Colombus Day Dinner

I have always been in the entertainment business and I tended to carry that over to my personal life as well. I love to create dinners for my family and friends. Of course, when I was younger it was a lot more of a production than it is now. Yet nothing gets me more energized than organizing and prepare a full dinner menu. I love to put together menus then try them out on everyone. My joy is cooking and seeing everyone enjoy the results of my creativity.

My biggest secret is I look for ways to make it as easy and simple. It is not so much how you got to the final product but that it is absolute delicious. Not only do I love preparing the meals, but I like to set a lovely table with the same theme in mind. Using the colors of the country flag in the linen to the color of the dishes, if I have them available.

Appetizer

"Claims Casino"

1 bag Herb stuffing mix 1 cans chopped claims & juice
24 medium Little Neck Claims (steamed open)
2 chopped large garlic cloves 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp pepper or red pepper flakes
2 sticks of butter(melted) 1 dash of Worcestershire sauce
Mix all ingredients together Except Claims.
Chop claims Plus 1 can of chopped claims & juice. Add to stuffing mixture.
Using all the shells, stuff them and top with Paprika
Bake at 350 degrees for 20 min.

Salad

"Simple Antipasto Salad"

1 Cantaloupe or Honey Dew Melon
1/4 to 1/2 pound sliced prosciutto
1 head of Romaine Lettuce
Wash and separate lettuce, set aside to dry.
Cut melon into 1/2 in wedges, take a slice of prosciutto and wrap around each wedge. Place wedge on lettuce leave to serve.

Entree

(Easy) "Veal Cacciatore with Peas"

2 pounds boneless Veal(cut into cubes)
1 large jar prepared mushroom sauce (Ms. Honey's choice Prego)
1 package of frozen peas
1 medium onion(chopped)
8 oz fresh mushrooms (sliced)
1 each red pepper & yellow pepper (sliced length wise)
2 cloves garlic(chopped)
Brown veal in large skillet with olive oil, add garlic, onion, mushrooms and peppers
Sauté till vegetables are tender, then add peas and sauce.
simmer for 1 hour on reduced heat.
Serve over your pasta of choice.

Dessert

"Easy Ready Rum Cake"

1 Yellow Betty Crocker Butter Cake Mix
1/4 cup Rum
1/2 cup sliced almonds
Confectioner sugar
Prepare Cake mix as directed Except use 1 cup water and 1/4 cup rum. Add almonds to mix.
Bake in a prepared Bundt Pan for 46- 51 minutes at 350 degrees.
When cake has cooled, poke with fork around top . Then add splashes of rum to the holes. Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar and serve.

An easy center piece of Italian bread sticks and sliced Panini bread in a basket with seasoned dipping oil is a wonderful treat as well. All these little hints are great with nice Italian music in the background. As I said in the beginning, this is all very easy and will impress everyone.

"Mangia" Ms. Honey.

By: E Valinski

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Ellen Valinski(Ms. Honey) has 30+ years in the business world. She owned her own Dance Studios, then a Dance and Costume Store. She was a manager for a small hotel in Florida, where she developed her catering and menu skills. She now enjoys sharing her experience by being part of Valmarich, LLC Board of Directors, Editor of Honey's Highlights-SurpriseArrivlas bi-montly newsletter. She also contributes to the SurpriseArrivals.com Blog(valmarichll.wordpress.com).