#12 on the list is to host a dinner party. Oh boy, oh boy, I was so excited about that one! Last night 3 beautiful women came over for dinner and laughter! I prepared some beautiful mashed potatoes (by beautiful I mean, I love mashed potatoes so they are beautiful to me!), some steamed asparagus some Chicken Saltimbocca and cheesecake for dessert I have posted the basic rundown of preparations with some instructions in case you want to make this at home ( it is delicious!) Enjoy!

Start with a big batch of golden yellow potatoes (they are prettier after they are boiled and by leaving the skin on you can get this really, really beautiful russet yellow potato that looks great on a plate next to a green vegetable!)

Thaw the asparagus (I like to buy it ahead of time, frozen – it seems to steam better.)
Garlic = yum. Sadly, most people don’t know how to use fresh garlic. So I’ve posted the steps -
1) pull the garlic head out of the garlic bag

2) lay the knife on top of the garlic head and smash it (so much fun) and pull the cloves out individually.
3) make sure to pull all of the garlic “skin’ off of each head before dicing it up into really tiny chunks (especially for potatoes).
After the potatoes have been boiling for awhile (15 minute or so – stick a fork in them to see if they are done), then drain the water, put them in a mixing bowl with some butter, couple squirts of lemon juice and all of your freshly diced garlic. I also like to put some fresh oregano and basil in there as well. Mix until fluffy
Ta-Da!
Now for the chicken saltimbocca (I forgot to take pictures of the marinade – I thaw the chicken and then marinade it for about 6-10 hours in olive oil, couple fresh diced cloves of garlic, parsley, salt and pepper – mix up the marinade and throw the chicken and marinade in a ziploc bag and stick it in your fridge until you are ready to work with it!

1) Dice up fresh spinach.
2) Put it in a handy little cup so your cutting board is cleared for the chicken!
3) remove the chicken from the marinade bag and place on the cutting board (face up). Place one thin slice of prosciutto over the top (gentle – prosciutto tears like wet tissue paper).
4) sprinkle some of your beautiful, fresh spinach over time and fold in half like a sandwich. Saute each side for about 1 minute in hot skillet with some olive oil. (This sears the outside of the meat so that when you bake it all of the juices do not run out.) Place chicken in a 9×13 (do this for as many chicken breasts as you have.) Pour remaining marinade over the chicken, then bake for 30 minutes at 375. If you have time, pull the pan out every 5 minutes or so and scoop up the glaze from the bottom of the pan and rewet the chicken – makes for a delicious, juicy entree when you are finished!
While the chicken is cooking, it’s time to decorate! I found these beautiful cloth napkins and cute napkin rings and well…needless to say, I fell in love

Light a few candles and wait for the girls to come

Yay! Thanks, Lindsey and Lindsay! I had so much fun (Miss Melanie came for awhile, too. But I didn’t even think to take a picture until after she had left!)

Check them out

Oh, how I love my family, and I have really learned what a huge impact they have had on me as I am away at college (only 1 semester left!!) Thank you, dear family, for loving me and teaching me so much over the years!!