it's about time

This was the strangest Sunday lunch ever for so many reasons: Dave did all the grocery shopping, my mom helped prepare food, the menu was changed at least 5 times, there was no lemon juice, we had lots of booze. Oh, and we fed our friends, not family!

We have had friends over plenty of times for house parties and the like, but never for a real sit down meal before, which seems kind of odd when I think about it. My family doesn't read anything I post here, and it's my friends that have to stare at the pictures and drool over my culinary genius. After all the fun we had this weekend, I'm thinking we make this a regular in the Sunday Lunch rotation. Next time though, we invite more people so there will be no leftovers to clean.

My favourite part was having everyone crowded around the table, talking and laughing and eating and drinking. There was no rush (except to catch the 2nd half of the soccer game) and nobody was in a hurry to clear the table after we ate. Now say what you want, but TGIF (thank God Italia is finito). There was peace and quiet in Woodbridge and the sun was out and we got to play catch and watch Claudia cartwheel around the cul-de-sac. The late night jam (sans vocals and guitar) was the perfect way to end the night, and the last minute addition of the xylophone was an added bonus.

August long weekend, party at my house. Tell your friends.

• Guacamole with chilli peppers, tomatoes, lime juice, salt, pepper
• Roasted butternut squash, goat cheese, rosemary, olive oil
• Sour cream, salsa, cheddar cheese
• Tons of nachos for dipping, scooping, munching


• Cold pasta salad with grape tomatoes, bocconcini, arugala, olives, shaved parmesan
• Salsa of diced tomatoes, cucumber, capers, anchovies, parsley, olive oil, balsamic vinegar
• Twice baked potatoes with cheddar cheese, sour cream, bacon bits, chives, butter
• Ribs roasted with garlic, salt, pepper, spicy oil, then coated with smokehouse western and spicy BBQ sauce and tossed on the grill


• Proseco, gin, sweet vermouth, Campari, pomegranate ice cubes, mixed berries
• White wine, lots of ice, more mixed berries, nectarnies
• Honey ricotta cheesecake with fresh mixed berries
• Espresso

Next weekend I'm off to Chicago with my mom for a last minute long weekend extravaganza so you don't have to worry about salivating on your laptops.