2012 KTC Business Meeting: Planning 2013 at J&J's

OK folks - First and foremost: Happy New Year!

Second: If this blog were my job, I would be getting a very poor performance review regarding the timeliness of my work. Boo, me! My apologies for the delay, and I hope that 2013 is a more punctual year!

Recently (Well, OK, NOT all that recently), we had the pleasure of meeting at Joyce and Jessica's house on a dark and stormy November night for our annual business meeting. The venue was a departure from that of years past, as was the format - our menu was quick-and-dirty potluck style, which sounded iffy in its initial description, but actually worked out beautifully!

Folks arrived around 4pm, with the exception of the Caballero-White household, whose consistent tardiness was justified because they attended a funeral earlier that afternoon. When they finally arrived, here's what they found:

That's right - everything was perfectly under control and humming along like a fine automobile! Damian's niece (Emily? Right?) was visiting, and had joined us for the evening. Which was fun, because she and Joyce got their Deutch on right there in the kitchen in front of everybody! Woo!

And speaking of Joyce, her parents were also visiting - they were downstairs for a good part of the meeting, but then joined us for dinner. Joyce's dad shared some great war stories!

As Fernando and Shawn organized their belongings to divest themselves of their funeral finery and slip into something a little more comfortable, they realized they had been more shaken by the funeral service than they had initially suspected - They had driven all the way to West Seattle from Issaquah in the driving rain with Sebastian plopped inside--but not strapped/fastened into--his car seat. Eeeek! Good thing we didn't have an accident!

Because we'd all brought a course for the potluck, there wasn't really much to prepare food-wise, so we sat around the living room and drank wine and snacked on appetizer goodies while we leisurely discussed our KTC plans for 2013. It was very relaxing!

Sebastian especially enjoyed himself:

Joyce faithfully recorded our conversation:

Meanwhile, Sebastian enjoyed being passed down the line.

Anne's attempted photobomb of Sebastian and Fernando's portrait inspired an evening of random baby-photobombing. Pretty hilarious stuff.

I'm  not sure what we were doing here, but I suspect it involved relaxing after our hours-long funeral-cremation service just prior. Ommmmmm..

Poor Damian was wiped out - here, his niece tickles his chinny-chin chin!

Then, these guys had a diabolical idea...

Photobombing with a baby!

I'm not sure who looks the most pleased with themselves. What do you think?

Meanwhile, we talked shop. Er, kitchen. That is, business! Here are the main points of discussion which Joyce so brilliantly captured:

November 11, 2012 KTC Business Meeting

Attending: Meg, Anne, Rick, Joyce, Jessica, Emily, Frank, Damian, Sebastian, Shawn, Fernando, Dale and Edda in the bedroom in the basement

Some observations and housekeeping items:

 ~All have moved or shifted

~Rosie’s muzzle is gray

~Do we want to continue to meet – motion by Meg, Seconded by Rick – passed

~William will continue to join us on occasion

~Do we want to grow?  If so, not more than by 1 or 2 (Jessica)

o   Nat and Tina – continue to be invited, but due to kids and time commitment not at this time

o   Henry and Elli – Rick and Anne will reach out to them to see, but we don’t think they may want to step up to this level of commitment.  Both will continue to be welcomed whenever they want to join us as a part of Rick and Anne’s family.

~If we have guests, we like having guest chefs, not just extra people.  We want them to bring particular skills and knowledge

Misc discussion points for 2013 KTC direction and events:

~Possibly focus on a regional cuisine for several months to deepen our skills/knowledge (Joyce)

~Focus on a technique and have a simple meal around it (Anne)

~Keep it simple this year has been really good (Damian)

~No French Laundry meal (Rick)

~Lopez and Walla Walla this year (Anne and Rick and Meg)

~Cook as a group for a large group as a social service activity or submit for an auction (Rick)

o   YouthCare to cook for Orion Center (Jessica)

o   Double connection as they also fund kids on the Adventuress (Meg)

Shawn and Fernando arrive from a funeral  - Sad Face.

~We like the idea of Indian and Japanese – we seem to have several connections across the group with folks who can help us with these cuisines and techniques

~Default is 3^rd Saturday – This works for folks. Problem weekends January with MLK and President’s day

o   Meg will contact Julie to determine if we can have the house for the 3^rd weekend in January.

o   Walla Walla in September – 3^rd weekend – Jessica’s birthday weekend, she requests chocolate and wine.

~How to set cooks for the year.  We will add Meg to the “SFS” household, so now Shawn, Fernando, Sebastian and Meg will be scheduled together.  Others will be scheduled as an intact household unit.

~Meg wants to join a wine club and she will get a better cost if she can join as a group.  Case a month is the normal amount.  Peju or Cuvaison are the ones Meg is interested in joining.  She will check into the cost of membership and email the group for determine.

~Total wine in Bellevue is another place that has many choices for wine.  Also now located in South Center.

~Do we want to make any changes to the blog process?  Shawn will continue to publish slowly and Joyce commits to learning the process and helping to reduce the burden.

~Another idea to incorporate is a sommelier to our group at some point this year.

~Shawn would like to explore doing a restaurant dinner out together – we could look at eating out in May after our focus on Indian for 3 months.  There was good energy around this idea.  The restaurant that came to mind for this was – Shanik, a new Seattle Indian restaurant in South Lake Union run by the same family as who runs Vij’s in Vancouver.

Tentative 2013 schedule:

·         January 18-21 weekend – Lopez.-Meg will get a quote for 3 nights and email the group to determine if we go with splitting the cost all ways or divide by 2 or 3 nights depending on who spends 2 or 3 nights. 

·         February 16 –Regional cuisine theme for our first few meetings in 2013 will be is Indian (Joyce and Jessica host)

·         March 16 – Indian (SFSM household)

·         April 20 – Indian (Frank and Damian)

·         May 18 – (Anne and Rick) – AND/OR – Dinner out at a restaurant?

·         June 15 – (Maybe J&J?)

·         July 20 (Maybe SFSM?)

·         August 17 (Maybe F&D?)

·         September 21 weekend – Walla Walla Trip

·         October 19 (Maybe A&R?)

·         November 16 – (Date to be confirmed/host TBD) Business Meeting – host provides main course, others provide potluck additions

·         December 21 – (Date to be confirmed/host TBD) Cookie bake with premixed items to bake  - host provides simple meal

And speaking of cookie bake…

This year:  Each family brings one or two premixed or premeasured – guests okay but RSVP, same rules for them. At Meg’s house.  Meg will make a big ole pot of soup and everyone should bring apps and salad.  10:07 am start time.  December 16^th, Sunday. 

·         Apps – Rick and Anne smoked something,

·         Salad – Fernando and Shawn

·         Bread – Jessica and Joyce

·         Beverages – Frank and Damian

·         Cookies – send out what you are planning on making so we have a good mix.  Rick, Meg really wants your pb dipped in chocolate cookie recipe

***And now, back to our regularly-scheduled blog update***

Frank and Damian put the final touches on a simply delightful salad they'd brought. Smothered with salami and cheese, it could have easily been a main dish on its own. It was so yummy!

And, look how pretty it is dressed!

Joyce and Jessica had prepared a delicious soup with kale and beans - it was a perfect light supper!

Shawn and Fernando picked up a Chocolate Ginger cake from Metropolitan Market that turned out to be surprisingly delicious.

It was so good, Shawn had two pieces!

After we finished dinner, Joyce's dad shared some incredible remembrances from his time as a pilot in the war. Sebastian takes a bit of exercise after his own supper.

We did a pretty good job on the cake!

And somehow, that's all the photos we took! Stay tuned for an entry about our recent cookie bake event - Looking forward to seeing you all next weekend! Happy January, all!

September KTC: Easy Weeknight Meals with Meg and Damian

Hello again, Kissers! For our recent event, hosted by Meg and Damian, we met at Damian and Frank's home on a "school night." The plan: To put our money where our mouths were with regard to creating quick, healthy, and tasty meals in that way-too-compressed vortex of time known as "after work."

The gang trickled in...Anne and Rick were the first to arrive, bearing tuna gifts, to our grand delight! Thanks, guys! They were followed by Fernando, Shawn, and Sebastian. He's growing like a weed! Or like a sprig of thyme? A sage bush? A parsley plant?

It was a beautiful, late-summer afternoon, and Frank and Damian's two cats made the most of it:

Immediately seeing the wisdom of this decision, Fernando, Sebastian, Meg, Damian, and surprise guest William all followed suit, congregating on the back porch to enjoy the sun and the garden.

Haven't the foggiest idea what they were all focused on so intently in the back corner of the yard, but I thought this was a pretty funny shot:

Pretty soon, Joyce and Jessica arrived!

Jessica said her hellos to Sebastian from the baby's-eye perspective:

Rick looks pretty jolly for a man whose been fasting for the whole day in preparation of a routine medical procedure the following day...

Joyce had picked up a gigantic sunflower somewhere (Or at least, I think it was Joyce - I missed the story of the origin of the sunflower...) UPDATE: It was actually Anne!!

I assume had assumed it was Joyce because she got more and more dramatic and artsy with the sunflower. Here is "Wistful Nostalgia With Sunflower."

This one is from the more surreal school of composition, entitled "Head Like a Sunflower."

Best buds! It was a treat for us to spend an evening with William.

Damian and Meg had organized this gorgeous collection of snacks - note the kale chips! Also, there were three "versions" of the same cow's milk cheese: one plain, one with chives, and one with cocoa powder on the outside. All were yummy!!

Jessica and Shawn chat while Sebastian has a snack.

There they are now! Otherwise occupied, Shawn couldn't participate in Meg and Damian's welcome and partaking of instruction.

But everyone else could! Here's the assembly, awaiting instruction and assignments:

The plan for the evening included a "Show and Tell" style menu. Kissers all sent some examples of quick weeknight meals that they whipped up when time was tight, and Damian and Meg picked a few to try out. On the menu for the night:

• Socca (Garbanzo crepe, AKA farinata) (alternative recipe here)
• Roasted green beans with fried eggs
• Quinoa salad
• Baked chicken with tomatoes and pan sauce
• Maple berry parfait (original recipe calls for blueberries)

There were some gorgeous berries from the farmer's market that we'd use for dessert. They were to be cooked down slightly to use in the parfait.

We got some fresh cranberry beans on to boil - so good and good for you! We figured we'd put these in the quinoa salad.

Meg prepared some beautiful fresh green beans for roasting in some olive oil:

As I understood it, at least one bowl of these tomatoes came from the guys' own yard! UPDATE: I found out they were from Anne's and Rick's yard!! I'm so impressed! We'd use them for the chicken.

We finely diced some shallot and some summer squash:

And began cooking down some tomatoes for the pan sauce for the chicken. The herbs de provence in this mixture were so aromatic!

Kitty checks to see if anyone looks like they will be offering treats anytime soon...

While things got rolling in the kitchen, Rick knocked the rust off his child-rearing chops and held Sebastian for a while. Look! They have matching heads!

The green beans went from the oven to the red-light district. I mean the warming light below the range hood!

And of course everything is better with a shadow puppet! Thanks, Frank!

Jessica made the socca - it was different than what Shawn and Fernando typically do, as this was much thinner. More a chip-like consistency, better for snacking. The recipe that Shawn and Fernando really rely on at home is the one you can find here. It yields only one thick crepe, but when you cut it into wedges and serve it with a green salad, it makes a delightful light supper.

The first one came out of the oven and was sliced into thin pieces and passed around as an appetizer.

I'm fascinated with these three and their identical lines of vision! Here, they focus with laser-sharp crispness on something in the kitchen. Tee-hee!

Meanwhile, Shawn put random ingredient after random ingredient into the quinoa salad. I think it ended up being composed of the cranberry beans, raw summer squash, carrot, shallot, and lemon juice.

The guys take a load off. Fernando will say he was "babysitting" a sleeping Sebastian.

Here's the aforementioned sleeping Sebastian. And a monkey.

Our dishes were nearing completion, so the plating fun began. This is one breathtaking platter of roasted green beans topped with soft-fried Meg's eggs (with the exception of Fernando's de rigeur "chicharron de huevo" - can you identify it in the photo below?)...

Just look at this! Every time I see the photo I want this for dinner. Again.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present the Improvised Quinoa Salad.

Here's a closer look:

The table was set and the dinner bell was rung:

What a plate!

We glanced over our shoulders every once in a while - it felt as if someone were watching us.

Shawn exclaimed how impressed she was that we had controlled our portions so carefully, saying she felt the amount of food that we prepared and served was "just right" and expressing her happiness in not feeling stuffed to the gills. Then someone reminded her that we still had chicken to eat. Shawn's reply: "Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh..."

It was so tasty, however, that she (and everyone else!) risked the dreaded Overly-Distended Belly Syndrome.

Citing her need for extra protein for being responsible for two people's nutrition at once, Shawn even had seconds.

We all sighed contentedly and savored the flavors of dinner. Soon it would be dessert time. The berries had been cooked down with some maple syrup...

Damian had found some fresh local Greek yogurt at the farmer's market, and to its tasty (full-fat, natch!) tang we would add some amazing fancy maple syrup that Damian and Frank's friend had brought from Canada on a visit a few months prior. Then, we'd fold the whole tasty business into some freshly whipped cream! Yum!

Here, the berries pose alongside their supporting actor, candied ginger. We would layer these three ingredients into glasses to make parfaits!

Of course, I didn't specify which kind of glasses...But these worked just great, and guaranteed a hefty dessert serving for each Kisser. It tasted just like late summer--those bodacious berries with that autumnal kiss of candied ginger...It was so delicious!

Here' a peep over the top.

Again, the end result makes for easy dishes cleanup.

Sebastian still slept on...

We had a delightful discussion around the table as we digested. We touched upon politics, spirituality, community building, and our personal commitment to support any or all of these concepts in our lives. Then Sebastian woke up, and we all had fun watching him. Frank compared him to a lava lamp - he doesn't do a lot, but is very fun to watch! What a perfect description!

We have tentative dates selected for November and December, thanks to Anne's being fast on the draw and very well-organized. Please hold these dates:

• November 11 (for biz-ness - at Joyce and Jessica's house)
• December 16 (for cookies - at Meg's house)

See you on Saturday, October 20 at Shawn and Fernando's house! Till then, Kissers! oxox