we are hosting dinner for my MIL a week from tomorrow. when we did my FIL's birthday dinner they hired a professional chef so already I am being setup to fail a little lol. here is the menu I have come up with:
Bacon wrapped artichoke hearts and ABTs with chorizo for appetizers
filet mignon topped with a garlic herb butter compound, chimichurri as a side topping. U13-15 shrimp
sides
Creamed spinach
bacon balsamic brussel sprouts
oven roasted potatoes
I picked up the filets and the shrimp from costco today. I think I am good on the steaks and oven roasted potatoes but I would like advice/recipes for everything else
I would like to do as much as possible ahead of time. I am thinking the garlic herb butter compound, chimichurri, and creamed spinach should be easy enough to do Thurs/Fri. right? also, I have never made any of those three things
the shrimp I am torn between grilling (on skewers?) or doing in a pan. thoughts?
I make brussel sprouts all the time for us but this will be a first for this many people (9 adults) and I would like to make something good like the bacon balsamic.
So I know I am asking a lot but any advice on food prep, recipes, etc would be much appreciated. Between the cost of everything, it being her birthday, and trying to not be a complete disappointment compared to the professional chef a few weeks ago I have a lot riding on this :-)
Thanks!
Comments
For shrimp, you can't go wrong with GLS. I've also really liked APL's Grilled Shrimp Cocktail:
https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/grilled-shrimp-cocktail-358649
Creamed Spinach Recipe
1 Cup Cooked and chopped Spinach, squeezed in a kitchen towel to remove excess water
1 Pint Heavy Cream, reduced by 3/4 of its volume
A pinch Freshly Grated Nutmeg
A pinch of Cayenne
1 tsp Crystal hot sauce
A few drops of Worcestershire sauce
Kosher salt to taste
Compound Butter: (recipe will vary depending on end-use)
https://boulderlocavore.com/how-to-make-herb-butter/
GLS - search for it here
Large and Medium BGE, Kamado Joe Jr, Akorn Jr, big effin' pellet smoker, gas grill, fire pit, FireDisk, pack of angry cats, two turntables and a microphone, my friend. Registered republican.
any recommendations with the filets beyond salting a few hours prior? do I need anything else with the butter compound and the chimichurri?
Large and Medium BGE, Kamado Joe Jr, Akorn Jr, big effin' pellet smoker, gas grill, fire pit, FireDisk, pack of angry cats, two turntables and a microphone, my friend. Registered republican.
https://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1221728/chimichurri-sauce
The Mailman version is the best I've had. Definitely make ahead, so the flavors have time to get friendly and sexy like.
Lastly, if it's not too late, try to include at least one item that you know is a favorite of hers. I'm certain she'll appreciate it. As she will the effort you're putting in to making her birthday special. You have an impressive menu lined up.
I plan to do most of the food prep Thurs and Friday. That way the only thing to do Saturday really is cook and hang out
The chimichurri is made, so is the creamed spinach. I heat the latter up this afternoon.
The potatoes are cut and soaking in water. Brussel sprouts are also cut.
The ABTs are all wrapped. I used a food processor to mix cream cheese, shredded cheese, and Chipotle lime chorizo (it's all Publix had)
The steaks are on a rack with a little salt and garlic powder. They'll go in the sous vide bath with a sprig of rosemary each later. The shrimp are in the GLS marinade (sans lime juice)
This afternoon I'll smoke the ABTs. Once they come off it'll be time to start the steaks and we'll eat a couple hours later
She knows she is coming over but she thinks it's to hang out with her new grandbaby and that I'll make a small dinner. She doesn't know her son/DIL and their two kids are coming into town and that it's a big meal
Dessert is sweet potato cake from a bakery in Greenville SC. It's really darn good.
Any other tips? I did grab a nice bottle of Chardonnay from Total Wine. Chardonnay is her favorite.
Did you get a red to go with the steaks?