A Luncheon for Some Lovely Ladies

Hello, dear friends.  How is your weekend going?  Yesterday, was surely the highlight of 2017 for me.  

It all began a few years ago when I met dear Mary, who was a reader for lunch.  We really hit it off and a couple of months later she hosted a lovely luncheon at her home and introduced me to her neighbors, the Sudbury Sweethearts.   That day I met Laurie and she was kind enough to ask me to a sensational luncheon at her stunning summer home on the Cape last November.  You can read about it here.  I had such a great time that I wanted to have them all over for lunch.  By chance, my buddy Mo, of Mocadeaux was in town visiting so she was able to come too.

 Thank goodness, the Mister was totally on board and had the menu written weeks in advance.  My guests were lucky - if I had been in charge, the main course would have been peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Let me begin with the "wow" factor - the cheeseboard ala the Mister.
What can I say?  
The guy's a gift for cheeseboards.  

Here are some pics from behind the scenes.  Let's just say the Mister does not appreciate me posting the kitchen pics, so don't tell him.

I've been married to the Mister for almost 27 glorious years, and it wasn't until last Spring when we had my cousin Louise and dear Peter over for lunch that I discovered that he makes the creamiest, most heavenly quiche I have ever tasted.  So needless to say, I made this one request for the menu.

The sous chef was called away on business for his own safety as well as that of the guests.  He still thinks that he is a five-pound lap dog and nobody can convince him that he's not. 

The Mister warmed these pretzel nuggets and sprinkled them with sea salt.  They are soooo good with a glass of Chardonnay.

He bought them at Whole Foods - he can't make everything from scratch, for heaven sakes!!

We enjoyed our 'tails and d'oeuvres in the sunroom.  There was never a dull moment.  The afternoon was chock full of laughs and entertaining stories.

These mini sandwiches were filled with roast tenderloin, horseradish, blue cheese and fresh strawberries.

There were also roast chicken sandwiches with prosciutto dressed with a basil pesto and fresh strawberries.

The Mister made jumbo croutons out of cornbread and sprinkled them with sea salt for the salad.

Since I'm watching my waistline, I decided to skip the salad and just eat the croutons.  

  

The quiche was made with pancetta, shiitake mushrooms, shallots, and 24-hour tomatoes. 

I was in charge of the flowers and the table.  

I slept for four days after I finished my tasks.

I grew my own plants and made the tablecloth and napkins by hand.

OK, that's not true.

I just wanted to make sure that you were listening.

Have you finished oohing and aahing about my table?

OK, back to the food...

For dessert, the Mister served a lemon frangipane envelope stuffed with fresh raspberries and a side of butter caramel gelato topped with pistachios.

The entire meal was less than 200 calories.

OK, that isn't true, either.

I will tell what is true - the company was even sweeter than the dessert!  I feel like I've known these ladies forever.  I look forward to many more fun times in the future with these funny, smart, wise women.

That is if they'll have me.


Until next time...

This is how I felt after I set the table.


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