Hot Date on Saturday Night

Actually it was dates in the plural. Plump, honey-sweet dates that I stuffed with Greek yogurt and marscapone, drizzling olive oil atop and adding a sprinkle of sea salt before I placed them in my oven to bake.

Mmmm...Idea stolen from my recent dinner at Komi. Pure thievery. Decidedly worthy of jail time.

The dates kicked my Saturday night dinner party into full gear. Mind you, my frozen "Fruit Cocktails" didn't hurt either. Frozen fruit - from strawberries to pineapple to grapes - tossed in the blender with aged rum, triple sec, fruit juices and a few precious dashes of Peychaud Bitters.

Mmmm...Didn't steal that idea. Completely my own. Feel free to be a thief.

I don't think the rest of the meal was too shabby either. I finally got to that fennel yen I'd been whining about with an appetizer of Fennel Salad with Poached Shrimp. Then I put my recent meatball therapy session into good use with Meatballs in Tomato Basil Sauce served over Marscapone Polenta. The side of farmers market Asparagus with Butter and Parmesan rounded things out nicely.

Dessert was lovely as well - Saffron-Cardamom Ice Cream with Pistachios.

Still, nothing ever rose to the same dizzying heights as those hot, stuffed dates.

I guess Saturday is called "date night" for a good reason.