Penelope is here to help.

40th Birthday Dinner Party Planning

Hello Penelope,
I'm planning on having an elegant dinner party for my 40th birthday. I have some ideas as far as the menu is concerned, but I need some helpful hints on starters. I will be having a brunch two days later and I don't want to duplicate too many food items. Thanks.
Taylor
Stone Mountain, GA

Dear Taylor,
The best thing to remember with dinner party planning is that each course is an opportunity for you to expose your guests to new tastes. Don't be afraid, especially for an elegant dinner party, to experiment a little or serve food out of the ordinary that you and your guests might not normally get to try. And since a dinner party is a special occasion, it's always enjoyable to indulge one's inner gourmand with a decadent dish.

A favorite starter dish of mine that’s elegant, delicious and just right for your 40th birthday dinner party is a Cranberry, Pine Nut and Goat Cheese salad. It’s simple to make, and upscale enough to stand up to most any main course.

To make the salad, you’ll need:
¾ cup of dried cranberries
¾ cup of toasted pine nuts
1 package of plain goat cheese, broken into small pieces
1 package of spinach
Balsamic or Raspberry Vinaigrette

To toast your pine nuts, simply put them in a medium-sized frying pan on low to medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the pine nuts are a light brown color and have started to give off that wonderful pine nut odor.

Combine all of the salad ingredients in a large bowl, toss with balsamic or raspberry vinaigrette as your tastes dictate, and serve. This salad is best when the pine nuts are served still warm, as they lend a comforting feel to the dish. The combination of tart dried cranberries, warm pine nuts and salty, creamy goat cheese will be sure to please any party guest, and will be a 40th birthday treat for you.

If you're interested in serving more than one appetizer or starter dish at your dinner party, I highly suggest checking out this decadent Parmesan Mousse and Red Wine Pear recipe. It'll be just right for the elegant nature of your dinner party, and will be a perfect complement to the Cranberry, Pine Nut and Goat Cheese salad.

Bon appétit!

Enjoy Planning.
Penelope