40th Birthday Dinner Party

Want to host an elegant dinner party for your 40th birthday? There are many wonderful ways to host a dinner party, especially as an intimate 40th birthday party.

The best thing to remember with dinner party planning is that each course is an opportunity for you to expose your guests to new tastes. Don't be afraid, especially for an elegant dinner party, to experiment a little or serve food out of the ordinary that you and your guests might not normally get to try. And since a dinner party is a special occasion, it's always enjoyable to indulge one's inner gourmand with a decadent dish.

One idea for a nice starter dish for your 40th birthday dinner party is a Cranberry, Pine Nut and Goat Cheese salad. It’s simple to make, and upscale enough to stand up to most any main course.

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup of dried cranberries
• ¾ cup of toasted pine nuts
• 1 package of plain goat cheese, broken into small pieces
• 1 package of spinach
• Balsamic or Raspberry Vinaigrette

Directions:

To toast your pine nuts, simply put them in a medium-sized frying pan on low to medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the pine nuts are a light brown color and have started to give off that wonderful pine nut odor.

Combine all of the salad ingredients in a large bowl, toss with balsamic or raspberry vinaigrette as your tastes dictate, and serve. This salad is best when the pine nuts are served still warm, as they lend a comforting feel to the dish. The combination of tart dried cranberries, warm pine nuts and salty, creamy goat cheese will be sure to please any party guest, and will be a 40th birthday treat for you.

When planning your dinner party, keep the focus on delicious food and great wine pairings. Once you have your meal planned, visit your local wine shop to find some wines that will work best with your meal. You can speak to someone at the store, or even read the labels. Many wine shops put out cards that tell you which dishes the wines pair with best. 

On the day of the party, set the table with your best plates and silverware. Make the event special by using table cloths or place mats that you don't regularly use. Add some candles to the table to create an elegant look. Then create a relaxing playlist to have on in the background during the dinner party.

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