Last Saturday we had a bit of a house party, formally to celebrate J's birthday, but really to have some good craic. I spent most of Saturday preparing food, assisted by my dearest house mates :) This was what we had on the menu (for my future reference):-

Main Dishes

• Goulash
• Rice salad (green peppers, eggs, sweetcorn, tomatoes, capers, salad cream)
• Potato salad (potatoes, parsley, salad cream)
• Vegetable Kebabs (Articoke hearts, feta cheese, olives, cheery tomato, peppers and cucumber)
• Spicy sausages and garlic bread (backups that weren't needed)

• Pistachios, Cashew nuts, Walnuts
• Cheese Platter (5 types of cheese Mexican, Brie, Blue Cheese, Cheddar, Mount [something])
• Tesco cheese crackers (They suck! Get Carr's next time)
• Dips and Breadsticks
• Nachos and spicy tomato dip
• Crisps
• Popcorn

• Coconut marshmallow balls (very popular)
• Fruit Salad (pineapple, grapes, cherries, strawberries, apples, oranges, banana, pears)

The party wasn't much of a wild house party. It was more of a sit down and eat sort of party, very much like the family parties back home. The food was good, which was the most important thing in the end. The idea of preparing goulash (Slovak mother-in-law-to-be recipe) , even in the middle of the Irish summer (= dottian winter), was a good one. It was a pity that M wasn't there to join (and cook some of his masterpiece dishes), since he just left for a holiday in Italy.

More pictures of the party here

P.S. Food ideas for next time - suggestions welcome.

• Stuffed Olives
• Brusketta
• Stuffed Mushrooms
• Broad Beans
• Couscous salad