Margaritas and Chili Verde

Every fall Abbie has one request for her birthday dinner, Josh's delicious Chili Verde. To make this dinner even better the tomatillos were harvested that day from our garden.

Garlic from My Dad's Garlic in Rupert, ID

Sugar Skull Shot Glasses with fresh flowers.

Skylar & Josh's newly painted deck with beautiful new lights.

Even though it was the end of October it was a beautiful evening. We decorated with paper flags and our new lighting (Thanks mom!) made it the perfect setting. 

Goldie in her dress from Mexico

Of course the drink of the evening was the classic margarita and in our opinion you can't beat the recipe from Rick Bayless. He knows how to make a good margarita! Here is a link to the recipe. It is simple, easy and delicious. 

Toppings

The chili verde was topped with homemade Mexican sour cream, flour tortillas, cilantro, and lime.

When I asked Josh if I could share his recipe he laughed. So I guess you won't get the exact recipe but this one is pretty similar -Margarita Carmona's Chili Verde

Happy Birthday Abbie! 

The FCM Book Club: The Aviary

The October meeting of the FCM Book Club was hosted by Cindy.  She loves decorating for the month of October and plans way in advance.  Please see The Great Pumpkin Harvest.  Her chosen book was The Aviary by Kathleen O’Dell.  She was in hopes that it would be as wonderful as the October pick of last year, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.

The weather was so unseasonably warm we were able to gather outside.  Cindy’s yard is perfect for outdoor Fall parties. There was even a fresh carpeting of yellow leaves.

The evening started out with pumpkin martinis and appetizers that included festive deviled eggs and Cindy’s much loved spinach dip.

 

To keep dinner simple we dined on all beef hotdogs roasted over a crackling fire and a bean soup that was topped with freshly grated cheese and chopped onion. Pumpkin ale was served with dinner.

After dinner we discussed the book around our fire bowl.  Overall, we thought it was worth reading.

Desert was served inside when it started to get a little chilly. Champagne accompanied a Chocolate Espresso Soup topped with Marshmallows. Please see recipe here.

Skylar found the marshmallows at Whole Foods and we used a dash of Appleton Estates rum.

Up next is Abbie hosting The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery.

Little "B"- A Baby Shower for Abbie

Since little Poppy is already six weeks old we thought it was time to share the little soiree that was held in her and Abbie’s honor. Since Abbie and Ryan didn't want to know the gender, Skylar and Cindy hosted a gender neutral party themed with honey bees. 

No party, not even a baby shower, is complete without a delicious cocktail. Sticking with the theme all of the food included honey. The cocktail was a honey-vanilla martini made with honey simple syrup and infused vanilla vodka. Also on the menu was roasted blueberry ricotta crostinis, apple, brie and honey bruschetta, strawberry-honey bruschetta, honey-prosciutto flatbreads, homemade baby corndogs with Cindy's honey mustard, and more!

For dessert, Stacey baked some delicious vanilla bean cupcakes topped with Skylar's honey buttercream frosting. 

Abbie and Poppy received so many thoughtful gifts from all the wonderful guests. 

Annette made these hand-rolled onsies that looked like cupcakes. 

All the guests received a little jar of local honey to take home with them! 

                                         

                      

It was so much fun celebrating with everyone! Thanks again to everyone that came.