Done

I had a cooking event today where I was responsible for feeding 179 people. I managed to capture just two pictures, and I'm so glad it's over. Thankfully the menu allowed me to prep many things ahead of time and then to do my final cooking on-site yesterday and today. I never know how much to prepare, and invariably I have leftovers, but that's certainly a better scenario than the alternative! 

This was a large undertaking, but it went extremely well and I'm very thankful for the opportunity. 

I made: sticky bun ham and cheese sandwiches, chicken salad croissants, potato salad, shrimp and chorizo skewers, crudités with smoked salmon spread, fruit trays, chocolate fudge, molasses cookies, white chocolate truffles with lemon, and orange poppyseed cupcakes with raspberry frosting. 

Sausage "quiche"

Also known as: the only thing I had the energy to throw together.

Today I made three batches of smoked salmon spread. Twelve pounds of potato salad. Turned eight roasted chickens into crazy amounts of chicken salad.

Then it was time to make dinner. Ugh.

I had the wherewithal to defrost a pack of country sausage links earlier in the day. I also had a red pepper, an onion, some leftover potatoes, and one egg. Thankfully I have the best neighbor. She's also my sister-in-law. She came to the rescue with three eggs (I already used three dozen earlier in my cooking exploits).

Within fifteen minutes, I had dinner in the oven.

Ever since my sister mentioned rhubarb sauce with tapioca (yesterday), I've been meaning to make vanilla pudding with rhubarb sauce.  I simmered both on the stove while I cleaned up the kitchen for the bajillionth time.

I wish we had a good choice locally for home-cooked takeout. It was fairly painless to throw dinner and dessert together, but I would have welcomed a little help.

At any rate, here are the recipes!

Sausage "quiche"

1lb breakfast sausage, crumbled and casing removed
1 red pepper, chopped
5 small Yukon gold potatoes, par-cooked in the microwave
1 small onion, chopped
2tbsp olive oil
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups half and half
1 tsp Dijon
Salt, pepper
Shredded cheddar

1. Sautéed sausage in olive oil until barely pink. Add potatoes, peppers, and onions. Sauté until browned.
2. Place sauté mixture in baking pan.
3. Mix eggs, mustard, seasonings and half and half. Pour over sausage mixture. Top with cheese and bake for thirty five minutes at 375 degrees.

Vanilla Pudding Recipe

Rhubarb-Berry Compote

2 cups chopped rhubarb 1/4 cup strawberries/red raspberries 1 cup sugar In a medium saucepan, simmer ingredients until soft (about 7 minutes). Purée if desired.

Phone Snapshots

Lettuce Wraps

Otherwise known as: the best thing we've eaten this week.

I am so happy today. I wish my moods weren't dependent on variable circumstances (ie, the sun), but today is perfect. Sunny, 70 degrees, and cloudless skies. I roasted six chickens, skewered 200 shrimp and chorizo bites, and all of my desserts (for next week's event) are in the freezer.

And then there was dinner tonight. As Josh described it: amazing. I had a flat-iron steak in the refrigerator and I saw a Pinterest recipe for Thai-beef and lettuce wraps. After I looked at the original recipe, I knew I was going to have to start over. I always have things like: hoisin, fish sauce, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and sesame oil on hand. I mixed all of those together (about two tbsp each) and added a squeeze of lime juice and a tablespoon of sesame seeds.

After I grilled and sliced our steak, we simply topped the lettuce with shredded carrots, julienned
cucumbers, and the sauce.  The interesting part is that they were surprisingly filling. The sauce was crucial, though, I must admit!

Reality Check.

So, I've recently acquired a new phone. I love it. The ease with which I can share my life is addicting. I especially enjoy discovering the accomplishments of others on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.

I do worry, though. On our social applications, we only post our accomplishments, in most cases.  As women, especially, it's so easy to compare ourselves and feel lacking. We all have gifts. Maybe you're not a baker, master organizer, crafting genius, or professional quilter. Maybe your gift just happens to be corralling three boys through a grocery store and keeping your sanity. Just because I can grill a piece of salmon does not make me any better than you.

I'd like to start a new series here that peels back the curtain on life every once in a while. My goal on this blog is to inspire you to love food. Every once in a while, though, I want to encourage you by showing you that our life is messy. I will show you my struggles and not allow myself to complain about my husband or kids. Please know that no one has it all together.

So, onto my first "reality check". Here it is.

What you see here are two suitcases. These have been sitting on Rob's 'side' of the room since April 14th and 21st, respectively. Why, you ask? Well, to be blunt: because I've been too unselfish to unpack them for him. I guess I'm very good at ignoring the fact that my husband works crazy hours to provide us a very comfortable living.  Please don't try to tell me that they're 'his' suitcases, that I'm busy too, etc. I understand all of those things.

The fact of the matter is that I've been purposely ignoring them. Has anyone seen the "Everybody loves Raymond" episode where he and Deborah purposely leave a suitcase on the steps for three
weeks (each refusing to cave)?

How much better would our relationships be if we served each other? If we didn't keep a running scorecard in our head? If we gave grace when it is least deserved? I'm going to start today and unpack those d$&? suitcases.

Lately

I know I haven't posted in a while! At this point, I have a laptop that won't turn on.  Don't feel bad for me, I still have an iPad, but it's not ideal for blogging. I don't even know how to download pictures to it!

I have a large cooking job upcoming, so I'll be preparing for that. Today I made ten pounds of fudge, four batches of molasses cookie batter, and a triple batch of truffles.

I miss posting on here, but Rob has been traveling for a while. Hopefully he'll have time to take my laptop to our computer technician (soon).

I hope you're all doing well! We're enjoying the flowering spring trees in our neighborhood, Josh's first volleyball season, Kate's soccer games, and our guinea girls.

I've just acquired my first iPhone, so hopefully I'll be able to figure out how to do short posts on there. I'd also love any advice on Instagram or twitter, so any help would be appreciated!

At any rate, I hope we can catch up soon!

Kirsten :)

Weekly Meal Plan

I haven't gotten out my calculator to tally the numbers, but it's safe to say I spent hundreds of dollars last week.  Between the vet bill and three trips to the grocery store (at $150 each), I'm feeling a little light-headed.  And guilty.  Thank goodness for my husband.  He never makes me feel badly for spending money on groceries (or anything else we need).  I usually don't spend money on things other than necessities, but food and gas really do add up in a family of five.  Our kids are all packing their lunches for school, so that adds more heft to the grocery store trips (in money and actual food). 

I do find that it's easier to keep my food bill relatively in check when I plan out our meals.  It also helps to know what to defrost in the mornings or prepare ahead of time throughout the day. 

So, today I spent about $80 at Price-Rite for breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and dinner components.  I still need to buy my meat and dairy.

So, here's what we'll be having for dinners this week! 

Monday April 1st
Beef Roast with carrots, parsnips, onions, sweet potatoes, and yukon golds
dessert: lemon velvet pie (I was supposed to make this for Easter, but we stayed home due to the stomach bug - again)

Tuesday April 2nd
Burgers
roasted cauliflower

Wednesday April 3rd
Four cheese ravioli in a light cream sauce with peas and ham
salad

Thursday April 4th
Veggie Stir Fry with beef and jasmine rice

Friday April 5th
Pittsburgh Steak Salad

I'm also going to try this recipe for lunch today.  Josh has a dentist appointment at 12:30, so I'm picking him up from school and I'll take this in a thermos for him to eat on the way to the office.  

the chiles are soaking as we speak, for the "curry paste"

 

I also hope to make crispy eggplant slices and various salads for myself and the kids for lunches this week.  As well as lots of green leafy vegetables and a few fruits for the guinea girls.