Food

Eating is a huge part of any party of this kind. Of course we're self catering. Again, planning is everything. I know that for a proper sit down dinner you need, even if you've got some serious mice en place and simple courses, at least one (1) in a kitchen. Preferably a kitchen with plenty of counter space and a large hot air oven. You also need at least two (2) carrying plates, and this is if they're skilled. Having teens wanting to earn some extra cash and you need four (4) for this to not capsize. It's not going to happen. Sit down dinners also tend to be more formal and stiff, and I'm not having that. So some kind of buffet style kind of food it is.

Many are vegetarians among our friends so to make it easier, having vegetarian with meat add ons for those who wish, is what seems to be the most practical thing to do. Some kind of bean stew as the main attraction is simple and easy to prepare and cook. I think corn cob is tasty (well we all do) and it's that time of the year as well, so we'll have that too. Bread naturally. The meat? I'd really want to try and make corndogs and see if that's ok. It's not exactly fancy food, but neither is a bean stew, so I think they'd compliment each other well. And if anything, those are all southern foods, so we're sticking to the theme here. My main goal is for people to be full when they leave the table and I think they will be with this kind of food.

Cake? Nope. Cupcakes? Never. Too much work and difficult to deal with if we get the typical hot August weather. No, I want rocky road. Plain and simple. Easy to make, easy to keep in the freezer and whip out and let them thaw in a cool place the day before and cut them up and put on trays. This anyone can do. And it is possible to have a topper on a mountain of rocky road too, though I haven't decided if we should have one.


This pretty picture comes from Nigella Lawson's Christmas cookbook and it illustrates just how cute rocky road can be. Though I'd not have deer and spruce trees of course.