Cooking Club!

I can’t believe last night was our last Cooking Club for 2019!   

Courtney is the best hostess – I wish I had half the talent she does when it comes to entertaining.  How cute are our place settings?!

We started out with a signature cocktail – we had Courtney’s baby shower last weekend at Fig & Olive in Chicago – I cannot wait to go back there to eat.  The food was amazing – you can make this virgin or alcoholic – Catherine got the recipe from the restaurant – it’s a blood orange cocktail made with blood orange Italian seltzer, fresh squeezed blood oranges, and vodka with a lime garnish.  So good!

Tina made a duo of deviled eggs.  Jalapeno Popper and Caesar Salad – I literally could have eaten the whole plate!  The cheddar cheese crips on the popper ones were amazing.  Both recipes are on her blog.  Click on the links above

Courtney made this fall/winter fruit salad and it was spectacular.   I may make this as a side dish to Thanksgiving at my brothers house.

• 2 bananas, sliced
• 2 honeycrisp apples, chunked
• 3 kiwis, peeled and chunked
• 3 clementine peeled apart
• 2 pears, chunked
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• hearty tablespoon of honey
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1.5 teaspoons poppyseeds 

I kind of took the easy way out and I made . . . bacon!  I went to Fresh Thyme and had them thick cut their bacon – I made half peppered and half I sprinkled with brown sugar.  I baked for 35 minutes at 375.  Always bake your bacon – it takes longer but the result is perfectly cooked bacon.

I promise to link the recipe to this biscuits and gravy casserole as soon as Mary Beth posts it.  If you love biscuits and gravy, you will love this casserole – it’s like a big giant comforting hug on a spatula.  This would be a great breakfast/brunch idea because it can be made the day (or two) before and just baked when needed.  

Donna made these delicious blueberry muffins – I loved that they weren’t overly sweet, but light and fluffy. 

And Courtney’s husband made us our after dinner espresso drinks – so delicious!  These tiny cups are so cute.  Thanks Will!

And Lindsay made these oatmeal cookies – I mean, if it has oatmeal in it, that’s considered a breakfast food, right?!  Soft, chewy, they went perfectly with the espresso and a great way to end the delicious dinner.

I am so excited because our next Cooking Club is in January, just a couple weeks before Courtney has her baby girl!  I am so happy she’s happy.  

Happy Friday friends – make it a great day!