Holy Food Extravaganza!!

Oh my….Demmel & I have a huge weekend planned that we are kinda sorta “Christmas morning giddy” about. We’re having oaspeti (guests)- but not just any guests- everyone from our training village last summer will be joining us in Causeni!!! Team Cricova Reunion!!! Naturally, Laura & I began planning this little weekend gathering the first week that we moved into our apartment– 2 months later the day has arrived! Our first priority (of course) was to construct a menu of our personal favorites to serve everyone. It went something like this….

Me: “Laura, I want you to make your homemade chocolate chip cookies!”

Laura: “Nico problema, you need to make the French onion dip….and the spinach dip”

Me: “Both dips?!?!”

Laura:“Uhh….yeah!!”

Me: “Got it. Then your making scones for breakfast….and that ginger, beet (sfecla) salad because with all these carbs I’m going to need something to assist with my digestion”

….Yesterday morning, Laura made a special trip to the market in preparation for this weekend. When Ms. Demmel returned, she informed me that she made an executive decision to forgo baking chocolate chip cookies from scratch. ‘What?!’, I thought, ‘I don’t get to lick the bowl now??’ [IMPORTANT: Leftover cookie dough contains raw eggs, I do not encourage anyone to fall victim to such behavior of indulgence. Ever. But, I will never hesitate the opportunity]  Instead, she bought some kind of chocolate cookies from the store. Sorry, guests. So, after this unexpected news, I was kind of disappointed. Therefore, I did the next best thing to comfort my soul. I simply found the choc. chip cookies that were in the freezer from the last time we had guests over….and proceeded to eat the last four, which were creatively tucked in the way, way back corner behind the brussel sprouts.

Okay, now lets the taste buds get excited! Here’s our weekend menu regarding quick appetizers….(so far). Also, please keep in mind we make an effort to create all meals as healthy as possible. We can’t afford to buy new jeans because our budget is too small, but when your zipper breaks after a well fed winter– it’s a sign to switch up a few ingredients. No oil- sub H20. Instead of mayo we use kefir and 10% sour cream. No rice for Asian cuisine- lentils or hrisca (buckwheat).  And some others that I cant think of? Hmm….. mental note to make “Healthy Alternative Substitutions” as a future blog. Okay, our menu….

• Balsamic shredded beets, fresh ginger, sesame seed & brinza salad. **Personal Favorite** I try to leave the brinza (cheese) out of mine, but Laura has a sick obsession with cheese. It’s not an option. Cheese in everything!
• Savory caramelized onion bread pudding **This is a recent new creation & kinda sorta similar to stuffing. But you can slice it like bread**
• Classic herb potato salad & Tex-Mex potato salad **We have a ridiculous amount of taco & enchilada seasoning so….we have to find different ways to use it**
• Fresh radish bites on garlic, olive oiled toast points with double cream brinza
• French onion dip & fresh frozen spinach dip served with toast points and sliced raw carrots

There ya have it! Saturday we will be doing it up spicy Mexican style: re-fried black beans, sauteed veggie, seasoned shredded chicken, and tortilla chips. We opted to buy tortilla chips since the process takes sooooooo looonng. But, our homemade tortilla chips tossed with cumin are sort of amazing. Pictures of all the food will be posted next week! Trust us….we wouldn’t let you not see our wonderful creations! Also, this isn’t the pretties blog format…I’m a newbie to this. Forgive me.

— Lindsey

This is what the bread pudding should look like

This is a failure….