Wine Club
- At August 1, 2012
- By Lori
- In Desserts
0
There was a change of scenery at Wine Club this month! The hostess for our July gathering recently moved into a new home, so we got to sip our Sancerre while enjoying her comfortable, new abode. I was also quite impressed with my friend’s skills in the kitchen; she tackled homemade gnocchi for the first time, and they turned out beautifully.
We started with a tasty hummus plate, complete with hummus-stuffed tomatoes – great presentation!

Along with the hummus, we dove into Creamy Crab Rangoon Dip, which really tasted like the Chinese restaurant fried puff. This is a much better way to get your fix!

Next, we had a Watermelon and Feta Salad with Arugula and Spinach that was so light and fresh, I felt like I could have eaten bowls and bowls of it! This is the perfect salads for summer.

Now for the gnocchi! My friend boiled the homemade dumplings, and then pan-seared them, making them al dente and slightly crispy on the outside. The gnocchi were then tossed in a basil pesto sauce.


For dessert we had Sticky Popcorn Cake with M&Ms. If you love popcorn like I do, then you won’t want to miss this! The cake is like a giant rise crispy treat, but made with popcorn. We spent the remainder of the night chiseling away piece of the cake. One you start, its difficult to stop!

Source: Allrecipes.com
What You Need
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons white balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 cups arugula
- 2 cups baby spinach leaves
- 1 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
- 2 cups bite sized watermelon chunks
What To Do
- Whisk the olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, and salt together in a small bowl; set aside.
- Combine the arugula, spinach, onions, and tomatoes in a large salad bowl. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad mixture; toss to coat. Add the feta cheese and watermelon to serve.
What You Need
- 1 (8 ounce) container ricotta cheese
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, plus more to keep the dough from sticking when rolling out dough (up to 1 additional cup)
What To Do
- Stir together the ricotta cheese, eggs, parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a large bowl until evenly combined. Mix in 1 cup of flour. Add additional flour if needed to form a soft dough. Set aside to let the dough rise.
- Once the dough has risen, divide into 3 or 4 pieces, and roll into 1/2-inch-thick ropes on a floured surface. Cut each rope into 1-inch pieces. Take a fork and place it upside down on the counter. Press the 1-inch pieces of dough gently on the back end of the prongs of the fork and roll the dough to form a gnocchi-like shape. Place pieces on a lightly floured baking sheet. Place in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil over high heat. Boil the gnocchi until they float to the surface, 2 to 3 minutes, then drain.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the gnocchi in a single layer and cook until golden and crisp, about 3-4 minutes. Turn the gnocchi and cook until golden and crisp, about 3 more minutes.
- Remove from heat and toss with your favorite sauce.
- Serve warm with additional Parmesan cheese.
Source: http://jennysteffens.blogspot.com
What You Need
- 2 bags of popcorn, popped
- 1 bag of marshmallows (10 oz.)
- 1 stick of butter
- 1 cup of M&M's
- 1 cup of peanuts
- Bunt pant
What To Do
- In a large bowl, melt butter in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Add marshmallows and stir in with the butter. Microwave the marshmallows and butter for 1 1/2 - 2 minutes (or more) until the marshmallows have puffed. Stir together, breaking down the puffed marshmallows into a sticky sauce.
- Add popped popcorn and nuts and stir together. I wait to plug the M&M's in the outside so they don't discolor the 'sticky' marshmallow sauce.
- Butter or spray with cooking spray, a bunt pan. Pour in popcorn mixture.
- Cover and refrigerate or let sit for 1 hour. To remove from the pan, loosen sides with a knife. Transfer onto a cake stand or plate by placing the plate upside down on the bunt pan, then inverting it. Cover with plastic wrap to keep it fresh.





