Appetizer: Artichoke and Fennel Caponata. How funny, Kate picked this dish exactly one year ago. And I still like it. The only thing that she did differently is that this time around, she bought pre-sliced toasted rounds. I guess she was lazier this year.
Entree: Black and Boursin Burgers. Good, solid burgers. They were flavorful and I loved the soft cheese oozing from the sides. Don’t be afraid of the black peppercorns, the pepper flavor is not overwhelming at all. And although it told you to smash whole peppercorns, using a pepper grinder saves you time and energy.
Side Dishes: Salt and Vinegar Broiled Fingerling Potatoes. If you are a huge fan of salt and vinegar chips, then this is a poor substitute. Don’t get me wrong, I do love vinegar but I thought it was too much in this dish. And I was expecting more of a crunch like a chip and that did not happen. Also, when you cook that much vinegar, it permeates your clothes and skin.
Greens with Creamy Berry Dressing. This was a good salad, if you like fruit in salads. I was a bit put off by the dressing because it was a sickly-looking color and was chunky due to the cranberries. It tasted delicious, though, slightly sweet. You definitely should serve this salad tossed in the dressing and not served on the side.
Dessert: Mississippi Mud Cake. This dessert name aptly describes the cake because it didn’t set up as written in the recipe so it was a bit muddy in consistency. Be sure you have a tall glass of milk when eating this cake, whew, sweetness. If you decide to make this dessert, a suggestion would be to cut the frosting down.
