A few years ago when I was visiting my parents for Christmas, laid up on the couch watching Food Network, as per my usual, I saw these two early-twenties-ish girls put together the most amazing and simple dinner party on The Barefoot Contessa. However, I couldn't find the recipes anywhere online, but I somehow came across their blog and emailed for the recipes.
I later recreated the dinner party and my friends absolutely loved it. You can find the recipes on their blog, Big Girls Small Kitchen. And how cool is it that two young women got to be on Ina's show?
Well, imagine my delight when Big Girls Small Kitchen contacted me to see if I'd like a copy of their new cookbook, In the Small Kitchen. Of course I would!
Although the cookbook doesn't include the recipes I used at my dinner party, it does include many more. Most with stories about how the dishes came to be and some tips on hosting your own parties. I've only tried one recipe/technique so far - the ten minute scrambled eggs - and they are well worth the ten minute wait. I've flagged several to try!
None of the recipes are advanced or too fancy, but they're not your everyday staples either. This cookbook is perfect for someone just starting out in culinary adventures. I'm going to add it to my gift list for new college grads, since it gives pretty easy recipes with just a little more oomph than the usual culprits.
I'm giving away two copies of the cookbook, and I hope you blog about the recipes. The giveaway will close August 12. Here's how you can enter:
1. Leave a comment telling me about the first dinner party you hosted.
2. Follow my blog (leave an additional comment).
3. Blog about this giveaway (leave an additional comment with link to your post).
4. Tweet about this giveaway with a link to the post (leave an additional comment with link to your tweet).
5. Link to my blog on your sidebar (leave an additional comment with your blog link).
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32 comments:
The very first dinner party I hosted was for my soon-to-be inlaws. Let's just say I was not familiar with the difference between a gas stove and the electric ones that I had always used, and nearly burned the house down. We ended up going out that night!
We hosted a fun summer party for our families. I can't tell you how stressful it was. I thought I had everything planned out, but time flies very fast when you're cooking multiple dishes! I'm slowly learning to get better at it, but I still get stressed sometimes. :-\
I follow your blog on Google Reader!
My first dinner party (in my early 20's) was a HUGE bust. I believe it included playing hockey with my attempt at dinner rolls.
Following your blog!
It was a birthday party that I re-created from InStyle magazine years ago. I had so much fun.
I link to your blog =)
Tweeted it!
http://tinyurl.com/3eoxuex
I can't remember my first dinner party, although I do remember my first dinner party at our (then ) new house. It was a lot of work and squeezing all our family into the little house was rough, but we had a lot of fun.
The first larger dinner party I hosted was a passover/holy thursday dinner that was shared with great friends and excellent food. We had matzos, a huge brisket, garlic mashed potatoes, green beans and lots of wine. For dessert we had two types of cupcakes made my friend Marlie who has a budding baking business. Delish!
I have added your blog to my Google Reader.
Here is my tweet about the Giveaway! http://twitter.com/#!/culinarylibrari/status/98767524811907073
Love BGSK!
Let's see -- the first dinner party I hosted. I was a college sophomore and had a brand new house with 4 other girls (and the first time I had my own kitchen!). So we hosted a party for ourselves and a few more friends. Oven-fried chicken, salad and wine are what I remember.
And now following -- added you to my Google reader.
After hosting a lot of "drinking" parties, the first dinner party I can think of had raw salmon with capers and a vodka based vinagrette; grilled chicken breast with orange zests; rocket, tomato, feta cheese and quinoa salad and a cheese board with grapes, apples to finish. Beer, red wine and sweet sherry with the courses. It was small but went well
I co-hosted a dinner party for close friends while in college and it was kind of a disaster. We didn't manage our time well at all and ended up running over an hour late.....luckily there was wine and our friends didn't mind too much ;)
We made pot roast, mashed potatoes, salad and home made rolls. The food turned out great and even though it took forever, it was a fun party!
The first dinner party I hosted was fairly recently. I served a bolognese and some amazing herbed bread.
The first dinner party that I hosted was Thanksgiving dinner for my family when my step-dad was sick. I generally spent Thanksgiving with my in-laws but the illness was a reason to bring my family all together. We served all of the tradition Thanksgiving favorites and it turned out wonderful!
I hosted my first dinner party shortly after I bought my first house. I was a crummy cook and it was a nightmare! Everyone was kind enough to still eat the gloopy, overcooked lasagna that I made... but after a few bites, I declared "Let's go out!"
Turned out to be an insanely fun night regardless :)
I recently blogged about our first dinner party. It was right after we got married and I was trying to impress and didn't realize simple, delicious dishes that were easy to prepare in advance were the way to go. I now almost always do something that can be prepped early so I can spend the time with friends!
I'm a blog follower :)
I can't remember my very first dinner party, but I do remember the first time my husband and I hosted both of our families after our daughter was born! Oh my goodness, it was so stressful, but we had a good time and I'm pretty sure we served sangria to settle some nerves - mostly mine :)
I follow your blog!
I'm not a blogger, so I can't do the other two, but here's my tweet! http://twitter.com/#!/heidialmeter
My first dinner party was supposed to be for my mother-in-law and father-in-law. When sister-in-law invited herself and her boyfriend last minute, it definitely upped the stress factor and grocery bill. :)
I was 17 when I had my first small dinner party. I remember it clearly. I made a simple pasta with meatballs, a green salad and the toughest part, fresh herb italian bread. It was all quite good, but my date stood me up! Everyone else had a good time though.
Following your blog via GFC.
Tweeted about your giveaway. http://twitter.com/#!/teslaca/status/99945775789912064
I hosted a dinner party for my in-laws to welcome them to our new home. What a fun giveaway!
I have not yet braved a dinner party but would love to!
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