The last week has been SO much fun! If you follow me on instagram, you probably already know we got to hang with Lauren, spent a brief time with Katie, and spend a whole week with Laura. Talk about a fun vacation!
Photo courtesy of Lauren
It’s back to reality week for me, but I do have lots of fun to share with you guys!
Starting with the Tour of Europe Pairing Dinner that we hosted on Saturday night (before Thanksgiving). We started planning this dinner when I found out that Lauren, Greg, and Laura were all going to be in town the same weekend. You know Kirk and I have had a great time creating these dinners for ourselves, so we decided it was time to share with our friends!
The only difference is this time Kirk and I brainstormed the menu together, instead of each course being a surprise. Which is how we came up with the Tour of Europe theme – each course from a different country. And Laura joined the game by adding a Petit Bouche to the menu!
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Petit Bouche: Roasted Butternut Squash w/ Caramelized Curried Bananas
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Amuse Bouche: Strawberry Puff Bites w/ Lavender Rosemary Black Tea Reduction
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Appetizer: Mushroom Tortellini Soup
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Entrée: Tourtiere
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Dessert: Marzipan Schaumrollen
Today I’m sharing the recipe for the British amuse bouche and cocktail – both Kirk’s creations. These one bite snacks are just enough to get you ready for the rest of the courses…and maybe wishing you had just a little more. :)
Strawberry Puff Bites w/ Lavender Rosemary Black Tea Reduction
Keywords: bake amuse bouche appetizer vegetarian vegan soy-free nut-free strawberry
Ingredients (serves 1)
- 1 strawberry
- 1/4 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1/4 cup earl grey tea
- 2 small sprigs rosemary
- 1/4 teaspoon Herbes de Provence
- 1 square Puff Pastry (about 3 inches square)
Instructions
Cut two quarter-sized circles of puff pastry and cook according to package instructions.
Add rosemary and Herbes de Provence to hot earl grey and microwave for 30 seconds. Transfer to small pan and reduce for 5 minutes.
Smash strawberry and stir in brown sugar until combined.
Place one puff pastry circle on plate (or chinese spoon), top with smashed strawberry mixture, drizzle tea mixture, and top with remaining puff pastry circle.
Make plenty of tea for the amuse bouche, so you have enough to make the cocktail, as well. I’ve had this one both warm and cold, both are good options!
One Shade of Grey
Ingredients (serves 4)
- 1 cup of Earl Grey tea
- 1 cup of Gin
- 4 teaspoons Chambord
Instructions
Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker filled 3/4 with ice. Strain into 4 martini glasses.
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You’ll have to wait a little longer for the remaining courses, but I’ll leave you with the December ingredients for Meatless Mondays from A-Z!! Just three again this month, so you have some extra time to relax for the Christmas and New Years holidays.
I’ll admit that I’m most excited about the first week – I love the green of pistachios!
- December 3: Pistachio
- December 10: Quinoa
- December 17: Radish
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Questions for you:
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How was your Thanksgiving?! Did you go shopping on Black Friday?
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Do you enjoy cooking for friends & family?
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Which #MMAZ ingredient are you most excited about?
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve been super jealous of all the fun pics of you ladies hanging out together – wish I could have joined! Looks like it was a great time for everyone and that.food!!! :)
Katie @ Talk Less, Say More recently posted..Music Monday & The Grinch!
Thanks Katie – it was a great week! :)
i’m jealous, in a good good way. Food, friends, and that dinner party!
lindsay recently posted..Sunday Snippets
It was so much fun and it’s always rewarding cooking up goodness for friends. :)
I know y’all had so much fun. I was jealous of all the Instagram photos I kept seeing! :)
BTW – love the name, “One Shade of Gray.” haha
Tiff recently posted..Link Love
Kirk came up with that name by himself – that’s how you know the book has really gone mainstream (he doesn’t read). ;)
That was all that was in that strawberry sauce?! It was so delicious. You guys really out-did yourselves. Thank you again for being such incredible hosts. miss you already!!!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted..My Vegan Friendsgiving
Yep – not everything make has a ton of ingredients, surprisingly. ;)
Greg and I agreed that out of ALL of the meals we ate in Colorado, this one was the BEST. Everything was so delicious!
I loved the strawberry puff bite, and bought some “fillo” (as they call it by Fillo Factory) sheets as soon as I got home (I hope they work the same- it’s all they had at my organic grocer) because I want to re-create this. I might have to make 20 of them though and eat them as a meal. :)
Thanks so much again for hosting us- you guys are amazing and I love you lots!!
Lauren @ Oatmeal after Spinning recently posted..The Vegan Experiment: 6 Weeks
That is SUCH a huge compliment – thank you!! Fillo isn’t the same, but I bet it will still taste great. It will stay mostly flat, instead of puffing up. Both delicious though!
Please tell me the stripes were not planned! LOVE YOUR FACES!
Not at all, but it was pretty funny! :)
You guys are so creative! I love this idea!
Natalie @ Free Range Human recently posted..It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!
Thanks Natalie – it’s really fun!
Mmm, it all looks SO good, and what a fun week – wish I could have been there!
I am excited for ALL of these, pistachios are one of my favorites…
Kristina recently posted..chocolate bourbon caramel truffles
Me too! It was a great break from the norm and involved lots of yummy foodie fun. :)
Pistachios next week? Hmmm…My brain’s already storming. And now I know was an amuse-bouche is, I’d never heard of it before. Clearly I need to spend more time in Europe. Yup, definitely the called-for solution.
Allie recently posted..Thanksgiving Recap
Me too – I don’t think I’ve ever really done anything creative with pistachios before. I love them as a snack though!
And yes, more time in Europe sounds like a great solution. I’m surprised they didn’t have one at the pushstart dinner you went you, actually!
I love cooking for Thanksgiving!! I’m so glad you got to see some Blends!! I’m so ready to see you girls again.
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables recently posted..MIMM #26 Thanksgiving Edition
Me too! I especially liked doing it a little at a time throughout the day this year, very low-stress. :)
I’m so impressed with kirk’s mad kitchen skills. You gotta good my friend.
I’m next in line to come visit.
I did not go shopping on black friday. I was working at the coffee shop and I thought we would have so many more customers coming into fuel but it was sooo slow.
I love cooking for people – I get stressed about it sometimes but I love makeing people happy through food.
All those ingredients are awesome – maybe radish is what I am excited about most.
Ashley @ Freckles and Spice recently posted..Meatless Monday: Roasted Parsnip, Leek, and Jerusalem Artichoke Soup
I know it! I think we both just learned it along the way, it wasn’t something we did when we were first married. I always cooked, but only from recipes. :)
Wow!! What an amazing meal!!!! Looks stunning!! I didn’t do Black Friday — but I was shopping online allll weekend!
corrie anne recently posted..Turkey & Sweet Potato Hash
Thanks Corrie Anne! I’m glad to hear you’re more of an online shopper too, that means we’re smart, right?! ;)
How fun to share little bits of your meal at a time! I am glad I got to be a part of it!
Katie recently posted..Snacky Black Beans
I cannot even begin with how envious I am of y’alls time together…and I LOVED seeing the IG photos of this dinner. :)
Hooray for #MMAZ! I must get brainstorming. Perhaps I’ll reinterpret my amazing Pistachio ‘Poo’ (that’s what it looked like…) nut butter? Or maybe I’ll get a wee bit more creative.
Sarah @ The Smart Kitchen recently posted..There Are No Georgia Peaches in November [WIAW]