I don't get together with friends nearly often enough so today when one
was able to come over I went all out.
The first platter was a sliced sausage and stuffed grape leaves that I
got at the wine and cheese shop where I work. The sausage rounds were
arranged on the outside of the plate. The grape leaves were in the center.
The second platter was cheese and crackers from work: Black Diamond
Cheddar, Grafton Cheddar, Hillman Farm Harvest Goat, Maytag Blue, Piave,
Ubriacone, Vento d'Estate. I seem to have a preference for the hard
Italian cheeses that aren't the usual Parmesan and Romano. I also like
the American farmstead cheeses.
The third patter was a bowl of dip in the center made from feta, the
juice of one lemon, olive oil and dried oregano. There would have been
garlic too except my guest asked me to avoid garlic. You just put
everything in the blender. Surrounding the dip was a peeled and sliced
cucumber, carrots, green pepper and red pepper.
I made mushroom soup. Is it my imagination or did mushrooms have more
flavor 25 years ago? Maybe the soup needed more cream. I made it with
white button mushrooms, crimini and portabella, just slice and throw on
top of a browned onion with a little sherry to help the sweating begin.
Then puree half and thicken with egg yolks mixed with cream. I put a
dollop of sour cream and a splash more sherry into each bowl before
serving. It went over well enough, but I need to tinker with the
recipe, do something to umph up the flavor. Maybe more sherry or cream
or pepper or dill or something. My guest brought bread to accompany the
soup.
--Lia