Monday, March 21, 2011

Our First Cooking Club


Happy Monday! I hope you've all had a nice relaxing weekend just like we did. On Friday night, my friends and I had our very first Cooking Club get together. Unfortunately, we were having such a good time tasting all the yummy food and chatting away, that I forgot to take any photos (next time I promise!!) so all I have are a few shots of the table before everyone arrived.

It was a smaller group than usual for our first meet up as two girls couldn't make it, but it was still an enjoyable night. I organized a little 'surprise gift' for one of my guests (the latest Good Food magazine and a sample pack of goodies that came with it) who I chose by placing a sticker randomly under one of the side plates on the table. The person who sat in this spot received the prize.

As for food, half of us made salads and half made desserts. I also put some roast beef on in the slow cooker to go with our salads. Our menu consisted of:

Pumpkin and Spinach Salad
Broccoli Salad

Raspberry Bread and Butter Pudding
Easy Tiramisu
Turkish Delight Rocky Road

We have decided to hold our Cooking Clubs every month and a half. For next time, I would like to try making a special drink to serve my guests and would like to spend some more time on decorations and making the table extra pretty. Ideas for future themes we discussed were easy weeknight meals, winter warmers, morning tea treats, an international night and Christmas goodies.

Overall it was a fun night and it was great to taste the dishes and to come away with several new recipes to add to my recipe folder, several of which I'm dying to make again.


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28 comments:

  1. UnknownMarch 21, 2011 at 2:57 PM

    Your table looks beautiful and such a lovely setting outside with the soft light, i'm not suprised you were all talking and chatting too much to take photos. Those dishes sound YUUUmmmmmmoooo too and how sweet of you to include a surprise gift, what a great idea! So glad you had a nice weekend and the inaugural cooking club was a hit!
    Have a great afternoon,
    Jxx

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  2. Simone - honeyandfizzMarch 21, 2011 at 3:07 PM

    Such a fab idea Amanda! All those desserts sound delish. Are you taking turns holding it at your houses? Lovely to have a surprise goodie bag too xx

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  3. Sarah BMarch 21, 2011 at 3:16 PM

    What a lovely setting! I like the random prize idea. Your menu looks as though it was delicious. Much more exciting than the boring dinner I'm about to cook :)
    Xx

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  4. AmandaMarch 21, 2011 at 3:22 PM

    Sarah - nothing interesting here tonight either - just good old spaghetti bolognese - although I told Grace we could make a lemon cake when she wakes from her nap so at least we'll have some yummy dessert :)

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  5. melissaMarch 21, 2011 at 3:24 PM

    This sounds like a lovely idea and what a sweet thought to add a surprise goody bag.

    The table looks so pretty with the soft light, white linen and pretty flowers. xx

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  6. AnonymousMarch 21, 2011 at 3:28 PM

    I love the idea of this and have been considering starting one with a few friends...a chance for us to have some uninterrupted adult conversation over yummy nibbles.
    x

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  7. Raine and SageMarch 21, 2011 at 4:51 PM

    What a great idea with the mystery gift! Delicious menu plan too. So good to organise something like this in advance for experimenting and learning new recipes, but also to nurture friendships. x

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  8. Noosa Beach HouseMarch 21, 2011 at 4:53 PM

    What an absolutely fabulous idea and I loved your idea of the "spot" prize, what fun! Your table looks lovely too, cheers x

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  9. UnknownMarch 21, 2011 at 5:20 PM

    Your first cooking club dinner sounds like it was a success! I love your gift idea, what a wonderful surprise for one lucky guest. xx

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  10. Life in the Country LaneMarch 21, 2011 at 5:31 PM

    Love the fresh menu, and a great idea. Your table is simply elegant - what a fun get together. Good to be back and catching up on all you have been up to. Love the previous post recipe.
    Rebecca x

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  11. this jen dayMarch 21, 2011 at 5:48 PM

    What a fabulous idea! I'm going to canvas my girlfriends and see if they're up for it! Jenx

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  12. My Little BungalowMarch 21, 2011 at 7:05 PM

    Sounds like such fun, Amanda. I love your idea of a prize for one of your lucky friends! The themes for future gatherings are great too!
    Claudia

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  13. MeganMarch 21, 2011 at 7:13 PM

    Sounds like it starting of with a roar of success! The table setting looks lovely and I bet the gift was a nice surprise. Will look forward to some photos from the next one, and perhaps a recipe or two?

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  14. JennyMarch 21, 2011 at 7:28 PM

    Sounds like a fun idea Amanda and the menu is making my mouth water for the second time in blog land this evening! I like the idea of a prize too, extra special. ;-)

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  15. JaneMarch 21, 2011 at 8:21 PM

    You clever girl, Amanda - what a fabulous idea. Mmm, is there any tiramisu left? J x

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  16. Rachie @ A Chi Chi AffairMarch 22, 2011 at 5:49 AM

    Such a great idea - love the favours! xo

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  17. TraceyMarch 22, 2011 at 6:32 AM

    Sounds Amazing Amanda. So much fun. I get you about forgetting to take the actual photos!! xx

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  18. KarynMarch 22, 2011 at 7:13 AM

    What a fabulous idea. Love the prize idea , you are always so thoughtful.
    Karyn x

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  19. AnonymousMarch 22, 2011 at 10:36 AM

    I wish I was into cooking!

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  20. Michelle {Jarrah Jungle}March 22, 2011 at 12:38 PM

    Such a great idea to do with friends. A cocktail or punch will definately be a hit at the next one ;)

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  21. UnknownMarch 22, 2011 at 3:46 PM

    What a lovely idea Amanda. It all looks and sounds amazing.

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  22. a country wifeMarch 22, 2011 at 5:09 PM

    Oh Amanda, everything looks and sounds perfect! I'm so glad you had such a great night xxx

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  23. Chuzai LivingMarch 22, 2011 at 5:43 PM

    Your table setting looks beautiful!! What a sweet evening you had with your friends and I love the gift idea. So thoughtful of you to do that. I might steal your idea since my friend started a cooking group as well. :) We had a theme and our first evening was Southeast Asian food. I know what you mean by forgetting to take photos. I do forget (believe it or not) to take photos before I eat sometimes.

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  24. EmmaMarch 22, 2011 at 7:03 PM

    I so love how you have done this! The table setting looks fabulous and the menu, yum! How thoughtful to have a surprise goody bag as well. x

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  25. JillMarch 22, 2011 at 8:18 PM

    Amanda what a great idea. this is such a great idea. the table looks great

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  26. Anna WhiteMarch 23, 2011 at 3:55 PM

    Sounds like the night was a big success...well done honey! would have loved to be a fly floating round that table that night..lol
    Did someone say Lemon cake? Yummo! x

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  27. CatherineMarch 24, 2011 at 11:28 AM

    Looks and sounds wonderful Amanda, I love the menu, broccoli salad - yum! plus the idea of the gift is great too, I hope you had lots of fun and definitely look forward to hearing about your next event.

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  28. CatMarch 25, 2011 at 7:39 PM

    I love your first cooking club menu sounds yummy especially pumpkin and spinach salad and such a clever idea all bringing a dish along to enjoy a delicious meal together. It's such a nice way to regularly catch up with friends too. The setting looks beautiful. Have a wonderful weekend sweet I'll email soon. xo

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