to celebrate

We had invited some of our closest friends in Boulder/Ned to dinner this weekend, but had actually picked a bad weekend since some were out of town already, others were going fly fishing, some had visitors, and one was sick. That’s okay, because we’ll try to catch them for the big hoo-ha party later. And it meant more to me to schedule it for a weekend when I knew Beth and Nicole would be around… because they’re my best pals here and I love cooking for them.

appetizers
shrimp pot stickers
dinner
grilled marinated salmon with lemon and dill
green salad with dried cranberries, feta, candied pecans in balsamic vinaigrette
sweet corn cakes
sautéed asparagus and garlic
dessert
flan
fruit salad with lime syrup
truffle sampler

What a lovely feeling it is to prepare a meal in my own kitchen without that diss hanging over my head. It’s a subtle difference, but a happy one.

fresh and luscious berries

i made candied pecans since i couldn’t find any in town

cutting raw shrimp for pot sticker filling

adding sesame oil to the mixture

I hadn’t actually partook in any champagne because I was so utterly exhausted after my defense and still pretty tired while visiting my folks in the ‘burg. My dad had several bottles of bubbly he was ready to open, but was perfectly happy to settle for a couple of 20+ year old reds from his collection with our dinners. So this time… this time I figured we could spring for a bottle just for the celebratory gesture.

awaiting the arrival of the guests

i sent the cork flying into our neighbor’s yard

cheers to everyone!

So great to sit down and relax with my pals. Beth said she was a little concerned about dinner because it was going to be three alpha females and poor Jeremy. I assured her that Jeremy didn’t mind dining with three ladies at all… at least, not with these three. I hope we’ll get to do a backpack trip together before Nicole and Andrew head west and Beth heads south (as in Latin America).

beautiful salmon, ready to grill