Next Time, Dinner on the Yacht

I had my second round of chemo yesterday, and, boy, they just keep on getting better and better.  So, let’s see what lovely guest poster we have today: Amy from Very Culinary.  Be sure to pop over and say hi.  Thanks, Amy.

Greetings everyone. Regular Food on the Food follower and huge fan here. I hardly feel worthy of sitting in this awesome chair, and considering the circumstances in which I was invited, I feel a little guilty. But in the name of chemo and Tammy needing to get well, I’m giving it a whirl. My observations tell me that you’re a nice group of people. Be kind—please hold your tomato-throwing until the end.

Speaking of not feeling worthy…my husband and I recently met a great new couple. Fun, smart, easy-going, and they have two kids about the same age as ours. For all intents and purposes, they seemed “normal.” When they first extended a dinner invitation to us at their home, we happily accepted.

As we drove up to their house, however, I instantly felt out of my league. Their front lawn alone is big enough for our house. And that was nothing. Entering their front door, I thought, “So, this is how the other half lives.” Three living rooms, five bedrooms (each with their own private bath), a mudroom that a mother of six would fantasize about, a detached guesthouse. And the kitchen? Jaw-dropping.

Luckily it turned out, they are normal—well, normal, if you’re used to socializing with people who own a yacht—and we had a great time. So when they asked us to come back again, we looked forward to it.

The second invitation, though, came with a special request. Would I do the honors of cooking and make use of their kitchen? Because they don’t, of course. (Why is it that everyone who has an amazing kitchen, doesn’t actually cook?) We would also be joined by another couple, the husband of which was employed by the ultimate seafood supply company in the Twin Cities.

Once I got over my anxiety of: a) cooking for someone who probably works around top-notch food people; and b) creating in a kitchen I’m unfamiliar with, the size of Manhattan, I was able to actually focus on the food.

Seafood Guy would kindly provide me with anything I’d like. My choice of any fish or crustacean, for real? I had goose bumps just thinking about it. I hemmed and hawed. Scallops, perhaps? No, wait. Oysters. I rarely get to have oysters. But soft-shell crab is in season. Hmm. Oh, maybe whole trout…

I made my decision. I was going to make Prosciutto-Wrapped Scallops in a Chive Butter and Egg Sauce (sounds fabulous, right?). But at the last minute, I found out one of the fine diners has an allergy. Heavy sigh.

All was not lost. I went with salmon. And instead of experimenting with something new, I went with a dish I know is delicious and sure to please: Broiled Salmon with Lentils in a Mustard Vinegar Sauce.

The sauce is a perfect complement to salmon, mellowing its strong flavor. And bonus: health benefits of Omega-3, fiber content, very little fat, and by leaving out the optional butter, it’s perfect for anyone with a dairy allergy. It did not disappoint.

And what would a yummy dinner be without a yummy dessert? Incomplete, I say. These are my favorite cookies. They have chickpeas in them. Yes, you heard me right. Chickpeas.

They’re also kind of ugly, like they belong on the island of misfit cookies. But what they lack in beauty, they make up for in personality.

We went home with smiles on our faces and full bellies. And this is what I learned:

1. Most kids will eat just about anything if you drown it in mustard or ketchup.
2. I like my tiny kitchen. My food tastes just as good. And I don’t break a sweat walking from the sink to the garbage can.
3. Having a lot of money allows you to buy lots of big statues.

P.S. If Tammy ever invites me back, I can tell you about their garage.

Comments

[Paige Orloff]

Yup, found you thanks to that hallucinatory tweet from lovely Ruth, and so glad I did...gorgeous site, great writing, and another mother with a kid who complains about food on the food. I love the look of that salmon and even the misfit cookies, so I guess you have a good eye for guests as well ;-) I'll be back, thank you, and stay strong.

[Lorrie@ReadNEat]

I will try anything with chickpeas. Thanks for holding down the chair, Amy.

[Kasumi]

Hey Amy..... you're almost as funny as Tammy (that is a compliment of course). The salmon looks great.

[Amy]

Paige - I am completely humbled by you. This means a lot. Thank you!

Lorrie - big shoes I can never fill, but they sure were fun to play in for a day.

Kasumi - I consider that an enormous compliment! (Far from true, but I'll take it.)

Thanks so much for sticking around for the read and your comments. It's truly appreciated.

[melch]

That cookie looks delicious to me. I love any cookie that may have crispy brown bits on the edge! Thanks for the guest post, Amy. Tammy, hang in there!