Boy, does it pay to be generous to others. When I volunteered to fix a necklace for my friend, Franca, she retaliated with a dinner invitation. And what a dinner! We were introduced to a fabulous feast that rivaled any gourmet restaurant I've ever frequented.The meal began with a smorgasbord of appetizers, plump olives, savory breadsticks and oranges stuck with skewers of pungent cheeses and Italian salami. It was very Martha Stewart. Then Franca served something I thought I'd never like but tasted to be polite, octopus ceviche. I was glad I braved it - it was light, lemony and not at all chewy. The ceviche was followed by mussels on the half shell broiled with garlic and breadcrumbs - yum! I thought the pasta dish was our last but I was mistaken. We ate a fish pasta with a light garlic sauce, the latest rage in Rome, followed by a whole roasted fish with roasted potatoes and vegetables. Dessert was homemade tiramisu and roasted chestnuts. I'm glad the tiramisu didn't tempt me because I hate coffee and was so stuffed.
George looks like he had a bit too much of Alessandro's
wonderful Italian wine but I'm the one
who broke two of her lovely wine glasses.
When we invited them back to dinner at our house, I had no idea what to make. Since I knew I couldn't compete, we made it easy. Cheese and crackers and barbeque chicken wings for starters, Pistou (similar to minestrone) soup, roast lamb with cranberry sauce, roasted garlic potatoes and green bean bundles with bacon and chocolate brownies completed the menu. We ended up with brownies for dessert after two of my Easy Chocolate Cakes failed. I've been making that cake since I was ten years old and never had a problem before Oz. It gives me lots of empathy for those Master Chef contestants on TV. Thank goodness I made brownies for the American Women's Bake Sale.
The group didn't seem to mind the informal atmosphere at the Casa.
At least no one had to worry about breaking the crystal.
Thanks to Rose, we even had heat.
No, I'm not pregnant, just extremely full!
