Casual family dinner for the holidays- 12/14/13

Table set up/appetizers/guests Dinner/Desserts

Time to sit down for dinner.

 

 

Happy bunch for sure!

 

Starting out with a Shrimp bisque with shrimp toast.

Click on LINK to see preparation.

 

Shrimp bisque is a rich creamy soup made with shrimp shell, vegetables then simmered to produce a highly flavorful soup.

I garnished the soup with sautéed whole shrimps and chopped parsley.

I served a shrimp/crab toast on crispy Pugliese bread to add more texture.  The shrimp toast was delicious.

Mussels and clams Marinière is a classic French dish.

Mussels and clams are steamed in white wine and served in a sauce made from the cooking liquid with butter, shallots, and cream.

Click on LINK to see preparation

 

Pan seared honey balsamic Quail served with couscous.  Here I am platting the quail.

Originally I was going to grill the quail but it is so dark and cold outside I went ahead and pan seared the quail and they came out really nice.

I served the quail with a couscous with sautéed butternut squash and drizzled the quail with a reduced honey balsamic sauce.

Click on LINK to see preparation

Herbed slow roasted Pork shoulder with tomato a la Provençale.

 

Cooking the pork shoulder at a low temperature ensures a tender, and juicy roast.  I served the pork shoulder with some pan juices and a tomato a la Provençale my way.  The tomatoes are stuffed with stuffing from stove top, then are baked in the oven for about 30 minutes.

Click on LINK to see preparation

 

Desserts

Ending the evening with coffee and desserts.  Hanh make a flan but I did not take a picture.  I made Turon and an Apple Rum Cake.

Turon is a dessert from the Philippines.  Turon are made with ripe plantains wrapped in lumpia wrappers and then fried until crispy and golden.  I drizzled the turon with a caramel sauce served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream

 

I love turon!  They are crispy and are perfect with a scoop of ice cream.

Click on LINK to see preparation

 

Turon platter.

Apple rum cake

Click on LINK to see preparation

 

The apple rum cake came out moist and very flavorful.

 

Happy Holidays!

 

Filed under: BBQ/Thanksgiving/Holidays parties

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