On the spur of the moment, we decide to have a couple of people over on Saturday night. It was a very casual affair, so nothing intense had to be created. In an attempt to empty out my freezer (something I try to do 2 or 3 times a year), I decided to use the frozen, store-bought cannelloni that I had bought on sale.
In planning a menu, I always start with the main meal. And, from there, I springboard with the side dishes and then the appetizers. I like to have different flavors in my dishes. I do not like to repeat flavors and textures between the appetizer and the side dishes. Call me kooky, but I like my guests to be able to cleanse their palettes between dishes. I do not like to be inundated with the same flavors, I like to be surprised with varying tastes. I believe that when the tastes are similar, then the entire experience will be bland. There is nothing worse than a bland meal.
As an appetizer, I had decided on escargot brioche, but my guest wanted to bring an appetizer. A little rule that I follow: if someone offers to bring something, let them! It takes away a little pressure from you as you have one less thing to worry about and prepare. She brought a creamy bread dip, which is her signature dip. It is the one she always makes to bring to people dinners.
The main course, was of course the cheese cannelloni and garlic bread. I wanted something refreshing as a side. I made a bean and feta salad. It was low-fat and high in fiber. Quite refreshing and tart in contrast to the cheesy pasta and the creamy appetizer.
And lastly, came dessert. As I love to bake, this is my thing. My time to shine, my raison d'etre. I had some gingersnaps cookies (that were given to me) that I wanted to get rid of :) I found a recipe online for a Pear Crisp that used gingersnaps in the crust. It was surprisingly rich, and slightly spicy. The balance of spicy and sweet was a nice contrast for the main course.
It is all about balance when you plan a dinner. You need to have elements of cream, spicy, sweet and tart. You can never go wrong when you vary your tastes. It keeps it interesting and flavorful.
Until next time!
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