Bon Vivant 12 in 2012! Tiffany and Chrissy January 12th

Kicking off the new year, Bon Vivant 12 style!!
                                                                      Given By:

The Invite

The Ladies

We are happy to announce Bon Vivant 12 in 2012!
We are pleased to welcome our newest members!
Phoebe, Sarah, Stephanie, and back again-- Aimee!

Chrissy & Tiffany decided to celebrate our group for this dinner. The theme: Bon Vivant 12, on the 12th with a 12 "course" dinner! 

The Menu!

We started out the evening with a refreshing Juicey Pear beverage and a salsa bar with homemade tortilla chips and 3 kinds of salsa: Citrus, Watermelon, and Corn. Also, a fun little appetizer called a Spanish Varilla, you need to try this one!

Homemade Baked Tortilla Chips

Ingredients:

1 small package of white corn tortillas, taco size, cut into triangles
EVOO  spray
Oregano
Garlic Salt
Grated Parmesan
Salt-to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat the broiler to high. Put corn tortilla triangles on a large baking sheet. Don't overlap the chips. If you want to make a large batch, fill a second pan and only bake one at a time.

2. Spray the triangles lightly with cooking spray. Turn over triangles and spray again. Sprinkle with salt, to taste.

3. Bake in the oven for about 3-4 minutes. Turn chips over and bake for another five minutes, or until chips are golden brown and crisp. Make sure you don't go too far while the chips are in the oven. They will bake quickly!

4. Cool and serve with guacamole, salsa, or eat them plain.

1. Watermelon Salsa  (This one was my fave!)
from Country Living
Ingredients:

• 3 cup(s) finely diced seedless watermelon (from a 5-pound watermelon)
• 2  jalapeño peppers, seeded and minced
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/4 cup minced red onion
• juice of 2 limes
• Salt

Directions: In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients except salt. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and serve chilled or at room temperature with tortilla chips.


2. Corn Salsa
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/heathers-cilantro-black-bean-and-corn-salsa/Detail.aspx
Ingredients

• 1 (15 ounce) can yellow corn, drained
• 1 (15 ounce) can white corn, drained
• 2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can Italian-style diced tomatoes, drained
• 1 bunch finely chopped cilantro
• 5 green onions, finely sliced
• 1 small red onion, finely chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1 avocado – peeled, pitted, and diced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil, or to taste

Directions: Stir the yellow and white corn, black beans, tomatoes, cilantro, green onion, red onion, bell pepper, and garlic in a large bowl. Gently mix in the lime juice and avocado. Drizzle with olive oil to serve.

3. Citrus Salsa
http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/citrus_salsa.html
Ingredients

• 3 navel oranges
• 2 limes
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 teaspoon seeded and minced serrano chile
• 2 teaspoons seasoned rice vinegar
• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste

Directions: With a sharp knife, remove the peel and white pith from oranges and limes and discard. Cut the orange and lime segments from the surrounding membranes and coarsely chop.  Gently toss the oranges, limes, cilantro, chile, vinegar, oil, salt and pepper in a large bowl until combined. Cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day.

Spanish Varilla
Paper-thin slices Serrano ham
Bread sticks (I used regular breadsticks or you can make your own recipe)
Cream cheese
Chives
Pepper
Parmesan
Lettuce or salad leaves
Optional: finely minced sun-dried tomatoes
Directions:
Start with the greens! In case you haven’t noticed – I’m a vegetable nut. I love to eat bright colored food, nothing beats fresh, juicy vegetables and herbs. Shiny green chives and salad leaves are not only pretty, they also give just enough crunch. Chop the chives and give the leaves a quick wash.

Juicey Pear – serves 4
INGREDIENTS:

2 ripe pears -- peeled & cored
2 cups apple juice (or white grape)
1/4 cup lemon juice
1 tablespoon liquid honey
2 mint leaves

PREPARATION:

In a blender or food processor, combine all ingredients and blend until smooth and frothy.

Chill thoroughly and stir before serving. To froth this drink, return to blender and blend again just before serving.

There is a fun Spanish New Year tradition to eat 12 grapes in the last 12 chimes of the year to bring in luck for the new year! You might want to start THIS fun tradition in your family :) We did not .. however.. stuff our mouths full of grapes... but they certainly made a pretty addition to our table! :)

Moving on to salad!

 Constructed Pear Salad-- which is so fun to look at and and surprised the palette  with a yummy champagne vinaigrette dressing.

StoneGable Constructed Pear Salad

5~Perfect ripe pears with stems attached 

2 cups Mixed greens

1 cup Arugula

1/2 cup Arugula, for garnish

1/4 cup pan roasted pecans, cooled and rough chopped

1/2 cup munchkin grapes (or use golden raisins, craisins, dried cherries, dried fig, etc)

1/4 cup bleu cheese crumbles

champagne vinaigrette (recipe follows)

6 thin slices of prosciutto 

honey, to drizzle

Champagne Vinaigrette

1/2 cup good olive oil (I use light OO for this recipe)

2-3 TBS good champagne vinegar

1 tsp honey

1/8 tsp dijon mustard

Mix well. Set aside
Click here to find out how to make it pretty with step by step instructions.

Next on the menu, White Chili, a recipe from Ellie Krieger {YUM} It really makes my mouth water just to say the name. It's not your standard chili-- and it's good for you!

 

White Chicken Chili
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ellie-krieger/white-chili-recipe/index.html
Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 2 stalks celery, diced (about 1/2 cup)
• 3 medium poblano peppers (about 4 ounces each), seeded and white ribs removed, finely diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, more to taste
• 1 pound ground white meat turkey  or  roasted chicken
• 2 (15.5-ounce) cans white beans such as cannelini, preferably low-sodium, drained and rinsed
• 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 (15.5-ounce) can hominy, drained and rinsed
• Salt
• 1/4 cup nonfat plain Greek-style yogurt
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
• Lime wedges

Directions

Heat the oil in large pot or Dutch oven over moderate heat. Add the onion, celery, poblanos, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic, cumin, coriander and cayenne and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Add the ground turkey and cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until the meat is no longer pink about 2 minutes. Add the white beans, broth and oregano. Cook, partially covered, stirring occasionally, for 25 minutes.
Add the hominy and salt and more cayenne pepper, to taste, and continue cooking, partially covered, 10 minutes longer. Ladle into individual bowls and top each serving with 1 tablespoon of yogurt and 1 1/2 teaspoons of cilantro. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Now we are on to our main course(s)
Meatball Slider... gourmet style
PF Chang lettuce wrap
& Cruise Lunch

Meatball Sliders with  Pao De Queijo {Brazilian cheese} Rolls

Italian-style sliders made with juicy meatballs.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 pound ground beef
• 1/2 pound ground pork
• 1/3 cup panko
• 1/3 cup water
• 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmiggiano-Reggiano
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
• pinch red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Mozerella cheese, 18 small cubes
• Butter
• Brazilian Cheese rolls*
• 1 1/2 cup Marinara sauce
• Whole basil leaves

Instructions

1. Heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat.
2. Mix remaining ingredients (through garlic) by hand in large bowl until just combined.
3. Form into meatballs (I got 18) and place into pan in two batches. Stuff a cube of mozerella cheese into each meatball. Brown on all sides and remove from pan when cooked through.
4. Heat a new pan over medium-high heat.
5. Simmer marinara sauce in a small sauce pan.{I pureed the Marinara after it was cooking to make it easier to spread.}
6. Assemble the sliders from the bottom up: Spread a spoonful of marinara onto the cheese roll, top with a basil leaf, meatball, and roll top. {we left the sliders open faced}
   *In a pinch, if you have access to a imported market, you can use this boxed recipe for the rolls. They are quick and delicious!
   *The meatballs can also be prepared ahead of time and formed into balls. Freeze BEFORE browning.
   Yields: 18 sliders

PF CHANG LETTUCE WRAPS

Serves 2-3
Ingredients:
1lb ground chicken breast
1/2 medium onion, minced
salt & pepper, a dash of each
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1 inch nob fresh ginger, peeled & minced
1 Tablespoon sesame oil
2 1/2 Tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 Tablespoon water
1 Tablespoon natural peanut butter
1/2 Tablespoon honey
1 Tablespoons + 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce (or more if you like it hotter)
dash of fresh pepper
3 green onions, chopped
1/2-8oz can sliced water chestnuts, drained & chopped
1/4 cup peanuts, chopped
10-12 large outer lettuce leaves, rinsed and patted dry|
Click HERE for step by step pictures & preparation instructions.

Cruise Lunch Wrap

Jalepeno wrap
roasted sliced deli turkey
Roasted red peppers
Arugula (spinach mix)
Pesto Mayo {make your own PESTO, or use store bought in any flavor*sun dried tomato is tasty! Mix with regular mayo.}
TO assemble:
Spread pesto mayo on wrap. Place roasted sliced turkey down one side of wrap. Place a handful of arugula/spinach mix on top of turkey, followed by slices of roasted red pepper.
Roll wrap from bulk end and slice in half on diagonal to serve.
{I call this a CRUISE wrap because I craved it every day when I was on my cruise in Alaska! I had to recreate it when I got home... and it's always a quick, tasty healthy lunch!

Last but SO not Least!
DESSERT!

We ended our lovely evening with Chocolate Nutella Lava Cakes, Homemade Ice cream, White Chocolate Custard cups, & Cheese Cake Stuffed Strawberry. Yes-- that is literally a mouth full! :)

Chocolate Lava Cakes  & Homemade Ice Cream

Chocolate Nutella Molten Lava Cake
http://www.bellalimento.com/2010/02/04/chocolate-nutella-molten-lava-cake/
What you’ll need:

11 tablespoons unsalted butter
6 ounces of bittersweet Chocolate Chips (I used Ghiardelli)
3 whole eggs + 3 additional egg yolks
1/4 cup sugar + 2 additional tablespoons
6 tablespoons all purpose flour
4 tablespoons Nutella
1/4 cup chopped Hazelnuts
Strawberries

What to do:
1. Place your butter & chocolate chips into a double boiler and allow to melt completely over the steaming water. Stir frequently.

2. WHILE the chocolate butter is melting. Place eggs and sugar into the bowl of your mixer. With the whisk attachment mix on medium-high speed until they become light & thick (about 8-9 mins). When light & thick add the flour & mix together.

3. SLOWLY & GRADUALLY pour the chocolate/butter mixture into the egg mixture. Mixing on low until well combined & develops a glossy sheen (about 5-6 mins).

4. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. WHILE the mixture is finishing it’s final mixing (turning glossy) GENEROUSLY spray 4 small ramekins with cooking spray. When the batter is finished it’s time to assemble:

5. Place sprayed ramekins onto a cooking tray. Ladle batter HALFWAY up the side of each ramekin. Then, spoon 1 tbsp of Nutella into each ramekin. Finish ladling remainder of batter into each ramekin (do not overfill). Bake ramekins for 1o-14 mins until outside is solid and top appears to be soft (but NOT jiggly)

6. WHILE cakes are cooking, chop your walnuts & cut your strawberries. When cakes are ready CAREFULLY remove them from oven, place a plate on top of each one and quickly invert it. With a kitchen towel remove the ramekin, cake should fall right out. Garnish with nuts & strawberries. Serve immediately!

White Chocolate Custard Cups (to make this dessert, follow the same instructions only substitute dark chocolate chips with white, and replace nutella with a dove white chocolate piece.)

Cheese Cake Strawberry
Ingredients:
-1 lb large strawberries
-8 oz. cream cheese, softened (can use 1/3 less fat)
-3-4 tbsp powdered sugar (4 tbsp for a sweeter filling)
-1 tsp vanilla extract
-graham cracker crumbs

Directions:
1. Rinse strawberries and cut around the top of the strawberry. Remove the top and clean out with a paring knife, if necessary (some may already be hollow inside). Prep all strawberries and set aside.
2. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla until creamy. Add cream cheese mix to a piping bag or ziploc with the corner snipped off. Fill strawberries with cheesecake mixture. Once strawberries are filled, dip the top in graham cracker crumbs. If not serving imm

ediately, refrigerate until serving.

Take Home, Guests & more Decor!

Our Take home included: A custom canvas gourmet bag, hand dipped chocolates, gold gumballs and a "kosher salt cellar" complete salt explanation card by food personality Alton Brown.
The bags served as fun chair decor~

THE TABLE

 The "table cloth" was made from old cook book recipe pages. We used a rose technique for the napkin and placed it in the mug which was used to serve soup. 

 

~Our fun and LOVELY ladies of the evening~

Stephanie and Aimee a new duo to the group, but Aimee a returning member! We are glad to have her back with her fun partner Stephanie-- looking forward to your  dinner, ladies!

 

2 of our newest members: Sarah and Phoebe and Phoebe's sweet little dinner partner this evening - Fay (not Phay)-- what a sweetheart! She was a PERFECT lady and was more than entertained with all her other dinner guests this evening. Sarah was our lucky door prize winner of the holiday gift recipe book.

Happy Cooking to you in 2012!!!!!!!!
Looking forward to another FABULOUS
Bon Vivant year!

FARMER'S MARKET
by: Leah & Crystal

Ok, check out those cutest aprons on our classy hostesses!!! Just wait-- they match the table cloth...

We were greeted with such a REFRESHING table that was soooooo welcome. Hosting a dinner such as this can be quite stressful... but hosting it outside and watching every cloud roll by hoping the snow storm doesn't hit??? There isn't a word for that kind of stress.

I am not sure how Leah and Crystal pulled it off-- we came prepared with our winter wear-- but we COMPLETELY lucked out on some amazingly beautiful weather on Crystal's lakeside property at her cute new house. It was a GORGEOUS setting to sit, dine & enjoy.
The crisp Fall air was perfect and Leah & Crystal made certain we wouldn't be too 'crisp'!! We were surprised by an element of warmth they had hidden under the table-- it was so very nice and toasty!! (yay for space heaters & warmers!!)

L to R, top row: Fresh grown basil-- which became one of our lovely take home items. Can I just say basil one more time.... B A S I L... fresh-- yep-- there it is... mouth watering.
What a beautiful table-- very clean and rustic and fun harvest centerpiece.
Our place settings were donned with a rustic paper bag as our place card ... and on the back of the bag a shoping list for our farmer's market take home items! Basil, Dried Watermelon (yum!), and the cutest peach pie in a jar that you have ever seen --- it was a lovely afternoon treat for me the following day! :)

Alrighty-- enough blab-- on to more eye candy and mouth watering recipes:


Menu & delicious refreshing {betterthanrestaurant} Brazlian Lemonade


More loveliness

Leah gave us an awesome watermelon cutting tutorial
slice into quarters, slice perpendicular one way, then the other-- and viola! Perfect no fuss watermelon pieces.

Candied almonds in the cutest cups. No, your eyes are not deceiving you, those are paper plates cut and folded just so and secured with a rubber band. SO clever!

Do you see & smell the garlic that lovely brushetta over there?
Let's take a closer look at our tasters table....

The garlic butter on the toasted baguette was brought out to us FRESH and hot.
Are you curious what classifies as "brushetta?" NO? Well... I was.
(I actually wanted to know what the topping on the brushetta was called... apparently it is just "brushetta topping" - of which there are many.) Bruschetta was originally a kind of bread with garlic and spices rubbed on as it was beginning to get stale. Newly pressed olive oil was shown off either drizzled on top or soaked into the bread, a tradition dating to the Romans. The word bruschetta derives from bruscare, "to roast over coals."

Read more: Bruschetta Definition | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/facts_5815238_bruschetta-definition.html#ixzz1fAXwLjDy

Strawberry Cocnut Soup
{YUM}
Some requested a straw : )  It was deilsh and the added mint wasn't just for looks... strawberry and mint... yes please!

 Artisan Herbed Bread {YUM YUM}

Autumn Salad

 Rustic Fruit Tart, Mint Brownies {in the shape of a leaf, of course!} homeade ice cream... heaven!

 While we enjoyed the warmth of the table and our delish dessert and as always-- belly laughs (needed for digestion!) A little taster's table fairy switched out the appetizers for our take home items which we shopped for at the end of the evening. Artisan bread, peach pie in a jar, our very own basil {which is still growing in my window sill!}, and dried watermelon-- what a treat!

Steph, Chrissy, Jennise & Sonya-- you were missed!

  BrazilianLemonade:
Ingredients

• 2 limes
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
• 3 cups water
• ice

Directions

1. Wash limes thoroughly. Cut off the ends and slice into eight wedges. Place limes in a blender with the sugar, sweetened condensed milk, water, and ice.
2. Blend in an electric blender, pulsing 5 times. Strain through a fine mesh strainer to remove rinds. Serve over ice.
   
   source:
   http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/brazilian-lemonade/detail.aspx?src=ShareOnFacebook&recipeID=54083

Microwave nut crunch
2 1/2 cups nuts
1/2 c sugar
1 t cinnamon
1/8 t salt
3 T whole milk
1 t vanilla
Method:
1) If the nuts are not roasted, heat the oven to 350 F and spread the nuts in a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast them for about 8-10 minutes or until they just start to turn brown. 2) Stir together the sugar, cinnamon, salt and milk in a medium-size microwave safe mixing bowl. Microwave on high for 2 minutes (for a 1000 watt unit). 3) Stir quickly (don't worry if the mixture looks as though it curdled a little), then microwave for 1 minute more or until the mixture is noticeably thick. ((1 1/2 min is too long in my microwave)) 4) Stir in the vanilla extract and then stir in the nuts, turning them to coat. Spoon the nuts onto waxed paper, separate them with a fork, and let them cool for 10 minutes.




Autumn Chopped Salad
(Printable Recipe)

Ingredients
*6 to 8 cups chopped romaine lettuce
*2 medium pears, chopped
*1 cup dried cranberries
*1 cup chopped pecans
*8 slices thick-cut bacon, crisp-cooked and crumbled or cooked chicken
*4 to 6 oz. feta cheese, crumbled
*Poppy seed Salad Dressing (I like T. Marzetti)
*Balsamic Vinaigrette (I like Newman's Own Light Balsamic Vinaigrette)

Instructions
*On a large platter, combine the lettuce, pears, cranberries, pecans, bacon and feta cheese. Drizzle generously with poppy seed dressing, followed by some of the balsamic vinaigrette. (I would estimate that I used about a cup of dressing: 70 percent poppy seed dressing and 30 percent balsamic vinaigrette) If you prefer your salad to have more dressing, feel free to experiment with the combination.
Source:
http://www.espressoandcream.com/2010/11/autumn-chopped-salad.html

2 COOL 4 SCHOOL LUNCH.... unless it has been Bon Vivant12-afied! !!!

Courtney & TeKarri glammed up school lunch.
Meet our Lunch Lady Cuties!

{GOURMET SCHOOL LUNCH MENU}

 In true school lunch fashion...
we eagerly lined up to sample the fun menu!


The back to school decor was so very fun & timely!

 

Back 2 School Fun

 

Back to school wouldn't be proper without pictures! We had to report one absence to the office, however. We missed you, Bonnie!

Our darling take home included an edible "pencil" (filled with rolo's!) A fun jar of pencils and a very cute subway art clipboard to add a little vignette to our homes just in time for back to school. The post card was actually our invitation. When I received mine in the mail, I thought it was from one of the boys teachers at school!! I thought that was a great (albeit ambitious) idea. I will admit-- I was slightly disappointed when I found out it wasn't from said teachers.... but--- I was very excited about going back to school {lunch} myself!!  Thank you Courtney & TeKarri for a very fun evening!!!

LUAU by Stephanie & Sonya
To truly appreciate this evening, you must click:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPHM3yXVPSA&feature=related

A little ambiance for your listening pleasure as you scroll through our lovely Hawaiian evening by 

Stephanie & Sonya!

THE FEAST
Appetizers: Butterscotch Dip with Fresh Fruit, Artichoke Dip and Crackers
Main Course: Pulled Kahlua Pork Sandwhich, Cucumber Salad, Sonya's Hawaiian Rice
Dessert: Sorbet in fruit shells (they are so cute!), & Strawberry & Chocolate Wonder (ful)
YUM!
Everything was festive and delish!! Recipes coming!!

 Our festive table-scape! Complete with flower "lei" and we won't talk about the comment that Brother Crane made regarding that accessory.

 Such fun detail on our table-- so relaxed and cheerful! 

 

Lovely Houlihans - Bon Vivant style. We missed out on our group picture with Jennise while she was there. We were glad Janell was able to make it amongst all her baseball traveling! Summer gets busy, but we were certainly grateful to have this evening to chill and enjoy great company and yummy dishes.

Our cute take home. I love those flipflops! I wore them all summer :)
The yummy smelling car freshner-- a reminder of our tropical evening... as well as the cocnut lotion. Such a great evening-- thank you Sonya & Steph!!!

More lovely hula-ladies

Our sweet little 'surf-er' girl :)

Authentic Hawaiian babes! :)

I am wearing the cute hibiscus hair clip that came with our invite (so darling)! It even came with instructions:
"In Hawaii women often wear single flowers over one ear. A flower behind the left ear means being taken or married. Behind the right ear means still available."
We did have one who might have forgotten that little bit of info, and she didn't get any grief about it at all.

Here is cute Jennise with our Hawaiian hostesses... we apologize to our available men out there-- but she really is taken. :)