in which I channel Alys Vorpatril like a champion

[bronze_ribbons]

Granted, she wouldn't have been icing the cake after the first guests arrived (ten minutes early), but she has servants. I don't. ;-) Not to mention dealing with fines the library'd charged in error (they'd mistakenly reshelved the book instead of checking it back in) and rush editing jobs and moving a desk up a flight of stairs by herself (weak arms but strong legs and shoulders) and changing shirts/jewelry at 5:30 p.m. for a 6 p.m. do...

No matter -- the net result was a fine evening:



Total guests: twelve. Plus me and the BYM.

Reason: house concert featuring my friend David, who's a Chapman stick virtuoso. Man, is he good. As I admitted to some of the others during the break, I tend to take him somewhat for granted because he performs often at my church's functions, so it was great for me to see him through new eyes -- especially among people who themselves happen to know enough about music to ask great questions (that I wouldn't think to ask myself) and appreciate how sophisticated his playing is (he sold all the CDs he brought with him).

There was one piece where he became really absorbed in an improv and "sort of left you guys for a bit," to which one audience member responded, "No problem, I was right there with you!"

Flowers: $10 bouquet from Fresh Harvest -- enough to build three arrangements!

Appetizers:
mushroom-walnut pate with water crackers
mini-carrots
gherkins
deviled eggs
insalata caprese (sliced tomatoes with fresh mozzarella and basil, sprinkled with balsamic vinegar)

Main meal:
Indonesian-style chicken (from a recipe I pulled off Usenet in 1993)
Szechuan-style green beans
sesame-cucumber salad
rice

Dessert:
"Guiltfree" chocolate cake. Got the orange liqueur frosting right this time!
Chess pie.
Chocolate-walnut pie.
The fruit in the bottom of the sangria pitcher (mine). (Thanks for the tips, y'all!)

Beverages: one pitcher of sangria, lots of ice water (next time, I will set out pitchers), 1 1/2 bottles of red wine, 1 bottle of white wine, and misc Cokes/beer/coffee.

Whee! And now it's back to meetings and crash-editing...

Comments

[ellid.livejournal.com]

Chess pie? I've been looking for a good recipe for a while...:)

Sounds like a lovely time was had by all.

[mechaieh.livejournal.com]

Do you have access to The Joy of Cooking? It's the one in there.

And the chocolate-walnut pie was basically the leftover filling (because my pie shell was a shade too small) plus six ounces of dark baking chocolate and two cups of toasted nuts. :-)

[slightlymadmom.livejournal.com]

Yummmmmm. I would advise you not to post your menus in advance in case some people arrive to crash your parties ;-)

Sounds like a great time!