Meet the Fockers Menu

This is a test run for me in more ways than one. First, it is my maiden attempt to join in Gollum's Foodie Friday and more importantly, it is a recount of our hosting the parents of the groom-to-be for dinner for the first time. Think "Meet the Fockers". The future in-laws were in town briefly to firm up rehearsal dinner arrangements so it seemed like a good time to start "melding"! But the first bugaboo reared its ugly head when my husband announced he would be cooking ribs on the grill or frying up one of his famous catfish dinners. Now "Beloved" is very good at both of these, but February didn't seem like the best time to be hanging around a grill or deep fat fryer getting to know each other. Besides, I wanted this dinner run on a tightly run schedule---mine! So, I set about planning a menu that would be tasty but not exotic, gourmet but not ostentatious, friendly but not needy. Who knew I could find such deep hidden messages in food? So this is the "Meet the In Laws" menu: Mixed baby greens with strawberries, orange slices, chili sugar glazed pecans, and blue cheese in a balsamic vinaigrette, thick center cut bone-in pork chops marinated and cooked on the grill by "Beloved", fresh green beans cooked with coarse Dijon mustard and almonds, wild rice and mushroom casserole, Sister Schubert's rolls (because I certainly can't beat them) and for a taste of "downhome" a dessert that begins with a layer of ice cream sandwiches. Oh, and I almost forgot-- we started with an appetizer torte made with cream cheese, roasted red peppers and pesto. Whew!!! I have to say I think the dinner came off fabulously--at least no one has called about being sick yet and the wedding is still on! Click on the Foodie Friday button on the sidebar to see what else is cooking!