Dinner with Strangers

Every year the school my daughter attends plans an event to encourage the parents to mix and mingle. it's a good excuse to plan an nice fall menu.

This year I found recipes in a couple local books and was inspired by some Italian themed foods. The core dishes were simple dishes that would be easy to make for a weekday meal.

I did however forget to take pictures.

• Antipasti
• Assorted Crostini
• Sexy baked olives w/feta

• Gala apple, blue cheese & pecan salad
• Cannellini beans w/garlic & sage
• Roasted butternut squash w/shallots & rosemary
• Halibut w/roasted shallot pinot noir sauce

• Molten Chocolate Cake w/Blood Orange Sauce

In general everything worked except the beans, though I think the beans would have worked as part of another dish with more flavor. The chocolate cakes were of course very popular, but then again good chocolate pretty much makes any dish.

I also want to recommend the Fresh Fish Company on 24th and 80th. I often forget about them and their Halibut was prefect!