Sunday the 29th is the big spring graduation and feast party. AND, I have help on the day so that my guests won't have to be working with me all day and into the evening. The Smith duo is coming to the rescue AGAIN. I try to get them for all the big events and they are so good and fun to be around.
I have never seen the flowers do so well so early on; it must be the rain. This is Nate's passion flower and it is glorious already. Andy has tomatoes on the vine which he is very pleased to show all who come. We have heads of broccoli so there will be several salads at this party. The kale is taking over so I will have to send some south with the Cincinnati gang. I expect there will be over twenty coming from Cincinnati and we welcome them with open arms.
I have been cooking up a storm and one dish I am eager to try is black bean and couscous salad. I am figuring on five salads. The black bean salad has corn and so many colorful things, I think it will be a hit. Much of the menu, however, is macho since the two graduates are men. So far I have done: two cheesecakes which we will top with homemade raspberry syrup and fresh fruit; lasagna roll ups; brat and mixed bean soup; chicken and noodles; chili;buffalo chicken for sliders; spiral cut ham roasted with a special topping; chicken meatballs, baby ribblets in BQ sauce;Pam is bringing six pies; an Asian rice dish;there will be a large cheese tray; a large pasta salad, and, a tomato, basil and mozzarella cheese offering; a crab loaf; Brussel sprouts fixed two ways; and there will be those famous roast beef sliders and Ina Garten's ham, cheese and grainy mustard in puff pastry. I may have left something out, but you get the picture of plenty. Oh yes, mac and cheese with pepperoni; and marinated pork medallion sliders. We may have to rolls the guests down the driveway when they leave for home.
A busy day casserole:
I spend a lot of time staring into my pantry(s) I picked Andy's first crop of broccoli today and wanted to use it right away for lunch and dinner. I spotted a bag of Trader Joe's brown rice medley and started putting things together for a casserole. This rice and broccoli dish is so simple I hesitate saying what is in it because... I used a can of Campbell's cream of chicken soup, a cup of mayo, some hot sauce, a shot of Lea & Perrins worcestershire sauce,and a bit of broth to loosen it up. I buttered the baking dish and put in the cooked rice and the blanched broccoli and spooned on the soup mixture topping it all off with a layer of shredded cheese. Popped it in a 350 oven for 30 minutes and Andy tied in to it before leaving for classes at OSU. So far Andy, Brooks, Christian and I have eaten this delight and we all approve. (You could put in some sour cream in the soup mix, but I didn't have time and we didn't miss it.)
