Veggie Feast

I’m one of those “sorta” vegetarians. I can not do without a veggie omelette and salmon steak but I eschew dairy. (Makes me gassy.) About every four or five years I hold a Veggie Feast where I invite friends and family to my place where I cook a ton of vegetarian dishes. My last one was in New Bedford, MA (2004) and it had a brunch theme. Because this year I have a patio with a grill, the theme was a no-brainer, COOK-OUT!

Nine folks trekked all the way out to Leominster, MA for an afternoon of eats and conversation. The menu was:

Appetizers: Spinach-Artichoke Hummus, Avocado Salsa, Lentil-Bulgar Stuffed Grape Leaves

Main Course: Grilled Veggie Kabobs (in a homemade marinade), Spaghetti Salad, Sweet Potato Salad

Dessert: Fruit Tart, Oreo Truffles, Soy ice cream (the only store bought dish)  

I must admit it was hard work. I cooked most of the dishes the day before and was cooking about an hour before the first guests arrived but it was all worth it. Every dish came out spectacular (if I do say so myself) and each lady (it was a ladies-only event) went home with copies of all the recipes enclosed in a Night Garden Photography greeting card.

Where was Hubby? He worked that day and then headed over to his folks where his Dad grilled steak. They celebrated an anti-Veggie Feast.

I suppose the next Feast will be in 2013.

Where Ya Been?

I didn’t fall off the face of the earth. I’ve been watching each new day dawn over the United States of Obama. It’s all Unicorn Tails and Pixie Dust!!!

Really, I’ve just been keeping warm, doing a lot of baking and visiting friends. (I like this “retirement” thing.) The highlight of the week was visiting my old college buds down in Manchester, CT, the city that feels like a village or is it the village that feels like a city. I don’t remember exactly but I do recall that Manchester is called SILK CITY. (Sounds a bit kinky, doesn’t it!?!)

Exotic dancing aside, Silk City got it’s nome from the Cheney Brothers who were the kindly, wealthy silk manufacturers that made Manchester the city (or is it village?!?) it is today. If George Bailey had actually made money from his crummy Building & Loan, and his self-centered brother, Harry, stuck around, they would have been the Cheney Brothers. LIBRARIES! PARKS! OFFICE BUILDINGS! CUTE WORKER COTTAGES! I’m surprised Manchester wasn’t renamed Cheney City (or is it Cheney Village?!?) But that would have been too “Potterville” for these real life George Baileys.

A work of art

My buds live in a real, honest to goodness mansion that had something to do with the Cheneys. Today the impressive abode has been split into very cool apartments. The wood work and flooring are first class and (this is going to sound odd) the door knobs and hinges are works of art. Don’t believe me? That’s one on the left.

The college buds are doing peachy keen in the Nutmeg State. They’ve been loving parents to their new son, Nico, who is as cute as a button and is a remarkably, unfussy baby. (Knock on wood!) I LOVE this pic of Mom and Son:

Sweet

The Buds took Hubby and me to Corey’s Catsup & Mustard, situated on Main Street, just past the PRAYER TOWER. (Don’t ask.) The place is known for their pleasingly large hamburgers. Each hamburger was skewered with a gigantic steak knife. These knives would have made Lizzie Borden green with envy.

It was such a lovely visit and I think we overstayed (the guests who don’t leave – ARGH!!!) but it was long overdue. On the way home, we saw cars swerve to avoid a mattress boxspring in the middle of Route 384. Exciting!

Check out the pics (including the Prayer Tower and those Borden knives) on Flickr.

BTW: Wishing New Mother GOOD LUCK this week!!! She’s off to Hollywood to compete on Jeopardy!

Introducing…

Remember that baby shower I attended over a month ago? Well, my friend wasn’t faking and she wasn’t pulling a Queen Mary phantom pregnancy. Check out Nico James.

Nico and family are doing fine.

She’s So Crafty

Recently I spent some quality time with an old chum in New Bedford, MA. Chum isn’t the right word. She’s one of my oldest and dearest friends. This chick has so many blessings, I would throttle her if I was still single. She’s married to an excellent musician with good financial sense (how rare is that?!?), has two really cool kids, has a BEAUTIFUL urban oasis in her backyard AND is way more crafty than Martha.

She’s started a small business called Park Street Studios selling hand made baskets and bags. I took these photos of some of her pieces. They make great gifts and hey…Christmas is right around the corner.

The Goods.