First 2016 Dinner Party

I love January . . .

for whatever your do, it's always the first

Friday night we hosted the first dinner party of 2016

The sun was finally shinning

And as it came in our south dining room windows

And I loved the shadows of the lace on the armoire!

The table is all set

The lace tablecloth

fresh flowers in an antique Depression glass blue Mayfair sweetie vase

 The tables at Linderhof are never "exciting"

They're just classic

As my mother or grandmother would have done

And as I continue to do

Jim's job is always beverages

He was ready for company

Who were Scotch drinkers

The dogs hunkered down

Awaiting company

And I always love the house just before guests arrive

 there is just an anticipation that a room seems to have when you're expecting company!

Drinks and appetizers are always in the parlor

Two old favorites:

olive balls

Hot cheese puffs

Both were well received!

A Greek salad for a first course

What makes it Greek?

Why the addition of oregano and feta cheese!

Salads placed, candles lit

Dinner is Served!

The main course was Moussaka 

A favorite for dinner parties for almost our entire marriage!

Jim had been to Greece, ate lots of moussaka and hoped I could replicate it after we married

I could and did

And it became the "exotic" entree whenever we had a dinner party

One of the guests favors crisps and crumbles

So I did an apple one

From a New York cookbook

(where this guest is from -- New York.   Albany, actually)

It has calvados soaked cherries in with the apples and no cinnamon or nutmeg

It's a refreshing crisp

Topped with a honey lemon cream

Which was perfect with the boozy apples and cherries

I love the table after everyone has gone

It proves that a good time was had by all!

And before I can go to bed,

all the dishes are cleared and hand washing is done

the dishwasher is loaded and turned on

And the tablecloth and napkins are put in the washer

(And those bottles of Scotch are put away!)

So when I come downstairs in the morning

It looks normal!

Jim and I love to host dinner parties and Linderhof has seen a fair share.

My ideal party is 6 but last night we had 7

I do eight on occasion but I think the conversation flows better when there are six

We prefer a diverse guest list too 

The dinner conversation is much more lively

If we don't all work at the same place or go to the same church or even are the same political party!