Blog Party #45: 20th Anniversary Party!

Fried Gnocchi Bites with Marinara

 

Welcome back to the original online cocktail event - Blog Party!

It's been a few years, I know.  Life, eh?

 But I'm happy you're here - I've missed you!

 

I've embraced the 'china/platinum/emerald' theme of 20th anniversaries (ok, sure; that's for weddings, but I don't think there's blog gift etiquette lists out there), & hung these gorgeous strings of lights around the dining room.

 

The tables have been set with platinum cloths and platinum-trimmed emerald plates.

 

 And the jazzy sounds of the greatest hits of the (19)20's are playing!

 

Of course, there's plenty to eat.

Bites of fresh gnocchi rolled in seasoned breadcrumbs, fried & served with marinara sauce.

Astoundingly good caprese poppers: cherry tomatoes cored & stuffed with mozzarella pearls, coated in panko & fried, then drizzled with a honey-balsamic reduction.  

Little pizza bites: 3-day fermented crust topped with Fromage d'Affinois & roasted garlic, thin slices of potato, a sprinkling of smoked mozzarella, & rosemary. 

And to balance all the richness, the Paloma. Sweet & tart grapefruit & lemon juices, simple syrup, & club soda with a salted rim.

Caprese Bites

Roasted Garlic-Fromage Potato Pizza

 

Paloma

 

 

It was fun having you here after all this time.  Twenty years!  

Hopefully, it won't be another two decades until the next Blog Party...

Oodles

Hey.

How are you all doing?

JEREMY BEARIMY, my friends.
Jeremy Bearimy.

But this is most definitely not The Good Place.

Turns out, when we were all sick in late February/early March, it was Covid-19

So.  Yeah.  That's a thing.

Let me say, from experience, you Do Not Want.

Keep washing your hands.  Stay home. Get your groceries delivered. And if you can't? PROTECT YOURSELF.  If your employer isn't providing the proper materials, raise hell. We'll back you.

Anyway.

We had the tail end of a carton of eggs, and Matt liked the idea of fresh Chinese egg noodles. Sure, why not?

Pretty easy: flour, salt, eggs, water.  Mixed by hand, a bit of a chill in the fridge, then a few passes through the sheeter before switching to the cutting roller.

Really nice, tender noodles.  Alex used some to make himself peanut noodles (he even found a recipe on his own!). 

The rest were bagged and tucked into the (overflowing) freezer. 

Just wanted to remind you that Blog Party is tonight!  In these strange times, I'll take entries up to six PM (EST), in case you were still thinking about joining.

We're using up those the half-bags, hidden-away cans, and deep-freeze treasures and creating bites and sips to share - from the safety of our digital devices! - with friends old and new.

I do hope you'll attend.  See you later tonight!

This time, I mean it!

We're living in strange, confusing times.

We're all a bit scared, and trying to get comfortable in our alone-ness.

Turns out, here at Dispensing Happiness, we've been practicing social distancing for years!

Welcome back, Blog Party!

Yes, the original virtual cocktail party was bringing people together - while never leaving home - before it became the rule.

So, on Saturday, 4 April, we're putting the social in social distancing with what will officially be Blog Party #44: Pantry Raid!

That's right; we're going to have a rockin' good time, nibbling on tasty bites and drinking fabulous beverages (from well over six feet apart!), using what we already have on hand.

No shopping!

Just look in your cupboards, on your shelves, check the back of your fridge, or deep in those freezers.
Let's make do with what's around.

That condiment you bought for a recipe, and never used again!  Get creative.

That can of water chestnuts you keep ignoring? Time to show them some love.

We're not going fancy. We just want to come together, be a part of something, and stay busy.

What's that? You're new to Blog Party (It's ok; it's been on hiatus)?

No problem!  You can read all about it here.  But to summarize, you make an appetizer and a drink - non-alcoholic is totally fine. Post it somewhere (blog, Tumblr, IG, Twitter, whatever works for you), and send me the link (my email address can be found under 'links).

I'll post the round-up (aka, party) on the 4th, where everyone can join in and see what our friends, new and old, have brought!

I hope you'll join!

Edited: To RSVP, send your entries to me by Friday, the 3rd!