Barbara Jacksier

Thursday, April 17, 2008

TEA FOR TWO X 40

I love planning party menus. Cooking is hard work but planning is relaxing and creative.

For my mom’s 85th birthday, I planned up an eclectic international buffet -- South American style sliced steak, Scandinavian poached salmon, and a Chinese turkey dish for a crowd of 50.

This time, I wanted something a little lighter, perhaps French. I couldn’t get past the logistics of whipping up enough “from scratch” quiches for a crowd, however.
About a month ago, I was sitting in my kitchen flipping thru cookbooks looking for a spark of inspiration when the mosaic letters Brook sent me (see February post) caught my eye. A light bulb went off. I’d make a tea party.

My original menu centered on little finger sandwiches and cream scones, then the list of food grew. The menu continued to change. Every time someone said “but you’ve got to make (fill in the blank),” I added it to the list.

The final menu (see below) is part French, part British, part things I could make ahead and freeze. The little tea sandwiches are now a do-it-yourself affair and there are even platters of sushi.

The delectables will be served in my collection of Polish pottery. I invested in the large serving pieces for my mom's 85th party, knowing we would need them again the following year for my son's graduation bash.

APPETIZERS
Baskets of sliced baguettes & crackers
Smoked salmon, trout & mackerel
Tapenade (olive, chick pea & eggplant) spread
Herbs du Provence Spiced olive oil
Assorted olives and cornichons
Deviled Eggs (my "girls" contribution)
French cheese tray
Sushi platters
An artistic crudities display
Cocktail shrimp

LUNCH FARE
Caesar salad with anchovies on the side
Mixed greens with Fred’s special vinaigrette dressing
Bowls of homemade croutons, feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices
Salmon croquettes with roasted red pepper sauce
Ratatouille
Boulettes aux boeuf (meatballs) with choice of sauces
French potato salad with haricots vert (green beans)
French potato salad with garlic sausage
Colorful coleslaw

SWEETS
Miniature cream scones (a Martha Stewart recipe) with orange marmalade, lemon curd and mixed berry jam
Surprise assortment of cakes (it's a secret! I'll share photos next week)
Fruit bouquets (from Edible Arrangements)

BEVERAGES
Fresh lemonade, hot & iced Darjeeling and mint teas, wine, and soda

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

THE MARTHA OF MULCH

Recently, I celebrated my 100th post. Now, however, I am gearing up for a more stellar celebration… my mother’s 90th birthday.

(the birthday girl is the one on the left)

Last week, The Prince William Purlers knitting club made her a gorgeous wall quilt. Each member made a knitted or crocheted flower, then several members created an amazing flower basket quilt. The member’s names were written on the fabric leaves. I had suggested the floral theme because Ruth loves flowers. It runs in the family.

This weekend, 80 friends and relatives will be arriving for what I hope will be a fabulous garden party.

In addition to all of my work commitments, the deadline for getting the house ready for the party is looming large! I have lists detailing the lists I've made!

Only four days to go… the redecorating is done, the guest rooms readied, the house cleaned, and the garden ready for presentation.

I am also cooking most of the food. My father dabbled in catering, so shopping for and dishing up delectable edibles for a crowd doesn’t faze me. But it does take time—lots of it.

So for those who have wondered why I haven’t been leaving comments on their blogs lately or answering e-mails, my apologies.

These bouquets from my garden are for you!

For the last 3 weeks, I’ve barely read a newspaper (I usually read three a day), cracked open a magazine (quite a sacrifice for me) or gone to the gym (lifting huge cans of crushed tomatoes counts as working out, right?)

My garden “To Do” list is always long each spring, but this year it ran 6 pages.

Having a garden party puts more pressure on the gardener than being on a garden tour -- because you know all of the people.

And, it's far more work than getting ready for a garden photo shoot--because you can fake it on a shoot. Only the view being shot needs to be perfect, the rest can be a weedy mess.

After weeks of pruning, weeding and planting, this week, it’s been much ado about mulch.

Tote them bags, lift those them bales...

Belgium loves to watch me work and so do the chickens.

They find Barbara TV absolutely fascinating.

I'm a big fan of "fines" pine bark mulch for the paths. The rest of the flower beds and borders get black leave mulch (from the town dump.)

Even if it's too early for little more than asparagus, arugula, Egyptian walking onions, and some herbs to be visible in the veggie garden, nicely mulched paths make it look Martha-esque.

Notice anything different (above)?

Now if only the sun will RSVP "yes" for Saturday...

Sunday, April 6, 2008

SATURDAY IN THE GARDEN April 4th

It's cherry blossom season here in Washington DC.

There are single cherries in bloom.

White blossomed varieties,

And pink ones, too.

In my garden, the daffodils are in their glory.

(Wisely)

Then, I became obsessed with growing different kinds. Over two thousand bloom in March and April. Most I can identify by name but a few are mysteries.