Anatomy of a Dinner Party » Brats

SEC and Trimming The Tree

Patti — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 16:07:40 +0000

Good Morning, Darlings!

As you know, I was most excited about watching the Gators vs. Alabama play the SEC Championship last night. Well, my Gators lost, but the food was fun!

Midafternoon, I heard a song on the radio that reminded me of Miss Diane – Modern Love by David Bowie. Miss Diane says that every time she’s at our house it comes on the radio. Well, I was in the kitchen making peppermint brownies when that very song came on so I had to call her. She asked me how many people were coming over to watch the game. Uh….nobody but Eric and me, sitting on the couch, hollering at the television. Of course I asked her to join us.

Peppermint Brownies - Recipe To Follow

I had gotten out the andouille sausage, the cheesy poofs, the salt and pepper chips, the plain chips, onion dip and some moon pies. There was wine and beer and cokes to drink. I had also baked the aforementioned peppermint brownies and had put some bread dough out to rise to take to Crystal and Teague’s house after the game so we could help trim their Christmas tree and indulge in some of Crystal’s grandmother’s Beef Vegetable Soup. Yum, soup!

It was a junk food afternoon at our house. Perfect for game day. Take a look at my bowl of chips on the left as put together by Miss Diane when asked what type of chip I would like. “Yes” was my reply. That’s a lot of chips!

Food Groups For Game Day: Chips, Moon Pies, Wine, Dip

The brats were going to be grilled outside, but baby, it’s cold outside! So I braised them in beer and onions and they were tasty indeed.

Six Brats A-Steamin'!

Radioactive Colored Food To Watch The Game By

But alack and alas, my Gators were defeated. Not sure how this happened but I have to admit, Alabama was all over it and deserved the win. Hopefully they’ll be a bowl game, but until then, we have a tree trimming to attend!

Miss Diane left to go home and Miss Tracy showed up to walk with us to Crystal and Teague’s house (yes, our front door is revolving…). We packed up the brownies, bread and more wine & beer, and then proceeded to bundle ourselves up. First, after the jeans and turtleneck, the gloves, the Uggs, the fuzzy lined hoodie, scarf and leather jacket. I mean – it was COLD outside. But it was a clear night and the walk was pleasant.

Everything smelled so good at our good friends’ house and the tree was so fab! Somehow I neglected to bring my camera to the soiree, so just trust me that their afternoon tree search certainly yielded a beauty. Large and full, with the lights on and ready to be decorated. But first there was soup and bread and brownies to gobble up. Crystal’s soup was so good, I ate a giant bowl.

Joining us were our sweet neighbors Rick and Denise. After dinner, the ornaments were brought out and we got to decorating. With seven friends, it didn’t take long. Not only that, but Crystal was dear enough to gift me with a bundle of ice blue branches for our party next Saturday. But she and Teague also gifted us with the cutest ornaments ever! They are black tie for our black tie party next week! Look how cute:

Black Ties for Our Black Tie!

And so, after the tree was trimmed, toasts were made and soup was devoured, we bundled back up and made our way back home in the misty moonlight.

I hope the season is treating you well so far. If you need a little something to take to a friend’s house or you could use something yummy for yourself, here is the recipe for the Peppermint Brownies. Super easy and quick. You could make these and be out of the house in under an hour.

Peppermint Brownies

2 ounces bittersweet chocolate
1 stick butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. peppermint extract

Preheat oven to 350F.
Melt chocolate and butter over low heat. When melted, remove from heat.
Stir in sugar and eggs, beating slightly.
Add in vanilla and peppermint.
Add flour.

Bake in greased 8x8x2 pan for 20-25 minutes.

Enjoy!

Tomorrow the real work starts. Five days and counting until our Christmas Black Tie party for 75 friends. Let the chaos begin!

xoxo, Patti

Cabbage Reigns Supreme

Patti — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:02:19 +0000

Happy, Happy Sunday, Darlings!

For all of you that do not live in Atlanta, I have to tell you that you missed a great time yesterday in Cabbagetown. Chomp and Stomp is just the southern social event of the year. I rode over early with Crystal and Teague so we could help Miss Lisa set up at her booth. The top was off the jeep and the day was warm and sunny. In November!

We arrived and I helped Miss Lisa with her sign for the day. She decided on selling locally made snap-when-you-bite-them hot dogs and beautiful white bratwurst.

You know what? I have so many photos, I believe I will let them tell most of the story. And away we go!

Miss Lisa's Specials of the Day

Those Gorgeous Brats

Miss Lisa & Mr. Bob Share A Moment

Mr. Bob is a restaurant reviewer for the Atlanta Journal Constitution, so we kinda have to hide his face. You would agree his is a great face, if you were to meet him.

There were a slew of celebrity judges on hand to judge the chili (and there was a LOT of chili to judge). There was Kevin Gillespie, of Woodfire Grill , who might very well go all the way on “Top Chef,” Kevin Rathbun, who slew Bobby Flay on “Iron Chef,” Scott Serpas, Shaun Doty , Joe Truex and certainly not least of all, Chef Linton Hopkins of Restaurant Eugene and Holeman and Finch. Some fun shots for you:

Chefs Gillespie, Serpas, Doty, Hopkins and Rathbun

Chili to be Judged

Chef Gillespie Takes a Moment for his Fans (me!)

As exciting as mingling with celebrity chefs is, there was also live music and other celebrities as well. Hollis Gillespie (no relation to Kevin, I believe) is a famous author who is about to have her books adapted into a television series. She is seriously hilarious and took a moment to let me be photographed with Lary, her bff and herself. Go buy one of her books!

Hollis, Me and Lary

And of course, lots of friends and neighbors were there, too.

Leila, Val and Jay

Val, Me, Leila, Miss Crystal

Val and Me Before We Entered the Toilet Plunger Relay Race

Yes, Miss Val and I entered a relay race – I called it the Toilet Plunger Relay, Chomp and Stomp called it the Cornholing Relay Race. One member of the team holds a toilet plunger between their legs and runs to the next member, who is holding a roll of toilet paper between her legs – #1 has to use the plunger to thread the toilet paper onto the handle of the plunger. It was fun. We didn’t win, but we laughed – a lot! Oh, and we had to do it while holding a cabbage on our heads. Pretty!

Now for the main attraction – The Cabbage Shredding Contest. Our bestie Teague has won this competition 3 years in a row. First, there were two heats to see who would battle Teague for his crown. Then it was time for Teague to show em how it’s done. Little Michelle handed us her ball point pen and we all wrote a big “T” on our palms to show our support. Teague was clearly in the lead when all of a sudden, he dropped his cabbage! We all gasped and waited to see what would happen next. Teague, the consummate professional, just popped over the table, grabbed the cabbage core and once again took the crown! We all howled with joy! Wooooooo Hooooo!!! I even got some cool action shots. And I won’t even make you wait to see them.

Teague Was In It To Win It! Look at the Cabbage Flying!

Our King and Queen

As Teague’s motto goes – “Today We Slaw!” and slaw he did. He most certainly did.

Besides cabbage and chili everywhere, there were some other food vendors (besides Miss Lisa and her awesome dogs and brats). Lets take a look, shall we?

Perla, One of Miss Lisa's Coffee Girls

Nobody Can Resist a Corndog!

Funnel Cakes! Fried Dough! Nom, Nom, Nom...

After all our darlings filled up on chili and beer, Pie Queen Crystal and Cabbage King Teague (foodie royalty!) invited us all back to their house for a bonfire. Miss Lisa was so sweet and gave me a bundle of bratwurst and buns to take to the bonfire and I added some blue corn chips.

Miss Crystal grilled the brats while we all warmed ourselves by the fire. They were insanely tasty and everyone gobbled them up. Then Becky and Tim introduced us to a twist on an old favorite – ‘smores. They took two slices of Italian bread, brushed it with olive oil and salt, grilled it, spread it with a nice smear of Nutella, roasted a marshmallow and slipped it between the two pieces of grilled bread. It was heavenly. Tim called it “Italian ‘Smores,” I said it should be called “It’s A’smore.” Whatever you call it, I can tell you what it tastes like. It tastes like you need one more.

"When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, It's A'Smore!"

By this time I was pretty beat and ready to hit the sack. Eric and I bundled up and walked home as our shoes crunched the dried, fallen leaves underfoot.

I am going to leave you with a quote from Mr. Tim’s blog :

I hope you live where you love and if you have a longing to be somewhere you’re not I hope you find your way there.

For me, that place is Atlanta.

xoxo, Patti