A tummy ache from eating and drinking far too much last night at my friend Claire's. We started with champagne and more champagne as we ate the appetizer of shrimp with three different dip choices (a few carrots and cucumber bits as well). Then an interesting cheese and crackers. Claire bought a little jar of the best caviar she could find, which about 8 of us sampled. We had enough for two toastpoints each. More champagne. I cleaned and dried the lettuce for the caesar salad. We also noshed in Sid's delicious home made pork pate and french bread....
Then sat down to dinner of a roasted goose stuffed with a bulgar mix, Caesar Salad (we took a vote on whether we'd have it next year because Sid thought it was too rich to have along with everything else--we voted him down --yayy--so Caesar salad next year)...wine, more wine, brussel sprouts that were supposed to be cooked with Sid's home made pancetta but the pancetta disappeared, even though we all looked everywhere for it. Elise went through the refrigerator and freezer, as did I. We looked in the pantries, all over the kitchen surfaces. Mark and I even went outside to go through Claire's garbage (he went through it, I oversaw). No pancetta. All I knew to look for was two see -through packages of bacon like but no bacon material....we all thought we were going crazy. Anyway, Claire had to improvise with vinigar or something...they tasted great anyway. The pancetta was found towards the end of the meal, in the refrigerator down the side of one of the vegetable bins, where it slipped (even though Elise DID pull out those bins at least once). Oh well, Claire can enjoy it herself another day.
More wine and the passing around of the traditional grab bag wherein Claire mostly --but in the past few years Donni and I and sometimes one or two of the other guests, wrap up cheap gifts/weird things/things we want to get rid of etc and put into one (or now two) BIG shopping bags and go around the table to grab something. Claire never participates. I have to make sure I don't grab my own packages. Then we trade for things we prefer.
Afterwards desserts--pumpkin and sweet potato pies (one made by Sid), ricotta cheese cake (made by Claire) and coffee and after dinner liqueur or liquor. (I had single malt)--got home around midnight I think with a wicked tummy ache and heartburn. Took a tums and drank/still drinking water.
I received TWO Cougar Gold cheddar cheeses from Washington State University. One from Mikey and Richard and one from Eileen and John. Thank you !!! Yayyy. One can age (thank you Astrid for posting on facebook about aging them). Donni combined her xmas/bday gift into one Video FLIP, a tiny video camera that seems very easy to use. I'll be bringing it along to the post xmas/gift exchange brunch tomorrow at the Womacks. Second season of PUSHING DAISIES from Mikey and Richard for my bday. Donation to my favorite charity (Kiva.org-- micro loans around the world--check it out)from Carrie.
That's it for now.
to be continued....
oops. Completely forgot that I went to see UP IN THE AIR with two friends, pre-dinner party. Loved it. Clooney great. Vera Farmiga great, and I'm glad they were nominated for Golden Globes).
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