Or, have you ever even heard of a pole barn? We had not heard of this before until our friends invited us to a dinner party at their new ranch home.
Our friends used to live on the same street as us and always wanted more property. Well, they found the perfect place for their family and furry friends in a nearby ranch community just a short distance away.
We discovered that a pole barn structure is a building that was originally used for a horse barn or agricultural building. Who knew?
Definitely Not A Country Girl
I am definitely not a country girl and had no idea what to expect. To my surprise, we arrived and saw the most beautiful setting with twinkle lights and candles highlighting a cozy outbuilding right on their property.
AND, yes it was definitely chic! There are a couple of seating areas, an entertaining area complete with a bar and buffet area, and the most beautifully set table. Our friend’s mother in law gave these incredible dishes to them and they really set the Americana theme of the party.
The place setting was a combination of elegant and rustic. The farmhouse table with buffalo plaid linens and bountiful floral arrangments was a great combination. The dishes were gifted to our friend from her mother in law and have a little bit of history. They were purchased in Manhattan, New York in the 1930s. They have been passed down from generation to generation. Originally they were given to our friend’s mother in laws mother as an anniversary gift from her husband. As my friend stated, “these beauties can go from a festive holiday table to a pole barn dinner with ease and grace”. And, she is definitely right.
Look at this incredible spot all ready for the perfect gathering of longtime friends. We had a few laughs and caught up on what was happening in everyone’s lives. Although this group does not get together frequently, we seem to pick up where we left off and just have a great time together.
What also made this special was that we had friends in town visiting from Michigan and our hosts graciously included them in the fun.
A Libation Or Two To Start Off The Evening
The evening started with cocktails accompanied by delicious stuffed mushrooms and a salmon appetizer. It was fun to catch up with everyone and to enjoy this magical night together. Our friends from Michigan were welcomed with open arms and had a great time meeting everyone.
Cindy's Special Stuffed Mushrooms
- June 8, 2020
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Ingredients
- 1 - 1 pound package of large fresh mushrooms
- 1/2 cup butter
- 3 green onions, minced
- 1/2 cup fresh bread crumbs
- 1 tablespoon minced parsley
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons crumbled bleu cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (I would also add pepper too)
Directions
- Step 1
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees
- Step 2
- Remove stems from mushrooms
- Step 3
- Mince mushroom stems and saute in butter
- Step 4
- Add green onions including tops
- Step 5
- Blend remaining ingredients and add to mushrooms and onions
- Step 6
- Put this mixture in mushroom caps
- Step 7
- Bake on a baking sheet at 450 degrees for 8 minutes until browned
- Step 8
- Enjoy!
The Main Event
For dinner, we were offered several types of grilled meat and fish options to choose from. Our host just got a new state of the art pellet wood grill and was excited to use this to grill us some incredible entrees. Everything was grilled to perfection! Also, one of our favorites was the Asparagus Stuffed Chicken Breasts. Everything was so yummy!
Asparagus Stuffed Chicken Breasts
- June 8, 2020
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Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (approximately 1 pound)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 4 slices mozzarella cheese
- Zest of one lemon
- Pinch red pepper flakes
- 1 bundle asparagus, woody ends removed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil for pan
- Lemon wedges, for serving
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, for garnish
Directions
- Step 1
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- Step 2
- In a medium bowl, toss asparagus with 1 tablespoon olive oil, lemon zest, and red pepper flakes
- Step 3
- Cut a pocket into each chicken breast
- Step 4
- Stuff each breast with mozzarella and asparagus
- Step 5
- Season chicken all over with oregano, salt, and pepper
- Step 6
- Secure with toothpicks
- Step 7
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat remaining tablespoon of olive oil
- Step 8
- Add chicken and cook until seared and golden brown on the bottom (about 5 minutes)
- Step 9
- Flip chicken and cook until the second side is golden for about 5 minutes more
- Step 10
- Transfer skillet to oven and bake until the chicken is cooked through 10 to 15 minutes
- Step 11
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice over cooked chicken and garnish with parmesan cheese
What a magical night spent with good friends, enjoying delicious food, and maybe a libation or two.
I guess attending a chic pole barn party should have been on our bucket list, as it truly was a unique and special experience and setting for a party.
My name is Kim and my passion is surrounding myself, family, and friends in a life of luxury. Each week, I’ll share with you new tips and recipes to create a luxurious life .
Jill’s Chilled Asparagus Bisque
4.5 cups water (I use 4 cups chicken broth and 1/2 cup water)
2 large leeks (white and pale green parts only), halved, thinly sliced
1.5 teaspoons curry powder
2.5 pounds asparagus, trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 6 cups)
one 8 oz. container creme fraiche or sour cream
6 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger
1 tablespoon whole pink peppercorns (optional)
Bring 4.5 cups water, sliced leeks and 3/4 teaspoon curry powder to boil in medium pot
over medium-high heat. Boil 5 minutes. Add asparagus. Reduce heat to medium; cover
and simmer until asparagus is tender, about 15 minutes. Cool slightly. Set aside 2
tablespoons creme fraiche; stir remaining creme fraiche, 4 tablespoons chopped dill,
fresh ginger, and 3/4 cup curry powder into soup. Puree in batches in blender until
smooth. Strain soup into large bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Refrigerate
until
cold, about 4 hours, or up to 1 day.
Divide chilled asparagus bisque among 6 bowls. Top each with 1 teaspoon creme
fraiche. Sprinkle with remaining chopped fresh dill and whole pink peppercorns, if desired.
The whole experience sounds just wonderful. And the food sounds delicious