FRIDAY NITE SUPPER CLUB...OUTDOOR STYLE

How it began...

Back before I was a mom and wife, I lived in many places. My favorite was Traverse City, MI. It's a small town on the shores of Lake Michigan that is just beautiful, has some great shopping and good restaurants. I spent 7 years as a bartender at a place called Grand Traverse Resort. I worked on the 17th floor of a tower that overlooked expansive and well groomed golf courses and the East arm of Grand Traverse Bay. One thing I loved and now miss-was the opportunity to whip up creative cocktails and of course the gourmet food! The lounge was the kind of place where we made chocolate martini's often and the restaurant had offerings like pan-seared Ahi tuna, mushroom risotto, and cream of asparagus soup.  Yum-to all. Fast forward five years and meals consist of orange slices, turkey taco night and whole bunch of "this looks kinda yucky Mom!" lol-I wouldn't trade it for the world-but a little gourmet girls getaway would be nice.

 Thus Friday Nite Supper Club was born. A few girlfriends wanting to get out but not go out.

The first one was in my garage-it was a rainy day in May! I put a rug and our patio set in there, had a bunch of white candles in mason jars, pretty plates and silverware holders-props from inside the house too like a big mirror and cabinet-it was pretty for a garage!

 We had an around the world theme-we each brought beer from a microbrew or different country. I made menus for our dinner selections. We had grilled pizzas-like Apricot and Prosciutto that had the yummiest freshest ingredients. We all brought part of the ingredients and then everyone pitched in to cook. We sat outside and laughed and had a ball til the wee hours-It was great!

So now that the weather is warming it's time for the Supper Club to resume. Here's a few ideas for some spring supper club action of your own...

Linguine with Sauteed Morels

• 1 pound linguine
• 1/2 pound fiddleheads
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 pound baby leeks, washed, trimmed, and cut into thirds on a bias
• 1 1/2 cups dandelion greens or sorrel, washed

Directions

1.     In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the linguine until al dente. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.

2.     Meanwhile, remove the papery particles from the fiddleheads. Fill a medium bowl with cool water; add 1 teaspoon salt and the lemon juice. Add the fiddleheads, and push them down into the water several times to clean them. Transfer them to a steamer rack in a saucepan and steam, covered, about 4 to 5 minutes.

3.     Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the leeks and saute for 2 to 3 minutes, until soft. Add the fiddleheads and cook 1 to 2 minutes more, until warm and golden. Stir in the dandelion greens. Toss the mixture with the pasta, season with salt and pepper, and serve. Serves 4. :)

Sauteed Morels

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/4 to 1/2 pound morels
• 1/4 cup Chicken Stock, or low-sodium canned
• 1 tablespoon white wine
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

1.     Melt the butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until soft and golden.

2.     Add the morels and cook, stirring, until they begin to exude their juices, about 2 to 3 minutes.

3.     Add the stock and wine and cook 2 minutes more until heated through. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

And there must be yummy beverage...

Key Lime Pie Martini

1 1/2 oz Ke Ke Beach® key lime liqueur
1 1/2 oz Absolut® Vanilla vodka
1/3 oz Rose's® lime juice
1/3 oz freshly squeezed lime juice
1 1/2 oz half-and-half

Coat the rim of chilled cocktail glass with lime and dip rim in a mixture of 2 tablespoons crushed graham crackers and 1 tablespoon powdered sugar(on a flat plate). Set glass aside. Mix Vodka, Ke Ke Beach Liqueur, Rose's and fresh lime juice, and half and half in a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes. Shake vigorously and pour into the set aside chilled martini cocktail glass. Serve.

Set a pretty table... 

1. Chirp dinnerware by Lenox available at Macy's

      2. Royal Albert Dinnerware platter available at Macy's

      3. Pine Cone Hill petite ruffle napkins- Layla Grace

      4. Dorset Crystal martini glass- Williams Sonoma

      5. Pillivuyt Queen Anne Pitcher-Williams Sonoma

Have Fun!

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK FOR MONDAY INSPIRATIONS...