Pasta bar….book club dinner

Every month I get to enjoy a fun group of girls for dinner, book discussion and wine!  I was the hostess this month…the hostess is in charge of picking 3 books for the group to choose from and the group has 2 months to read the chosen book then you host dinner. These are such fun and fancy dinners….it's so fun to see what each girl picks to cook each month….it always includes an appetizer, salad, dinner and dessert! SO fun. Highly recommend a monthly girl's dinner or book club.  The 3 books I gave to choose from were: The Brothers: The Road to an American Tragedy, Troublemaker, and The Nightingale.  The group chose Trouble Maker…it is written by Leah Remini and about her experience with Scientology. Very good read and informative, I'm not going to lie..I haven't finished the whole thing but its good so far;)

 I put my Valentine's decor up a couple weeks ago so that was kind of the theme of the night. I decided on a Pasta Bar theme….it was quite the process and mess but so worth it:)





Me celebrating a successful evening and clean kitchen:)

The Menu

Appetizer
Meatballs
Cheese platter
Feta artichoke dip

Salad
Cranberry spinach salad
Caesar salad

Main dish
Alfredo
Meat sauce
Marinara
Bowtie pasta/Fettucini noodles/Gluten free noodles/Tortellini

Dessert
Sopapilla Cheesecake

Recipes

Ingredients:
1 squeeze bottle grape jelly (2.5 cups)
1 18 oz bottle of barbecue sauce
2 lbs frozen prepared meatballs

Directions:
Add jelly and barbecue sauce to crock pot, stir well. Stir in meatballs. Cook on hight for 3.5 hours.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup greek yogurt
2/3 cup mayo
2 tsp minced garlic
8 ounces feta crumbles
1 14 oz can quartered artichoke hearts, lightly chopped
1 4 oz can diced pimentos (drained)
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
Peta chips for serving

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. Mix all ingredients except parmesan cheese. Spread mixture in medium casserole dish. Cover with parmesan cheese. Bake for 20 minutes until cheese is bubbly. 

Ingredients:
4 tbsp butter
2 tbsp cream cheese
3/4 cup half and half
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 tsp garlic powder
Fresh ground pepper
1 cup grated parmesan cheese

Directions:
In a medium sauce pan melt the butter, cream cheese, half and half and cream together over medium heat. Whisk in garlic powder and parmesan. Season with fresh pepper. Simmer, stir often until sauce thickens. Serve immediately.

I used my go to family recipe but doubled it:)

Ingredients:
2lbs ground beef or turkey
1 8oz can tomato puree
1 lg can petite diced tomatoes

sprinkle garlic salt
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 1/2 tsp oregano
1 tsp sweet basil

Directions:
Brown onion in olive oil on stove top on medium heat. Add in ground beef and brown. 
Place tomatoes, tomato puree, oregano, basil, salt, pepper & garlic salt into crock pot. Add the browned meat and onions. Simmer covered for 2 hours. (This can easily be made the day before)

Sopapilla cheesecake-SO easy and delicious

Ingredients:
2 cans refrigerated crescent rolls
2 packages (8oz each) cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 tbsp ground cinnamon

Directions:
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Unroll 1 can dough and place at the bottom of ungreased 13x9 baking dish. Stretch to cover dish, press perforations to seal. In medium bowl, beat cream cheese and 1 cup sugar, beat in vanilla. Spread mixture over dough. Carefully place second can of dough over cream cheese layer. Pinch seams together. Pour melted butter evenly over top. Mix remaining 1/2 cup sugar with the cinnamon and sprinkle evenly over butter. Bake for 30 minutes until center is set. Cool slightly then refrigerate. Serve chilled.


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