Trick and Treat

The kitchen is a mess, we've gone through two bottles of wine already, the peppers are stinging my eye and the doorbell won't stop ringing and I couldn't be happier. The funny thing is that it was never planned; it was never thought of; it was never to be, but here it is and it is good. LIFE. Just happening and smiling. In a moment, Flo and the Machine will be playing on the ipod and a dance fest willl ensue. A dance that resembles flailing joy! One I know well. For music makes it all, even the yummiest of dishes, sing.

To compliment happiness, I have created a menu of appetizers with grilled asparagus, freshly shaved parmesan reggiano, tomatoes with pepper oil and French bread (I love bread!! hee hee) and a dinner of fish in red wine and risotto with parmesan cream.

The appetizers were enjoyed over great conversation...and great wine! Dinner was another story...a crazy story of debauchery...

We set out to make the sauce in a casserole dish. Why waste a bowl? Besides, I don't think my counter had a square to spare!! It was beautiful and messy and dark. Probably because midway through the assemblage, we realized that there were no measuring cups. "I guess we are going to free ball it!" I wouldn't have it any other way. A few swigs of olive oil, a dousing of tomato sauce, and a sprinkling of oregano were the first to decorate the dish. Now for the red wine! I just poured it from her glass...well, after I kind of wrestled it from her! She was drinking it at the time. ha ha Then it seemed to be a "Who is the strongest and can open the olives?" kind of drama! (Side note- is the joke, "you loosened it for me" getting a BIT old???) Before the olives made it into the casserole pool, they had to have their pimentos pooped out!!!!!!!!!!!!! HA HA HA (Now that is funny). Finally, the comedy of errors that seemed to be set from the start- a sweet pepper that has never "dressed up" as a sweet pepper found itself in the mix. Yes, the recipe called for a sweet pepper, but I really wanted to try a Pasilla pepper. Go figure...it's Halloween and I thought it was fitting. With a quick stir and a couple of pieces of orange roughy, it was popped into the oven right as the smoke alarm went off! Really?? How does cooking in the oven equate to a fire?? Hmmm? Don't answer that! But, in the midst of it all, she still found time to open the door to princesses and goblins and spooky things while I stirred the risotto, watched the "burning" oven and waited for the next song to take us away...

By the way, as we sat at the table set for macabre, we enjoyed a dish of gluttony and greed...it was a perfect fit for creatures of the night...or two princesses that had lost their crowns...or two princesses that had found their crowns...I'll let you do the math.

As it stands~
guests- 1
emotions- 1 (girly fun giggles)
mistakes- 1
meltdowns- 1 (we ran out of Twix candy bars...don't look at me! It was a sweet little 2-year-old cheerleader!)
recipes- 1
recipes to date- 14

The Recipe~

Fish in Red Wine

2 lbs filets or steaks

Sauce
1 tsp oregano
1 sweet pepper
3 tbsp parsley
1 cup green olives
1 tsp capers (I love capers!!!!!!!)
1/2 cup olive oil
1 cup tomato sauce
1 cup dry red wine (Use what you're drinking, or what your friend is drinking! It is more fun that way!)
1 clove of garlic, minced
salt and pepper

Mix all ingredients for sauce and let stand for 1 hour or more. (We cheated and made it on the spot...it's okay, my grandma won't be upset! And, it was still quite delicious.) Place fish slices flat in a casserole with a cover. Cover with sauce. Cover and bake at 350 degrees  for 20-30 minutes.