weekending

friday night my book club gathered first around my island and then around my table where we devoured my persian dinner as well as the book.

i put a lot of thought into the night because both entertaining and reading are passions of mine.

when i am able to combine them, it is a happy day.

on the menu: yogurt and saffron soaked chicken kabobs with grilled sweet and hot peppers, saffron rice, mediterranean vegetable salad with feta, assorted olives, naan with yogurt & spinach spread and classic tzatziki. 

i planned to make barbari, which is iranian flat bread, but in taste test runs i realized that it is best hot out of the oven.

there was no way i was proofing, kneading and baking loaves of bread with a houseful of guests.

for a nano second i thought about putting the ladies to work, but i am sort of anal about a tidy kitchen when i'm having a party.

for dessert i baked an almond and pistachio cake with cardamom, which i topped with whipped almond cream and fresh berries.

i checked out books on persian food from the library to learn about the cuisine and set a menu.

given the diverse group, i decided to keep the choices on the less exciting side of exotic.

i had to buy some spices (saffron, cardamom and turmeric) as well as a small mortar and pestle to grind the saffron.

this was not difficult or too expensive (minus the wine).

i opened up discussion when we sat down to eat.

usually we go around and grade the book or say whether or not we liked it.

not surprising, the meal was more popular than the book.

i came up with questions (about 20) and put them in a bowl to pass hoping to urge everyone to share.

as is usually the case in any group, some of us are quieter than others.

(not me.)

i thought prompts would give everyone a voice.

the bowl never made it all the way around the table.

that's a bit of a disappointment because our conversation still gets log jammed and also i put a great deal of time and thought into generating thought provoking, discussion lending material.

(it's the english major in me.)

i don't think this is going to be that kind of book club and that's that.

it's a good group. we've had some decent discussion and fun times. we've also shared some nice bottles of wine.

and i look forward to our august discussion of an american marriage, a book i rather loved and cannot wait to talk about.

saturday i was up early to finish cleaning up the kitchen.

mid-morning i was leveled by a wicked headache.

see above...wine.

i was also feeling a little sensitive.

the empath in me is often overwhelmed after group gatherings. 

8 ladies is a whole lot for me.

i take in and on so much that i need to process and ponder.

it is mentally and physically draining.

most people don't understand this.

heck, i didn't understand it for most my life.

it is a select few i open up to about my feelings on energy and intuition.

some people think it's just strange, others that i'm saying i'm somehow better or more evolved.

very few get that it's the way i'm wired.

sunday i awoke a better balanced person.

it was a beautiful day and i enjoyed puttering around my yard and my kitchen.

i felt grateful and full and light.

what a combo.

the dinner i prepared was not light, however.

i was craving eggplant parm.

mike grilled balsamic chicken and i put together a pot of pasta aglio olio.

we have lots of delicious leftovers.

the kids enjoyed the weekend with friends in malls, on courses, in parks and on fields.

the cats...well you can see for yourself.

life is good.

that's a barbaric yawp for the week ahead.

i'm channeling peanut as we head into the last week of school.
it's going to be a #yearsareminutes #beherenow stretch of days.
beautifully bittersweet.