girlfriends

These four girls are four of the most important people in my life. We have known each other now, just about 20 years and instead of being mortified by how old that makes me, instead I am thankful and blessed to have such a strong bond with each of them. We try to get together every few months for a girls only dinner. This past year, we reverted back to hosting, on a rotating basis, at one of our homes. We have had some divine meals...20 years has made us all pretty decent cooks!! And you know, it has forced a few us to break out the china, which none of us seems to make the effort to use much. But the nights are just as fun, the food just as delicious, on paper plates b/c it is the company that makes the nights worthwhile. We certainly have enjoyed some exceedingly good times, and we have faced a host of really difficult challenges too, some of us are facing the tough times right now. The common denominator is our friendship and being able to count on one another and for that, we are very lucky.

Now, we enjoyed some great food on Tuesday night, but the ladies (*cough* Mary Jo & Tracey) are a bit slow in submitting their recipes. So, we will begin in reverse order b/c Beth has already sent her divine dessert recipe:

Here is the recipe for the oreo ice cream cake:
1 tub of cool whip
1 pkg instant choc pudding
1 jar of hot fudge sauce
12 ice cream sandwiches
8 crushed oreos

mix 1 cup of cool whip with 1/2 jar of fudge sauce- add dry pudding powder and crushed oreos
need a sheet of aluminum foil and line up 4 ice cream sandwiches and spread the choc mix over and repeat with the next 4 sandwiches, choc mix and then the last 4 sandwiches. Use the remaining cool whip to spread over the cake and freeze for 4 hours.

Chocolate overload. Delicious!

I brought a variation on the salad course, which in fact, we ate as an appetizer instead. It turned out very pretty on the platter (even if I have to say so myself!) and was easy.

Insalata Caprese

INGREDIENTS
4 large ripe tomatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced 1/4 inch thick
1/3 cup fresh basil leaves
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
fine sea salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
On a large platter, alternate and overlap the tomato slices, mozzarella cheese slices, and basil leaves. Drizzle with olive oil. Season with sea salt and pepper.

I found this on allrecipes.com. I love that site.

So, cheers. Here's to good friends and good food. Oh, and the YUMMY Jerry Garcia wine!

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