I love food. I love to cook, and more specifically I love to cook lots of food for other people. Thanksgiving and Christmas tend to be culinary orgies for me, wherein I get to feed as many of my friends as can fit around my table. This year, my boyfriend and I are hosting together, and so it’s going to be as many of our friends as will fit around -his- table. This works out well, as he’s got more space and a better kitchen setup than I do. There are a couple of things that are going to make this year even more entertaining.
- I have never yet cooked for my boyfriend
- I just moved – I’m not entirely unpacked yet.
- I don’t know exactly how many guests we’re having
- We don’t at present own enough plates for everyone to eat on
I also have a tendency to cook for 30+ people, even if only 10 are expected. And of course other people are bringing food food. That being said – we’re a week out from the big day. I actually started doing prep work and this evening. In the oven right now – the beginnings of a fantastic chicken broth for chicken gravy.
The tentative menu this year will be: (this does not include what guests are bringing, just what my boyfriend and I are cooking. )
Appetizer
Cheese ball/crab dip
Maybe Deviled Eggs if I have enough energy
Couple 1’s contribution
Main Dishes
Brined Roast Chicken
Spiral sliced Ham
Johnny Mozetti
Side Dishes
Sweet potatoes
Mashed potatoes
Apple Chutney – made from scratch
Cranberry sauce – just a can, nothing special
Salad
Chicken Gravy
Couple 2’s Contribution (salad likely)
Breads
Potato biscuits – my granny’s recipe!
Maybe a loaf of fresh bread depending on time.
Desserts
Pumpkin Pie
Guest 3’s Contribution
Obviously there are still a few things outstanding that we have to decide on. And I guess I may have to throw a vegetable of some sort in there – just for forms sake.
But it’s already started off to be a great adventure – I did all my grocery shopping yesterday, got all the way through the checkout line and discovered that I left my wallet at work and had no means of paying for anything. So I had to do the shopping all over again today, and ended up with even MORE stuff in my basket. Not sure how that happened… no really.
As I have time I’ll post recipes that I’m using (except granny’s secret one!) and how things are progressing. I’ve not made most of these things before!