Easy Entertaining

Good morning! Thank you so much your comments on my new Etsy shop and my treasures from the fair. I always enjoy seeing your show and tells each week, too.

We usually have a few friends over for a casual dinner Saturday evenings, but this week we had a bigger group: friends who recently got married, the groom's parents, our pastor, and another friend from church. Last week was busy with school, music lessons (we got a flat tire on the way there!) and getting our carpets cleaned, so I spaced my to-do list out over several days.

Wednesday
-Plan Menu:

Appetizer:
Bagel crisps and spinach dip (from Costco)

Dinner:
Baked ziti
Garden salad
Rosemary bread (from Costco)

Dessert:
Apple crisp

Beverages:
Iced tea
Lemonade


Thursday
-Clean House:
Dust
Vacuum
Bathrooms


Friday
-Grocery shop

Saturday morning
-Quick tidy
-Make baked ziti and apple crisp (you could also make these Friday evening.)



~Apple Crisp~

4 medium gala apples
4 medium Granny Smith apples
1/4 cup cinnamon sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups rolled oats
1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup butter

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

1. Peel, core and slice apples. Toss with cinnamon sugar and pour into 9 x 13 pan.

2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, oatmeal, cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar. Cut butter into mixture until crumbly.

3. Sprinkle mixture with over apple slices and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 to 50 minutes or until apples are tender. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream!



Baked Ziti

Ingredients:
1 (16 oz.) package penne pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 lb. ground beef
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 egg, beaten
4 cups marinara sauce (purchased or homemade)
15 ounces ricotta cheese
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
8 ounces sliced mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Instructions:
1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente. Drain and set aside.

2. Heat olive oil in large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add ground beef. As the meat cooks, add garlic powder and Italian seasoning, as well as salt and pepper. Cook until evenly brown, and drain off any fat.

3. Add marinara sauce to meat and simmer (low heat) for 15 minutes.

4. In a large bowl, mix ricotta, shredded mozzarella, and egg, adding more black pepper if desired. Add cooked pasta to mixture and stir gently.

5. Preheat oven to 375°F. Begin layering your ingredients in a lightly-greased 9x13” baking dish as follows: a thin layer of meat-sauce mixture in the bottom of pan, then a layer of cheese and noodle mixture, then another thin layer of meat sauce and another layer of cheese and noodle. Repeat as necessary, ending with meat sauce on top.

6. Top with mozzarella cheese slices and parmesan cheese.

7. Bake for about 30 minutes or until the ziti is heated through and the cheeses are melted.

-Wash, dry and put away all pots and pans.
-Unload dishwasher before guests arrive.

-Set table














-Enjoy your dinner and company!


Do you have any easy entertaining tips to share, too? I hope you all have a wonderful start to your week!