Two dinner parties

A house full of guests, (5 adults and 4 kids in our small apartment!) -- lots of entertaining this weekend. I am going the easy, easy, easy route- using premade spreads for hors d'oeuvres and a bakery cake for dessert one night.

Last night we had 8 adults for dinner-- here was the menu:

Olive tapanade (TJ's)
sour cream spinach dip (TJ's)
crackers, carrot sticks, tortilla chips

One dish Lasagna
Salad of Romaine, parmesan cheese, olive bread croutons (recipe below) and lemon vinagrette

Assortment of chocolates
Vanilla ice cream
Strawberries, Lisa's way (slice a quantity of strawberries, sprinkle with a little sugar, stir and refrigerate for 30 minutes and you have lovely soupy berries to top ice cream!)

Olive bread croutons:
3-4 slices (3/4" thick) of a loaf of rustic bread (I like olive)
2 - 3 Tbs. olive oil

Cube the olive bread. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and cook over med-hi heat, turning the bread cubes as they crisp in the oil. When at least two sides are crisp, drain on paper towels and keep out of salad until just ready to serve. People just LOVE these croutons!!

Tonight we have 9 adults for dinner:
Rouge et Noir Sampler of cheeses (camembert, petit dejuner, blue)
Hummus
Sour cream spinach dip
crackers, carrots

Mortons' Chardonnay-marinated Tri tip (just take out of the package and cook in the oven!)
Brown rice pilaf (cooked with chicken broth, rosemary and onion)
Ditto Salad (same as last night, by request!)

Just Desserts Mocha Cream Cake

Off to go make more croutons!