Summer Dinner Tea

Tiffany hosted our first dinner tea on Thursday evening. It was fun to mix it up and get together on a weeknight. With Mrs. Moos as her sous chef, Tiff really outdid herself on the made from scratch menu. I can honestly say that it was the best dinner I've had in months! Tiff was too kind and made everything vegetarian (you are too sweet to me!) The menu:

• Salad with Homemade Fresh Herb Vinaigrette - best homemade dressing ever - the combination of basil and rice vinegar in the dressing with a hint of sugar and garlic was a perfect balance.
• Crostini with Ricotta and Goat Cheese we love that Giada!
• Grilled Vegetable Gazpacho - amazing! The soup was light, yet it had great fresh flavor with tomatoes, cucumber and hint of cilantro - delicious!
• Summer Lemon Vegetable Risotto - another winner! I think this may have been Tiff's first from scratch risotto and she executed it perfectly. The asparagus was cooked to perfection and the risotto was creamy.
• Vanilla Bean Ice Cream with Strawberry Rhubarb Compote - just when you think dinner couldn't get any better she brings out the rhubarb!
• Hibiscus and Mint Lemonade - this was a very refreshing beverage; not too sweet and it was a beautiful deep red.
• Creamy Chai Iced Tea - a fun take on classic chai flavors in a cool form and less sweet as it paired nicely with the savory dishes.

Writing this is making me hungry and wish I had Tiff to cook me dinner again!

The elegant table setting

Summer Lemon Vegetable Risotto with the two iced teas

The girls about to eat dinner

Andrea - as pretty as the flowers

Kimmy and Cindy (Tiff's mom)

Kimmy was in heaven with her dream woofer, Daisy, but alas she couldn't take her home.