Book Club Dinner Party & Some Recipes You're Gonna Love!

My book club is filled with such wonderful women who are the absolutely BEST cooks. I'm excited to share our Christmas dinner party & some of the recipes with you.

First of all, my friend Karen has the most amazing Christmas decorations. She has a style all her own & her decor includes many beautiful antiques. 

The table was so beautiful. Cloches with tiny Christmas village scenes served as the center-pieces.

And look at this cute table setting. The small white dish contains butter {Karen got them at TJ Maxx}. The little antique spoon has an ornament hanger attached & it was our favor. #luckyme

Here's Colette's Strawberry Spinach Salad. It is different from other spinach salads I've tried & the dressing is to die for! Followed by my Creamy Tomato Soup . . . 

Sweet Won-ton Strawberry Salad Recipe

www.michellelunt.com

• 12 oz. washed spinach leaves
• 12 won-ton skins - cut into triangles & fried in canola oil
• 1/2 cup Butterball turkey bacon, fried & cut into bits
• 1/2 red pepper - cut into thin strips
• 8 oz. sliced strawberries
• 1/4 of a red onion - thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
• 1 cup toasted slivered almonds - toasted & carmelized in butter & 1/3 cup sugar

Dressing: {Mix together in blender}

• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
• 3/4 cup canola oil
• 3/4 cup strawberry jam
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp mustard

Creamy Tomato Soup 

- adapted from "Tomato Basil Soup" at girltalkhome.com -

www.michellelunt.com

• 3 - 28 oz. cans crushed tomatoes
• the liquid from 1 - 14 oz can stewed tomatoes
• 2 packages fresh basil leaves
• 2 cups whipping cream
• 2 sticks {1/2 lb. butter}
• salt to taste
• ground pepper to taste

Melt butter in a large pot. Puree canned tomatoes & basil leaves in batches in blender. Add to butter in pot. Add whipping cream, salt & pepper. Can be transferred to a crock pot & kept on low. Garnish with shredded parmigiano & reggiano cheese {from Costco}.

By the way, we read a fascinating & emotional novel called

Moloka‘i.  {Warning: it has more sexual content than I'm comfortable with.}