As a side story, R2.0 and J are BFF's from high school and it is essentially through them that I first became friends with P and then eventually the greatest love story known to man (at least in my opinion). I try not to give them too much credit (hee hee) but the truth is we all went to the same high school and P and I were like ships in the night, only greeting each other awkwardly and having friendly conversation when social context forced us to (i.e. his locker was by my friend's locker).
However, one day J came over after school to hang out at our house and later that evening, her ride came to pick her up. At this point, both P and I had graduated high school and I never put another thought to him as I went on a bender of crazy boy crushes at college. This night, I answered the door and there stood P. Both of us taken by surprised that the other was standing there (which was stupid because we both knew that our sister's were BFF's). Forced into another social situation, we awkwardly greeted one another and while J gathered her stuff and me hating awkward silence, I started a full on conversation with P. P proved to be a kind fellow and quite interesting. At the end of it, I told him we should continue to climb up a ladder of friendship to become better friends to which he agreed. Awkward!
As P and my friendship continued to blossom, R2.0 and J would go on to gush about how P and I should get together. Not because they wanted us to find happiness with one another or that we were meant to be together, but to become real sisters. I told them they were crazy all the while tucking this theory into my heart to consider for another day.
Long story short, P and I continued to climb this awkward friendship ladder (with one ex-boyfriend and two ex-girlfriends side tracking us) and you know the rest...onto the food!
For J's 30th Birthday, P, P's youngest sister M, J's husband D, and I planned a surprise birthday party. Because I heart food so much, I voluntarily put myself on food committee. P by default also got placed on food committee. Funnily enough, we had committees for everything: Parking, Hair, Fact Checking, Logistics and Decorations, Cake, etc. M and I created these committees to the dismay of P who, in the end, ended up on every committee.
I must say I'm pretty proud of myself that I didn't spill the beans. I'm known in my clumsiness to sometimes blurb things out. I spilled the beans a few times about P's surprise 30th Star Trek themed birthday but P doesn't listen to me anyhow so was uber clueless about his birthday.
A real conversation about deciding the theme during an impromptu committees meeting on the phone:
P and me to M: What's the theme for J's birthday?
M: I don't know...Masquerade? Maybe a 1930's theme? Like the Roaring 20's but 1930's instead.
R: But the Great Depression happened during the 1930's.
M: Yikes! We don't want to say your 30's are depressing.
R: They can be.
P: What about Nerds vs. Gangsters?
R: Dooooooon't that may be your birthday theme for your next birthday
M: Let's go with the 1920's like The Great Gatsby.
Okay so it's not verbatim, but you get the gist.
I got warned multiple times by P and M not to go overboard as per usual because it wasn't a dinner party, but a snack-y party and it wasn't going to be huge with just her closest friends and family. My logical self said to relax, but my Filipino mama self said "you don't have enough food and your guests will starve thus bringing shame upon our family".
I also know J doesn't eat certain things like beef or pork, so had to plan around this.
A tentative menu I had planned out:
Turkey Asian Meatballs (usually I make this with pork)
Carmelized Onion, Mushrooms, Apples, and Cheddar Cheese on Puff Pastry Squares
Barefoot Contessa's Salmon Sandwiches
Veggie and Fruit Tray (standard tray bought at a deli)
Some chip and dips (bought at the store)
The real menu after realizing that I was being too ambitious as per usual:
Turkey Asian Meatballs
Caprese Bites
Barefoot Contessa's Salmon Sandwiches
Veggie and Fruit Tray (standard tray bought at a deli by D)
Some chip and dips (bought at the store by D)
Dropped the puff pastry squares. My oven can't handle too much food as exemplified by this photo of a turkey dinner I made for my friends:
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| A few glasses of wine and we came up with a solution to fit in some stuffing |
The recipes:
The recipe for Asian Meatballs can be found here, The original recipe is Asian Meatball Subs, but I have used this recipe for appetizer meatballs without the bread and serve it with Sweet Thai Chili Sauce, Asian inspired sliders, and Asian inspired burgers with sriracha mayo (mayo plus sriracha to your taste). Sometimes I just serve it with rice and some veggies. My next idea is to use it as a filling for Filipino egg rolls called Lumpia. I have used pork, turkey and ground chicken in this recipe. For the milk, I sometimes substitute evaporated milk, especially when I'm using ground turkey or chicken since there's so little fat content. I find that evaporated milk's creaminess keeps the meatballs moist. I also add a little more than what the recipe calls for when using ground chicken and turkey. Nobody likes a dry meatball. Nobody. I usually take a tablespoon measuring spoon and use that to shape the meatball. I also put them on a broiler pan and broil them instead of frying them. Usually by the time they're brown on top, they're done (open one meatball to check). A very versatile recipe.
Caprese Bites
(This is basically idiot proof)
Cherry/Grape Tomatoes
Bocconcini Cheese (the pearl sized ones)
Fresh Basil Leaves
Salt and Pepper
Olive Oil
Balsamic Vinegar Reduction (I used Nonna Pia's)
Take basil leaves and depending on size, cut in half up the centre of the leaf using a good pair of sharp kitchen scissors (you don't want to bruise the basil leaf). Then cut into bit size strips. Or if they're small, leave them whole.
Skewer one cherry/grape tomato, one strip of basil folded in half or one small leaf folded in half, and one bocconici cheese. Repeat until you've used up all the cherry/grape tomatoes and cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar reduction.
Well this idiot failed because I forgot salt and pepper but don't think it really needed it because the basil, olive oil, and especially the balsamic vinegar reduction packs plenty flavour.
For the salmon sandwich recipe, please refer back to my post on my sister's baby shower. Used that recipe.
And yes, no photos. Who has time to take photos when you've got a party to get to!
At one point, M called P to ask him to head over to J's house to decorate and I hear this unfold:
M: Hey are you coming back to J's to help decorate?
P: I'm trying to but R has me assembling salmon sandwiches.
M: What? Wow. These salmon sandwiches sound intense.
P: I know. As usual R has taken on more than she can handle.
Fair enough and partially true. I actually made good time and planned quite well, but it was intense some parts of the day. On the way to a stressful trip to Costco with my Dad (who took the most confusing, infuriating way), an idiot driver made a stupid move that resulted in me tucking inwards and protecting my head. Very intense.
Trying to channel my inner Nigella (Lawson), I wanted to do it all: make good food and look divine at the end of it. Thanks to the other half of the food committee I was able to do so (in my humble opinion).
I think the committees did a great job and pulled it off! J was authentically surprised and had a good time. We had a photo booth (thanks to D and M of the Decorating and Logistic Committee), the turkey meatballs were a hit (thanks to the food committee), we were historically accurate (thanks to P of the Fact Checking Committee), our hair looked great (thanks to E of Hair Committee). The parking could've been better (blame that on P's cousin K of the parking committee...just kidding. Good job!).
Here's some pics from the party:
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| Glam and glitter in keeping with the decadence of the 1920's |
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| The sparkly tablecloth makes the food that much more appetizing |
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| Asian Turkey Meatballs with Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce...the most popular item of the night |
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| Stocks will never fall so let's keep partying! |
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| J's gorgeous cake |
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| My personal favorite platter of the evening |
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| Beautiful table centrepiece |
