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Though it was really last night that I had my first real dinner party at the new apartment.

Lori and her fiance are in town this week and I invited them over for a nice home cooked meal.

I have certainly cooked in my spacious new kitchen, but it's only been for myself. Last night I put the kitchen to the test with actual guests and multiple courses. It passed.

We spent the majority of the night hanging out around the kitchen table talking and drinking wine while I prepared the food. It was just as a kitchen should be. Old apt. 304, as much as I loved it, could barely accommodate two people in the kitchen and during parties would sometimes look like a clown car emptying out. And as dear to my heart as the breakfast nook was, it was really only good for one person eating alone, or a nice selection of beverages during get togethers.

Lori, who spent quite a bit of time at my old place, and who also lives on the East Coast, appropriately appreciated the space.

Today, however, I woke to a kitchen absolutely filled with dirty dishes that I will have to wash by hand. Not having a dishwasher wasn't a deal breaker on taking the apartment or anything, but at times like this it sure would be nice to have that little upgrade!

The menu from my first dinner party:

Anti-pasta - olives, cippolini onions, roasted garlic, crackers, cheese, rosemary bread with olive oil for dipping

Main course - walnut and blue cheese salad, chicken thighs with tomatoes, olives and capers (one of the easiest and tastiest entertaining recipes out there)

Dessert - Linds H.'s mom's Swedish Cream. Always amazing! So good, in fact, that Lori took the recipe home to make for her parents tomorrow night.

Swedish Cream

Heat 2 cups of heavy whipping cream over low heat. Add 1 pkg. unflavored Knox gelatin, stirring constantly with a whisk until dissolved.

Chill 10 minutes.

Add 3/4 c. sugar and 1 tsp. of vanilla extract. Heat again.

Chill 30 minutes. Add 2 cups light sour cream. Blend until smooth.

Serve chilled topped with a mix of berries. (I usually just defrost a bag of frozen mixed berries.)

Delish!