Gypsy Boy wrote:We finally decided:

The Lovely Dining Companion will bring fried wontons (appetizer) and Gypsy Boy will bring an entree variously known as varza a la Cluj, varza clujeana,kolozsvari rakott kaposzta or--for those who are Eastern European language-ly challenged, cabbbage casserole with smoked pork (trust me, it's infinitely better than it sounds!)

Well, it sounds pretty damned good!

=R=

Just found this "entree salad" on Emeril this morning... leaning toward bringing a double or triple to he party:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/cda/rec ... GE,00.html

If I can get a little grill time, I'll warm up the ham, otherwise it sounds fine at room temp.

By the way, I can't get Mhays' spreadsheet to copy. Any suggestions?

Hi,

No real need to double or triple, unless you want to. There will be plenty of food there and not enough stomach capacity for it all. In fact we encourage people to bring containers to take leftovers home. Better in your mouth than in a garbage can!

Regards,

Cathy2 wrote:Hi,

No real need to double or triple, unless you want to. There will be plenty of food there and not enough stomach capacity for it all. In fact we encourage people to bring containers to take leftovers home. Better in your mouth than in a garbage can!

Regards,

I plan to bring leftover containers for everyone to use but feel free to bring your own, as well.

=R=

i'll be there...not sure about a plus 1 yet.

Im bringing 2 Appetizers

My sister brought me a bunch of saffron from Bali, and I have rosemary growing in a pot, so I'm making a couple of these saffron-rosemary tarts:



I'm sure something else, too, but I have that much figured out.

Mike, the spreadsheet is a .jpg on Flickr - if you hit "quote," you'll find the URL and you should be able to follow and copy it from there if need be, (and then hit "cancel") but it isn't in spreadsheet form on the 'net...any specific info you need, just PM me and I'll get it to you.

I will be updating the spreadsheet and re-posting the .jpg to the updated version shortly.

OK, spreadsheet is updated; don't have time to compile stats yet but we're at 81 people - again, use the link in my signature to go check it (I already discovered an error that should be fixed now) and make sure I have your name, number of guests, names of guests if desired, dish and grill needs posted correctly - PM me if you need me to make changes! Thanks!

Gypsy Boy wrote:Gypsy Boy will bring an entree variously known as varza a la Cluj, varza clujeana,kolozsvari rakott kaposzta or--for those who are Eastern European language-ly challenged, cabbbage casserole with smoked pork (trust me, it's infinitely better than it sounds!)

No doubt to honor and celebrate CFR 1907 Cluj's (first ever) qualification for the group stages of the Champions League.

I intend to be there and will bring an entree and an appetizer. My entree will be my (office) award winning chili recipe recipe from two super bowls ago. If I can find some good figs still, I'll bring some baked blue cheese stuffed figs wrapped in prosciutto.

Matt wrote:

Gypsy Boy wrote:Gypsy Boy will bring an entree variously known as varza a la Cluj, varza clujeana,kolozsvari rakott kaposzta or--for those who are Eastern European language-ly challenged, cabbbage casserole with smoked pork (trust me, it's infinitely better than it sounds!)

No doubt to honor and celebrate CFR 1907 Cluj's (first ever) qualification for the group stages of the Champions League.

Precisely, indubitably, and ineluctably so!

I will also bring some fresh baked breads from the Georgian bakery.

Please scratch my soups from the list, as I'm in a meat mood lately. I'll be making a brined pork roast, butterflied, rolled and stuffed with a sage/ garlic paste. I'll probably slice it thin and serve room temperature on crostini.

Santander wrote: I am now singing in a last-minute wedding in Michigan on the 6th.

well at least it looks like we got our entertainment covered for the 2009 picnic.

Giovanna wrote:Think I'll bring hot Italian sausage from Joseph's, some roasted peppers and rolls to go with them, and, if I can find the small Italian plums, a plum cake. [anybody seen those plums around yet? I haven't . . . .]

Giovanna,

I don't know if you're looking for only local plums for your cake, but I got some great ones at Valli Produce in Arlington Heights last weekend. I'm pretty sure I saw some small Italian ones there. Not knowing anything about plums, I picked larger, lighter colored ones (almost pluot-looking but I'm pretty sure the sign said plums) for my attempt at Bittman's Plum Rosemary Upside Down Cake from his How to Cook Everything Vegetarian.



I had never had plum cake before, and I was very pleased. I look forward to trying your version!

Valli Produce
400 E Golf Road
Arlington Heights IL
847-439-9700

OK--I'm a planner with commitment issues, and I really want to know what I'm bringing to the picnic, so...

For my appetizer, I am going to bring a sun dried tomato-pine nut-mint dip that I like from the Modern Ayurvedic Cookbook and...brace yourself, LTHers...crackers. Yes, I am going to attempt to make my own crackers for the first time for the picnic.

For my non-alcoholic beverage, I will bring either a pineapple coconut concoction or a beverage of almond milk, rose water and crushed pistachios (I'm also experimenting with making my own almond milk). Both beverage recipes come from the aforementioned cookbook.

I don't think any of these items overlap in any major way with items already on Mhays' beautiful spreadsheet, but please let me know if they do. I can change my plans.

happy_stomach wrote:I don't think any of these items overlap in any major way with items already on Mhays' beautiful spreadsheet, but please let me know if they do. I can change my plans.

Don't change your plans. That all sounds great.

Giovanna wrote:if I can find the small Italian plums, a plum cake. [anybody seen those plums around yet? I haven't . . . .]

Giovanna

do you mean these?


If so, Mick Klug has had them at Green City Market and Daley Plaza for at least a week.

I still don't know what else I'll be making, but a jar or two of grape jelly we made today will be coming. Of the eight half-pints, I flavored flavored three with vanilla, rosewater or thyme. I think the thyme's coming with.

Looking forward to attending the picnic as the next step in my evolution from lurker to poster to participant.

I plan to bring two kinds of olives:
-- Olives With Fennel & Orange
-- Olives With Wild Herbs

These can start as appetizers and stay on through the other courses.

I will be glad to help set up and to bring other items that are needed, as they become known. Will there be a last-minute list posted?

1 week to go! I can hardly wait!

Stats: 85 total guests
13 Appetizers, 4 Beverages, 1 Bread, 2 Condiment, 7 Dessert, 11 Main, 4 Salad, 4 Side Dish, 1 Tableware
We have 10 dishes still TBD.

If you plan to come but haven't yet signed up or decided what category of dish you're bringing, please do so - or if you've got any changes, please post and/or PM me.

Please also find your name on the updated spreadsheet further on in this thread and make sure I have your information correct.


Ideas for things to bring: tableware, soft drinks, kid's games, boxed wine, coolers of ice, grills, chips, seasonings/condiments.

Thanks Kennyz and happy_stomach, for keeping an eye peeled for me. The ones you posted the lovely picture of, Kz, are the ones I'm looking for. Baked in a cake is their highest, best use as far as I'm concerned [altho they're not bad in a compote or a crumble, either]. I'm sure I'll have the cake Saturday. Can't wait!

Giovanna

While I'm still thinking of bringing an appetizer, I'd be more than happy to also bring pop/soft drinks/soda--something I know I can't mess up (see LTH 1,000-Recipe Potluck 6/22/08)!

Just let me know how much I should plan on bringing. Cans or 2-liter bottles? I know I remember a cooler full of ice and pop in cans at last year's picnic. I don't think I have a big cooler--is someone bringing one? and ice?

I can't remember the rules on beer. If it is allowed, I'll bring a bunch I have left over from a party we had yesterday.

stevez wrote:I can't remember the rules on beer. If it is allowed, I'll bring a bunch I have left over from a party we had yesterday.

Beer is OK.... It just can't be in glass containers....

tarte tatin wrote:

stevez wrote:I can't remember the rules on beer. If it is allowed, I'll bring a bunch I have left over from a party we had yesterday.

Beer is OK.... It just can't be in glass containers....

Oh well. I guess that leaves out any kind of beer that any self-respecting LTHer would want to drink.

stevez wrote:

tarte tatin wrote:

stevez wrote:I can't remember the rules on beer. If it is allowed, I'll bring a bunch I have left over from a party we had yesterday.

Beer is OK.... It just can't be in glass containers....

Oh well. I guess that leaves out any kind of beer that any self-respecting LTHer would want to drink.

I would never tell someone else what they should bring to a party, so I'm hoping my post here will serve as a subtle, passive-aggressive way of convincing jimthebeerguy to bring a 1/4 keg as he did last year I'd happily chip in.

Many people said that last year and very few people followed through. I will not be bringing a keg again this year. Though I will be happy to pay my share should somebody else assume the expense of bringing one.

edit: Note that I didn't consider it a financial transaction and I don't feel that anybody owed me anything; last year I was able to afford the expense without worrying about whether people chipped in, and this year I can not.

SaintPizza and I will be bringing chips, salsa (a simple fresh salsa this time instead of the fiery habanero salsa that nobody ate last year), guacamole, ceviche , and maybe a surprise or two.

Mrs Ramon, ever working her way to true foodie-status, is making “Chickpea Panelle with Goat Cheese and Salsa Rustica” g-d-love-her. In addition to the piñata, we will bring Toss-A-Cross, Swing Ball, and Lawn Jarts. Well, maybe not the last one. The weather forecast is perfect, though way early. Still, I might bring my swim trunks.

-ramon

JimTheBeerGuy wrote:...I will not be bringing a keg again this year...

Jim,

For putting you on the spot, I will bring a few pub cans of Boddingtons and and a hard plastic pint glass for you

Kenny