jwaneeta: (Default)
Add MemoryShare This Entry
posted by [personal profile] jwaneeta at 05:55pm on 17/12/2005
Happy birthday, [livejournal.com profile] sadbhyl! All the best to you in the coming year, and much success!

Whee, I threw a successful party! At last! People actually came to it, and ate lots of food, and mingled happily. Some were new neighbors, and some were older friends, and there was laughing and lively conversation, and they liked my house. I'm so happy.

There was, uh, a traumatic party a couple of years ago -- I ran out of some key food, I forget what, and one guest was overcome by allergies and had to leave, and a chair broke under another. I shiver at the bare memory.

But! In the intervening period, I've read magazines. I've watched my poised party-throwing friends operate. I've sought out gurus. And I took a blood oath never, ever, to run out of food.

In this case, Indian food. Hills of it. Hills of Indian food was the theme of the party, really.

Kofta (cilantro laden beef kebabs)
Curried cauliflower
Spicy cabbage
Lentils seasoned with fried spices
Saffron rice
Spiced yogurt
Tomato lime salad
Raita
Mango chutney

Raita is a delicately sweetened yogurt with grapes and pecans, and unnh. I rec it heartily. I wanted an alternative for people who, like me, can't eat much from the standard holiday dessert table. I made that, too, though -- glazed cranberry and bannana breads, a bowl of chocolates, etc.

And it was eaten! I beam. And there were leftovers, which means I didn't screw up! I beam foolishly.

(My friend D came over the night before, saint that she is, and helped me chop and prepare what could be chopped and prepared early. *sniff* That's a buddy, I tell ya. That's a pal.)

Oddly, hardly anyone drank wine. The Sam Adams Holiday Sampler case was a smash, but opening four bottles of wine for starters was way optimistic. Sent one home and the others are wearing stoppers. And their sisters are sitting on my enclosed but unheated porch, which serves very nicely as a second refridgerator.

Interesting: D (party guru) advised me prior that she'd noticed a downward trend in wine drinking at parties. I wonder why? In future: Sam Adams and Mr. Guiness, in whatever foofy variations the market offers.

Anyway: happy. Bless you, India!

Binky, that-not-really-mine cat, astonished the neighbors in attendance by allowing the child guests to lug him around/install him in a cat fort erected in the kid's party room. I gather Binky made a local rep as no one to mess with, the big faker.

I spent yesterday cooking, so todays's all about the job catchup. And tomorrow, and tomorrow. Hope everyone's hectic schedule is fruitful, merry and bright.
There are 9 comments on this entry. (Reply.)
 
posted by [identity profile] sadbhyl.livejournal.com at 12:24am on 18/12/2005
Thanks so much, hon! I'm glad your party was a success. I've almost given up even trying. I'm just not the hostess type. But I would love the recipe for that raita! Sounds like a great thing to feed the kiddies!
 
posted by [identity profile] jwaneeta.livejournal.com at 02:11am on 18/12/2005
Well, at this party the kiddies went straight for the chocolate, but hey. :) I was too desperate to please to leave them without alternatives.

This really is a delicious dish, I think.

Raita
Serves 4

1 1/2 cups plain yogurt (350 ml)
3 oz seedless grapes (75 g)
2 oz shelled walnuts (or pecans) (50 g)
2 firm bananas
1 tsp sugar
salt to taste
1 tsp ground cumin seeds
1/4 tsp paprika and rossted cumin seeds to garnish

Perhaps to people who eat a lot of yogurt it doesn't sound too special, bu the delicate blend of sugar and cumin make it very tasty. And guilt free!

I was so determined to cook well I tasted the grapes before I bought them. Talk about a mission. I was totally out of control. *g*
 
posted by [identity profile] missmurchison.livejournal.com at 12:41am on 18/12/2005
It sounds like a wonderful party, and I would have helped you drink that wine. I don't care what's fashionable, I like the stuff. It appears you have not only won over the kids by giving them their own party room (an excellent move) but Binky too!

Good food and good people usually mix well, but sometimes disasters do happen, and it's not the fault of the hostess. I'm glad you didn't have that problem this time, though. (I have had people break my chairs, too.)
 
posted by [identity profile] jwaneeta.livejournal.com at 02:25am on 18/12/2005
I wish you could come on over and help me use the wine as God intended. :) I know one serves red at room temp, but once it's opened it should refrigerated, right?

The dedicated kid's room was a hit. I gave them all little gift bags, put Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azakaban on the telly, and they rocked. Oh, and I had some mini-futons that folded out, and they really liked those. Youth likes to flop, I guess. Who doesn't? One set of parents came to me and asked for a futon-folding demonstration. SCORE.

This business of having a home with rooms is starting to look better and better. :D
ext_7885: Photo of Bitch,please Scarlet O'Hara (Default)
posted by [identity profile] scarlettgirl.livejournal.com at 03:07am on 18/12/2005
Congratulations! It sounds like a lovely party. This is sounding suspiciously like a merry social life...in a house with rooms!
 
posted by [identity profile] jwaneeta.livejournal.com at 07:01am on 18/12/2005
My cup runneth over, seriously. A not-dud party? Man.

Hope your end of the season is all glittery and cheer-filled. I know the Holidays are hard, but I aver they are sparkly, too! Here's to the sparkly bits.
 
posted by [identity profile] desoto-hia873.livejournal.com at 09:28pm on 19/12/2005
Hee - I still tell people about the tiny used condoms you tried to cook last year. But I'm glad this year's party went so well - much less stressful!
 
posted by [identity profile] jwaneeta.livejournal.com at 03:41am on 20/12/2005
Thanks. Oh, and I got your pretty card. Thanks for the recipe, too.

I hope you don't mind if I steal a leaf from your book and send recipes next year. It's a great idea.
 
posted by [identity profile] desoto-hia873.livejournal.com at 12:43am on 21/12/2005
Glad you got it and, no, I don't mind at all. Steal away!

January

SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
            1
 
2
 
3
 
4
 
5
 
6
 
7
 
8
 
9
 
10
 
11
 
12
 
13
 
14
 
15
 
16
 
17
 
18
 
19 20
 
21
 
22
 
23
 
24
 
25
 
26
 
27
 
28
 
29
 
30
 
31