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Gnocchi for a Birthday Party!

January 18, 2014 by Mary 18 Comments

Homemade potato gnocchi with a simple red sauce in an antique china bowl, garnished with chopped chives.We celebrated my husband’s birthday last Sunday. The kids (our boys and their girlfriends) wanted to do an all day cook-a–thon again and my husband was delighted. As we did last year, we all made a different course while some of us created several dishes. Of course the food was great. With so much love and care going in to it, why wouldn’t it be! My boys are getting to be better cooks than me. And they correct me all the time on things. (I think I raised monsters.) But truly, the best part of this day, this party, is being all together, working in the kitchen and the banter that goes on. I LOVE it! My two courses were a pasta course and dessert. I made homemade gnocchi with a simple red sauce and pecan pie with whipped cream, which was Steve’s request.

Here’s a photo gallery of our afternoon and evening of celebration food.

Black olive tapenade with whole wheat Finn-crisp crackers.

Black olive tapenade with whole wheat Finn-crisp crackers

Chicken liver pate with toast.

Chicken liver pate with toast

Baby spinach salad with carrots and ginger miso dressing.

Baby spinach salad with carrots and ginger miso dressing

The birthday dinner table with the spinach salad.

The birthday dinner table with the spinach salad

Homemade potato gnocchi with a simple red sauce in an antique china bowl, garnished with chopped chives.

Potato gnocchi with a red sauce

Beef Wellington made with LOVE with a heart.

The main course – Beef Wellington made with LOVE with a heart

The main course plate - Beef Wellington, wilted escarole with a warm Balsamic dressing and crispy Yukon Gold potatoes.

The main course plate – Beef Wellington, wilted escarole with a warm Balsamic dressing and crispy Yukon Gold potatoes

Pecan pie, whipped cream and an amazing chocolate chip cookie topped with a little salt.

Pecan pie, (made with raw agave syrup instead of corn syrup) whipped cream and an amazing chocolate chip cookie topped with a little sea salt

And I really want to share this gnocchi recipe from Grace Parisi at Food and Wine magazine. This is the second time I have made this and it is so good and oh so very light. They came out like little delicate pillows. Two of the kids raced to the kitchen for seconds, of which there was little. This is really easy to make too. So give it a go and impress everyone. I served this with a simple red sauce with garlic, shallots and a couple of anchovies and garnished the dish with some fresh chopped chives. Basil or parsley would have been better but I already had some chives washed, dried and snipped so in they went. Serve with Parmesan or Romano cheese to grate fresh on top.

POTATO GNOCCHI – adapted from Grace Parisi at Food and Wine magazine – serves 6 as a first course

2 lbs. baking potatoes (about 4)
2 large egg yolks
Salt
1/2 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
Freshly ground black pepper
Freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
3 tbs. unsalted butter (optional) or a simple red sauce

Preheat the oven to 400°. Pierce the potatoes in 4 places with a fork. Bake in the oven for about 1 hour, until tender.

Halve the potatoes. Scoop the flesh into a ricer and rice the potatoes into a bowl. Stir in the egg yolks and 1 teaspoon of salt. Add the 1/2 cup of flour; stir until a stiff dough forms. Knead the dough gently until smooth but slightly sticky.Homemade gnocchi being rolled out.
Homemade gnocchi being made - delicate little pillows.

Line a baking sheet or platter with wax paper and dust with flour. On a floured surface, cut the dough into 4 pieces, rolling each into a 3/4-inch-thick rope. Cut the ropes into 3/4-inch pieces. Roll each piece against the tines of a fork to make ridges; transfer to the baking sheet or platter.Homemade gnocchi ready to cook on a platter.

In a large, deep pot of simmering salted water, cook the gnocchi until they rise to the surface, then simmer for 2 minutes longer. Make a simple red sauce in a skillet and using a slotted spoon, add the gnocchi. Fold to coat all of them in the sauce. Serve immediately garnished with chopped chives and pass Parmesan or Romano to freshly grate on top.

Alternatively, in a large nonstick skillet, melt the butter. Using a slotted spoon, add the gnocchi to the butter. Season with salt and pepper and cook over high heat for 1 minute. Sprinkle with the cheese and serve.

MAKE AHEAD: The uncooked gnocchi pieces can be frozen on the prepared baking sheet, then transferred to a re-sealable plastic bag and frozen for up to 1 month. Boil without defrosting.

TIP: Save the baked potato shells. You can top them with a little grated cheese and warm up them to make a great little hors d’oeuvres on another evening or I like to warm a half up in the morning and put an over-easy egg on top for breakfast – delicious!!

One very happy birthday boy.

One very happy birthday boy!

 

 

 

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Filed Under: Dinner, First Course, Sides Tagged With: beef wellington, homemade potato gnocchi, pecan pie, potato gnocchi, simple red sauce, special birthday parties, vegetarian dish, vegetarian meal, vegetarian pasta

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Comments

  1. Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says

    January 19, 2014 at 3:19 AM

    I loved this post! I also love gnocchi and yours looks like dainty pillows of love. 🙂
    Maureen | Orgasmic Chef recently posted…You CAN Grow Corn in a Small PatchMy Profile

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      January 20, 2014 at 11:56 AM

      Thanks Maureen!! : ))

      Reply
  2. Amy (Savory Moments) says

    January 19, 2014 at 8:02 AM

    Wow — what an amazing birthday feast!! It all looks really wonderful. Homemade gnocchi is such a delicious treat, too.
    Amy (Savory Moments) recently posted…CarnitasMy Profile

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      January 20, 2014 at 11:57 AM

      Yes – it’s so completely different than the store bought gnocchi.

      Reply
  3. Jovina Coughlin says

    January 19, 2014 at 9:49 AM

    What a delicious birthday dinner for your husband – such great food and combinations. The how to on making gnocchi is excellent.
    Jovina Coughlin recently posted…Italian American Culture – The Art of SculptingMy Profile

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      January 20, 2014 at 11:58 AM

      Thanks Jovina!! And if you make it, please let me know how it turns out for you. It’s really quite easy, just takes a little time.

      Reply
  4. apuginthekitchen says

    January 19, 2014 at 4:22 PM

    Wonderful feast and a very happy Birthday to your husband. A great spread, so glad you all got to cook together to make this great feast.
    apuginthekitchen recently posted…Oats for Breakfast- Two Quick And Easy Recipes That I love!!My Profile

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      January 20, 2014 at 11:58 AM

      Thanks Suzanne!! It is so much fun cooking together!

      Reply
  5. yummychunklet says

    January 19, 2014 at 4:47 PM

    The gnocchi plus everything else looks fantastic!
    yummychunklet recently posted…ffwD: Christine’s simple party soupsMy Profile

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      January 20, 2014 at 11:58 AM

      Thank you!! 🙂

      Reply
  6. Margot says

    January 19, 2014 at 8:24 PM

    What a gorgeous dinner party – a very Happy Birthday to your husband! Such a wonderful idea to have each family member prepare a course for the meal.
    I’ve never made gnocchi before, but I really must give it a try, especially now I’ve got your recipe and tips to work with! Cheers, Margot
    Margot recently posted…Watermelon Feta and Olive SaladMy Profile

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      January 20, 2014 at 12:00 PM

      Margot – thank you for your birthday wishes for Steve. And you really should give the gnocchi a try as the results are so worth it and unlike any store bought or even restaurant gnocchi that I’ve had.

      Reply
  7. Lidia says

    January 20, 2014 at 7:51 AM

    Wow! That was quite the feast! Everything looks wonderful and delicious.
    Lidia recently posted…Wheat, Sugar & Dairy-Free Banana PorridgeMy Profile

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      January 20, 2014 at 12:03 PM

      It was!! Thank you!

      Reply
  8. MARIE PINCKNEY says

    January 20, 2014 at 10:06 AM

    wow ..what a fabulous celebration!
    Steve deserves it!!!

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      January 20, 2014 at 12:04 PM

      It was!! He was so happy…

      Reply
  9. ela@GrayApron says

    January 20, 2014 at 12:35 PM

    So easy to make them happy…You did a great job! Gnocchi look perfect:) ela

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      January 20, 2014 at 12:42 PM

      🙂 Thank you!!

      Reply

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