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    Gr8 Goes Green!

    April 3, 2021 by Kyle 3 Comments

    The Great Eight Gather and this time we celebrated all food "Green." That's right, our dinner party theme was a color.

    Back in 2010, it was time again for Joel and me to host our 12th Great Eight Dinner. First item on the planning agenda is always to decide on a theme. After eleven years of gatherings, no one had yet featured a “color” as a theme. How easy would that be? Hence,

    Gr8 Goes Green

    Four women posing with arms around each other posing for the camera.

    We couldn’t think of a better color to incorporate in the invitation, on the table, and of course we included green drinks, green appetizers, green dinner, and a green dessert! And no, we did not serve green eggs and ham but you know we were tempted.

    The Green Invitation

    A basket filled with fresh green produce with a sign on the front of it saying, "Gr8 Goes Green".

    Because only three invitations need to be delivered, it’s fun to assemble something creative to drop on each porch. I had so much fun putting this basket together of fresh green ingredients delegating green dishes for each Gr8 couple to bring.

    The Menu

    We started the evening with Joel’s Appletini (apple martini) and several green appetizers. I made spinach balls, a recipe given to me many years ago by my dear friend Karen.

    Spinach Balls being served with a sauce and one spinach ball in a plate that says, "nibble."

    I also served Green Olive Crostinis and Green Gazpacho offering this fresh and healthy cold soup creatively in shot glasses.

    Green gazpacho cold soup being served in six colored glass small shot glasses.

    Jurga treated us to her tasty Spinach Salad with Poppyseed dressing.

    Spinach, orange, red onion salad served with a poppyseed dressing on a white plate.

    For the entrée, we served Herbed Chicken on a bed of Collard Greens, Green Beans, and Anna brought a delightful side dish of Potato Basil Puree.

    A white dinner plate with basil pureed potatoes and roasted chicken on it.

    What’s a meal without dessert? Well, we topped the evening off with Debbie’s individual green apple pies! Homemade deliciousness!

    Three individual apple pies on a baking sheet.

    At the end of the night we were so tired and so full we were turning, you guessed it, GREEN (and growing mustaches?)! Need I say more? Another Gr8 night!

    Group of eight people posing for the camera with fake mustaches on.

    Don't sleep during a Gr8 dinner...you never know what will befall you!

    Woman asleep on a couch with a fake mustache on her forehead.

    Gr8 Goes Green Recipes

    Super Simple Spinach Balls
    This is a Gr8 make ahead holiday appetizer. Keep some in your freezer for last minute guests.
    Gr8 Recipe Here!
    Super Simple Spinach Balls, the name says it all. Make these, freeze them, then you have the perfect appetizer ready to pop in the oven for any occasion.
    Green Gazpacho Shots
    Whether you choose to serve this Gazpacho in little shot glasses or small bowls, be sure to have a ladle nearby with the extras! A fresh “liquid salad”...they’ll definitely want refills! 
    Gr8 Recipe Here!
    Gr8 goes Green gazpacho
    Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing
    This spinach salad with poppy seed dressing is not only bursting with flavor but also makes a beautiful presentation with its vibrant and lively colors. 
    Gr8 Recipe Here!
    Spinach Salad.
    Green Beans, Bacon and Onion
    The perfect green veggie side dish. Most of the prep can be done ahead of time!
    Gr8 Recipe Here!
    Green Beans, bacon Ingredients
    Ina's Potato Basil Purée
    Adapted from one of our favorites! Barefoot Contessa How Easy is That?
    Gr8 Recipe Here!
    Potato Basil Purée
    All American Apple Pie
    This is my Aunt Eileen's apple pie recipe. She was an amazing cook and this will not disappoint! 
    Makes one 9" pie.
    Gr8 Recipe Here!
    apple pie
    « Classic One Two Three Margarita!
    Seeing Green…Green Gazpacho! »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Kyle

      April 21, 2016 at 9:06 pm

      Hi Sharon, We did have fun even with a theme as simple as "everything green". Thank you for being a Gr8 Friend and continue to enjoy all things green 🙂

    2. Sharon

      April 21, 2016 at 8:58 pm

      How fun! I'm reading this as I eat spinach with my green split pea soup. No coincidences in life, is there?

    3. Claudia Kerns

      April 21, 2016 at 12:47 pm

      Fantastic menu!!

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