2011 food stuff

 This week was all about food and celebrations.  This week? Yes. The holidays are often less than festive and quite rushed, that sometimes a little post-holidays merriment is called for.  Our neighbors once again convened for a progressive dinner.  4 families, 4 houses, 4 different meals.  The "rules" were heavy hors d'oeuvres/small plates with a corresponding drink.  It was a wonderful night that lasted 5 hours of great food, great conversation.  We are so fortunate to have found this neighborhood.
The Gillefonds had the first house on the block and made a true appetizer- 2 types of bruschetta: pear, brie, honey with pomegranite seeds on french baguette (slice brie, cover with slice of pear, drizzle with honey, top with pomegranite seeds); and white bean spread with sage and lemon on whole wheat baguette (cook garlic and sage in olive oil, then mix with about a can of cannelini beans in the food processor along with 4 Tbsp fresh lemon juice. top with lemon zest and sage sprig).

 Our cocktail was a basil vodka gimlet.  We muddled fresh basil with simple syrup (4oz sugar added to 4 oz boiling water, then let cool) and 8oz fresh squeezed lime juice, let mix together in the fridge, then add 12 oz vodka, 4 oz St Germaine.  Strain. Makes 8 cocktails).  I made a mocktail version- basil, lime and seltzer.

 A few shots of the table. It was the first time we got to actually seat 8.  You may recall this is the table we purchased from a yard sale and re-finished ourselves.  It only came with 4 chairs, so the other 4 (with white cushions) are from our old table.  I was excited to see it all set up with the leaf. We fit around it comfortably, I am pleased to report.

 

I love the pendant light we finally got for the dining room. Thank you west elm.

 Having been inspired by some of our neighbors, we are hoping to start buying our meat from a few new vendors in the strip district, and possibly going in on a 1/4 cow and some free range farm chickens with our foodie friends.


This was also the week that the neighborhood food co-op started up for 2011.  Having received a juicer for Christmas, I decided to give it a whirl.  I love this appliance! Any fruit or vegetable that you can shove in the top, comes out of the bottom as juice. It's amazing!  I made an apple-carrot juice that is killer!  Perfectly sweet, and totally natural. Nothing but apple and carrot.  I think I put in about 20 apples and 2lb of carrots and got about 80 oz of juice, which was my contribution to the group for the co-op.

I've been doing a bit of insane organizing (nesting?) like clearing out under the sink, the silverware drawer, the "entertaining" (platters, cheese plates, etc) drawer, and am really excited to try some new recipes.  I've also been very academically productive in 2011 (9 days strong- woohoo!).  I must be feeling some kind of new year spirit.  Whatever has infected me, I hope it lasts, say, til April 6?  fingers crossed.