Party Time in the Hood
Last weekend was a doozy. The festivities included a birthday celebration, a housewarming and a big blowout put on by a couple of certified bachelors who live on my block. That’s a lot of partying (and summer party foods) to cram into one weekend, but I still managed to eat reasonably well and even squeezed in a workout.
The housewarming and the big party were both scheduled for Saturday, so I planned my meals in anticipation of extracurricular snacking. My first meal of the day was a bowl of Nature Valley’s new Protein Granola cereal. Unlike a lot of cold breakfast cereals, it packs 10 grams of protein per serving and with a couple of slices of turkey bacon on the side, I’m good all morning.
My gym had just hired a new yoga instructor. Word on the street was that she taught a pretty basic class so I figured it would be perfect for a lazy Saturday morning. Haha, the joke was on me — basic, yes; slow, no, and cardio/yoga would be a better description! I came home for lunch starving. I had a big hunk of leftover grilled turkey and a wheat berry salad with goat cheese and strawberries.
Later in the afternoon we headed out for party No. 1 — the housewarming. Friends had just bought a 140-year-old Victorian home that is registered with the National Historic Building Association. In the back by the carriage house (bet ya don’t have one of those) they had set up a grill for the usual hotdogs and hamburgers, but I was saving my appetite for party No. 2. We left them a gift card for Home Depot and a bottle of wine. They are gonna need both!
I did indulge in a couple of old fashioned sugar cookies and some iced tea.
We arrived at Party No. 2 around 6 p.m., and again, I was starving. The hosts had been talking up this shindig for weeks, and I was about to find why.
This was not the usual summertime bash — these guys did it up in style.
Guests feasted on fresh fruit, hummus, a heavenly goat cheese/pesto dip, candied nuts, a mozzarella-tomato salad that was to die for and skewered chicken tenderloins while waiting for the chef to prepare the main course of spicy tempura shrimp, sautéed scallops and lobster risotto. Sweet! And to wash it all down — beer, wine and the innocent-looking-but-lethal Summer Brew (limeade, vodka and beer)! It was all insanely good — thank God we only live three houses down!
Such great choices for a warm summer’s evening. I can’t wait until their annual Christmas party!
What’s your favorite party food? —Karen