Ladies Night

Now that I have moved to another state, any time I am home, I love having a ladies night. Ladies nights are not to be stressful or overthought. They should be simple, thoughtful, delicious and fun.

This particular night I decided to do a few savory and a few sweet items. I didn't want to spend all day cooking so I made sure to include at least one dish that only needed to be assembled.


Carmelized Onion-Tomato Tarts
2 sheets of puff pastry
1 package of cherry tomatoes
1 red onion
block of feta cheese
2 green onions
olive oil
butter
salt
pepper

First thing you need to do is caramelize your onions, slice them thin and add them into a heated skillet with a mixture of olive oil and butter. While your onions are cooking, cut out little biscuit or flower-like rounds with a cookie cutter and place them on a baking sheet. Then slice your cherry tomatoes in half, crumble your feta and slice your green onions in really small bits.

Once the onions are carmelized you are ready to start compiling your tarts. Add onions first then top with tomatoes, bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Once the tarts come out add your feta, green onion, olive oil, salt and pepper. These are ready to serve!

Salami, Cheese & Cucumber
package of sliced salami
different types of cheese
1 cucumber
crackers

This was my dish to assemble, thinly slice the different types of cheese (whichever your favorites are) I chose cheddar, colby jack, jalapeno jack and swiss. Peel your cucumber half way where you have an even amount of dark lines from the skin and light green lines from the inner cucumber meat. Slice the cucumber and then place a cucumber, slice of cheese, slice of salami in long lines on your platter. Place assorted crackers on one end for guests to serve themselves.

Almond-Orange Mini Cakes
1 cup of ground almonds
1/4 cup flour
1 large orange
3 eggs
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup marmalade

Put your orange in a huge bowl covered in water in the microwave for 25 minutes (or heat over the stove in a saucepan for an hour). While the orange is "heating up" grind your almonds, set aside. Beat your eggs with the sugar until pale and thick. Fold in the flour, baking powder, almonds and finally the orange- when the orange is done, let cool and cut into quarters, remove seeds then add to food processor. Puree and pour into mini cupcake pan (make sure the cupcake pan is greased). Bake for 30 minutes and check by dipping a toothpick inside, let bake for a few more minutes if the toothpick comes out unclean.

While the cakes are baking, melt the marmalade, once cakes are baked let cool and brush marmalade on top to serve.

Peanut Butter Cookies with a Glazed Walnut 
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup butter
1 egg
walnuts (one for each cookie)
agave nectar/brown sugar

Cream sugars and butter together, beat in egg. Mix peanut butter and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Stir in salt, baking soda and flour until well combined. Roll dough into one inch balls and place on baking sheet. Next pour a dollop of agave nectar into a skillet with about a few tablespoons of brown sugar, heat up until melted and add in walnuts. Once walnuts are glazed place one on each cookie, then bake for 8 minutes at 350. Let cool then serve.





 Girls night should be full of laughter, memories and delicious food. If you create a spread like this your girls will definitely want to come back for more! For drinks serve a red and white wine to compliment the food.

Enjoy! xoxo Lo