Tonight's Repast...

[fudge stripe cookays]

Herb salad with L.D's dressing (the house dressing at Moosewood- nice and herby!)
Cornish Game Hens with Honey Ginger Sauce
Spinach, Broccoli and Boursin Timbales
Blanched Green Beans w/Drawn Better
Summer Fruit Trifle (Orange Scented Sponge Cake with Blueberries, Strawberries, & Mint Creme Anglaise)

I can't wait until it's done!

PSA: The Trifle and Timbales can be found in this cookbook:
http://www.amazon.com/New-Basics-Cookbook-Julee-Rosso/dp/0894803417/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218392188&sr=8-1

The game hens here:
http://www.amazon.com/Crabtree-Evelyn-Cookbook-Light-Feasts/dp/0941434990/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1218392283&sr=1-1

(Crabtree & Evelyn quit carrying their honey and ginger sauce used in the recipe, but I just shaved some fresh ginger into 1/3 cup honey and added a pinch of salt. I'm hoping the results will be comparable. )

[NEOhiodemocrat]

1. drool......

[hippywife]

2. Wow, cookays!

You really done it up good! I hope it exceeds your greatest expectations! :hi:

[Dora]

3. Mint creme anglaise?

Did you use extract/oil or fresh?

I just learned how to make creme anglaise for homemade ice cream. I want to broaden my horizons!

[fudge stripe cookays]

6. Then don't do this recipe.

:-)
I was disappointed.

I had to simmer heavy cream and fresh mint leaves and strain it, which was good, but then it called for green creme de menthe to be added. Yuck. I don't understand why they didn't use clear. It would have been much more appetizing!

The greenness was kind of gross. I'm glad reprehensor liked it, but to me it was kind of...meh.

[hippywife]

4. Sooooooooooooo.....

how'd it turn out? Huh? Huh? :D

[fudge stripe cookays]

7. Not as good as I'd hoped, unfortunately.

:-(

The hens were good. And the salad dressing was good, but the timbales lacked something. Salt, I guess. And they weren't as firm as I'd hoped. A little too runny-ish.

And see my message above to Dora. Trifle also disappointing. I was bummed.

[hippywife]

11. Then there's only one thing to do!

Try it again! ;)

[yellerpup]

5. Elegant.

I don't know who you're sharing this with, but you can probably get anything you want from them afterward! This menu is a knockout! :applause:

[fudge stripe cookays]

8. Why, my wonderful hubby, reprehensor of course.

He was far kinder than need be after this fiasco. It sounds great on paper, but not overall one of my better efforts!

[yellerpup]

9. I hate when that happens!

But sweet that hubby is nice about it. I used to preen when mr. pup praised my cooking, then one day I caught him telling me, "These hot dogs are FABULOUS!" Now, I can't trust him to taste anything with an unbiased palate. Too bad the meal didn't come up to your expectations after all the effort you put into it. :hug:

[hippywife]

10. ...

These hot dogs are FABULOUS!

Now that totally cracked me up! You gotta give the guy credit, though! :rofl:

[yellerpup]

12. Couldn't do without him at all!

He is the 9th of 10 children and bless his heart, he WILL eat anything. Today is our 29th wedding anniversary. This is the animated card he made for me...

http://www.mooneyart.com/vicki/annivfinal_h264.mov