Showing Love the Delicious Way

My love of food is inextricably linked with my love of family. I don't know if it's the Italian heritage or just a common human quality, but we're not very vocal about our affection for each other -- we express love through food.

Exhibit A: my two sisters and I are, for the time being, perpetually broke. So we don't get our parents fancy gifts for Christmas. Instead, the tradition has become making an extravagant gourmet meal of their choice, doing the best we can with whatever budget we can scrape together between the three of us. My older sister has been working in the restaurant business for about seven years now, and recently completed her culinary degree. Naturally she is the chef de cuisine of the operation, while I, being next in line, am the sous chef (okay, let's face it, I'm more of a line cook). The youngest is the expediter/server/whatever we need her to do.


The Menu:

Salad
Escarole with Mixed Citrus and Red Onions

Main Course
Roasted Lamb Chops with Shallots and Rosemary Pan Sauce
Buttered Fingerling Potatoes with Chives
Roasted Asparagus, Cherry Tomatoes, and Mushrooms with Garlic

Dessert
Mint and Chocolate Baileys Parfait

Wine
Quara (Argentinian Malbec)


Kim is in her element, deglazing away.


Kara thinks she's adorable in her little hat and apron. I am working on the ill-fated parfait, which, due to time constraints, ended up being more of a custard. We put the leftovers in the freezer overnight and they were perfect in the morning. Ah, poor planning...


Contemplating the salad...


Yeah, we're hella cheesy -- silly hats and all. But hey, if you're gonna do a thing, do it all the way. Right? And really, it was all worth it for the masterpiece that emerged:




...Yeah, he's pretty much obligated to love us now. <3