Galentine's Day Dinner Menu

February 13th is Galentine's Day! The unofficial (made up) holiday started in 2010 based on an episode from the show Parks and Recreation. The main character, Leslie Knope invented the holiday to celebrate her closest girlfriends. To us, it’s a great excuse to invite your girlfriends over to enjoy some cocktails and a delicious meal. To get you started we put together a menu that you and your friends are sure to enjoy – it's even vegetarian friendly!

If you really want to impress your friends, frame the menu so they can see what delicious goodies are in store for the night!

Signature Cocktail/Mocktail

Ingredients:

- - Frozen Cranberries
  - Cranberry Juice
  - Sparkling Cider (chilled)
  - Champagne or Prosecco (chilled)
  - Fresh Lime Peels
  - Mocktail: Top off with Sparkling Cider
  - Cocktail: Top off with Champagne/Prosecco

Notes from Alicia: Prior to your guest’s arrival prepare a champagne flute or glass with 4-6 frozen cranberries and fill each halfway with cranberry juice. Let your guests decide if they want to make it a mocktail or a cocktail by leaving enough room for them to top their drink off.

Appetizer

Mediterranean Platter (recipe courtesy of Alicia)

Ingredients:

- - Hummus (store bought)
  - Tzatziki (store bought)
  - Good olives
  - Sliced Cucumber
  - Pita Chips
  - Roasted Peppers
  - Marinated Artichokes
  - Chunks of good Feta Cheese

Notes from Alicia: A “no fuss” Mediterranean platter. This is something easy you can put together and have ready for guests as they arrive.

Soup

Cream of Mushroom (recipe courtesy of Ina Garten)

Alicia’s suggested substitutes: If you cannot find shiitake, cremini or porcini mushrooms, just replace with white button mushrooms. Also, if you buy in an 8-ounce package, use 8-ounces of portobello mushrooms and 8-ounces of white button mushrooms, throw in extra porcini, shiitake or cremini mushrooms.

Notes from Alicia: It’s very Important to make sure that you do not have the broth boiling it can only be at a simmer before you add the half and half and heavy cream. I like to top with some fresh tarragon.

Salad

Warm and Wilted Winter Greens (recipe courtesy of Alicia)

Ingredients:

- - 3 bunches of Winter Greens or Field Greens*
  - 2 Honey Crisp Apples (sliced thin)
  - 1 Fennel Bulb (sliced thin)
  - Any good Balsamic dressing (place in microwave to warm and pour on Winter Greens, before serving)

Notes from Alicia: *If you use Field Greens do not warm the dressing and toss with Garlic Expressions salad dressing.

Main Course

Crab imperial (recipe courtesy of Ask Chef Dennis)

Alicia’s suggested substitutes: No reason to add the sugar. Kick it up with a 1/2 teaspoon more of old bay. Omit the whole eggs, use 3 egg yolks, make it much creamier.

Cauliflower Steak (recipe courtesy of Epicurious)

Alicia’s suggested substitutes: If you are pressed for time, do not make the lemon vinaigrette and replace with store bought Pesto. Line your sheet pan with foil and spray with Cooking spray for easy clean up.