Some info about our Gourmet Group:  We are 4 couples who enjoy cooking, entertaining, and most of all, each other’s company. 

We take turns hosting in our homes.  The hosts decide on the menu (theme) from appetizers to dessert for the evening.  The hosts cook most of the meal, but give at least one course (along with all the recipes) to the other couples to prepare.  We love trying new recipes and ideas.  So most of the time the recipes are ones we haven’t cooked before, but they don’t have to be.

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We hosted our Gourmet Group a couple of weeks before Christmas.  I chose a “Silver Bells” dinner theme for our evening.

Fun Facts about the song “Silver Bells”.  The song was composed by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans.  It was first performed by Bob Hope and Marilyn Monroe in the movie, “The Lemon Drop Kid”.  The song was originally going to be titled “Tinkle Bells” until Livingston’s wife stepped in, and explained to him what the word tinkle usually means (bathroom connotation).  The next day the title of the song was changed, and the word silver was substituted for the word tinkle throughout the song.  Source:  Songfacts

The weather outside that night was “frightful” (a snowstorm), but the fire and our evening together inside was “delight-full”.

Come on in, and take a peek at it…

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Silver & blue Christmas décor greeted our guests in the foyer.

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Various silver and blue bells were a must to include…

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Packages wrapped in coordinating papers…

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MY TABLESCAPE

Mercury trees purchased at Pottery Barn were my starting point for the table…

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The trees could be lit up inside with battery votive candles and/or string lights which gave the table a candlelit effect

A look at it with all the lights turned off…

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A CLOSER LOOK AT TABLE DETAILS

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Silver bells and blue bells scattered across the table…

Silver pine cones and silver leaves

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Branches with tiny pine cones & white bells attached…

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A string of silver jingle bells snakes across the table…

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A copy of our menu for the evening sits on the table

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PLACE SETTINGS

Silver chargers layered with white dinner plates and blue & white salad bowls

Blue napkins tied with ribbon & silver bells

Cute reindeers with a silver bell glued to them hold the name place card holders (found at Pottery Barn also)

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CHRISTMAS GIFT BAGS

Silver goodie bags await our guests…

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MY DINING ROOM CHEST

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A silver beaded garland along with even more silver bells…

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THE INVITATION / MENU

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~ Savor the Season ~

COCKTAILS & APPETIZERS

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Andouille Cheese Dip with Blue Chips

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Crispy Potato Skins

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Sadly, I forgot to take a photo

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Charcuterie Board

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DINNER IS SERVED

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Pear and Hazelnut Salad

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Intermezzo:  Blood Orange Sorbet

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Main Entrée

Côte de Boeuf

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Sweet Potatoes with Thyme, Pecans, and Parmesan

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Green Beans with Tarragon-Scented Béarnaise Sauce

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and bacon…

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DESSERT

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Candy Cane Spoons Dipped in Chocolate

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Black and White Brownie Ice Cream Cake

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Vanilla and Peppermint Ice Cream Filled…

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Soon it will be Christmas Day…