If the Donner’s Had Thrown a Dinner Party

The weather outside looked fine to me as I set out the wine glasses and checked on my Red Velvet Apple Cakes.

The snow from Thanksgiving had melted and I was actually disappointed to see the lawn from my kitchen window. The clouds had lifted and the lake was still. The smell of garlic bubbling up from my Italian Fish Soup was intoxicating and the onions caramelizing on the stove were the perfect color. The fireplace was set and I had even cleaned the bathroom. And then the calls came. “Can’t make it, it’s going to snow.” “Sorry, big snow storm on the way won’t be there," and so forth. Oh please, people, you have four-wheel drive, it’s not like you’re in a covered wagon slogging through the Sierra’s in a snowstorm. You know, like the Donner-Reed Party. (Yep, the Reed’s were there too!)

But here it was my first holiday party in snow country and people were dropping like, umm, the Donner Party. But, I had enough food for, well, the Donner Party and so when the first car pulled up and the snow started falling I vowed to hold the best damn dinner party I could!

And so it was written that my two guests were well fed, had their fill of wine and laughter and sent back home through the blizzard with large packages of food in case they became stranded in the cold. In the morning we had more than 10 inches of new snow on the ground and a lot of leftovers. Next year I’m throwing my Christmas party in July.

“At a formal dinner party, the person nearest death should always be seated closest to the bathroom.” George Carlin

 Sacre Blue Mac & Cheese- adapted from Epicurious.com

• tablespoons butter plus more for baking dish
• 3 cups sliced sweet onions (about 6)
• 8 ounces small elbow macaroni (2 cups)
• 1 1/4 cups half and half
• 3teaspoons hot sauce (such as Cholula)
• 2 cups (packed) coarsely grated extrasharp cheddar cheese (about 8 ounces)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 2/3 cup crumbled soft fresh goat cheese- try a flavored goat cheese such as the one with red pepper in it!
• 1/8 cup of blue cheese- only because I wanted to call the recipe Sacre Blue.

Preparation

Preheat oven to 400°F. Butter 11x7x2-inch glass baking dish. Melt 3 tablespoons butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shallots; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover and cook 5 minutes, stirring often. Reduce heat to medium. Cook, covered, until onions are deep brown, stirring often, about 6 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook macaroni in large saucepan of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally; drain well. Reserve pan. Bring half and half and hot sauce to simmer in same saucepan over medium heat. Toss cheddar and blue cheese and flour in medium bowl to coat; add to half and half mixture. Whisk until sauce is smooth and just returns to simmer, about 2 minutes. Mix in pasta. Season with salt and pepper.

Spread pasta mixture in prepared dish. Top with shallots, then goat cheese. Sprinkle with pepper. Bake until heated through, about 15 minutes.