Holding a diner party

My mum and I decided to invite some special guests over and we wanted to do something special.

The most difficulty part of holding a dinner party, when it is for your favourite godmother and her lovely fella, is deciding what the menu will be. The best way to start is to choose the main dish and work out the remaining dishes around this. With that said, choosing which dish should be the centrepiece of the evening is difficult. I personally think deserts look better than the main course but I don’t think everyone would be impressed if I served up a cake for dinner. Therefore, you have to think what is a dish that people rarely make for themselves during the week and go for that. Avoid dishes that you wouldn’t choose at a restaurant because you throw the dishes together at home all the time.

Once you have this you can start to assemble some sort of theme for the evening whether that be spicy, sweet or sour.

Preparation

• Try to set the table in advance, as well as setting up a tray for after dinner coffees. Nothing is worse than having to flap around like a headless chicken in search of a missing, and vital, teaspoon or cup.
• Make sure you have all the ingredients and then set up a timesheet so you know that all the dishes will be ready in time and which ones you need to do first.
• It is always good to have an appropriate playlist to last throughout the dinner. Not many people want to eat dinner, whilst trying to catch up, with heavy metal playing in the background. Especially while eating meat off a bone. It could turn into scene from the Flintstones.
• Leave time for yourself – it is nice to be able to have a drink and get ready without rushing around before your guests arrive.

Starters

• Choose a starter which looks vibrant, appetizing and enticing.
• Choose a dish which is tasty but not overwhelming. You want to ensure your taste buds are satisfied but now overwhelmed. Therefore, your guests will be looking forward to more scrummy dishes and don’t need a few hours break before the next course.
• Try to choose something which is  within season. Even better, try to buy the staple ingredients local to ensure freshness.
• Try to mix up some different tastes without having too many mixed together. One certain flavour should not drown out the others. instead, it should compliment them.
• Try to choose a dish you can prepare while our guests are having a drink and catching up. Therefore, you can serve them straight away and fill the house with lovely aromas.
• Always ensure present the dishes in a way that makes the guests rush to the table to start eating.

For our starters we choose to make Asparagus, mozzarella and prosciutto parcels. These little parcels of goodiness were a delight to make, one we turned the frying pan down to stop being spat on by droplets of hot oil. These were great to seal and then serve straight onto people’s plates. They were great served with homemade sun-dried tomato bread.

Mains

• For our mains we choose something which would be tasty and look a little bit different. So, after a trip to the local farm shop we made Jamie Oliver’s incredibly baked lamb shanks. Yet, it did look lightly suspicious as we left them out to defrost. These were not only great fun to make, as well as a mini test of intelligence trying to create foil parcels and then nestle the shanks on a bed of vegetables whilst pouring wine over them. Not to mention trying to get the herby butter inside the shanks!, but they basically cook themselves and the meat just fell away from the bone in a melt-in-the-mouth fashion.
• They also looked fantastic on the plates and were almost a table decoration on their own.
• serve with a mustard sweet potato and potato mash; redcurrent jelly and a cheeky bottle of red.

Dessert

• Choose two or three little desserts so you can tempt everyone into having a little bit of something.
• I also chose to banish the guests to another room to have a drink and relax while I tidied up and reset the table for dessert. It is a little disconcerting trying to enjoy dessert with lots of unwashed pots strew around the kitchen!
• I went for a refreshing homemade berry ice cream (thanks to Jamie Oliver), which is also why I banished the guests as the blender would have stopped any conversation. I served this with homemade sorbet. My mum had made a delicious Nigella Lawson‘s apple tart with a dollop of creme fraiche.

Shortbread

Apple Tart

Once this dish has been finished you can go and relax with a freshly made coffee and some cheese and biscuits. We even served ours on an overgrown mouse trap shaped cheeseboard. Well, the novelty factor is always a good way to end the evening.

 

Weekend as a Londoner

So it was off again to the ‘Big Smoke‘ to celebrate my sister’s, and incidentally my own, birthday. I did try to pack lightly but, inconceivably, I still ended up with more bags than when I went to Norway. I blame the presents. I did feel like a springtime version of Santa. I then lured my sister to come to meet me with our magic word. We then, inevitably, ended up in Tesco somewhat a little bleary eyed. Whether that was on account of implementing our magic word or tiredness I just couldn’t divulge. However, it did feel like a scene out of an apocalypse movie as we made our way through the deserted aisles, scrambling over misplaced, misshapen cardboard boxes in search of copious goodies. We survived this obstacle course and made it to the till. It was here that we were integrated. The checkout lady realised we looked similar but insisted we were not twins. Honestly, she really insisted and kept up with an interrogation for an amusing amount of time, so the only thing for it was to pull out our driving licences and show her that our birthdays were the same, which just happened to be the following day. She still looked at us dubiously, whilst protesting that we were not twins. She then rather erratically, and a smidgeon alarmingly, shouted to her friend to come over quickly. We were then inspected like zoo animals and it was only when her friend confirmed we were twins, and not our identification, that she believed us and let us leave the store with ‘happy birthday girls’ ringing in our ears. Unbelievable. Funnily enough this became a regular occurence throughout my trip to London. Maybe we are becoming more identical as we age? I feel sorry for my sister!

We made it back to a magnificently decorated room. There were balloons, banners and happy birthday letters sprinkled everywhere. We settled down to enjoy our midnight feast. How rock n’ roll! Maybe we are getting old! However, this meant we were able to enjoy a nice run, sans hangover, and come back to a well deserved, and coincidentally, decadent breakfast of champagne, strawberries, croissants and chocolate spread. Well, it was our birthday after all. However, the weather seemed to not shine on the righteous that day, or maybe it did, as there were bouts of intermittent storms all day. Nevertheless, i pulled on a ‘retro granny hat’ and my sister slipped on her aged 3-6 year old socks and her ‘happy 13th birthday’ badge (courtesy of work and yes they did fit!) and we ventured out into the midst of London. Well, we ended up running for a bus to Greenwich. I almost didn’t make it as I had to retrieve Sarah‘s badge after it had fallen off. She didn’t seem too bothered as she had swiftly secured herself on the bus. One minute she was running next to me, the next she had moved like lightning. Maybe she dropped her badge on purpose? For one minute I thought we were about to spend our birthday alone. However, I did a fantastic impression of Usain Bolt, although possibly a smidgen slower, and it was all aboard for Greenwich.

It was here that I discovered Greenwich time was invented. Who knew? Well, probably everyone else in the universe, but still. It is good to learn something every day no matter if it wouldn’t have been a new fact for the majority of people. It was then time to explore the boutiques of Greenwich, of which there are many. As well as making a detour around the Cutty Sark. We then had a lovely french lunch before weathering a storm, literally, to get back to the flat for a cozy night in. Yes it is official. I am old.

However, we became a bit more rock n roll the next day. We went to see Rock of Ages, which was brilliant. Although I was alarmed when everyone began waving lighters until I realised they were fake ones. That explained the plastic button thing I was given before I sat down. We exited the theatre with the sound of ‘don’t stop believing’ ringing in our ears and it became our theme tune all the way to a very nice bar on Leicester square. Here we saw how the other half live. This lavish night out was helped by the free birthday drinks. Although this proved an error as I had to catch a train back home the day after. Oh well, it was a very enjoyable night and it included an accidental walk through a lovely part of london with all the old grand buildings spanning broad dimly lit, almost Dickensian streets and no, that wasn’t the drinks talking.

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Ålesund

It was with a superbly packed eight kilo cabin bag, and not my usual array of hugely unnecessary bags, that I was dropped off at the airport in time for a full day of travelling. Even though Norway seems near, the journey was eight hours and three flights. I was almost tempted to get another direct flight somewhere else for the same amount of time. I wonder where I would have ended up? However, I handed my car over to my delighted dad, minus my previous idea for sticking notes around the dashboard as my own version of the car’s manual, and headed to check in. Turns out I didn’t need to, as the bemused air hostess informed me, as I had already checked in online. Oh well, it gave me a chance to take a random detour in the airport whilst looking for the security. This bit had changed since I had last flown but I made it through the turnstiles, the sliding doors, the metal detectors and managed to reclaim my bag with relative ease. Apart from almost falling over trying to put my shoes back on.

Thanks to my new glasses I was able to see all the notice boards with a clarity I didn’t know I lacked until my recent trip to the opticians. It was like being able to see clearly for the first time! It was then onto my first flight armed with my trusty meal deal and kindle. At Copenhagen I was able to turn myself into a walking perfume shop before finding my gate. It was here that I suddenly heard a tinkling of faint music. I thought I might have to also go to a hearing specialist untill I noticed an abandoned phone underneath the seats. I asked around to see if it belonged to anyone and went in search of a member of staff. Although, from the looks I got from the people nearby I think they thought I had claimed it for myself. Now that would have brought a lot of perfume! However, I answered the phone when it rang again with “Vil du snakke engelsk?” before swiftly remembering I was actually in Denmark, not Norway, and reverted to English. Luckily the owner did and I waited for him to come bounding up to me to claim his phone. It was almost like a romantic scene where two people run up to each other in an airport. However, this man was a lot older and promptly presented me with twenty dollars so maybe it looked a bit more like an unsavoury proposition. Yet the man was overjoyed as he raced back to board his flight and I can still buy a relatively small bottle of perfume. If only someone had been there to save my new phone. Luke has been trying to ‘bring me into the twenty-first century’ and this meant buying a new phone as even the phone shop laughed at my previous mobile. I told him there was no point with my track record and that I didn’t want anything too expensive. However, I was lured in by a talking to-do list. It was a definite plus for the environment as my room is littered with paper versions. I then promptly dropped the phone down the toilet the next day. What was more annoying was that my old, battered phone was in my other pocket. But no. It just had to be my new phone that is now water-logged and somewhere in a repair centre. Oh well, it is a lesson learnt. I am just relieved I had the foresight to buy insurance straight away. Phew!

I arrived in Oslo a few hours later and followed the signs for transfers which promptly landed me at the arrivals gate somewhat bewildered. Umm. I then preformed a mini magic trick as I made two bottle of water disappear before having to go through security again.I just hoped I wouldn’t need a wee for the whole of the next flight. I then settled into my extra-leg room seat. Although I suspect that I had the shortest legs on the plane as it appears the Danish and the Norwegian belong to the lands of the giants. I even spotted a family of them with all members being at least twice my height! Finally I was picked up by Luke and we made our way back through the snow filled landscape which was a contrast between bleakness and beauty. The town had lovely buildings. 

 We did get to see Luke’s apartment including the sauna and a snug in the turret. Yes, a real turret!

but we couldn’t stay there as Luke was still waiting for a bed so we had nowhere to sleep.

After exploring the rooftops of Alesund from the rooftop terrace (and who said being a graduate was hard!) we headed out to find dinner.

Unfortunately, Luke hadn’t realised that over Easter everything closes and gets quiet so it looks like I chose the wrong weekend! Luckily we found a place and I got to have a lovely plate of surf and turf.

The next morning we went in search of bedding for Luke’s flatmate and I got to see how expensive Norway is. It was then off for a drive through the breathtaking scenery. It was beautiful weather but again nowhere was open so we did a full days driving and hopped on various boats

before beginning a search for red wine. Unfortunately our search was in vain and we had to have dinner without any wine as the shops had been shut since Thursday. Where is a vineyard when you need one!

The next day started off with an amazing breakfast of lots of random things including sardines. Well, we were in a fishing city! It was then time to get cosy in the car and with the seat warmers back, which I have missed since leaving Indiana, we headed out into the midst of the snow in search of the Fjords. We didn’t have to search hard as we emerged from the mouth of one of the long, rocky tunnels as were greeted with breathtaking glimpses of crystal clear lakes surrounded by numerous forest filled mountains. It was just the most perfect place to drive through. Apart from when Luke went off-road down a track he said could be quite icy.

Great. We did survive but all I wanted to do was get outside and go for a walk but I wasn’t brave enough to do this as I hadn’t got my thermals plus the seat warmer was just so, well, warm.

I did become braver when we returned and we climbed up to the view-point to look over Alesund. It was definitely worth venturing out as you could see for miles and really appreciate the tranquil remoteness that hugs the city.

My valour didn’t stop there as I opened a can I had picked up form a petrol station for dinner on account of the lack of shops. It had a child’s face on so we placed bets about whether it would be baby food or something more sinister.

However, it was pate.

Yey I thought untill a similar smell to cat food wafted from the contents. This has taught me a lesson. Never buy tins from foreign petrol supermarkets with the aim of eating the contents if you do not know what they are. Especially if they have a ridiculously smiley child’s face on. A trip to a bar later helped me to overcome this incident. As the Scotts came in from the oil rigs we made a swift exit back to the hotel before any re-enactments of Braveheart began.

On my last morning we had a walk around and I don’t think we saw another living person. All the houses looked really inviting and I certainly saw a few I wanted to have a closer look round.

They were just so quaint in a fishing village sort of way. We also got to see the lighthouse

and a few boats as they zoomed past. I then went to the airport to begin my long journey home. I was a little bit dubious it was a proper airport as one of the security guards was having a little snooze by the X-Ray machine and I definitely heard snoring form another office. I wasn’t sure if I was allowed through yet so I did the best thing I could albeit a little bit cowardly. Wait for someone else to go through first and follow with caution. I made it through and picked up some supplies, including Norwegian easter treats for the family.

 I was unhelpfully bemused when the girl at the till could not work out what change to give me. I could offer no assistance as I hadn’t a clue what each coin ment so I must have looked a bit rude just unhelpfully standing there while another customer began to sigh impatiently.

I settled down for my flight after trying on all the perfumes in the shop, much to the security guards amusement. I had a bit of panic on the plane after being handed a baggage label for my carry-on, but deciding to ignore it, then trying to squeeze my suitcase into the overhead locker. I think I held my breath until the air hostess had managed to close all lockers and I knew I wouldn’t have to do the walk of shame to hand my suitcase over. Luckily there was no problem with my last plane and I made it back to Manchester at a reasonable time. The inly irritating thing about my journey was on the train where lots of children kept on stepping on my toes or use my as a thing to lean on while their mother completely ignored them. I decided that this was the perfect time to reinstall my ‘evil stares’.

Related articles

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En påske kjør gjennom Fjordene

 

London Weekend

So, after finally retrieving our car  it was off to london again. I had to retrieve said vehicle after I happened to get myself locked out of the car park and subsequently found myself stranded. Sorry Luke! (I haven’t found the right time to tell him yet and as the car is not clamped or fined then no damage right?). I was very puzzled when I went to go up the stairs and found the doors locked and then, to my horror, saw the barriers had come down and meant that there was no way to my car unless I could scale three floors and smash my way through the barriers. No, I didn’t think that was the best idea either so I resorted to calling my bemused dad, who will be getting a super Fathers day present!, then came to the rescue. Oh well, an hour less sleep and a trip on the bus soon meant I have learnt my lesson and learnt to always read the opening-closing times , which just happened to be right in front of me as I tried to get up the stairs. If signs could smirk this one definitely was. In hindsight it would have been better if I had read this in the morning.

I made it safely to London, after discovering I need to get my eyes checked on account of not being able to read any of the train signs. This did make me wonder if I had got on the right train. Luckily there was the announcement just before the train left so no need to derail myself at the last-minute. I then lured my sister to Euston after uttering a magic word. Vodka. We negotiated the tube.

She then swiftly escorted me back to a proper London pub and then home to hers with a few extra bags containing nibbles.

It was then a lovely breakfast in bed. Albeit I made it myself and then took it back to bed and it was porridge. Still, technically it was both lovely and breakfast in bed so I was happy. We then went for a run around the Thames and it was a great way to see Canary Wharf. The day then merge into trips to Tesco and the pub. We were even asked by the Barman ‘weren’t you two here this morning” to which we had to protest that we hadn’t been there all day. I am not quite sure if they believed us. This was then followed by an al fresco meal

before heading back into the centre to collect more friends. Don’t worry we knew who they were and weren’t just aimlessly searching for friends. Although, knowing who they were did not seem to help as we tried to locate one particular friend. She informed us she was by departures near Starbucks. This was where we were but with no friend in sight it took a while of searching before we realised she was in St Pancras and we were in Kings Cross. I think they do identical layouts just to amuse themselves as people try to spend ages working out why they are almost in the same place, but not quite.

It was then back to, yes you have guessed it, the pub and then Tesco. After one friend nearly went flying through the tube after making the novice’s error of not holding onto a rail before it moved. The man beside us could hardly contain himself. Then it was onto my sister’s flat. My friend and I almost didn’t make it as we were too busy nattering and lost the others. We then made the error of going left instead of right. Easy mistake but as my sister rang me and told me to turn arround and go right, in a slightly annoyed tone, I realised it might take a while to live down.

The next day was jam-packed with hopping on packed tubes and heading into London. I was just pleased I was not the driver of this car as it nearly became the filling for a bus sandwich!

We had a beautiful walk through the Borough Market and tried lots of delectable food. Wherever there is food, I am there and this market is certainly not to be missed.

If only I had my trusty shopping cart. Alas, it is still in Indiana and my bank balance is probably eternally grateful!. Although. One friend did manage to procure some cheese and meat. This seemed to be slightly different from our school days of bags of white mice. Maybe we are finally grown up? It was then time to meander by the river

with intermittent stops for food and wine. We then found another friend before heading back to my sisters to get ready for a night out in London. After ending up in a posh-er version of TGIFs for a drink, don’t ask, we then headed for some food. Turns out I had booked a table at the wrong restaurant but the waiters didn’t seem to mind as we all turned up a bit too overdressed!

There was then a debate on where to go for a night out. We ended up going to an underground club

where a fishbowl, drum music, toff-esque type people and lots of hats ensued but I wasn’t going to kvetch. No, instead we immersed ourselves in this aspect of London’s culture. We then all recuperated the next morning with a lovely cheap breakfast

before heading ff on our separate tubes to enjoy the rest of the heat wave that the UK were enjoying. This has now rapidly descended into intermittent snow storms. Lovely.