Rating: 💋 💋 💋 💋 💋
Hello hello and happy Halloween season!
I am a huge fan of the holiday. My mom goes hard decorating our house inside and out, top to bottom, like a haunted house, and she has a serious affection for witches, so I basically didn't have a choice. When you're living in your own version of Halloween, you can either love it or hate it, and I chose love.
Plus, who doesn't love a good excuse to dress-u?. I'm a dancer and actress - it's a given for me.
This past weekend, I got to go home to the Jersey suburbs of Philadelphia and hang out with my family, which was pretty awesome. The titular reason for the trip was my parents were hosting a huge party for a host of reasons - to honor my Granmom's life, to celebrate my Dad's birthday, to have a Halloween party, and - an unexpected my bonus - to welcome my new baby cousin, who arrived a little bit early and was born Friday morning. Very exciting stuff, indeed. The whole family had not gotten together in months, so it was high time we all caught up.
As always, my Mom was there to cook a fabulous meal for us.
To start off, my Mom made shrimp cocktail and two different kinds of bruschetta, to go along with the standard Tostito's and dip and nut dishes that go without saying. The shrimp were roasted to perfection, perfectly seasoned, and sturdy enough to hold the thick, tangy cocktail sauce. I made sure to nab one before the party started and, though my mom shooed me away, I stand by that decision. I suspected it was my only chance to get one and I was oh so tragically right: within twenty minutes of the party starting, the shrimp were totally cleared out. Compliments to the chef.
For the bruschetta, my Mom did the traditional diced tomato-onion-herb spread we know and love, but she also got fancy and made a version with goat cheese, honey, and thyme. Oh my God, you guys. The creamy goat cheese came alive when drizzled with the sweet golden honey, and the fresh thyme completed the look by adding an unexpected, delicious zip. Taste buds were exploding with joy. Party goers were raving about the bruschetta sensation. That being said, the traditional version kept pulling me back. My mom doled out the tomato spread perfectly, so you got the full flavor impact without having tomato chunks spill all over your outfit and/or messing up your face. I hate that - when delicious food leaves a sheen all over your carefully selected make-up and outfit. I want to enjoy my food AND look decent doing it, thank you very much. My Mom understands this, so she knows how to serve a non-messy bruschetta, and I adore her for it. The tomatoes were fresh, which is a joy to find this time of year, the red onion was subtle and lifted up the flavor of the herby-tomatoes, and the vinegar soaked into the bread without overwhelming, creating the ultimate flavor impact. When I went in for a second round of hors d'oeuvres, that is what I had to have a second taste of - the tomato bruschetta. Snagged the last one, felt like the biggest winner in the family.
To top it off, my Mom was feeling festive and autumnal, so she whipped up a batch of apple cider sangria. From what I understand, the drink mixed an entire bottle of caramel vodka with apple cider and cinnamon, and then was topped off with Prosecco upon serving. My dudes, it was strong. I only had one, and I spent three hours drinking it. Any less time could have been a dangerous choice. That being said, trying it was a very smart choice because, though strong, it was scrumptious. Sweetness offset with the crispy bubbly, it tasted like what an autumn candle smells like - in the words of my Aunt Diane. The whole family seemed to enjoy it, as the fancy urn was totally dry before dinner was even served. My mom made it even more fun by serving it in mason jars with striped straws. She's a master of marketing. Everyone knows a pretty presentation is half the battle. I fell for it and I don't regret it. I was overjoyed to have a special drink out of a pretty glass, and the taste was worth the hype.
What you have to understand is, I come from a large family. My Dad is the youngest of six. Each one of them got married and had two children, at least. I, for example, am one of four. Some of my cousins bring boy friends or girl friends. Four of my older cousins are married, and all of four of them have two boys each. We are a large crowd.
What this means is, when dinner is served, you race to get in line.
I think I was number five, so I got to take in the full beauty of the menu my Mom and Dad planned, which included: steak filet with basil-garlic mayonnaise, herb-marinated pork, chicken tenders, orange-braised carrots and parsnips, green beans almondine, homemade Caesar salad, baked ziti, and a Greek pasta salad my Aunt Mary brought along. There was something for everyone.
For my dinner, I chose the steak, Caesar salad, green beans, and a slice of fresh baguette. I actually reviewed this same steak in my last homecoming post, so I won't wax romantic about the basil mayonnaise again, but I will reiterate that it was just as fabulous this time around, and the leftover sauce was perfect to dip the bread in. Meanwhile, the green beans were crisp and bright with flavor, so no worries about soggy green beans here. My Mom's homemade Caesar salad is a staple, and the highlight are the crispy, mouthwatering homemade croutons. You can taste the extra virgin olive-oil she brushes the baguette with before toasting and oh my God. I dream of them sometimes.
I also added a picture of Reilly - my younger sister's - plate, because she opted for a few different menu items. From what I understand, she claims you can't go wrong with chicken tenders and ziti. I would expect no different from her, as when we go out to dinner those are usually the two entrees she bounces between - chicken fingers and fries or a pasta dish of some sort. She is a pasta expert. With this dinner, she did not have to pick between her standbys - she got both in one. This is what dreams are made of! She also got some of the pork, which was zesty and tender. I brought leftovers back to New York with me and I am really looking forward to getting my own taste!
As for dessert, yes my Mom ordered a beautiful, delicious chocolate and vanilla layer cake with special Halloween-themed buttercream frosting for my Dad's birthday. Yes, my little cousins went wild with bobbing for apples and s'mores roasted around the fire pit in our backyard. Yes, I am a little sad I was wrapped up in conversations and missed the s'mores. But! I am not too broken up about it because I still got the best dessert on the menu: a big, fat, chocolate chip cookie with crispy edges, a gooey center, and mountains of chocolate that fell into valleys of buttery dough. Ugh. My mom is an artist and these cookies are her chef d'oeuvre. I was sure to snag one during the dinner buffet even though it was early, wrap it in a napkin, and microwave for twenty seconds later on to recapture that fresh from the oven experience. It melted in my mouth. We are talking nirvana here.
It is because of this great effect the cookies have that my sister, Reilly, is clutching the cookie basket with such ferocity - a determined Red Riding Hood who will share not a crumb with the Big Bad Wolf. Smart kid.
Anyway, it was a great night, filled with funny antics, animated stories, and a touching toast to my Granmom - our Queen, a pillar of strength and warmth, and an unparalleled chef who made a mean Italian meatball with stuffed shell pasta, topped with marinara from a recipe her mother carried with her from Calabria. We drank the Jameson she brought back from Ireland, where my Granpop's family has their roots, in her honor, and reflected on what a singular, incredible woman she was.
I am very lucky for my family and for this weekend home. And just so you know, the birthday honoree, my Dad, is a phenomenal cook as well. Just want to give him a shout out. I'll have to get him to make cheese burgers one of my next visits home, because they are insanely good, I've been craving one for months actually, and then I can review them for you guys as well.
XX,
MK
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