Entertaining has become challenging for me because my right knee is in bad shape and so walking and standing for long periods is trying. Waiting to have knee replacement surgery but that won't happen till early in the new year.
Made numerous lists for shopping and executing a midday postponed Thanksgiving dinner for 8. Canadian Thanksgiving was last week but we waited for a family member to return from her Panama Canal Cruise. The meal had to be mostly made ahead because cooking everything on the same day is impossible for me these days.
The Orange Pumpkin Flan (Pastry Studio Blog) and Zucchini Pear Soup were made on Friday.
Saturday morning I shopped at two stores for last minute items. In the afternoon the squash was roasted, the green beans blanched and chicken thighs marinated. The marinade was from Jacques Pepin' s Quick Roasted Mustard Garlic Chicken. Ina Garten's Sherry Glazed Shallots were also prepared. Marilyn's (thank you) Speculaas cookies were baked in acorn and maple leaf shapes and a Pumpkin Bundt Cake was baked and later, drizzled with chocolate ganache.
Sunday morning we did last minute cleaning and set the table. My centre piece was a bowl of orange mini pumpkins with battery run lights interspersed around them. Around the bowl were silk fall leaves and some springy Halloween characters.
An hour before our guests arrived my DD brought all the dishes up from the spare fridge in the basement so they would be all set to go.
When my guests arrived at one we were ready for action. To start we munched on Boursin and pate on a variety of crackers and sipped an Australian Sauvignon Blanc. Between courses my DH put dishes into the dishwasher so at the end of the meal there was very little clean up to do. Yay!
Even if I do say so myself, the dinner was delicious and had proceeded without a hitch, thanks to my DH and DD who assisted. And, as a bonus, I wasn't completely exhausted.
Now I just have to pack for our two week holiday in southern Italy. Packing was delayed as my sister in law used my suitcase for her cruise. With any luck at all I'll be set to go on Wednesday at 10 AM.
Made numerous lists for shopping and executing a midday postponed Thanksgiving dinner for 8. Canadian Thanksgiving was last week but we waited for a family member to return from her Panama Canal Cruise. The meal had to be mostly made ahead because cooking everything on the same day is impossible for me these days.
The Orange Pumpkin Flan (Pastry Studio Blog) and Zucchini Pear Soup were made on Friday.
Saturday morning I shopped at two stores for last minute items. In the afternoon the squash was roasted, the green beans blanched and chicken thighs marinated. The marinade was from Jacques Pepin' s Quick Roasted Mustard Garlic Chicken. Ina Garten's Sherry Glazed Shallots were also prepared. Marilyn's (thank you) Speculaas cookies were baked in acorn and maple leaf shapes and a Pumpkin Bundt Cake was baked and later, drizzled with chocolate ganache.
Sunday morning we did last minute cleaning and set the table. My centre piece was a bowl of orange mini pumpkins with battery run lights interspersed around them. Around the bowl were silk fall leaves and some springy Halloween characters.
An hour before our guests arrived my DD brought all the dishes up from the spare fridge in the basement so they would be all set to go.
When my guests arrived at one we were ready for action. To start we munched on Boursin and pate on a variety of crackers and sipped an Australian Sauvignon Blanc. Between courses my DH put dishes into the dishwasher so at the end of the meal there was very little clean up to do. Yay!
Even if I do say so myself, the dinner was delicious and had proceeded without a hitch, thanks to my DH and DD who assisted. And, as a bonus, I wasn't completely exhausted.
Now I just have to pack for our two week holiday in southern Italy. Packing was delayed as my sister in law used my suitcase for her cruise. With any luck at all I'll be set to go on Wednesday at 10 AM.