then figure out what linens pair well.  You can always use monochromatic or white linens and allow the flowers to make the color statement.  I came to this conclusion after being disappointed when I had the linens all planned out then went to my florist looking for a specific flower or color, only to come up short.) 

Family style serving goes a long way. Grilled steaks, rice, 3 bean salad, heirloom tomatoes and big salad bowl.

Pink grapefruit cake. This was a Better Homes & Garden recipe that I tried. I decided to cut my layers thinner to stack them up higher.

Light up the candles.

Turn on the warmth.

Slice the cake.  

Transform a bold daytime setting into an evening full of candlelit glow.  

Then cheer to good friends and family.

Enjoy the rest of the summer, and may you find time to find beauty wherever you may be.

Sequillos - An Asturian Cookie of Love

We love to travel, and try to do it as often as possible.  We love exploring the sights, sounds and flavors of places that are full of life.  We recently returned from a 12 day trek through the northern part of Spain. What a glorious part of the country. Mountainous and green.  Fresh air and beauty abound. The views are more spectacular than any lens can capture, but I did my best.  And in those 12 days, we saw, did and tasted a lot but there is still so much more to see, do and taste. We thoroughly enjoyed every inch of our tour through the north. However, the absolute, truly most special part of this trip was when we stayed with our dear friends, Marcos and Angelica in Marcos' hometown of Amieva, Asturias.  What an enormous treat.  An adventure like no other.   

Beauty which ever way you turn.

This tiny town of 200 people is tucked away high in the mountains and provides picturesque views from every angle. I promise I will be writing more about our entire trip and the special time at their home and all the unbelievably delicious food we were treated to. Today I want to focus on a simple little cookie that grabbed my husband's heart.  And when something grabs hold of him that he enjoys, I do what I can to ensure he gets grabbed again.  Knowing how much he loved eating these tiny bite sized treats with his espresso, I asked Marisa, a local to the town and chef of the house, to fork over the recipe. As with everything she did, she did so with "alegria”.

Sofia looking on as Maria sifts the flour and Marisa mixes the dough.

These cookies couldn't be easier to make. Much less work than any of the more labor intensive cookies I bake for Christmas. So, here it is.  From Marisa in Amieva, Asturias to me in Hartsdale, NY to you, wherever you may be.

I snapped a few shots of the lovely María and Marisa making yet another batch since every time they made them, these not too sweet but really satisfying cookies disappeared.

(That's something I loved about the style of living there.  It was no big deal to just whip up another batch of anything.  No worries...we'll make more!)

A tiny side note; another thing I loved about the original house -  the big kitchen. I loved how everyone was in it. Making stuff, prepping stuff, snacking, drinking and chatting.  Oh, if only I had a kitchen this big and ample to gather all my loved ones.  This tugged at my heart every time I stepped into it.

Maxi and Sofia making fresh orange juice while the sequillos are being made further down this long kitchen work space

A dream of a space where everyone could wander in, sit down or participate in the festivities.  I can dream, can't I?

Back to Marisa's setup and making of the cookies.

Marisa's set up in Amieva.

Sifting the flour.

And now the details of how to make them.

ingredients

600 gr sifted flour
2 eggs
250 gr  sugar
250 gr butter, melted
1 tsp salt
1 tsp heaping baking powder
5 Tbs Anís or Anisette
(I used Vermouth because it was all I had.)

Instructions

In a large mixing bowl, add all the dry ingredients and make a hole in the middle. Then add eggs, (cooled) melted butter and Anís in the middle.  Begin to combine all ingredients together until it forms a dough. Taking small pieces, form a round shape (approximately 1.5" w x 1/2" thick) and place in tiny cupcake papers to make them the traditional way.  

My dough

Marisa's cute little cookies in cupcake holders.

Since I like finding ways that are not only efficient, time saving but help make each one look consistent, I rolled the dough out and used a cookie cutter.  However, I should have made them thicker like Marisa's. So, definitely make yours at least 1/2" thickness. (Not as thin as mine below.)

If you are using the cupcake papers, just place them on a baking sheet.  If not, then line the baking sheet with parchment paper and place each cookie at least 1" apart.  Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 25 minutes.

Mine, a bit flatter, wider but still tasty.

Marisa's, gorgeous, chunkier ones.

Once they cool down, place them on cute plate or stack up on cake stand.  Well, the serving device might not matter because they may not last long before you need to make another batch.  

Thanks to Marcos and Angelica for sharing the joys of their home, family, friends and traditions with us.  So I could bring this little treasure back for you from the mountain tops of Spain. The simple but delicious, simply delicious Sequillos. Que disfruten!  (Enjoy!)

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