Taking entertaining at home to a whole new level....we recently had a "house party". Our Southern California home was transformed into a hip little concert hall when Jen Chapin and the Rosetta Trio played in our living room to a group of friends and music lovers.  Most remember Jen's dad Harry for his classic song, "Cats in the Cradle". Jen has carved out a big place in the music world of her own with her ethereal, soulful voice and powerful lyrics. She and her band mesmerized the crowd, leaving them begging for more! For more info on Jen, please visit her website and take a moment to listen to her music: http://www.jenchapin.com





You too can have a house party. It's a great way to help a local band get exposure. Make sure you invite enough guests and have a good space for the band to play. Your guests should know that a donation to the band is appreciated and that the band will be selling/promoting their latest CD and upcoming gigs. 

You can also encourage your guests to bring their favorite appetizer or dessert to share. One culinary standout was Lani's Artichoke Dip. I had four requests for the recipe, so here it is!

Florentine Artichoke Dip     

• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach - thawed, drained and squeezed dry
• 1 (14 ounce) can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese