Four friends - Toni, Trish, Annie, Ann - have been having 'dinner and a movie' for about 10 months now. Every Saturday Night. It's expected! Started out just watching a movie with a glass or two of wine, the next weekend, added some appetizers and more drinks, then tried dinner, then another dinner, then realize we had a good thing going and et voila, it's tradition.
We're always at Toni's house; she has a large screen TV, subscribes to NetFlix, and the house is always clean (plus a nice kitchen if we cook on-site, and a conveniently located grill). We communicate via email early in the week, tossing out food ideas so the resulting dinner is cohesive and balanced, with flavors that compliment each other.
The idea of blogging arose a few months ago, when we decided that we needed to memorialize our fabulous food and drink and what fun we were having.
Because we've gotten so comfortable, we now dress for bedtime in our jams and slippers. Hence, the name of this blog: "Jammie Night". When the movie is over, it's 8 hands in kitchen, finish cleaning the kitchen, sorting and refrigerating the leftovers and it's out the door. It's a science. We're a whirlwind of efficiency.
We have taken time off, especially during the hoidays. After all, we're all busy and get invited to work and family and other friend social events that conflict with Dinner and a Movie. In 2010, we had one free Saturday, December 18, and decided to hostess a Christmas Party for friends. We didn't play a movie, but our agreed-upon menu was well appreciated.
January 22, 2011 --- our first 2011 Saturday Night together: the first opportunity to blog.
I'm sorry to say that our movie tonight, Date Night, was less than memorable. I expect more from Tina Fey and Steve Carrell. Maybe next time.
Our dinner, on the other hand, was FABULOUS. We cooked and ate:
- Grilled Chicken Breasts, marinated in lemon juice, rosemary, and thyme
- Tzaziki (homemade - yogurt, lemon juice, dill, cucumber)
- Beet Salad - roasted beets, sectioned orange slices, sweet onion, beet greens with balsamic dressing
- Fresh Fruit Salad
- Rice
- Grilled Veggies on Flatbread
- Brownies with fresh fruit and whipped cream
Annie made us a special cocktail tonight: Muddled cucumber and basil, diet Sprite, lotsa ice, and splash (yea, right) of Vodka. Considerate Annie, she didn't mix the liquor with the mixer, so Trish could enjoy the mixer virgin.
I'll end this post by saying two things about my girlfriends:
"A friend is a person who knows all about you, and still likes you." and
"A friend will help you move. A really good friend will help you move a body."
Good night!
Huzzah! I especially appreciate that you created a tag for "Beet Salad," which implies that it will be a recurring theme. I told Mom that a good beet salad can be raw beets cut up very small (the recipe says grated, but that's just too much hand contact, and makes for a reddened week ahead) and some sherry vinegar and balsamic and dill if you have it, and salt and pepper. And some mustard in it is good, too.
ReplyDeleteI have to say I have some very, very talented friends. Fabulous cooks and great writers! Glad I have the netflicks and clean house so I get to participate.
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