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The Weekly Newsletter |
Menus and Stories for August 21 - 26, 2006
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| Cooking at the Tailgate Market |
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Mark your calendars. Next Saturday, August 26th, I'll be cooking across the street at the French Broad Food Co-op's Tailgate Market. We did the same thing last year and had a lot of fun. I'll go over when the farmers arrive, see what they bring, and cook based on their deliveries (just like you would do if you were going to the market and then heading home to cook.)
On my scouting mission yesterday I saw some Celeriac, some Tomatillos, some Green Tomatoes, some Goat Cheese and also some "Cute Baby Squash." To tell the truth, I don't know WHAT I'll make. But I do know I'll be there between 9 and 10:30. Sound fun? Come see.
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A Rainbow of Cupcakes |
We had a trio of parties this weekend all in honor of a friend's daughter's Bat Mitzvah. The lunch on Saturday had a rainbow color theme, with each table's balloons matching the table cloths, the napkins, and yes, the cupcakes.
I can report that my staff here was very interested in the whole cupcake project. Kether, a wonderful cook, took charge of the baking of these beauts. I became "decorator babe." The food colors are pretty great these days, and the result was a whole lot of fabulously rich-looking babies. And, even though none of us here in the kitchen is very close to 13 years old, the discussion was animated about which could possibly be the best tasting color. (I voted for the green.)
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| The evening event |
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After a big NY deli-styled lunch, the guests had a few hours of quiet before coming out to the hosts' farm where we produced a big cookout. A bluegrass band got everyone up and dancing. I became "grill-babe" and dodged in and out of the threat of rain to cook up a whole bunch of hamburgers, chicken and such as the staff replenished the caesar salad and sweet potato salad and baked beans.
Later, after the candle-lighting ritual but before the fireworks, everyone had pie and a make-your-own sundae bar. The rain, torrential in town, kept itself to a manageable sprinkle at the farm. Fun times.
(This is a plate that one of the guests assembled.)
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Dinners to go |
Dinners, as you know, come with a freshly-made green salad, salad dressing of the day, and made-right-here bread of the day. We take reservations until noon or so. Please order by phone (252-1500), by FAX (252-02002) or stop in to speak to one of us in person.
Here is the menu for this coming week:
Monday August 21 Chicken Dijonnaise 9.75
Tuesday August 22 Couscous, Feta and Chard-stuffed Peppers 9.75
Wednesday August 23 Spicy Been Skewers with Rarebit Sauce 11.25
Thursday August 24 Cajun Meatloaf with Corn on the Cob 10.25
Friday August 25 Coconut Shrimp 12.25
By the way, every time you order a dinner to go you are eligible to enter our drawing. Just drop a card in our drawing jar (a business card works or fill out one of the cards that we have right here) and, at the end of the month, we'll pull one card which will be good for two free dinners-to-go. Inaugurated a few months ago, our first winner was delighted! Maybe you'll win next month.
Order a lot? Enter a lot!
Good luck!!
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Our website |
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| Special casserole of the week |
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We make a special casserole each week on Wednesday. Please give us a call by the end of the day on Tuesday and we’ll fix yours for you. Come by between 4:30 and 6:00. Get a half (for 4 appetites) or a full sized pan (for 9 or so.)
Wednesday, August 23
Cumin Chicken Baked with Vidalia Onion Rice
Full 33.50
Half: 16.75
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Ready for the brunch food |
Somehow everyone was hungry again this morning.
We rearranged the barn and created a buffet of bagels and fruit and made waffles and omelets-to-order. (I transformed myself into "waffle babe.")
Oh - I forgot to say that for two of the events, the special guest was the honoree's favorite cow, a quietly gorgeous Scottish Highland long-haired beauty. Lily kept to herself in her stall, occasionally sticking her head up to get a glimpse of the festivities. Gus, the sweet Rotweiler was a little less subtle, enthusiastically sticking his nose into everything near his reach.
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| Barn decor |
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Kerosene lanterns kept everything glowing under the tents.
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Lily (from behind) |
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| A Note From Laurey |
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August 20, 2006
Zounds! Another big weekend. Another delay in my usually prompt Saturday morning mailings. Ah well. As you see in this newsletter, we had a big weekend and, since I was very involved in much of it, there was no time, until right now, Sunday afternoon, to get time to sit and take care of this newsletter.
All in all it was a lot of fun. A bunch of kids, a pile of enthusiastic parents, a sweet family. A good mix.
We’ve had a very big summer. Early on we made a list and posted it in the kitchen, giving everyone fair warning about upcoming big days ( and hoping that folks would schedule vacatins around those days.) Today was the last day on the list and I must say that I, along with everyone else, feels happily tired. Some of us, me included, have snuck away for a visit or a vacation or a break. Others have trips planned. As I write, three folks from here are at the beach, but they’ll be coming back later on today.
I never quite forget how dramatically different things are now. I was browsing through old papers recently and found my notebook listing my entire first year’s worth of parties - done all by myself. My total income for the entire year was less than any one of the parties we did this summer. (Of course I no longer work alone – not by a long shot, but the point is dramatic to me.)
In a minute I’m going to go get my dog, who spent the weekend away since I was going to be working so much. We’ll go pick up the newspaper and then we’ll go home and lie on the couch for the rest of the afternoon. I had considered going to a movie but I’d rather nap in front of some golf tv (GREAT napping in case you are ever looking for some relaxing viewing!) This evening I’ll probably make something for dinner – a sandwich most likely. I have Mondays off which is a good thing. I’ll probably take another nap then. Maybe take the dog for a walk. Maybe not.
Sounds perfect to me.
See you next week.
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Fun with stickers |
Three parties is a lot for one person and this gal did a great job, learning a huge number of new prayers, new songs, new ideas. Finally, after a weekend of attention, she and her sister let go a little and availed themselves of our calling cards. I think they wore them well!
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Contact
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Laurey's "Gourmet Comfort Food"
Eat In - Take Out - Catering
67 Biltmore Avenue Asheville, NC 28801
828-252-1500
Hours:
Monday - Friday 8:00 - 6:00 pm
Saturday 8:00 - 4:00 pm
"Don't Postpone Joy!"(tm)
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