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 🙂
Last night’s girls night was a blasty:
Riesling for the chef 😉
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:
Plates and napkins bearing the philosophy of life:
Cheese and olives:
Raw calamari, inspired by a recipe in Living Raw Food
(I sliced up button mushrooms, then dunked them in water and a flaxseed/herb “breadcrumb” mixture and then dehydrated, served with marinara)
Hummus + pita
Veggggg
Vegan artichoke dip (from Eat, Drink and Be Vegan)
For our meal, we had roasted garlic and lemon 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 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
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)
Ahhhhmazin’.
The best part?
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.
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 🙂
Upcoming:
– Summer Shape Up Week 3 workout will be UP on Monday!
– Blogiversary giveaway
89 Comments
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oh wow everything looks delicious but especially that raw dessert! nom nom nom!
What a freaking amazing looking meal, Gina!!!
Can I be invited to your next girls night?? 🙂 The food looks delish, great to hear you chicas had fun!
of course! let me know if you’re ever in valdizzy 🙂
Yum yum yum and yum! That pasta looks extra tasty! And I love the raw “calamari”!
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!!!
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.
I would love you to make me a small raw wedding cake! I mean, what an amazing hostess/chef, everything you are! =)
thank you!
which state do you live in? i totally will if you’re close by or i could ship it to you 🙂
Ha, you can see Robo-viesa peering from around your booty 🙂
Will you please post the recipe for the pasta? It looks so good!!
i can’t post it, but if you’d like it, send me an email 🙂
you go all out for your little get togethers, i love it, wish i could come!
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!!
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
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!
that’s only the unpasteurized goat cheese- the cooked stuff is ok 🙂
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?! 😀
Great dinner and delicious appetizers.
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?
thank you! that’s awesome 🙂
she got it from bed bath and beyond
You did a wonderful job–everything looks great, especially dessert 🙂
WOW. You put together one amazing meal!
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. 🙂
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