A little dinner music

Dinner party dame, Chris Wake

Tango Cancion - Gotan Project

Kir royale
Add crushed ice to chilled wine or champagne glass and stir in 2 oz. creme de cassis (blackcurrant liquor). Fill with champagne/sparkling wine.

To The Shore (Pathaan's Ray of Sunshine remix) - Bombay Dub Orchestra

Curried carrot soup
2 T. olive oil
2 medium onions, chopped fine
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 lb. carrots, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 stalk celery, chopped fine
1/2 minced baking potato
2 1/2 t. curry powder
1/4 t. ground coriander
4 cups low-salt chicken or vegetable broth
2 T. flour
2-3 T. chopped fresh Italian parsley

Heat oil in large pot and add onions, garlic, carrots, celery and potato. Cover, cook until vegetables are tender but not brown, stirring occasionally. Add curry powder and coriander and cook, stirring, two minutes. Transfer 1 1/2 cups of mixture to blender or food processor. Add 2 cups broth and flour and blend until smooth.

Return puree mixture to pot and add remaining 2 cups broth. Bring soup to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer until soup thickens, 20-25 minutes. Add parsley and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Around and Around (John Denver) - Mark Kozelek and Rachel Goswell

Roasted squash salad
2 cups (approx. 1 lb.) acorn, butternut or other winter squash, chopped into 1-inch cubes
10 cherry tomatoes, halved
3 T. balsamic vinegar
1 T. olive oil, plus 1/4 cup
2 T. red wine vinegar
1 1/2 t. Dijon mustard
1 t. honey
8 oz. baby spinach leaves
1/4 cup toasted or spiced pecan halves
3 T. dried cranberries

In a large bowl, toss squash and tomatoes with salt and pepper to season, balsamic vinegar and 1 T. oil. Allow to stand 30 minutes, tossing occasionally. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Arrange squash mixture on foil-lined and greased pan. Roast until tender and golden brown, approximately 25 minutes, turning as necessary.

In the meantime, whisk red wine vinegar, 1/4 cup olive oil, mustard and honey. Season with salt and pepper. When squash is ready in large bowl toss spinach and dressing. Add squash, pecans and cranberries and toss to combine. Serve immediately. Serves approximately 4.

Unsere Liebe - Klee

Simple sacher torte
5 oz. semisweet baking chocolate
2/3 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
4 eggs, separated
1/4 cup flour
1/2 t. baking powder

1/3 cup orange marmalade
3 oz. semisweet baking chocolate
2 T. butter
Heavy (whipping) cream

Melt 5 oz. chocolate in a double boiler and set aside. In a bowl, beat the butter and sugar until light and add egg yolks. Stir in melted chocolate. Stir in flour that has been blended with the baking powder.

In separate bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff. Fold them into the chocolate batter. Pour batter into heavily greased and floured springform pan. Bake for about 25 minutes in 350 degree oven. Allow cake to cool 10 minutes before reverting onto plate. Spread marmalade on top and sides of cake.

Melt 3 oz. of chocolate with the butter and spread the mixture on the cake. Allow to cool before serving. Serve cake with whipped cream.

Buy:
Lunatico, Gotan Project (Amazon: US, UK, eMusic, iTunes)
Bombay Dub Orchestra Remixed, Bombay Dub Orchestra (eMusic, iTunes)
Take Me Home: Tribute to John Denver, Various (Amazon: US, UK, iTunes)
Zwischen Himmel und Erde, Klee (eMusic)