Cooking Club at Valerie's

Valerie was the host of this month's cooking club. The first thing I saw when I walked into her kitchen was this gorgeous loaf of wine cheese bread!! I was first introduced to this AMAZING BREAD at Nancy's Infused Vodka Cooking Club in January 2010. I think I have probably mentioned it at every single cooking club (and various other social functions, too) since then. So I was OVERJOYED when Valerie said she would be making it again tonight!! Behind it is her other dish for the evening - Tuna, Pasta and Pecan Salad.



I had to have a little moment alone with the wine cheese bread. Look, that one pocket of cheese in the foreground looks like a heart! I think it loves me back!!



I had to tear myself away from the loaf, because it was time to start eating!



Yumi made a deconstructed eggplant parmesan.



It was so much lighter and more summery than traditional eggplant parmesan! There was also a lemony olive oil to drizzle on top.



I was up next, and I served a Golden Peach Soup with Shrimp & Crab Seviche. I wanted to try this recipe because I am OBSESSED with fresh peaches, and also because I love seafood. This recipe ROCKED. Three pounds of peaches!! Here is a link to the recipe, I highly recommend it!



Served with some slices of the dreamy wine cheese bread and I was in HEAVEN.



Emily made a french onion tart! Ooh la la!



We ate the tart along with Valerie's tuna pecan pasta salad and Summer's green bean, quinoa, and crispy shallot salad. This trio went great together!



Mmmmmm!!!



We were pretty full, so we decided to take a little walk. We checked out the garden.



Nancy did a bit of modeling!



Then we ventured back to the house for some fun and games.



Fun and LAUGHING!



We played Balderdash and had dessert. Nancy made TWO KINDS of ice cream sandwiches. Whoa. Chocolate, cherry & pecan cookies with vanilla ice cream, and triple chocolate cookies with vanilla ice cream!!!!



They were so, so, so, so, so, so, SOOOOOOO GOOD.



I was in LOVE.



As we continued the game, my appetite inched slowly back, and I found myself walking out to the dining room several times to slice off "tiny bites" of the wine cheese loaf. Finally, after the millionth tiny bite I said "screw it!" and just grabbed the rest! MMM!!!



It was a fantastic and delicious night and it was magical to be reunited with my favorite wine cheese bread. I can't wait until we cross paths again.