The Godfather

The year is starting out on a happy note - especially since my Godfather is coming to town. Though he's just passing through for one night, we're hoping to show him such a good time that he decides his whole family should move from the cold east coast to the sunny west. We've been deprived of his crazy, unpredictable behavior for far too long. Enough is enough; it's time to bring the Godfather back to California.

I wanted to enjoy his company completely, so I didn't want to get bogged down in the kitchen, taking drink orders, serving the dinner, etc. My mom and I decided that we would do some pre-dinner entertaining at my house (because he hadn't seen the new home), then head out for a nice dinner at a local hot spot.

The menu was simple - she makes one app, and I make another. Two appetizers, some marinated olives (as per usual) and some chardonnay was plenty for my husband and I, my parents, and my Godfather. I opted for a simple cheese dish, a Havarti en Croute recipe from one of my mom's old cookbooks. I usually do this type of thing with brie, but this sounded different with the Havarti dill so I thought I'd give it a shot (note: this needs to chill for one hour prior to baking):

Havarti en Croute
2 frozen Pepperidge Farm pastry shells
7 ounces Havarti cheese with dill
1 egg, lightly beaten
Apples (optional)
French bread

Slightly thaw pastry shells. Lightly flour cutting board and roll pastry into an 8" circle. Put cheese in the center of pastry. Bring edges together over the top of the cheese and pinch to seal pastry. Please on an ungreased baking sheet, brush with egg, and chill for 1 hour. Preheat oven to 375. Brush again with egg and bake for 15-20 minutes (until golden brown). Serve with apple slices and slices of French bread.
Source: The Lafayette Collection
















The Havarti was a big success, at least that's what I determined from the constant "this is delicious, Meg" from the group. Since it was a crowd pleaser, and really easy to make, this would be another "keeper" in my recipe box. Mom brought another winner - Bloody Mary Shrimp (which should really be called "Killer Bloody Mary Shrimp" according to my husband). I'll let her share the details on that one...plus her oh-so-clever way of serving it. Damn, how does she think of those things?

I have to say, I’m now a big fan of the pre-dinner or post-dinner hosting idea. It allows you to invite people into your home for a sampling of your creativity, and yet not have to deal with the stress and clean up of full-on entertaining. Genius. I think my Godfather thoroughly enjoyed himself too. And I didn't miss a single funny thing he said all night. Mission accomplished.