Bribery is a hostess’s best friend.
That would be the first sentence in my handy dandy copy of Dinner Parties For Dummies (and Medical Students). A trusty little tome that I received immediately upon matriculation back in September of 2009; the good old days, as I like to call them, when studying was truly a superfluous activity and all you really had to know was that empathizing with your patient is a good thing. Really, that concept actually eludes most people (and by people, I mean future surgeons. Sorry to any surgeons out there, but, I mean, come on. You know the stereotypes.).
I never really appreciated that statement until I informed my three best friends that we were going to be having a dinner party on Saturday night. And was met with totally blank stares. Deadpan faces. Apathy with a side of masking (lack of facial expression), if you want the technical terms.
As it turns out, studying the cranial nerves day in and day out in preparation for an exam on Monday can actually turn people into zombies. And it is pretty difficult to get zombies excited about a dinner party.
Which is why I had to resort to using the aforementioned handbook in the first place. And also why I spent Friday afternoon brainstorming ways I could convince my friends that attending a dinner party would actually aid in their studying rather than induce the food coma that they all exhibited mortal fear of.
And that was when it hit me.
What if.
What if I could combine dinner with a caffeine fix so intense that it would keep us all wired for hours afterward? A meal so stimulating that it would actually optimize studying abilities rather than detract from them?
And so it was with this rationale in hand. That I cajoled. Bribed. Coerced. Adam, Sophie, and Anu into taking a much-needed study break in order to sit around a table with me on Saturday night and indulge in a delicious three course meal. A meal that, as promised, had coffee infused into every bite.
We talked. We laughed. And, most importantly, we ate.
Boy, did we eat.
Molasses coffee marinated pork chops. Orzo, arugula and butternut squash salad in a maple-balsamic coffee vinaigrette. Caramel frappuccino cupcakes.
For four sleep-deprived and caffeine-addicted medical students, it was as if we had stumbled into the promised land where fountains of coffee laced with tantalizingly delicious food sprang eternal.
The best part of it being that for the first time in about a week. We spent a few hours not thinking or talking about neuroanatomy at all. Whatsoever.
No one mentioned the corticospinal tract. Not even once.
And so when I say that this was a “luxury” dinner. Especially considering that we spend almost every meal eating in front of a computer, desperately trying to stuff as much information into our heads as possible. Barely even tasting what’s in front of us. Trust me. I mean it.
And so I just want to take the time now to thank Foodbuzz and Project Food Blog for giving us a reason to take this night off and really enjoy each other’s company. And to all of you. For propelling me this far into the competition. I wish you all could have been there. Although, through all of your support and love that consume my thoughts on a daily basis. In a way. You were.
As part of this entry I’m supposed to provide tips on how to host a successful dinner party. The whole bribery suggestion aside, I absolutely think the key to this is to invite only those whose company you truly enjoy. Life is short. Time is money. And with the right people, it won’t matter if everything is perfect or if your tablecloth is ironed to a tee or that you don’t actually have enough matching dinner plates to serve four.
All that will matter is that you are together. Laughing. Eating. Reveling.
Voting for this challenge will open tomorrow, Monday October 4th, at 9AM. If you like what you see here at Eats Well With Others, please consider stopping by and voting for me. You get 100 votes and I would really appreciate it if Eats Well With Others was one of them!
Molasses Coffee Marinated Pork Chops
Serves 4, adapted from Alton Brown
1 cup cool strong coffee
6 oz molasses, by weight
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp dijon mustard
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp ground ginger
6 sprigs fresh thyme
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
4 (6-8 oz) pork chops, boneless
1. Mix together all of the ingredients (except for the pork chops) in a large bowl. Add the pork chops into the bowl and marinate in the fridge overnight (or for at least 2 hours).
2. When ready to cook, preheat a grill pan to medium-high.
3. Remove the pork chops from the marinade and set aside. Transfer the marinade to a small saucepan over high heat. Boil for 12-14 minutes or until reduced to half a cup. Stir often. remove the thyme after the glaze has reduced.
4. In the meantime, grill the pork chops 3-4 minutes per side or until they reach an internal temperature of 145 degrees. Allow to rest for a few minutes before pouring on the glaze and serving.
In case you didn’t know, we only have 12 weeks until Christmas. And you know what that means…it’s time to bring back the 12 Week of Winter Squash! While most bloggers out there are filling their houses with the smell freshly baked cookies, here in the Eats Well With Others kitchen we are going to instead be serving a new winter squash recipe every week. For twelve weeks. And to kick it off we have:
Orzo, Arugula, and Butternut Squash Salad in a Maple-Balsamic Coffee Vinaigrette
Serves 4 as a main dish, 6-8 as a side. An Eats Well With Others original.
1 small (1.5 lb) buttenut squash
4 oz arugula
1 lb orzo
1 tsp coffee, very finely ground
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tbsp maple syrup
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1. Preheat the oven to 400. Cut the butternut squash into 1-inch dice, removing all of the seeds and pulp. Place on a baking sheet, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and bake for 40 minutes or until fork-tender.
2. Set a pot of salted water to boil. While it boils, mix together the vinaigrette by combining, in a bowl, the coffee through balsamic vinegar.
3. When the water is boiled, pour orzo in and cook until al dente. Strain. Mix the arugula into the still-hot orzo. Mix in the butternut squash chunks. Finally, pour in the vinaigrette and stir to combine. Serve.
wow! I am so impressed! You come up with the most elaborate meals and make me drool every time I come here – your friends are lucky to have you cooking for them!
Those chops look killer as does the whole meal. Very creative way to get a caffine fix – wish I’d had someone like you to do that for me when I was craming oh so many years ago. You sure you shouldn’t be changing your field of study to foodology. 🙂
Am I invited to the dinner party? :-)) The pork chop looks HEAVENLY! Joanne, you surely go to the next round!
Killer pork chops, Joanne! Wow. A caffeine-infused dinner party. Only you would think of that! 🙂
WOW! How do you do it all ? A medical intern and cook , and blog? Inspirational.
I am thankful for your determination in career. My mother died of pancreatic cancer, and will support your blogging as a thanks in helping anyone beat cancer.
Best wishes in all your endeavors !
Wow! That’s an impressive menu. You would not have to cajole me much to come on by 🙂
This is really all out awesome Joanne! I will head over tomorrow to vote and you know I can’t wait for the 12 weeks of squash recipes. Last year squash became one of my favorite foods thanks to you!
There was one little thing you forgot this weekend. I’m laughing just thinking about it because I know you just totally forgot with everything else you have going on right now. Do you know what it was? Hint – let’s just say think Italian.
Best of luck with Foodbuzz! 🙂
What a meal! You definitely outdid yourself here. Those cupcakes look incredible! You will always have my vote. 🙂
LOVE your caffeinated dinner party! What a menu…great post!
Love the menu you fabulous hostess you! I don’t know what looks better – the chops or the orzo – great pics, too.
I LOve Love it…a perfect sit down dinner for weary college students, loaded with caffeine, I love that yall made time and sat down together to enjoy a much needed break, great entry….and don’t worry about our vote, chuls won’t let me forget it!!lol
sweetlife
Bravo on another great blog challenge post! The caffeine-infused meal was pure genius and I hope that that’s recognized by everyone, including the judges. I will be making those pork chops, not because I need the caffeine but because they look incredible!
wow I am so impressed!! what a visual feast , irresistible and wonderful clicks too …
US Masala
Joanne… It was a bit of a surprise for me how difficult it was to whip up enthusiasm for the event. Glad yours went off without a hitch. Great job on the theme. Even better that there was no tofu in sight 😉
Will be back in a few hours to vote.
Dave
Excellent looking chops, Joanne! You have my vote (even if I think you were pandering for my vote by using pork, ha ha).
PS: You treat your zombies much more nicely than people do in the movies. Maybe if we fed them like these, they wouldn’t want to eat our brains (cranial nerves and all).
Amazing job Joanne. You ceryainly deserve to move forward through your caffeine induced coma. Good luck in the competition.
I keep getting pathetic emails from my sleep-deprived student, usually around 4am. This would be the perfect antidote! (for her, that is..)
I love your study-caffeine-dinner party fare!
You are a genius, and not because you’re a brilliant medical student, but because this coffee inspired meal is just perfect for the guests you planned on having! The menu fit the people, and nothing is better than that 🙂 Also, I love love love this 12 weeks of winter squash business! I like winter squash more than cookies anyway, haha.
Will surely vote,i hope you win…and dishes are so tempting
What a wonderful idea! Your friends are so lucky to have someone like you cooking for them. I remember eating mostly mediocre meals when I was a student. I would have loved a meal like this!
Ya got my vote 🙂 Those pork chops look and sound AMAZING!! and y’all got through an entire dinner without mentioning the corticospinal tract? No quizzing each other on what nerves make up the brachial plexus? The food must have been awesome! I really don’t know how you do it all! Good luck with Round 3 (and school!)
Everything looks delicious, Joanne, but those pork chops look amazing! Love all of the photos including the glass of wine with the cityscape showing through.
Good luck with the contest!
I am going to try to forgive you for not inviting me to this party…although i have never met you in person, i believe you are QUITE AWARE of my love for pork! 😉 hehe jk you def have my vote! ur gonna do really well in this contest!
Indeed preparing a meal for friends is more a pleasure rather than fatigue. I must admit that because of my heavy schedule I don’t do it as often as I did in the past and as I wanted. This is one of the true pleasures we miss, being caught up in the hectic everyday life. It was good that you had the chance to do that for your friends. I love your pork chops, congrats on the competition, I will be there for you to vote.
What a delicious menu. Those pork chops look amazing.
I love this! You know I’m gonna have to make that salad – YUM!
I totally agree that people are what really make a good dinner party. Of course great food like this doesn’t hurt either! Good luck in the competition!
Your pork chops look absolutely amazing! I am voting for you!!!
I am making a great winter squash recipe this week , too!
Joanne- I loved your dinner party tip of inviting only those who we truly want to spend time with. The ones you can truly enjoy your time with, the ones worth cooking for. This meal is a real treat and those pork chops look succulent! I bet you all had full and happy bellies after this meal…all the better for late night studying.
Best of luck in this next round!!
Here, Here!! To finding the promised land 😉 Your meal sounds and looks fabulous…enough to make even the hardest working medical students relax for a bit! That pork chop has my salivary glands working overtime…i thought it was a steak at first glance. I MUST try it! Everything sounds amazing, Joanne…and I’ll be there voting for you the minute it opens! =)
That sounds like the perfect meal for sleep deprived med students!
GREAT idea Joanne! And as always great writing and gorgeous photos. Good luck in the competition, I’ll be heading over to vote tomorrow.
YUM! This looks great and I think I can keep my red meat loving husband happy with this meal! YUM YUM – can’t stop thinking that as I look at your pictures over and over! Thanks for posting — and thanks for stopping by my blog!
Erin
I was just telling my husband about the challenge, your background, your caffeine idea and then read the menu. His reply was “smart” …then followed up with “actually it’s brilliant”. 🙂
wow….what a feast you created!! Your caffeine influenced foods must have been delicious!! they certainly look great! I know after a wonderful meal I am usually sleepy, it would have been a nice treat to be wide awake!
good luck in this round of the FB Challenge, you have my vote!
Oh. My. Gosh. I am in serious awe. I adore coffee in cooking and you have just made my day!
Bravo, girlfriend! This is stunning. I totally love the first picture… the way the light captures that glaze. Droolworthy! You have my vote.
what a great idea!
Anytime you want to invite me to a dinner party, just send me the flight times (and the Valium, of course.) I promise you would truly enjoy my company. And I promise I will enjoy the hell out of that cupcake.
This was the best idea ever.
Wow, everything looks fantastic! Great idea! Good luck!
I’m a dessert person but I have to say those pork chops look absolutely delicious…wow! You are one talented lady. It all looks terrific! And I am definitely an caffeine addict!
My vote is there for sure….That’s wonderful delectable spread…..
what a great concept and what a great post – I think the only thing that can top this would be an IV of straight caffeine…did you get any sleep? good luck….
12 weeks until christmas? jeez! and you don’t have to be a fly on the wall, you could attend in your own skin 😉 looks like you had a fabulous one as well, except seeing as i don’t drink coffee i’m guessing it would’ve kept me up all night!!
Good luck on your exam! And yay for the return of 12 weeks of winter squash. I can’t wait to see what you will make this year. 🙂
A terrific menu! I love the coffee infusion in your dishes! Just what I need right now after a few nights in a row staying up late fixing up my database!
Wow, Joanne … you are quite a fantastic host. This dinner sounds very luxurious and I am just amaze on how you can pull this up together in between your study. I am impress and I must say you deserve to win. So, I wish you the best of luck!
Congratulations on making it to round 3, darling! I contend that had I still been in NYC at this time you would have invited me to this shindig though I can’t promise I wouldn’t have brought up the spinothalamic tract. A caffeine infused meal sounds delicious and it looks absolutely amazing. Jeal. Super jeal.
You are so precious. I’m glad that all you smart people were able to take a few hours to sit and enjoy each others company. You all deserve it! I’m so impressed with everything you do despite being in a very rigorous program. And this meal looks like it was fit for a queen! You have my vote for sure!
I desperately want to attend a dinner party. Or to host my own. I volunteer to come next time. Because, unlike medical students, I am a senior in undergrad. Which means that I am slacking. It is 10 pm on a Sunday and I have studied for approximately 2.5 hours, all weekend.
I am so bad.
I’m with you on the squash! The best part of fall cooking…I’m convinced. Look forward to more recipes.
it’s a worrying state of affairs when students need more bribing to have free food and a chance to avoid their studies
Makes me think that maybe there is an audience for a new student version of Charlie and the Chocolate FActory called Charlie and the Coffee Factory – where the streets are lined with coffee beans and the rivers flow with coffee!!! If student have time to go out to movies these days that is!!!
wow love the coffee and frappacino cupcakes impressive all the best your a food blog star anyways
Jo jo baby! Congrats on round three! Oh you are speaking my language with this luxurious party! If you are gonna have a party, why not have the new york city skyline as a backdrop! Will mention you again on my thoughts on friday link love at a moderate life and come back tomorrow to vote for ya! All the best and keep up the great work! Alex@amoderatelife
lol. This is BRILLIANT, Joanne. Buzzing them up with caffeine. Though, I must say, even if I have 3000 exams the next day, I’ll still turn up for whatever amazing dish you cook up, because this is an opportunity NOT to be missed!!!
What a creative and cute theme – love it! And while I’m glad I’m done with my studying days, I wish I could have been there to taste your fantastic meal!
And I’m already excited about the 12 weeks of squash – yay!!
Holy cow, this looks amazing! I am especially in awe of your orzo salad! It looks delicious.
I love the caffeine theme…I could use a bit of that right now. I’m already thinking of how I’m going to get through the next week!!
Looks delicious. Nice spread.
Ok this meal looks amazing! I would gladly eat each and every bite…yum!
caffeine is Med students best friend I know, my Dad id Dr and he still talks about “those” days ad naseum. GREG
What an awesome night off! Looks like a fantastic meal! The caffeine theme is hilarious, I love it. You’ll get my vote, I wish you well!
This looks great! I just posted my dinner party for the challenge and wish I could have been there to try yours. I’m a total coffee lover, so this would be perfect! Good luck in the contest! You’ve got my vote!
It’s so important to take a night off once in a while, and this sounds like the perfect way to spend it! I’m not a coffee drinker, but I love the flavor of coffee in just about anything. I’d love to try each and every one of these courses!
Great post, great party–love that cupcake, love everything actually. Just so you know–I will come without any bribing–just eating what you make is enough for me–it all looks wonderful. 😉
I wish I were in med school with you so I could partake…YUM! Those frap cupcakes sound amazing!!! And the orzo with arugula…gorgeous! Congrats on doing amazing in this challenge! It really skimps down after every round!! Voting as soon as it opens!
Girl, you are incredible! It would take me a week to put all this together! The recipes look fabulous, I will try each one of them (esp the orzo salad, WOW!). I hope you win!!! You deserve it!!
I’ll be voting for you as soon as it opens. Whoa! That was some spread.
In college I used to dream of being hooked up to some sort of IV that could just pump in caffeine while I studied for hours on end. I like this idea much better. It looks and sounds both energizing and delicious!
This is one dinner party that I would need no convincing to attend. A coffee theme?! What a great idea! I absolutely love your creativity here and these are some recipes I will be pulling out for my own gatherings. Just waiting for 9 to come so I can get my vote in. Great job!
All Voted… Good Luck!!!
Dave
Joanne, this is amazing and so creative! You definitely deserved a luxury dinner and I’m sure your friends did too. 🙂 Off to vote. 😉
Wow, this is beginning to look like a Top Chef competition :)….! Still rooting for you!
This feast makes me wish I was a med student so I could be invited! And hello?!? Why would you have to bribe anyone to eat those cupcakes? I’d have to be bribed to STOP eating them 🙂 You know you have my vote!
Using caffeine in everything–what an awesome idea! Not to say that every course looks mouth-wateringly delicious and I wish I could gnaw at that pork chop right now.
I had insomnia this weekend and I was walking around like a zombie I was so tired. This meal would have made my day so much brighter and more alert… it looks wonderful and so creative Joanne.
I am off to vote.
All the best for the next round..will surely vote for you.The dessert , the drinks, the chops…everything looks dunked in caffeine and really really delightful!
That Orzo looks AHHHHMAAAZINGGG!
As a self-proclaimed caffeine addict, WELL DONE!
I voted 🙂 … and I’m FULLY confident you’ll make it through to round 4 and I can’t wait to see what you have up your sleeve!
those cupcakes look. bomb.
Great job!
http://whitneysamusebouche.blogspot.com/
Whit
You know u’ve got my vote … do I have a choice after seeing caramel frappucino cupcakes?! I didn’t think so.
Congratulations Joanne on making it to the third round!!
I love your coffee based theme. The pork chop glaze looks wonderful and your cupcakes look out of this world!
Lovely presentation, you did a wonderful job.
Hugs & Blessings~
Yes,very much an Alton recipe. Fantastic pictures as always, and I love that you went to the trouble on an invitation/menu. Sometimes when MG comes over, I’ll make up one and pin it to my front door. DESSERT: Chocolate mousse, assorted vodkas, Tylenol PM.
What a great way for pork chops. Way to go with the presentation and all!
YEY – you made it through to the next round. Wooo Hooo. I have one question though – where do you get off throwing a dinner party and not inviting me 😉 Let’s not let this happen again. The next time you make a spread like this, I will be there ready willing and able with my sleeves rolled up.
Congratulations for the third round! the pictures of this luxury dinner are awesome… and the cupcakes are sooooo irresistible!!
Wow! You really outdid yourself this time. What an amazing menu. I love all of the coffee going on and I love the way you’ve described each part of the meal on your menu. Nice!
Kudos to you for finding time time to do all this blogging business, cooking and baking, writing the recipes all between studying to be a doctor. I feel like a loafer next to you. 🙂
The menu looks fantastic. I’m not studying to be a surgeion, but I would love a caffenine jolted dinner like this.
Good luck and of course I voted for you!!
I love the coffee theme – so fitting! And I heard it does great things to meat. Everything looks absolutely amazing – as always! Best of luck my sweets, I’m off to give you a tweet!
I love the creatively themed menu, something tells me there wasn’t enough caffeine in that meal to offset the time spent not studying (probably still worth it). If you want to stay up, try marinating a steak in five hour energy shots.
I immediately rescind the above statement.
Voting for you, good luck this week!
Lick My Spoon
Really wishing you made brains… ya know just because? LOL. Seriously what a great idea. We both LOVE coffee and cooking and baking with it is just to much fun. You have my vote.
voted….love that steak!
I went to vote and forgot to come back. Go figure.
Joanne, anything you do is perfection.
As a caffeine addict, I am loving the theme :o) Definitely could have used some caffeine in my dinner party LOL. Good luck!!!
Very stimulating…I’ll be up for hours now! I’d love one of those cupcakes 🙂
I absolutely love this concept! Who doesn’t need a little jolt of caffeine now and then? Great job with challenge 3!!
Joanne, believe me when I say I was most excited about reading your Round 3 entry. And it did not disappoint! How sweet you are to treat your fellow students to such a fantastic meal in the middle of studying. The most intriguing dish here for me is definitely the orzo salad – just when I thought I “knew” how all those flavors typically come together, you threw me for a total loop with the coffee! I’m dying to know what that’s like.
Yes! My sentiments exactly! No need for fancy plates or silverware or perfectly sliced whatever – just enjoying the company of friends and laughing a lot is all you really need for a successful party! Good luck on the exam!
Me, me, me….I don’t have to be cajoled into sitting down for dinner at your place! Thos pork chops look fabulous!
Hey, I am looking forward to your squash recipes. I am also on a squash streak 🙂
All the best for round 3!
Wow! Your dinner looks scrumptious, but the cupcakes win the prize in my book! I’m obsessed with Italian meringue buttercream and cannot wait to make them. Here’s a vote for good luck!
Love this theme, Joanne! Voted for you!
Your pork chops look to die for!! Love the cupcakes too…got my vote!
Boy, am I awake now! I love the caffeine concept – here’s wishing you the best of luck in getting to the next round. I’ll do my bit and vote now 🙂
What a fantastic dinner – I especially love the idea of the orzo & squash with the coffee infused vinaigrette – absolutely brilliant. Good luck for the next round and of course I’m voting for you.
Sue 🙂
Looks like it was a fabulous dinner party! Hope we both make it to the next round! 🙂 You have my vote!
Wonderful!
Voted 🙂
Great post, great pictures, and you got my vote. Good luck!
Yum .. you got my vote 🙂
Very nice, Joanne: a creative menu, a set of interesting dishes, a post that brings a smile to my face. Great job! Here’s my vote. Good luck!
Joanne, I am so pleased you are moving on to the next challenge!
Of course I will continue to back you… Cook your best (Poker players never say good luck… Play your best is our version of good luck)!
It was a great meal. I’m so pleased you’ll be moving on. I can’t wait to see what you have planned for the next leg of the competition. Hugs and blessings…Mary
What a great idea for a dinner! I had never thought of coffee as a cooking ingredient before. Might give those pork chops a try soon.
I am SO impressed with this blog! I simply can’t believe how beautiful it looks and how delicious these recipes sound. I can’t wait to try these pork chops. Right now, I am getting ready to try a 7-hour leg of lamb with a white bean side dish. Suggestions?
Woah this looks like a truly outstanding meal! I really love how you infused coffee into everything. I’d love to try that orzo!
Wow! Those cupcakes look scrumptious, and your photos are just stunning. This is a great blog.
I made the pork tonight and found the glaze to be too bitter and too sweet. Did I mess something up? How did you like it?