Menu Monday...A TWILIGHT Dinner Party

If you know me at all, you know my love of the Twilight book series! Initially two friends and I began reading the books together. V-E-R-Y quickly, one book turned into all 4. And by the end of two weeks, we'd completed the entire series and decided to start a book club! I hosted our first book club meeting at my home, since reading Twilight was my idea.

The three of us discussed the plot, characters, our favorite quotes and many other aspects of the novel over blood red pomegranate martinis, antipasti salad, and portabello mushroom ravioli with tomato cream sauce! {just like Bella feasted on on her first "unofficial" date with Edward} After dinner, we moved into the living room to watch the movie! For dessert, I served up ReD VeLvEt cupcakes with almond BuTTerCReaM icing.

It was such a fun night! I am excited to see where the book club road will lead us. We have decided to rotate choosing books each month & the person who chooses the book will also plan the activity or host a dinner party. I am looking forward to our next book, The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. Thanks for coming Amanda and Jennifer, you girlies rock!!!

Since it IS Monday, here are a few recipes from our dinner party:

Oprah's Pomegranate Martini

1 1/2 cups pomegranate juice
2 ounces Absolute Citron vodka
1 ounce Cointreau liquor
Squeeze of lemon (optional)

Shake ingredients in a shaker and put in chilled martini glasses

Italian Antipasti Salad

1 head romaine lettuce, cut into 1-inch squares
1/4 lb sliced pepperoni & salami, chopped
1/3 cup WELL DRAINED sliced pimientos (one 4-ounce jar)
1/3 cup chopped red onion

3 slices of provolone cheese, sliced into squares
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- chopped pepperoncini peppers (optional)

In a large salad bowl, combine salad ingredients and toss. Then add salt, pepper, vinegar, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese. Toss again to serve.

Portabello Mushroom Ravioli with Tomato Cream Sauce

1 package of frozen Portabello Mushroom Ravioli

1 pint Whipping Cream

2-3 scallions, diced

1 can of Italian style Diced tomatoes {you can even substitute jarred spaghetti sauce or even sun dried tomatoes depending on your taste}

1/2 of an onion, chopped

Fresh Parmesan Cheese

Vodka, a splash, maybe 2 Tbsp.
salt and pepper

Cook Ravioli according to package directions. Then chop half of an onion and saute it in some olive oil, allowing it to sweat & brown a bit. Add your cream, about a pint, maybe a little less and let it bubble and cook (medium high heat) until it reduces to half it's original amount and thickens. Sneak in a little freshly ground pepper, salt and then add your splash of vodka and let it work it's magic. After cooking a bit, add your can of diced tomatoes and a handful of Parmesan cheese, real stuff peeps...not the kind in the can! Stir and taste. You can add more seasoning or cheese if needed. Plate and top with diced scallions! Enjoy and dream of Edward :)