entertaining

december 2001

This the season to be jolly and entertain. We love having people in for an elegant meal, but we also need to have that meal be one that fits into our busy schedules so we have worked on a menu that you can make easily. The pumpkin soup comes from our James Beard award winning Joslin Diabetes Gourmet Cookbook; you can make the soup with pumpkin purée, and serve it in bread bowls or in your favorite soup bowls or mugs. The main course is spectacular but takes only minutes to make and put together. Try substituting different seafood if you don't eat shellfish. Just make sure that you select firm textured fish. You'll not be disappointed. Since it's holiday time, use what you have in the house for table decorations or go out to your yard and cut greens. Add a bit of color from the florist or from your tree trimming box. We love to display our best tree decorations and frequently give out new ones to guests as a small favor. If you celebrate Chanukah, decorate with blue and white and your childhood remembrances of the holiday. We love the look of ribbons on the table. Why not splurge with red for Christmas or light blue for Chanukah? The texture of rows of ribbons crossing your table makes decorations easy and elegant. This is the time to bring friends and family into our lives. Make them feel the warmth of the season whether you celebrate Christmas or Chanukah. With this meal, your guests will be welcomed with an aroma they will remember for weeks. A December Dinner Party   Baby Pumpkin Soup Grilled Shrimp and Scallops with Cannellini Beans Red Wine Macerated Winter Fruit with Sour Cream (for the recipes, click on the individual recipe above) BSP