A Celebration of Friendship Through Food

Last night, our friends threw us the most amazing farewell dinner. Emma and Finn had come to our house to stay with the boys. Emma told us the evening was going to be really magical. Finn said that afterwards, we were going to wonder why we were leaving such awesome people behind. They were both right -- I still really don't know what to say. They planned the dinner party around some of their favorite memories with us. We've really had so many great times. Thank goodness we are only a couple hours away, because I know there are many more to be had.

The evening started with hors d'oeuvres and drinks:
Salmon Tartare on the Rocks
Pioneer Woman's Stuffed Jalapenos
Grandma Helen's Olive Cheese Puffs a/k/a First Trimester Savior
P.O.R.K., Baby
Aperitif: The P's Pimms Cup

Sorry, this is going to be a long post, but I need to tell the stories behind it all. Every Christmas Eve. for the past several years, we've spent with The Frigs for a big appetizer feast. These are some of the favorites. The cheese puffs are an annual food I make -- and they were the only thing Penny could eat the year she was pregnant with ARose. The Pimms Cup is a drink we introduced a few years back at a dinner with the Elsmo's. They are so delicious!



Next came the small plates, starting with "Looking Back on a Birthday" -- take-out boxes and spa water.



Brian threw the most amazing surprise party for me when I turned 40. Penny had gone with me to get manicures/pedicures, massages and facials. It was her first time having cucumber water. When we came home, a party was well underway to help me celebrate. And Melissa had put together a fabulous take-out box dinner. It was perfect.



Next came the "Freezer Section Resurrection" and a Belgian Beer Flight. A couple years back, The Frigs joined us in Wisconsin for Easter. We made a bunch of pizzas one night, and this is based on one of our favorites. They were served on Homerun Pizza Platters. You see, H went over to Melissa's house one day, and came home talking about the most amazing pizza he's ever had. He insisted I call her to get the recipe. She nearly died laughing -- it was Homerun Pizza. It's still one of his favorites. As for the beer, Chris picked out seven different Belgian brews, in celebration of many an evening of he and Brian hanging out drinking some delicious beers.



"The Feverish F$#k Off" and "Pasta Perfection" were next. The first had to do with an evening Brian and Leif shared. Needless to say, they were in rare form, and the morning after, Melissa and I both had stories to share about our husbands being total jerks -- they blamed it on the Lemoncello they drank. Pasta perfection is based on one of my dinner disasters -- which was one of Melissa's favorite dinner experiences with us. Honestly, the pasta that night didn't turn out like it should, but it was still delicious. We enjoyed the bolgnese with an 85-10-05 wine (Monte Antico Toscana 2007) from a Christmas past.



And then came the finale. Even though it was freezing out, we enjoyed a "Cluster Around the Campfire" and Budweiser Beer in memory of some camping trips. We even had Amy's S'mores -- a wonderful reminder of out last trip.



I'm so sad. I mean, I know this move will be great for us. But it's still sad. It's amazing what happens with you have good friends close by. They turn into family. There are so many holidays and other special occasions we've shared. There's still room for many more memories, but our daily lives have become so entwined, and that will be missed.

"Fan the sinking flames of hilarity with the wing of friendship; and pass the rosy wine."
- Charles Dickens

Thank you, Melissa, Leif, Penny, Chris, Amy, Graham and Dejan. Campfire still lingers in my hair and I can't stop thinking about what an amazing night it was. You all hold such a special place in our hearts. We can't imagine a more perfect send-off.