First FPPC in the New House!

Hi Friends!! Thanks to the hard work of many friends and family last weekend, we are now fully moved into our new house! What better way to celebrate than with a Fancy Paper Plate Club meeting??

Where: 3234 W North Loop Ave (@ Finch Arboretum in West Spokane)
When: Saturday, November 17th starting around 6:30pm
What: We will make Spaghetti Bolognese, you bring an italian-y side dish to share. Some possible options: green salad, fruit salad, garlic bread, tiramisu, gelato etc. Can't wait to see you there!

The More Green Food Coloring the Merrier!

Location: The Motaghadi-Radoslovich Residence
In Attendance: Ben & Sara, Cait & Pat, Amanda & Sean, Jillian & Gordon, Leah & John, Kent

Menu:
Green Pancakes
Diced, fried Potatoes
Scrambled Eggs
Guacamole & chips
Italian loaf, cheese, and prosciutto
Cupcakes w/ Green Frosting and Sprinkles
Caitlin's Overzealous Lime Jello (no alcohol! at all!)
Green Beer & Wine

Lots of laughter, lots of leprechaun jokes, lots and lots of jello.....Happy St. Pat's!!

FPPC Goes Green!

Feeling a bit Green?

You are invited to
Green Pancakes & Eggs
in honor of St. Patty's Day!

When: Wednesday, March 16th @ 6:30pm
Where: The "Rad" House

Rule: you must bring something GREEN to share with those attending that compliments pancakes and eggs.

For example:
Green drinks *beer, juice etc.
Green pudding or pie
Green jello or jello shots
Green ham
Green peppers
Green onions
Green fruit
Green yogurt
Guinness
Leprechauns

(food coloring will be available)

***A Bit of Education Prior to Party**
How to speak in Irish..heheh

Em (Irish for pausing to think)
Bollocks (Irish for testicles)
Cheers (Irish for cheers)
Peckish (Irish for hunger)

~Ben & Sara Radoslovich

Noodles 'N' Rice

Location: Cait and LPL's
Date: Tuesday, January 18th
In Attendance: Caitlin & Pat, Jill and Gord, Amanda and Sean, Ryan, John and Leah, Kent

Menu:
Noodle & Veggie Stir Fry
Fried Rice
Won tons
Coconut Curry Egg Rolls
Sake and vino

We made huge mountains of food, then promptly ate it all : ). Cassius was entertaining, as always.




Jill's Vegetarian Fried Rice
4 Cups cooked brown rice
1/2 onion, chopped
1 1/2 cups celery, chopped
1 large carrot, finely chopped or julienned
2 eggs
Sesame oil
Soy sauce
Toasted Sesame Seeds

In large wok, heat several tablespoons of sesame oil. Add chopped onion, cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add celery and carrots. Cook until veggies are tender. Push veggies to one side of wok. Break both eggs on the empty half of the wok and scramble thoroughly. Mix with veggies, add rice. Continue to fry the rice for about 8 minutes, adding a little extra sesame oil and soy sauce to taste. Sprinkle individual servings with toasted sesame seeds. Devour!

You May be Right, We May Be Crazy...

It's 15 degrees outside. It's after dark. It's January. There is a half-foot of snow on the ground. It's time for........a barbecue and lawn games in the backyard!!

In attendance: CAITLIN!! Lewis Patrick Lewis, Jillian, Gordon, Amanda, Sean, John, Leah, Kent

Menu:
Grilled veggie shishkabobs
Grilled veggie burgers with all the fixings
Salt and pepper potato chips
Beer & Red Wine


Strangely, I was unable to find any google images of ladder golf in the snow....

Pre-Xmas Festivus

Location: John & Leah's
In attendance: John, Leah, Jillian, Gordon, Lewis Patrick Lewis, Angie, Sean, Amanda, Ryan

Menu: PIZZA!

Gordon tried out a new pizza dough recipe that requires the dough to be refrigerated overnight. This allows for a very slow raising process which improves texture and flavor. It is delicious!

Gordon's Pizzeria-Quality Pizza Dough
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, chilled
1 3/4 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon instant yeast
1/4 cup olive oil (optional)
1 3/4 cups water, ice cold (40°F)
Cornmeal for dusting

Stir together the flour, salt, and instant yeast in a 4-quart bowl (or in the bowl of an electric mixer). With a large metal spoon, stir in the oil and the cold water until the flour is all absorbed. The dough should clear the sides of the bowl but stick to the bottom of the bowl and be springy, elastic, and sticky. Place dough on parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and put into the fridge overnight. Before making your pizza, bring dough back to room temperature. Flatten and stretch dough using your fists, then toss the dough until it reaches your preferred thickness and shape. You could use a rolling pin if you prefer, but that method is not best.

Dress up your fabulous pizza crust with all the toppings you desire, then bake until crust is golden brown. Devour!

Happy Holidays With the FPPC!

Who: You! And your friends!
When: Monday, December 20th
Where: John and Leah's Place
What: PIZZA!

Over the next two weeks, it will be nothing but back-to-back family get-togethers with big meals, meat with gravy, potatoes with gravy, vegetables with gravy, and christmas cookies (gravy optional), plus a sprinkling of fancy holiday parties with picturesque but inedible crudites and fancy alcoholic drinks with mini candy cane garnishes. So let's kick it all off with something completely un-christmassy!




Pizza dough will be provided, just bring toppings (including cheese) and beers. Feel free to be creative!

See you there!

FPPC's "We Miss Caitlin" Breakfast!

Location: Chateau du Wright
Date: Sunday, November 7th
In Attendance: Jillian and Gordon, Amanda and Sean, Leah and John, Kent and Monica

Menu:
Sour Cream Coffee Cake
Waffles
Chocolate Chip Muffins
Bacon and Sausage
Savory Rolls
Cinnamon Rolls
Fuzzy Navel Bread
Mimosas
Fresh Brewed Coffee

We didn't plan too well (everyone brought carbs) but it was delicious! Caitlin called in the middle of the meal, which was a nice treat. And we still aren't quite sure what Kent and Monica were planning to do with the rest of their day....

A Really Remarkable Repast

In attendance: Sara (Rasta), Ben (Rusty), Caitlin (Riot), Pat (Radcliffe), Jillian (River), Gordon (Rawr), Amanda (Rainbow), Sean (Robin), Aaron (Rave), Kent (Red), and Monica (Rabbit).


Menu:
Rigatoni
Ratatouille
Roasted Dilly Carrots
Rye Bread
Refreshing Garden Salad with Ranch dressing
Rhubarb Dessert
Rice crispy treats
Red wine

The “R” names were Rasta’s idea. Everyone got a name tag and had to choose a name that started with ‘r’ for the evening. Rasta and Riot put together a deliciously cheesy Rigatoni (recipe below). Riot helped River put together the Rhubarb Dessert—so easy, yet so amazingly tasty. Radcliffe’s Rye Bread was excellent—honey and molasses made it unusually sweet.

Quote of the night:
During introductions “Hi, I'm Aaron, and I live in the shadow of my brother, Drew. Who is younger than me.”








Rasta & Riot’s Rigatoni

Ingredients
5 cups cooked rigatoni
2 tablespoons butter, divided
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 cups fat-free milk
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded fontina cheese
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon finely chopped anaheim pepper
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1 cup bread crumbs

Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain well; place in a large bowl.
3. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper; sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Add to pasta.
4. Add flour to pan. Gradually add milk, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Bring to a boil; cook 2 minutes or until thickened, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add cheeses, stirring until cheeses melt and mixture is smooth. Stir in Anaheim pepper and salt. Add cheese mixture to pasta, tossing well to coat. Stir in green onions. Spoon pasta mixture into a 13 x 9–inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.
5. Combine butter and breadcrumbs in a small bowl; toss until blended. Sprinkle breadcrumb mixture over pasta mixture. Bake at 375° for 15 minutes or until browned. Devour.

Roast! Radish! Rhubarb! Radoslovich!

Attention FPPCers, the next Fancy Paper Plate Club meeting is officially on the schedule. We will meet at Ben and Sara Rodoslovich's place (ask Cait for directions) for a fabulous meal.

Who: You and all your friends who like to eat food
When: Thursday, August 19th, 6pm-ish
What: Foods that begin with the letter 'R'

A main dish will be provided, bring a side dish that starts with R to share.
See you there!

Lasagna Classico!

In attendance: Jillian, Gordon, Caitlin, Lewis Patrick Lewis, Sean, Amanda, Megan

Menu:
Lasagna
Focaccia bread
Garden Salad
Sweet potato fries
Red wine

Caitlin came over early to learn to make the lasagna--it turned out great!

The Official Lasagna of the Fancy Paper Plate Club

Ingredients
1 box whole wheat blend lasagna noodles (16 noodles)
1/3 finely chopped onion
5 cloves finely chopped garlic
1 pound Italian pork sausage
1 can chopped tomatoes w/ garlic and olive oil
1 large jar red sauce of your choice
30 oz Ricotta cheese
2 eggs
1 can spinach, drained
Lots and lots of grated mozzarella, parmesan, and cheddar cheese

Saute onion and garlic in 1 tablespoon olive oil, add sausage and cook until no longer pink. Drain if necessary. Add chopped tomatoes and red sauce, simmer. Meanwhile, heat water in large pot (optional: add tsp of salt to water). When boiling, add lasagna noodles and cook until tender, about 8 minutes. In medium bowl, mix ricotta cheese, eggs, and spinach.

In ungreased 9x13in pan and 8x8in (or 7x11in) pan, spoon a small amount of sauce into bottom and spread evenly. Top with layer of cooked noodles. On top of noodles, spoon 1/3ricotta mixture and spread evenly. Top with layer of grated cheese, then sauce. Repeat 3 times or until pan is full to brim. Top layer should be grated cheese.

Bake both pans together in 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. Remove from oven, sprinkle top of lasagna with dried crushed parsley, and allow to cool for 15 minutes.

Devour!!

Up Next: Italiana!

Pop Quiz:
Do you love lasagna?
a. Yes
b. OMG, Yes!
c. I'm drooling just reading the word.
d. All of the above

Well then, let's have some!

When: Tuesday, July 27th 6ish
Where: Jill & Gord's
What: Italian Night!

Lasagna will be provided. Bring a side dish to share.
Some menu ideas: Green Salad, Fruit Salad, Sangria, Garlic Bread, Chianti

Totally Chill

In attendance: Jillian, Gordon, Caitlin, Lewis Patrick Lewis, Sean, Cashius, Joe J.

Menu:
Gordon and Jillian's Hungarian Cold Cherry Soup
LPL's New York Pasta Salad
Sean's Quinoa Cilantro Salad
Caitlin's Tea Sandwiches with Herbed Butter and Smoked Salmon
Caitlin's Extra-Fancy Guacamole

Kudos to Caitlin for trying out two completely new recipes! What a lovely, chill evening. Kudos to Cashius for providing endless entertainment all evening.

After dinner, we sat chatting for a couple hours about:
-Movies that are so bad they are good
-Stories my dad loves to tell
-Joe's new job in Utah
-Hoopfest (the Consolation Bracket Champion was in attendance!)
-Gordon's latest adventures in tackling children

Normally I would post a recipe from the evening, but these were so good, we are keeping them all secret.

A Lesson in Not Cooking...

When: Tuesday, June 29th, Eveningish
Where: Casa de Caitlin
What: Cold food!
Who: You! And your friends! And a dish to share!

That's right! It's finally starting to feel like summer in Spokane, so the Fancy Paper Plate Club is getting together to celebrate recipes that don't require slaving away over a hot stove (or oven).

Examples/Suggestions:
Salads of any variety
Gazpacho or other cold soups
Sandwiches
Veggie/Fruit platters
Popsicles
Sangria

Note to attendees: This one is BYO Chair. Also, beware of the cat; it bites.

BBQ Spactacular!

Where: Sean and Amanda's
In attendance:
Sean, Caitlin, Jillian, Gordon, Kent, John, Leah, Dr. Erin Rose, Paul K, Grandma Dot, and a variety of S&A's neighbors.

Menu:
Barbecued skewers of marinated beef & veggies
Potato Salad
Ambrosia
Potato chips
Tortilla chips and salsa
Grilled Dilly Asparagus
Corn on the cob
Baked potato fries
Apple Junk
Cheese cake with warm blueberry sauce
New Belgium Beer (CO)
Red Truck Wine (CA)

Activity: Croquet on the front lawn (Team John and Leah FTW).

Another fabulous FPPC! Lots of first-timers to make things interesting. And perfect summery weather!


Grilled Dilly Asparagus

Ingredients
Bundle of fresh, smallish asparagus
Splash of olive oil
Several shakes of dried crushed dill weed
Pinch of salt

Lay asparagus in wide, shallow dish. Splash with olive oil. Sprinkle with dill and salt. Toss lightly. Grill! Devour!

Americana-Rama!

Time for a sunny, summery Fancy Paper Plate Club extravaganza!

When: Tonight!! 5:30ish
Where: Amanda & Sean's
Who: You! And your friends!
Theme: Americana

Proposed Menu:
BBQ Steak & Veggie Skewers in Gordon's Special Sauce
Potato Salad
Ambrosia
Cheesecake
Freedom Fries (yes, I said it)
Chips & Dip
BEER!


See you there!

China Paradise

Where: Kent’s
Who: Kent, Caitlin, Jillian, Gordon, Leah, John, Ben, Petey

Menu:
BBQ Pork with hot mustard
Sweet Venison-Pork Egg Rolls with hoisin dipping sauce
Wonton Soup
Asian Chicken and Noodle Salad
Lemon Chicken (served over hot white rice)

We ate on Kent’s back porch (new outdoor furniture!) and had a little fire as well. The food was fabulous, as always! Cait made the salad and many of the wontons for the soup. Ben was initiated into the club (next time we will make him cook!).

Lemon Chicken

Ingredients:
2 chicken breast halves, cut into bite-size pieces
2 TBS corn starch
2 TBS soy Sauce
1 whipped egg white

Sauce:
Juice of 2 large lemons, plus zest of one lemon
1 TBS of soy sauce
1 TBS rice wine
1 tsp sugar

Optional:
Chopped zucchini, baby corn, green onions and/or snow peas

Sprinkle chicken pieces with corn starch and stir until well mixed. Mix soy sauce and egg white, then pour over chicken and mix well. Heat sesame oil in large wok, add chicken and sauté until brown on all sides.

Meanwhile, stir together sauce ingredients. When chicken is browned, remove from wok and set aside. Pour sauce into wok and bring to a boil. Add chicken and any chopped veggies you have chosen to add. Cook until sauce thickens. Serve over hot rice.

Chinese Night with the FPPC!

When: Monday, May 17th (eveningish)
Where: Kent's House
What: Delicious Home-made Chinese Food!!

Jillian and Gordon will make their delicious won-ton soup. John Henry has promised egg rolls that are scrumptious-bordering-on-deadly.

Bring a side dish or main dish to share. Fresh steamed rice will be available.

See you there!

I Relish a Good Repast, don't you???

CANCELLED--MAY RESCHEDULE, STAY TUNED!

Next FPPC: 04/22/10
Where: John & Leah's
When: Eveningish

WHAT: (or should I say "what?!") Theme for the evening is "foods that begin with the letter 'R'. J&L will provide a main dish or two, J&G will bring dessert. Bring a side dish or salad to share, but remember....it has to begin with the letter R!