Hope’s Birthday Dinner Party

Find all of the recipes I used for Hope’s fabulous dinner party here!

This course was one of my favorite recipes I’ve ever made. A bit of an involved recipe but SO WORTH IT!!!

Appetizers:

-homemade rosemary focaccia: https://jessicainthekitchen.com/gluten-free-focaccia-bread-garlic-rosemary-tomatoes/

-toasted focaccia with burrata, apricot jam (2 cups chopped apricots + 1/3 cup honey + 1/2 cup water + sprinkle of sea salt, caramelized and cooked down in a pan), crushed strawberry vinegar, peach slices, and pistachios

-heirloom tomato caprese with prosciutto (heirloom tomatoes, sliced mozzarella, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, basil, flaky sea salt, prosciutto)

-honey whipped ricotta with pistachios: https://alexandracooks.com/2024/06/01/insanely-delicious-whipped-ricotta/

Toasted focaccia slices with burrata, apricot jam, peach slices, and crushed pistachios

Drink:

-apricot and mint spritz: strain the leftover apricot jam from the crostinis, so that you have the remaining syrup. To the syrup, add juice of half a lemon, a few mint leaves, and 2 tbsp honey. Muddle these ingredients. Spoon a few spoonfuls of the syrup over each glass (filled with ice), then top with sparkling water. Garnish with apricot slices, a sprig of mint, and enjoy!

Apricot mint mocktails!!!

Main:

-homemade whipped gold potatoes (2 lbs baby gold potatoes, boiled, mashed, and blended with 2 tbsp coconut oil + salt to taste)

-French onion Dutch oven chuck roast: https://meatified.com/french-onion-pot-roast/

-baby butters salad with crispy prosciutto, pistachio and focaccia breadcrumbs, pickled shallots, and homemade basil pistachio pesto: https://sweetsensitivefree.com/vegan-soyfree-basil-pesto/ (I did half cashews, half pistachios)

Here’s the roast before going into the oven!

Dessert:

-Ben and Jerry’s Phish Food-inspired cake with chocolate frosting, marshmallow whip, and homemade caramel + fudge fish:

• for the cake layers: https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/the-best-paleo-chocolate-cake/

• for the frosting: https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/2-ingredient-paleo-chocolate-frosting/

• for the marshmallow whip: https://dandies.com/dandies-marshmallow-cream

• for the homemade caramel: https://www.noracooks.com/vegan-caramel/

• for the fudge fish: half semi sweet/half dark chocolate melted with ¼ cup coconut oil, molded in fish molds.