Girl about Town: Party Down at the Pot Luck

This past week, my dear friend Caroline celebrated her birthday and I managed to whoop it up with the b-day girl without breaking the calorie bank. Here’s how it all went down…

I got excited right away when the invitation arrived because Caroline always throws a fun party. And being the eco-conscious gal that she is, her intention was to get people to shop local and make a dish to bring to the party using those local ingredients and products. She called it “The Mean, Green, Local Foods Pot Luck and Dance Party Birthday Bash.” Hold on – did someone say Dance Party? I’m all in!

First let me say, this turned out to be a great party idea. People really enjoyed making (or buying) recipes with locally grown food, and had fun sharing the story behind their dishes. My contribution to the table was a tasty butternut squash and baked apple casserole. It was the perfect combination of savory and sweet and delicious!

Since the focus was on local foods, there was a fair share of vegetable dishes, like garlic green beans, ginger carrots, and a spaghetti squash “pasta” dish (a huge hit), that helped me get in lots of veggies that night. For those who were less inclined to cook, people brought locally made items like organic chicken with herbs from a farm just outside the city and some fresh apple cider – ‘tis the season! By the time the cake made its way out, we were all full from all the delicious dishes, so I asked a friend if she wanted to share a small piece, so we could each have just a taste. She obliged, so I was saved from self-induced sugar overload.

After the feast, we moved on to Caroline’s living room “dance floor” to bust a move. Super fun and we burned some calories along the way! We took turns playing DJ and hamming it up in the middle of the circle. In the end, the party was a huge success – with a focus on local foods, a sampling of some healthy and innovative recipes, and a dance party to beat the band. Good times, good times…

Autumn Apple-Butternut Casserole
Serves 8-10

Squash:
4 cups cooked butternut squash, mashed and seasoned with salt and pepper to taste

Apples:
6 cups peeled, cored, and sliced apples

Heat 1 Tbs butter (or you can use 2-3 spritzes of no-cal butter spray) in a skillet, add sliced apples, sprinkle with 2 Tbs granulated sugar (or you can use a sugar substitute, like Splenda®), cover and simmer on low heat until barely tender (about 5 mins)

Assemble:
In a 3-qt casserole dish, layer apples, then squash, and sprinkle toasted pumpkin or sunflower seeds over the top. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes.

 

by JessieDavenport on 10/10/2011 | Share Story With a Friend

tags: Recipes, motivation, planning, mood, strategies