When our friends Chris and Renee got engaged this past summer there was no question that Charlie and I would host an engagement celebration for them. After all, they did the same for us when Charlie got down on one knee. Three weeks ago we opened up our doors and a few bottles of champagne.

Of course, being a lover of food, I had to serve some bites to go along with the drinks. I assembled a cheese plate with Rogue Creamery’s Smokey Blue, aged Gouda, and Mt. Townsend Creamery’s Fromage. They were accompanied by some La Panzanella crackers, dried cherries, and walnuts.

I made some pizza dough from scratch, topping one pie with home made tomato sauce (using my canned tomatoes), slices of fresh mozzarella, and basil, and the second pie with a combination that is quickly becoming a favorite of my hubby and friends. I brushed the dough with olive oil and baked on the lowest rack in the oven for eight minutes. Then I layered on mozzarella, red onion, sliced apples, grilled chicken, smoked blue cheese, and chopped walnuts.

For dessert we had to have cake for Chris and Renee to slice into, but I couldn’t stop there. I also baked up some mini cupcakes and dressed them in Bella Cupcake Couture.

The table was complete when Chris and Renee arrived with a chocolate loaf and their infamous cheese ball made with Old English, blue cheese, and walnuts. The food didn’t last for long.

The food was delicious, the drinks were flowing, and bride- and groom-to-be were glowing.