Happy 2012

It is a new year, which typically means resolutions to improve ones life.  Well I am no exception... One of my resolutions for 2012 is cook more/order less taken out.  This is a two part resolution, I not only want to make more homemade food, I want this food to be healthy and low fat!  With my commitment to healthy eating, I am also recommitting myself to blogging out my adventures in the kitchen.  So, expect low fat/low calorie dinner recipes, along with some other fun recipes along the way (and of course there will still be treats, because what fun is cooking and baking without delicious indulgences!).

Happy New Year!

dinner party to ring in 2011

To ring in 2011 I hosted my first dinner party for some friends at my apartment.  For those of you who follow my blog, you may notice the menu looks a little familiar!  To decorate my little kitchen table I bought a scarf that I could use as a tablecloth and arranged a bouquet of new years horns to add a festive touch.

hors d'oeuvres:
holiday goat cheese log w rosemary flatbreads
gruyere puffs
mexican dip (brought by my friend Meredith)

main course:
chive popovers
roast beef tenderloin with merlot and shallots
spinach gratin (brought by the lovely Christina)

dessert:
caramel topped semolina cake (from Around My French Table, which I got for Christmas from my sister!)
assorted christmas cookies

**please excuse my dessert picture.  By the time dessert rolled around I had had one too many glasses of champagne and taking pictures of the table slipped my mind (gasp!).  Above is a picture I'd taken earlier on my phone!

As always, I've linked all the recipes I could find online, but if you'd like a recipe that I haven't posted just ask!