Dinner Party Diva: Melissa

Welcome to P + P's newest feature...Dinner Party Divas!!!  As most of you know, I love to entertain, and dinner parties are one of my favorite ways to do so!  Setting the table, using my china and planning the menu...is all very therapeutic to me for some reason, and then the conversation and vino at the party are just the icing on the red velvet cake!  I thought a fun way to share my love of dinner parties would be to enlist my friends (who all have exquisite taste and beautiful plates!) and showcase a fabulous dinner party at their house!  

First up is Melissa, beautiful new mama and fabulous 1st grade teacher, this girl does it all!!  

Here is the Design Board for how she likes to throw a 
casual fall get together using her "Berry & Thread" Juliska china!

And here is Melissa's table all set and pretty!  

Aren't her velvet pumpkins adorable???  You can get them at Indulge Decor!  

Melissa's favorite meal to serve on a fun fall night is... 

Spaghetti with Turkey Meat Sauce and a Strawberry Walnut Salad!  

Yum! Here are her recipes...

"Mookie's Spooky Strawberry Walnut Salad"

INGREDIENTS:

Mixed Greens

Strawberries

Red Onion

Green Apple

Feta 

Brianna's Blush Wine Vinagrette 

DIRECTIONS: 

Chop it all up

Throw it in a bowl

Pour some of this goodness on it...

Spaghetti w/ Turkey Meat Sauce 

(#icutandpastedthisfromrachaelrayswebsite)

INGREDIENTS:

1 pound whole wheat spaghetti

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

1 pound ground turkey

Salt and black pepper

1 28 ounce can  diced tomatoes

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1/4 cup chopped parsley

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving

directions

1. In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente; drain, reserving 1 cup pasta cooking water.
2. Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat; add the onion and cook until softened, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Increase the heat to medium-high, crumble in the turkey, season with salt and black pepper and cook until the turkey is just no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes and crushed red pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 15 minutes. Stir in the parsley and cheese.
3. Toss the pasta with the sauce and 1/2 cup reserved pasta cooking water, adding more water to thin the consistency, if desired. Serve immediately with more cheese.

Thanks for sharing Melissa!!! 

And thanks for being our first 

Dinner Party Diva! Whoop Whoop!

Next up is Amanda!!  Get excited!!

XO

P + P