The One-Cookbook Dinner Party

I feel bad.

I have a bookshelf full of carefully curated—OK, not so carefully curated, if you notice “Gone with the Grits” sticking out there…Whatever…I have a bookshelf full of eclectic and highly interesting cookbooks gathering dust, sniffling quietly every time I walk through the hallway where they’ve been in limbo since, I don’t know, since I started “googling” ingredients and ripping pages out of magazines. What can I say? I’m succumbing to the instant gratification trigger that is the hallmark of our modern society. I’m not proud about that either.

I also feel bad because I don’t see my friends as often as I’d like.

(Pause.)

Bingo.

Amy Sedaris helped me out with my first go at constructing an entire dinner party around ONE source, in this case, her hilarious and utterly helpful “I Like You: Hospitality Under the Influence.”

My challenge: Find a beverage, appetizer, main course, and dessert from ONE cookbook—and they must somehow try to complement each other. Invite ten friends and away we go!

Beverages: Arnold Palmers (nonalcoholic) and Rum Punch Dazzler; plus we couldn’t resist inventing a twist on the Arnold so we could throw in some of that sweet tea vodka that’s been making the party circuit. We named it in honor of the late, great 80s rocker Robert Palmer, who sang about another sweet addiction back in the day.

Appetizers: Colbert’s Shrimp Paste (yes--THAT Colbert--anything w/ that funny guy involved is definitely on MY menu!) and Lil’ Smokey Cheese Ball—which was a tremendous hit. I understand why Amy sells these—they’re super tasty!

Dinner: Greek Salad, Pastitsio and Greek Beans—great combo for feeding a crowd, F.Y.I.!

Dessert: I’d rather not mention these because it shakes my confidence in my baking ability, but I tried, anyway—Tattletail’s Vanilla Cupcakes (I either overbeat the batter or overbaked so they were pretty dense) and Strawberry Shortcakes on Sweet Cream Biscuit Hockey Pucks (rolled out too thin so they didn’t puff up). It’s OK. Lessons were learned and no one went hungry. (I distracted them with more sweet tea vodka.)

Bonus: Amy’s wackily-illustrated book provided lots of décor inspiration. I had fun making the popcorn cherry blossom centerpieces and putting googly eyes on peanuts.

Well…it worked. And I’m going to do it again. This time, “Nigella Bites” will bring me one step closer to making up with my neglected little cookbook shelf.