Happy New Year

The company was good, the food was good, the timing was . . . bad. We had friends from church over to ring in the New Year! Since there were only 6 of us, I thought it would be the perfect time for a dinner party.

Lots of times for dinner parties, I try to serve a make-ahead type dish- like lasagna or enchiladas. All you have to do is pop is out of the oven and onto a plate. This time, I went for bold and daring- it backfired. Big time!

New Year's Eve Dinner Party Menu

Veggies and Dip (brought by Jenn)

Sweet Chicken Bacon Wraps

Walnut Pear Salad

Herb Roasted Tenderloin

Buttered Rosemary Rolls

Roasted Broccoli

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Vanilla Buttercream Cupcakes

Chocolatey Brownies (brought by Nicole)

Things were going pretty good as I was getting ready, but unfortunately, I have not mastered that art of all the dishes being ready at once.  We planned on eating at 7:30- it was more like after 8:00ish.  The grill ran out of steam (or propane) and we had to move the tenderloin to the oven.  I moved the broccoli to the bottom rack- a little crisp on the bottom when it came out.  I served the rolls as the guests were eating their last bites of food and wiping their mouths and practically pushing their chairs away from the table.
 

Jennifer, Matt, Jeremy, Nicole & Tom (Not Pictured: Me)

But we still had a great time and no one even complained about the late dinner and bad timing!  I'm a little bit of a perfectionist about these things, so I'm a little disappointed with the way things turned out.  Maybe that is something I can work on in the new year?!?! 

 

Or maybe I can console myself with one of these leftover cupcakes?!?!

We didn't quite make it to midnight, but we had a blast playing games and getting to know each other better!  Hope you had a wonderful and happy new year!