Dinner Party

Planning a Superbowl dinner and need some last minute help? Look no further than the festive and fabulous spread my sister in law Clare put on in Galway this past week for my brother in law Patrick’s birthday. From drinks to dessert, this meal incorporated lots of different flavors and offered a great balance of vegetables, meat, and cheese to please any crowd.

Clare and Patrick’s beautiful apartment overlooks Galway Bay, and in daylight, especially at sunset, the views are breathtaking. Ever the creative hostess, Clare had set the table with hollowed out peppers as candle holders which created fun patterns of light and a cozy atmosphere for a family dinner.

Casper posed for plenty of photos.

And we got down to celebrating. I started with a Sol beer with a lime, a refreshing change from the Guinness consumed during the rest of the week.

While we chatted and caught up, we devoured this avocado dip, made with traditional guacamole ingredients like avocado and limes, but mixed in with ricotta cheese for a creamy spread for hot pita triangles. I ate about a million of these and could have kept going if the enticing smells from the kitchen didn’t stop me!

We continued with the Mexican fiesta theme with a pitcher of homemade margaritas.

When we got to the table, we were met with a feast. First up was chicken tortilla soup. With a rich tomato broth and tender shredded chicken, the soup was a constant delight of flavor, only enhanced by the avocado and cilantro on the top.

A three bean Mexican salad provided a delicious vegetarian side dish that accompanied the remaining avocado dip and some chunky homemade salsa for the main course.

Enchiladas stuffed with chicken and topped with sauce and cheese were the star of the show. After all of the other things I had eaten, I opted to have rice, bean salad, salsa, and avocado dip, the perfect combination of foods that was both satisfying and felt healthy. A bite of the hubby’s enchiladas was enough to let me know they were fantastic.

We all felt as though we might roll away from the table, completely stuffed and happy with such an incredible meal. But there was more!

The dinner party was capped off with a sweet, custardy flan, one of my favorite desserts for its caramel flavors and smooth texture. Even after a big meal, the flan felt light and not at all overwhelming. It was the perfect dessert for me!

Clare put together a menu even better than most restaurants. Though I do love to cook and entertain, putting together complete menus is something that I need more practice in. If you need a Superbowl menu or even a fun menu for an at-home Valentine’s Day dinner, this menu would be a great choice!

It’s just over a week away; do you have Valentine’s Day dinner plans yet?