P.A.R.T.A.Y

Awhile ago I decided I wanted to host a dinner party so we did it a couple of weekends ago. Since I have become such a fancy lady, I thought it was fitting. Okay, maybe not fancy but I try to make myself and family look nice.
Before we get to the dinner part though, I want to tell you about the pre-dinner action. T and I realized that since we aren't married and therefore haven't registered for all the nice house things, we don't have all the things one needs to throw a dinner party.
Wine glasses, well, check. Enough tables, check. Candles, yea. Sister to help decorate table, yessir. Plates, need about 3. Butter knives, have about 3. Regular cups, that numbers keeps shrinking due to mister and sister butterfingers. Napkins, I guess paper towels don't count. Crap. Time to go to the fancy home store. If we are going to buy things, might as well start out right. Off we went to the Greenhouse in Bham. We decided to go without the butter knives though, we didn't really need them. And napkins were brought in the paper variety. Who can spend $20 on four napkins? We needed 10. Don't worry, we left enough for you to buy.
Okay back from the store, we have some eco-friendly plates (can't leave water on them or they'll disintegrate, seriously), we have flowers, we have food, we have drinks. Let's get this partay started yo! To begin, I would like to say that one guest exclaimed, "you made this and you can't even taste it?! It is so good!" Yes, I had some rave reviews. The menu was:

Veggie Sushi
Salad
Garlic Mashed Taters
Sage Grilled Carrots
Beef Wellington
Ricotta Gnocchi with Apple Cream Sauce

Mmmmm! Now that I think about it, I never did post my gnocchi recipe. I have been meaning to, it is awesome. I will someday. Right now I would like to focus on the Beef Wellington. Now, I have never had beef wellington but saw it on the Food Network over Thanksgiving (we don't have cable so I watch a crap ton at Mom and Dad's when I visit). It looked divine and like something T would enjoy. After a positive taste testing from T before the dinner party, I decide to make it. It is actually quite easy. You can find the recipe I used here at the Food Network site (the cook time is not 6 hours, I don't know why it says that!). I haven't figured out how to make the bottom not soggy though. If you figure it out, please let me know.
Besides the good food, the party was a good time and enjoyed by all (I believe). We chatted and played apples to apples and ate 3 different desserts thanks to the guests. We even had a sleep over with a few party-goers. It was a success and I can't wait until I feel like having another one.