Party Time

Once again our friends Cabinet Lady and Dr. Debbie along with Wife and went into party mode collaboration.  It has been over a year since our last mega effort with Tapas and Zakushka.  This time we sent for a version of soup and sandwiches...but really, really kicked up.  We had the following:

Soups:

• A Mexican Caldo with numerous condiments you could put in
• A (totally kick butt) Vichyssoise (cold potato, leek, and cream)

Meat Proteins:

•  An Irish Spiced Beef that took 7 days of curing
• A Southwest Brined Turkey Roast
• Homemade Pork Confit (pork slow poached in its own fat)

Spreads:

• Mustard made from scratch
• Aoili (garlic mayo) made from scratch
• Chinese flavored mayo
• Port Wine/Olive compound butter
• Indian Dal spread
• A four cheese (goat and 3 Brie type) spread

Garnishes:

• Bacon
• Homemade Pimentos
• Roasted Green Pepper marinated in garlic, anchovy, and capers
• Lettuce
• Tomatoes
• Four sliced cheeses 
• A slaw of green & red cabbage, fennel, and carrots be

Breads (all hand made by Wife):

• Kaiser Rolls
• Rustic Italian
• Russian Brown Bread
• Light Whole Wheat

Desserts (all home made):

• Flourless chocolate torte
• Shortbread cookies
• Lavender shortbread cookies
• Oatmeal, white & dark chocolate, and dried cherry cookies
• Meringue cookies flavored with rum, Grand Marnier, or cherry

We had 32 guests show up.  Our reputation is such now that many had skipped lunch in anticipation.  They did justice to our meal.  I think all four of us are thinking that as much as we love putting these on, our old bones can only take one a year with all the days on our feet preparing, presenting and cleaning up!

Some pictures of the spread before the guests arrived.

The spread

The meats

The breads (oops all covered up!)

The Russian Brown Bread was a real treat and a story unto itself of failure and redemption.

Some of the spreads

Making my own mustard was a hoot

On to the garnishes

The Caldo

While we all required a day or two of recuperation, Cabinet Lady and I already have a theme for our next endeavor - The Cocktail Party!