Ides of March Dinner Party

Josh and I thought that we should mark this date with its somewhat onerous name with a dinner party, albeit a small one. And really, ides is just fancy way of saying the 15th. I just checked...there is nothing hinky about this. Yes, the soothsayer did warn Julius Caesar to "beware the ides of March." But that was just a fancy way of saying that March 15th would be a problem for Caesar.

So my menu...
Salad--caesar for the boys, complete with anchovies; caprese for the girls
Main Course--Paula Deen's Italian Sausage Soup (if we like it, I'll post the recipe)
Dessert--Whiskey Soaked Cherry and Apple Pie (I think I may have posted this already, if not I'll rectify that tomorrow.)

Colleen is bringing an appetizer and I will be accompanying dinner with garlic bread.

Garlic Bread

Copyright, 2006, Ina Garten, All Rights Reserved

Prep Time:

8 min

Inactive Prep Time:

hr min

Cook Time:

12 min

Level:

Easy

Serves:

4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

• 6 large garlic cloves, chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh oregano leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup good olive oil
• 1 loaf ciabatta bread
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place the garlic in the bowl of a food processor and process until minced. Add the parsley, oregano, salt and pepper and pulse twice.

Heat the olive oil in a medium saute pan and add the garlic mixture. Remove the pan from the heat.

Slice the ciabatta bread in half horizontally, and spread the butter on 1 half. Spread the garlic mixture on the other half of the bread, and put the halves together. Wrap the bread in aluminum foil.

Place the bread in the oven and bake for 5 minutes. Open the foil, and continue baking for an additional 5 minutes.

Well, that's it. I don't really think I should procrastinate any longer. That soup just won't cook itself.