Many thanks to Chris for bringing a gazillion beverages even though he was covered, to Eric for
washing the multi-gazillion dishes and bringing a metal ladle, to Sarah and Cindy for bringing mugs and extra bowls, and to Brian for offering up his mugs even though he couldn't be there himself.
Location: Lynda's
People who came: Lynda, Emily, Bethany, Eric, Chris, Michael, Jennifer, Sarah, Cindy
Lynda's Comments:
Both my dishes this time were make-ahead items that then needed to chill for several hours, which let me be more relaxed in the later afternoon and as people were arriving. I think I was thus also the *only* person whose food was all ready on time. %) If anyone has any suggestions on how to get people and dishes to all converge at a specific time when we do potlucks, please tell me! Still, everything was done sooner than last week. It was nice to have the cheese ball for people to nosh on as other food was being prepared, and it's probably a good idea to have an appetizer-type dish for each YumQuest.
Once again, Tools Are Good. This week the mixer was used for three things, the little food processor for two, Eric and Emily's big food processor for one, the garlic press for at least one -- I used it on the Key limes; not sure whether anyone subsequently used it for garlic -- and the multi-cooker for one, and that's just what I know about because it happened in my kitchen, let alone everyone else's prep elsewhere. If we're going to keep having potlucks here on this scale (we are, of course), I need more cutting boards and serving utensils.
As usual, the company was lovely. Strangely (must've been the lack o' sleep), I caught myself thinking a couple of times during the meal this week, "Wow, this is good; we should do this sort of thing regularly," then enjoying the realization that we do.
Emily's Comments:
I was delighted with how the theme worked out. And we were closer to on time! Go us! If we keep this up, we'll have everyone showing up, with food, ready to eat at 7. Someday it will happen. The kitchen was also less crowded and the general prep feeling was less stressed. I was thinking it probably had to do with people making things at home and bringing them, but then I looked at the list and realized that a lot of things were cooked there. Somehow it just felt more relaxed than last time. This is a good thing. And I ate WAAAAY too much this week. :)
