>I kid, I kid. But last night I did host a shebang for 25+ health nuts food bloggers. I asked guests to bring a bottle of wine (covered, to allow for a blind tasting) either red or white depending on birth months. I provided pens and small white labels so we could (try to) guess the type of wine after tasting.
(Image of maaaybe 1/3 of the vino)
And where there are foodies…
You can find lots of FOOD!
Everyone brought such amazing dishes! Guess that’s to be expected tho 😉
I supplied a variety of healthy treats…
(Each labeled to let those with allergies know what’s up)
Spiralized raw zucchini with carrots, sea-salted peanuts, & Spicy Peanut Vinaigrette
“Real Food” Brownies
(Made of dates and chickpeas. No flour!)
Combine and blend in food processor
(or blender in my case, because mine broke! ha)
1 1/4 cup pitted dates, soaked in boiling water for 5 mins, drained
1 can garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
4 eggs
1/4 cup almond oil
9 T cacao powder
1/2 t baking powder
1 t cinnamon
stevia (equal to 6 servings)
Bake at 350F for 35 mins
They were made the night before and were still incredibly moist and gooey.
Veggie platter
Protein-packed Ranch dip
(organic)
(organic)
2 cups fat-free cottage cheese
4 T light ranch dressing
1/4 t garlic powder
1/4 t parsley
1/2 t dill
Hummus
(Trader Joe’s brand, garnished with paprika)
Fruit bowl
Chopping fruit yourself lets you hand select which fruits make the cut. Most packaged ones have too much honeydew melon, in my opinion. Ick.
Garlic-stuffed olives
(also TJ’s brand)
And plenty of snacks…
(pineapple salsa)
And where there’s wine…
(There’s gotta be dark chocolate!)
It was great to see some old faces and meet lots of new ones..
But one guy seemed to steal all of the attention..
Michael!
* * *
After most people left this somehow happened…
And we hit the town for a couple of hours with our dancing feet….
* * *
All in all, I think my first [large] dinner/wine party was a success!
Here are my tips of how to throw a fab (and healthy!) get together:
– Wine over liquor. Cost effective, more antioxidants, and safer for those driving. Skinny sangria is always fun a hit as well.
– Offer plenty of no-calorie hydration (i.e. soda water, and bottled)
– Stick with the basics as a host/hostess to accommodate varieties in taste buds, allergies, etc. (Fruit, veggies, salads healthy dips, pita/hummus, dark chocolate bars, and if you have time try your hand at a guilt-free dessert. Your quests will thank you as they have tons of energy to chat up a storm and aren’t sunken into the couch in a food coma).
– Serve all food in dishes rather than original containers. I know it’s an extra dirty dish, but simple store-bought hummus garnished with your favorite spice can look quite spectacular.
– Offer a few vegan and gluten-free options. Everyone will eat these even if no one ends up requiring them so it’s a win-win situation for all.
– If guests offer to bring food, ask them to bring their favorite/unique appetizer. This way all the basic food groups are already covered (by you) and guests can also enjoy new and delicious treats.
~ Have you ever hosted a large wine/dinner party? ~
*Special thanks to Jill, Lauren, Jenna, Chase, Suzanne, Katie, Emily, Amanda, Lisa, Danielle, Sana, Erin, Sarah, Paige, Sara, and Alex for attending!*
Biochemista 