Tarts, Shrimp and Dirty Bananas

Hey guys! HAPPY FRIDAY! What are you up to this weekend?? I’m looking forward to getting some work done and hanging out with my pilot love 🙂

tart

Last night’s girls night was a blasty:

vino

Riesling for the chef 😉

vino (2)

I had a small glass while I set the appetizers out and started cooking- I fiercely believe that the food comes out better when I sip a little vino as I cook 😉

Appetizers:

appetizers

Plates and napkins bearing the philosophy of life:

plates

Cheese and olives:

cheese

Raw calamari, inspired by a recipe in Living Raw Food

calamari

(I sliced up button mushrooms, then dunked them in water and a flaxseed/herb “breadcrumb” mixture and then dehydrated, served with marinara)

Hummus + pita

hummus

Veggggg

veg

Vegan artichoke dip (from Eat, Drink and Be Vegan)

art dip

For our meal, we had roasted garlic and lemon asparagus

asparagus

And brown rice penne pasta, with shrimp and an Italian cream sauce (that I Gina-fied using goat gouda, almond milk and spices)

pasta

Pasta is a tricky dish to make for company, because if it comes out wrong, there’s not an easy way to fix it. I’m stoked to say that it was kind of ridiculous- so creamy, shrimpy and flavorful 😉

+ bread and Garlic Gold olive oil for drizzling

bread

My plate:

my plate

(+ a little more pasta)

with salad and homemade balsamic that Jeni brought, and the cocktails she made for us (Dirty Bananas– she used almond milk for mine)

salad

Ahhhhmazin’.

The best part?

tart (2)

Raw strawberry tart from Everyday Raw 😀

I drizzled some strawberry-agave sauce on each plate (strawberries, agave and vanilla) and topped with crumbled macaroon and a slice of tart.

tart (3)

Face ——> Rocked.  😀

There were 6 of us girls, and we chilled, feasted and chatted until early this morning 😉 It was a lovely night.

I’m off to make some bfast and head to the office (aka Bizzle) to get some computer work done before I go train clients.

Have a great day and I’ll see you this afternoon! <3

xoxo,

G$

Today’s tip: When throwing a dinner party, make or prep anything you can in advance. All of the appetizers and dessert were done before people came over, and I had the asparagus in the fridge (in the pan, ready to be baked) and the tomatoes chopped, goat gouda grated and garlic peeled for the pasta. It took me a while to learn how to make things in advance, but the worst feeling is having people over watching you prep and peel everything. This way, you can enjoy the party a little more 🙂

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89 Comments

  1. Jo on June 4, 2010 at 3:35 pm

    oh wow everything looks delicious but especially that raw dessert! nom nom nom!

  2. Krista on June 4, 2010 at 3:47 pm

    What a freaking amazing looking meal, Gina!!!

  3. Catherine on June 4, 2010 at 3:51 pm

    Can I be invited to your next girls night?? 🙂 The food looks delish, great to hear you chicas had fun!

    • Fitnessista on June 4, 2010 at 4:20 pm

      of course! let me know if you’re ever in valdizzy 🙂

  4. Rebecca @ How the Cookies Crumble on June 4, 2010 at 4:18 pm

    Yum yum yum and yum! That pasta looks extra tasty! And I love the raw “calamari”!

  5. Mandy on June 4, 2010 at 4:20 pm

    The dinner party looks ahhhhmazin! My girlfriends and I would have a hard time pulling off a fancy at home dinner party because of all the kiddos running around like mad!! So…we just go out!!

    Yesterday you asked for blog addresses to be posted in your comments. I’m a little late, but I’d love if you (and others) could stop by. It’s a “mom” blog, so the focus is a little different.

    funkylady21.blogspot.com

    If anyone stops by and posts a comment, it would be mad awesome!!!

  6. RhodeyGirl on June 4, 2010 at 4:51 pm

    Gina this looks absolutely incredible. I love it so much! What a gorgeous feast- the presentation is just amazing. Also, I want to make that pasta.

  7. Kelly on June 4, 2010 at 5:02 pm

    I would love you to make me a small raw wedding cake! I mean, what an amazing hostess/chef, everything you are! =)

    • Fitnessista on June 4, 2010 at 5:05 pm

      thank you!
      which state do you live in? i totally will if you’re close by or i could ship it to you 🙂

  8. The Pilot on June 4, 2010 at 5:07 pm

    Ha, you can see Robo-viesa peering from around your booty 🙂

  9. Laura on June 4, 2010 at 5:32 pm

    Will you please post the recipe for the pasta? It looks so good!!

    • Fitnessista on June 4, 2010 at 5:53 pm

      i can’t post it, but if you’d like it, send me an email 🙂

  10. Allison @ Food For Healing on June 4, 2010 at 7:05 pm

    you go all out for your little get togethers, i love it, wish i could come!

  11. klutzymama on June 4, 2010 at 8:08 pm

    The pasta looked awesome! I’d love to have the recipe too.
    I have a question about staying motivated. I’ve been working out and running for several weeks now along with keeping my diet healthy. I was flying high and feeling great UNTIL I had to go swimsuit shopping. I was really disappointed and flat out disgusted with what I saw in the mirror. What do you suggest on staying motivated? You seem to always be really upbeat and on top of it. Is that part of the personal trainer in you? Do you ever have any just flat out junky days?

    Thanks!!

    • Fitnessista on June 4, 2010 at 8:11 pm

      of course i have off days! honestly, i love to work out for sanity purposes. otherwise, i’m a stress ball and grouchy. i need those endorphins and exercise mellows me out so much, which is why i love it so much.
      did you go swimsuit shopping in the afternoon? if so, we’re always a little more bloated later in the day from eating- try earlier in the day
      stick with it- you’re doing a great thing for your body by working out and eating well <3

  12. jessica on June 4, 2010 at 8:43 pm

    Gina, what a fabulous host you are! All that food looks delicious. Btw, I am also a fellow goat cheese lover and did you know that you can’t eat goat cheese when you’re pregnant?! My cousin is 3 months pregnant and her doctor told her no goat cheese! The horror!

    • Fitnessista on June 4, 2010 at 8:45 pm

      that’s only the unpasteurized goat cheese- the cooked stuff is ok 🙂

  13. Jaclyn on June 4, 2010 at 9:40 pm

    Wow that dinner party looks like serious biznassss!!!!! Everything looks so YUM! Esp lovin the shrimp-pasta dish, you must post the recipe! Or better yet, invite me over and make it for me?! 😉 And OMG that dirty banana… drooling over the internet. Bahhhhhh!!!!!! 😀 You really know how to throw those dinner parties, Gina! *Someday, I will have my own place and clean my casa, prep and make a fab feast like that for friends!! <–Hey a college girl can dream, no?! 😀

  14. Great dinner and delicious appetizers.

  15. Sarah on June 5, 2010 at 5:30 am

    Dinner looks so good! I would love the recipe for the pasta too. All of your recipes I have tried come out terrific. My family thanks you! I make hummus all the time and LOVE the serving tray. Any idea where Jenni got it?

    • Fitnessista on June 5, 2010 at 10:56 am

      thank you! that’s awesome 🙂
      she got it from bed bath and beyond

  16. CaSaundra on June 5, 2010 at 8:38 am

    You did a wonderful job–everything looks great, especially dessert 🙂

  17. Marissa on June 5, 2010 at 10:34 am

    WOW. You put together one amazing meal!

  18. Celia on June 5, 2010 at 11:45 am

    Hey girl! I found your blog, and just love it!! I too have been a health nut ever since I found out I was diabetic. However, my cooking has fallen by the wayside recently … but you are definitely inspiring me to try some new recipes!! Dinner was amazing on Thursday, thanks so much! I will have to host a girls night sometime soon … it was lots of fun. 🙂

    • Fitnessista on June 5, 2010 at 11:54 am

      hey girl,
      i’m so glad you could make it! we need to get together more often for sure 🙂
      hope you guys are having a great weekend <3 see ya tuesday!
      xoxo

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