January 13, 2010

Delicious Dinner With Friends

Hello Friends~ ~
This idea all started because of a trip to the "Olive Garden". I ordered the Shrimp Manicotti Formaggio from their special menu and thought it was delightful. Have you tried it?
We have wonderful neighbors who are always ready to come over for dinner for one of my experiments. It's fun to have friends you don't have to be to serious with. If the dinner turns out poorly we can call out for pizza. Well pizza was not necessary. This one is a keeper!


The centerpiece was still on the table from the holidays and I was feeling a little fancy so I added cute little Christmas Cards as placecards and got out the crystal, just in case the dinner failed at least the table looked lovely.


This is the silver I got for a steal at an little antique shop. It was almost black.
Polished up nicely didn't it?
This is my version of the Olive Garden dish. We all gave it a thumbs up.
Try it and let me know what you think? I'm happy to share it with all of you.



Rocotta Rolls with Shrimp & Brandy Sauce
Serves 5
1 lb. Lasagna Noodles cooked and drained
* * * *
STUFFING FOR PASTA ROLLS
2 lb. Ricotta
1 T. Oregano
1 tsp. parsley
1/2 tsp. salt
20 grinds of pepper
1 1/4 C. grated Mozzarella
2 - 3 eggs depends on how soft your ricotta is
start with 2, if not soft enough to spread add another.
Mix all together. Lay 2 or 3 noodles on the counter at a time side by side. Using a rubber spatula spread a thick layer of filling on each noodle and roll each one up starting at a short end. Place the rolls in a single layer in a casserole dish coated with olive oil. I make 2 dishes and freeze one for later. You will get 14 - 16 rolls. If you will be using all the rolls at once you will need to double the sauce recipe.
Bake the rolls at 350* till hot. Keep warm. Do not crisp them. If your oven is to hot lower the temperature to just heat the rolls.
SAUCE:
2 T. Butter
2 T. olive oil
1/3 C. onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 - 1/2 tsp. Red Pepper flakes
1 tsp. flour
1/4 C. Brandy
2 C. heavy cream
1/2 C. grated Parmesan cheese
30 cooked shrimp (6 for each serving, more if you like)
28 Oz. can Diced Tomatoes, Very Well drained in a strainer.
Melt butter and olive oil in a large skillet over med. high heat. Saute onion till translucent. Add garlic, red pepper and flour, stir and cook at least 2 minutes to fully cook flour. Adjust heat to lower if necessary. Add brandy and cook till reduced by half. Slowly add cream stirring till thickened. Add Parmesan while stirring, add shrimp and HALF the tomatoes cooking to heat. Stirring gently so you don't break up the tomatoes.
TO PLATE:
Place a pool of sauce on each plate and put 2 rolls on top. Top with more sauce and 6 shrimp to each plate. Garnish with additional diced tomatoes. I heated mine in the microwave. Serve with bread to sop up the sauce.
I could use a little computer help here. I had this recipe in my file in Word and thought I could just copy and paste it to my blog post but No Way! I had to retype the recipe. Does anyone know how I can paste copy into a Blogger post?

I'm linking this post to Susan at "Between Naps On The Porch" for Tablescape Thursday.
And Michael Lee at "Designs By Gollum" For Foodie Friday.
Please stop by at these friends to find the links to others who are joining us this week.
~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

43 comments:

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

What a beautiful colorful table! Love the use of the bright runner. The menu looks so yummy.
Yvonne

ellen b said...

Oh a lovely table and some great looking food! Beautiful...

Freda Marie said...

Warm, inviting and romantic is what I see...good job

American Homemaker said...

I really, really love those plates!

Sue said...

Lucky neighbors!...lovely table and a great meal...I love the Olive Garden and i can say that I have never gotten a bad meal there....and I'm Italian!!...Thank you for the delightful recipe...Sue.

Phyllis @Around the House said...

wow what a wonderful dinner, love the tablescape and the silverware, i think you got a super great deal on that it is stunning, love it all...

Sarah said...

Beautiful table and the dinner does look delicious. I like the way you used the runner in the center of the table. It offers both a stunning color and an interesting texture.

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Lovely table and the meal looks awesomely good!!!

The Tablescaper said...

Love transfer ware!

- The Tablescaper

Kathryn @ Bonafide Southern said...

Very pretty table! I love your transferware and those little cards are just preciious. I simply must try your recipe...it really looks delicious! Thanks for sharing and happy TT to you!

Rettabug said...

I had trouble tonight when I wanted to copy & paste some info that I had saved about my depression glass. Guess Blogger doesn't like Microsoft!

Thank you for that delicious sounding recipe. I have not yet tried Shrimp Manicotti Formaggio at Olive Garden but it sounds WONDERFUL!!

Treasia Stepp said...

Lovely lovely tablescape. I love the runner you've used. I've got to try the recipe as I'm a huge Olive Garden fan myself. It looks scrumptious.

JoAnn said...

This is a must-try recipe! Very easy to put together also. I'm glad you didn't have to order pizza :)

Marigene said...

Very nice table...fabulous silver! It sure did clean up nicely. Don't you just love getting a deal you simply can't turn down! Thanks for sharing your recipe.

Shirley said...

Well, I'd like to be one of your neighbors that gets invited to such a beautiful meal! The tablescape is lovely and oh my, the dinner looks wonderful!!!

Jeanette said...

The beautiful runner brings out the color in your transferware. Just lovely.

The Blushing Hostess said...

Gorgeous. I adore transferware. Well done!

Celly B said...

I love your red transferware! The recipe looks delicious.

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

What a beautiful table. Love the red runner and the pretty red transferware. The menu sounds just yummy. Hugs, Marty

jillskict said...

Love the centerpiece! The food looks delicious as well!

Lori (All That Splatters) said...

Such a pretty table! And what a find on your silverware!! Your food looks wonderful, too -

Rattlebridge Farm said...

The sheaths are 20", the same size as the napkins. I bought mine (my friend Jain at Food With Style found some at Pier 1). I am thinking of buying organza and trim and making a set.
Take lots of pictures at your party!

Bill said...

Hello, Ahrisha. Beautiful table, and your meal sounds fantastic! Since I'm fond of shiny things, I was instantly drawn to your silverware. It did polish up beautifully! You probably already know, but the pattern is "Patrician" by Oneida, introduced in 1914. Here's a link to it on Replacements.com: http://www.replacements.com/webquote/OHSPAT.htm

You can buy a 65-piece set on there for only $499. Did you do better than that at the antique mall? ;)

Have you tried right-clicking and pasting copy in html mode? I've had trouble pasting copy from Word in "compose," but Blogger doesn't seem to mind in "html."

Regards,
Bill

Sandy said...

Hi - I have an Apple MAC laptop so I don't know how MS Word will copy/paste into your blog. But what Bill said to try above would be worth a try (i.e., copy/paste from MS Word into HTML instead of "Compose". Actually I haven't tried to copy/paste yet from Apple's program like Word but called "Pages" but will have to try it. Your table looks lovely and I have a silverware set passed down from my Mother that is similar to the one you show. My Mom bought hers in the early 1940s and it's a set with the pattern is split into two - info with it says it is "The Nobility Silver Co., Inc. of Newark, NY - unfortunately info doesn't mention the pattern names. I should do a post on it one of these days. There is so much to learn and I have hubby working on my photos but still haven't gotten it to post like we want.

Teacup Lane (Sandy)

Anonymous said...

That recipe looks divine! And your tablescape is lovely, too! Thanks for sharing.

Chubby Chieque said...

It looks so pretty & inviting here at your place. So cozy with the red colour too. Very sizzy…

Oh! Your foodie seems so yummy…

TY for sharing your fab ideas. For me this meme is heavenly fabulous as I love having a beautiful home.

/R

P.S.
Sorry for my poor tablescaping as of now. It's my first time to join Tablescaping. I will be attentive next time.
Keep on looking.

Mary Bergfeld said...

Your table is just beautiful and your pasta rolls look and sound delicious. Thanks for sharing your recipe with us. Have a wonderful Foodie Friday.

Cathy Miller said...

Let me know if the house next to you comes up for sale...I want to be your neighbor!! The plates are gorgeous, the recipe sounds delicious and looks even better!

Chubby Chieque said...

Hi dear A,

Am sorry for my poor contribution in my first time participating the Thursday Tablescaping.

I uploaded another photo of me a bit close-up of my centerpiece just for you §;-)

Have a great week-end.

Janean said...

everything looks FAB!

you're one of those who truly enjoy cooking?

red transferware...be still my heart.

Rattlebridge Farm said...

Bandy says he is so making this. Yum. I can't wait.

Pat Harris said...

Your table looks beautiful and the food scrumptious! I can't wait to try it.

Thank you for following junkblossoms! I look forward to your visits. Blessings, Pat

The Watts Family said...

Thanks for visiting with me over at my blog! You have a wonderful blog and I can see we are kindreds for sure!! ~Looks like a very yummy recipe and your table looks very pretty all set up ~Blessings Heather

Anonymous said...

My what a lovely table you have set and the recipe sounds wonderful! I have several guests coming in 2 weeks and this sounds like a great meal to serve!

TiffanyJane said...

Beautiful table setting! The silverware is so pretty too, they cleaned up nicely!
Wow, the picture of the dish you made looks sooooo GOOD!! I will have to try the recipe :)

You were asking on my blog if I left my Christmas tree up.....
I always take it down, usually the day after Christmas. I do have a cabinet that I keep seasonal pieces in that are too cute to put up. So I have the joy of several Christmas/Halloween and a few other pieces year round :)
Have a great day!!
Tiffany :)

Greenearth said...

What an exciting setting and meal you have created.

Maddie said...

My mother has that china too and she absoluely loves it! A lucky lady!

Cathy said...

Your table is beautiful. Red and white is my favorite color combination any time of year. Your pasta looks wonderful.

My Slice of Heaven said...

Your tablescape is beautiful and the menu looks just delicious. Thanks for leaving me a sweet comment and adding me to your blog list! I added you to mine as well and look forward to visiting in the future! Anita :)

Amanda @ Serenity Now said...

YUM!!! I am so jealous that you have good neighbors like that. :) The house next to us is empty right now, and I am praying that a great, fun family will move in so we'll have someone to hang out with. Your dinner turned out wonderfully. Thanks for the visit. :)

Pam @ bibbidi-bobbidi-beautiful said...

Looks delish! I love your red trasferware dishes (I've been looking for some to display!) and that silver is soooo beautiful!

Lilly's Home Journal said...

Beautiful place setting and the recipe...OMG!! This is on my list to make! Thanks for sharing and thanks for visiting.
Happy day!
Lilly

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