Virtual Dinner Party Menu Idea: Stuffed Chicken and Mushroom Risotto

I'm hosting a virtual dinner party this Sunday to help fight off the quarantine blues. The menu includes a cocktail, appetizer, main course, and dessert. Join us and host your own date-night-in!

Hey guys! So I haven't been posting as much as I wanted during this quarantine. I've been spending most of my time getting ready to shift the college classes I teach to an online format, cooking for the family, helping my third grader stay on top of his work, and, frankly, wasting time as I fight off a pretty bad case of the blues. Every day it's getting harder and harder to get out bed and be productive.

So, I decided to pitch an idea I had for a virtual dinner party to a friend. She loved it! We set our sights on this Sunday and brainstormed a menu. This is what we came up with:

Cocktail: Chocolate Margarita on the Rocks

I like to start dinner parties with a cocktail. It's fun to go seasonal and find something that matches the menu I put together. Well, yesterday, I came across this chocolate margarita recipe, and I was intrigued! So I made my own version inspired by it, and it was delicious.

Let me warn you. It sounds odd, but when it's pulled together just goes. The Husband thinks it tastes like a cookie. I just like the flavor profile, and let me warn you, they go down a little too easy!

📖 Recipe

Chocolate Margarita on the Rocks

Roni Noone

I'm hosting a virtual dinner party this Sunday to help fight off the quarantine blues. The menu includes a cocktail, appetizer, main course, and dessert.

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 2 minutes mins

Total Time 2 minutes mins

Course Happy Hour

Cuisine Any

Servings 1 serving

Calories 314 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1-2 oz tequila
• 1 oz creme de cocoa
• 1 oz Irish Cream
• Squeeze of fresh orange juice
• Squeeze of a juice from a lime just a drop or two
• Ice

Instructions

 

• Place all ingredients over ice and shake. Serve.
  1-2 oz tequila, 1 oz creme de cocoa, 1 oz Irish Cream, Squeeze of fresh orange juice, Squeeze of a juice from a lime, Ice

Notes

• I like to use a mason jar for this so I can just shake and serve. 
• If you don't have cream de coca any chocolate liquor would work.
• If you don't have Irish Cream (Like Baileys) just use half and half or heavy cream. 
• I've made this with two different tequilas and quality matters. Reduce tequila if it's too harsh. 

Nutrition

Calories: 314kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 2gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 0.01mgSodium: 4mgPotassium: 254mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 24gVitamin A: 251IUVitamin C: 64mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 0.3mg

Keyword Chocolate, Margarita

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Appetizer: Stuffed Mushrooms With Pecans

I decided on stuffed mushroom based on the main course we came up with, but I'll get into that in a minute. I found this recipe for Stuffed Mushrooms With Pecans, and it looked delicious!

Here's the ingredient list:

• 2 medium leeks
• 1 (16-oz.) package fresh mushrooms (about 24 medium-size mushrooms)
• 1 teaspoon salt, divided
• 2 shallots, minced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ¼ cup fine, dry breadcrumbs
• ¼ cup pecans, chopped
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
• Garnish: fresh basil sprigs

My plan is to pretty much follow the recipe as is if I can find all the ingredients at the grocery store for my trip this week.  Although, they say to remove them and discard the stems of the mushrooms, which is a big no-no in my book. Why waste them! I'll be putting them in the stuffing. They could potentially replace the breadcrumbs, too, if you want to make this gluten-free. I may also substitute the shallot with green onion simply because they are easier to work with.

Wine Pairing: Pinot Noir - We are going with this one from Bogle Vineyards.

Main Course: Prosciutto-Stuffed Chicken with Shitake Mushroom Risotto and Roasted Asparagus

This recipe for Prosciutto-Stuffed Chicken with Mushroom Sauce on Epicurious is what I based the whole menu on. It sounded like the perfect fun twist on a chicken breast that's otherwise pretty boring.

However, instead of the mushroom sauce, they make after the chicken is cooked, I'm going to replace it with the Shitake Mushroom risotto I made for last month for Fancy Friday because it was delicious! I'll post the recipe below so you can print.

Finally, I'll be making roasted asparagus. I simply cut off the stems, lay on a cookie sheet, drizzle a little oil or spray with non-stick cooking spray and salt—roast in a preheated 425-degree oven for 10 minutes or so. I like mine to still have some crunch.

Wine Pairing: Decided to keep it simple and stick with the Pinot Noir - We are going with this one from Bogle Vineyards.

Dessert: Lemon Pudding Cakes

I have my friend Kim to thank for finding this recipe on OneceUponAChef, and it sounded like the perfect ending to this meal!

Here's the ingredient list:

• 3 large eggs, separated
• 1 cup milk (low-fat or whole)
• 2 teaspoons lemon zest, from 2 lemons
• 6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, from 2 lemons
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 cup of sugar
• Fresh berries and Confectioners' sugar, for serving (optional)

I will probably reduce the sugar slightly and cut this recipe down ⅔s as I don't need six. I also don't have traditional ramekins, so I'm going to make do with that I have. If I cut it back to 4 servings I think I'm looking at:

• 2 large eggs, separated
• ⅔ cup milk (low-fat or whole)
• 1 ½ teaspoons lemon zest, from 2 lemons
• 4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, from 2 lemons
• 1 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• pinch of salt
• 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• ⅔ cup sugar (I may try ½)
• Fresh berries and Confectioners' sugar, for serving (optional)

Dinner Party Details

So my plan is to make all this on Sunday. I may go live on GreenLiteBites Facebook page while I'm cooking if I can figure out how to do it as my kitchen kind of sucks as a demo space, but I'm willing to give it a try. Why not? We're all stuck in the house anyway.

During dinner, I'm hoping to set up Skype or other video software and eat with my friends so we can chat and see how everything came together. That's where the "virtual" comes in. This should be interesting, to say the least.

If you decide to host your own, make sure to take a few photos! I'd love to see how everyone else's meal came out.

This is my shopping list base on the recipes above.

Shopping list

• 2 leeks
• orange
• lime
• lemons
• asparagus
• fresh berries
• 1 (16-oz.) package fresh mushrooms
• 1 package of Shitake Mushrooms
• 2 shallots or scallions
• fresh basil
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
• prosciutto (if I can't find any ham will work)
• provolone cheese

Pantry/stock Items I have that you may also already have

• garlic
• butter
• olive oil
• parmesan cheese
• Arborio rice
• onions
• breadcrumbs
• pecans
• kosher salt
• Pepper
• sugar
• flour
• eggs

📖 Recipe