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casa mysterioso: opening night!

This week, you're not getting a long, rambling essay. You're not even getting a short, rambling essay.

No, this week you're invited to a party.

A cocktail party.

As you know, the slackmistress and A. love to entertain. So Saturday night, we threw our first party to christen the house.



This evening's hosts...

The drinks menu was a brainchild that I stumbled across when I was trying to figure out how to explain the various alcohols we had on had without policing the bar. And yes, A. and I actually made pineapple-infused vodka. Simple, easy, and a huge hit. Think of it as safer and saucier moonshine.




Want a drink?




The couch, which will be chock full o' guests in an hour.




Floor cushions for those guests who want to look up at the couch-dwellers in awe.




Every home needs a hanging ceramic owl and light-up cubes.




Party animal.


Of course, you can't have a cocktail party without food, and the slackmistress, she does love to cook...

I initially decided to put note cards in front of the hors d'oeuvres so I wouldn't have to spend half the night explaining what everything was. Of course, I made three times the amount of food necessary. And of course, it was all gone by the time the last guest left at 2:30am. Which made for a sad breakfast this morning of bar garnishes and cocktail nuts.




Recipe instructions: Buy bag of frozen, cooked, tail-on shrimp. Thaw. Instant party classic!




A low-carber's nightmare.




Good and good for you!




Make-ahead souffles. We have the technology!




White asparagus for the extra-fancy guest.




Everything's better when eaten on a stick.




Sterling truffle bars, also known as crack in triangular form.

I now have a reputation for being the hippest domestic goddess on the block who can also manage to fill out a furry leopard dress.

So all in all, I'd say the evening was a smashing success.