Wine & Tuscany - Happy B-day Susanne!

So we got together for a gathering - Susanne's birthday being the 19th, we used that as an excuse.
I asked Michael for a theme - he pulled out his cookbooks and I liked the idea of Tuscan cooking - remembering 'Under the Tuscan Sun' (book version) which was all about cooking and food as well as beautiful Tuscany. (different from the movie which luckily I saw first - I enjoyed it, but they didn't jibe very well together)

Menu and Attendees:
Joules:
appetizer tray of cucumber slices, Lupini beans, capers & bocconcini
Fava Beans with sage & tomato
Polenta with vegetables and prosciutto - served with pesto
Peach dessert - made up recipe

Giardelli Superior fudge brownies

Kathy/Ken/Andrew
Asiago cheese dip with crusty bread

Strange:
Spinach & Artichoke dip with bread
Homemade Hummus & veggies (moosewood cookbook version Plus upgrades by Strange)

Michael/Cari/Martin
Braised Chicken with Mushrooms
Carrots
Spaghetti w/ walnuts, garlic & olive oil

Jorie/Mark/Lucas/Sophia:
Nutello fried ravioli
Bruschetta

Susanne/Elizabeth
Maricka

Wines:
Rhubarb - village vintner
Eric the Red - Galena
Spring Fling - Illinois River Winery
Porto Cocoa - village vintner
Catawba - Illinois river Winery
Tocay??
Meritage
Pinot Grigio - by that family of directors/actors

Had it on the upper patio - strung lights, lit torches and oil lamps
Kids playing on the lower patio - indians and blocks
Turtles - in turtle town

Just a relaxing evening of eating, a little music, a lot of laughter.