We went to a great wedding on Saturday. A classmate of mine was marrying her partner. It was a lesbian wedding. It was one of the most beautiful and touching ceremonies I had been to. It was held on the grounds of a 19th century mansion not far from our house. The gardens were lovely, and the weather was so kind - we sat in white chairs at sunset, not too hot or humid, light breeze, no bugs.

After the ceremony, we walked to the big party room, and were each handed a Mojito (just like your wedding, Steph!). Appetizers were offered like stuffed grilled shrimp. Then there was the cheese.

I have to stop here and tell you my surgeon friend was marrying an executive for Whole Foods. The cheese buyer for all of Whole Foods asked if she could bring a cheese tray, and they said yes. She brought a cheese table, then graciously stood by it, telling all of us what was on it, and cutting big chunks. There were rounds of double cream brie, then the triple cream brie, and a sheep's milk brie that was so sweet and creamy. Manchego from Spain, Amadeus from Holland, etc etc. But the best was this brick of wonderful French Bleu which was drizzled with a blood orange-balsamic reduction vinaigrette. MMMmmm...

Inside the party room, there were 4 wines also picked by a Whole Foods buyer, and they helpfully had a list with a short description of each. I thought, this is great, we can try several wines with our meal. Anthony stayed at the bar, trying 3 of the wines in succession, then picking our favorite: Ludovicus from Spain. It is from grapes grown on 60 year old vines. Anthony managed to snag a whole bottle and bring it to our table.

The company at our table was divine. There were 2 other classmates and their spouses. We've been friends for over 12 years, and its just stupid how little we get together. We also made 2 new friends - a vet radiologist and her husband from California. She and Alice were roommates when they did their residencies together. We talked and laughed and ate off each other's plates. By the end of the night, there were 3 empty bottles on our table.

Everything I ate was exquisite: Davis Mountains Roast Beef (tender!), Stacks of Grilled Veggies from Boggy Creek (local organic farm), rice pilaf, roasted potatoes, dolmas stuffed with couscous, gouda pizzas with arugula. I ate it all.

Afterwards there was live music and dancing. Anthony and I jitterbugged for the first time in many years. We were laughing so hard. The night was over way too soon, and we sent off the happy couple of under an arch of sparklers.

As we stumbled to our cars, my arm around Regina - we were singing off key - we realized we had overindulged. Ah, but when everything offered was so good, and the company so nice, and the promises of love so pure, it seemed like a worthy splurge.

Here's a recipe my kids request almost every weekend. We had it Saturday with a gorgeous cantalope and veggie sausages.

Multigrain Pancakes

----

1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup oats
2 tbsp yellow corn meal
2 tbsp brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup milk
1/4 cup yogurt (plain or flavored)
1 tbsp canola oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs, scrambled
Mix-ins
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Place all ingredients (except mix-ins) in a large bowl and stir with a
whisk
until smooth. Fold mix-ins into batter. Spoon by the quarter-cup into a
greased non stick pan. Turn when bubbles appear at the edges. Serve warm
with maple syrup or honey.

Mix-in suggestions (use more than one!):
Chopped walnuts or pecans, sunflower seeds, dried blueberries or
cranberries, chopped strawberries, flax seeds, grated apple and cinnamon.

We FINALLY got together with our friends on Saturday. Since they couldn't come for Easter, I made lamb chops (bought that morning at the Farmer's Market) along with asparagi e fungi alla griglia, and a big salad from our homegrown lettuces. They were very complimentary on the food, but seriously, how can you mess up ingredients like that? I felt like I just bought and presented it, not like I cooked some culinary feat.

I can always count on Lisa to bring a worthy dessert. Sometimes I even go for seconds. How many of you have friends who can take a Martha Stewart recipe and improve upon it? And garnish it with sweet organic strawberries?

Easter Breakfast:


















Easter Dinner:

Here is the lunch I fixed for Anthony today: a grilled cheese sandwich - 2 kinds of cheese, rustic Italian bread, olive oil. I love the uneven way it browned, with the cheese oozing out! An insalata totally made from homegrown lettuces. And! dessert - sliced strawberries and pears topped with Stonyfield Farms vanilla yogurt.

If I hadn't been home today, do you know what he would have had? Nothing. Then scarfed something because he was starving at 4 o'clock. Don't worry - he lets me know how much he appreciates mia cucina.

Colin (my 3 yr old son) loves cheese. I mean, he adores it, all kinds. Stinky, blue, goat, dry and crumbly - it's all good. Except queso (too processed and too spicy).

He often has cheese and crackers for breakfast. Hey, it's good protein, and we serve healthy TLC crackers. He also noticed we sometimes serve peanut butter and crackers.

So now he requests crackers with peanut butter and cheese. Yes, crackers with a smear of tan PB and a slice of orange cheese on top. He loves it. I have to look away.

And, Anna can't sit next to him, because she can't bear the smell of his "stinky cheese."