Italian Dinner Party

Italian food is a dinnertime favorite and it's no wonder why. Many dishes are economical and easy to prepare. Unfortunately, it's too common to limit ourselves to spaghetti and meatballs, take-out pizza, and an occassional lasgna.

It's a shame to ignore a cuisine filled with such fresh and wonderful tastes. And for dinner parties, it's hard to beat. Italian food lends itself to a variety of healthy alternatives, from fresh produce to olive oil, so everyone can enjoy dinner - even those with dietary or health issues.

The following is a series of recipes we recently used at an Italian style dinner party. The orange salad, sherbet, and sauce was prepared the night before, the bread and pasta were prepared as everyone had a drink. No last minute running around a hot kitchen. For once, we had a fun dinner party where everyone had an opportunity to relax and enjoy (even the cook!).

*Orange Salad*
Refreshing and light. Tastes even better the next day.

9 medium oranges
1/2 c. sweetened, shredded coconut
A touch of sugar (if needed)

Peel and segment the oranges. Make sure to remove the bitter white pith on the outside. Cut each slice into four pieces. Mix with the coconut and add a little sugar if the oranges are not quite sweet enough. Chill until serving.

*Vodka and Cream Tomato Sauce*
A classier sauce for pasta. Can be refrigerated overnight and reheated the next day.

2 T. olive oil
1 onion, diced
1 (28 oz) can of tomatoes and basil
1 c. cream
1/4 c. vodka
1/4 t. red pepper flakes
Parmesan cheese
Penne pasta, or your favorite pasta

Heat olive oil in a skillet and add the onion. Cook the onion until it is translucent. Drain and chop the tomatoes and add to the onion. Stir and cook until most of the liquid is absorbed, about 25 minutes. Add the cream, vodka, and pepper flakes and cook until thick, about 25 minutes. Serve over pasta with the cheese.

*Basil Bread*
A nice change from garlic bread and very easy to heat up at the last minute.

1 loaf French or Italian bread
1/2 c. olive oil
1/4 c. pureed basil, or finely chopped
2 T. grated Parmesan cheese

Slice the bread into 14 slices, but don't cut all the way through the loaf. Mix together the oil, basil, and cheese. Spread the basil oil on each of the slices. Wrap the bread in aluminum foil and heat in a 200 deg. oven for 20 minutes.

*Strawberry Sherbet*
Fresh or frozen strawberries work well - easier than most ice creams.

1 qt strawberries
1/2 c. lemon juice
1/4 c. orange juice
2 1/2 c. sugar

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