Great Scot!

Today has been shockingly smooth, and I am feeling absolutely zen about tomorrow's luncheon. Though it all took many hours, I: grated seven pounds of carrots; sliced 2.5 pounds of feta into even squares; made an enormous vat of quinoa; got the curried turkey salad together; made two different dressings, one of which involves a dozen or so ingredients but is worth it; baked two herbed tomato tarts; and mis en placed everything else for final prep tomorrow. Throughout my fridge are utterly pleasing geometric containers whose clear glass walls reveal the neatly prepped contents within: minced jalapeños; thinly sliced serranos; finely chopped parsley, cilantro and mint. I am really excited and hope the food is well received. Look how pretty this serrano-lime vinaigrette is. I loved the natural striations of shallot, serrano, thyme, oil and vinegar so much that I didn't have the heart to shake it; will do so tomorrow!

www.em-i-lis.com

Less thrilling were the Jury Duty summons I found in my bit of mail and the call I received from the school nurse about one of my children having slathered some tree sap into a classmate's long, lovely hair. He said he was "aiming for her dress," as if that makes anything any better. Was he flirting? Time for summer I believe, although we're all sad about bidding this school year adieu.

As always I feel grateful: for the boys' marvelous school; for their outstanding teachers; for the community; and for the fact that never once have I heard either kid say, "I don't like school" or "I don't wanna go" or "Yay, summer means no school." They love school every day, and I can't imagine a better start to or attitude for the educational journeys that lie ahead for both.

Lovely party, tired Em-i-lis

One important catering lesson I've learned is that no matter how well you prepare in advance, the last four-five hours are always seriously intense ones so you best get a good night's sleep beforehand. Some items simply have to be finished at the last moment, and transport is always somewhat nerve-wracking, especially fragile items like layer cakes. I'm flat on the couch after going full speed ahead for five hours this morning, but the party turned out beautifully and I hope the ladies are still there, eating, full and happy, especially the mom-to-be and her mom, the fab hostess!

www.em-i-lis.com

www.em-i-lis.com

www.em-i-lis.com

www.em-i-lis.com

Holy Cooking, Batman!

It's possible I set some sort of personal cooking record today, bracketed by a meeting and dealing with the car window repairs amidst a pending rainstorm, just to keep things interesting. In short order, I: cooked 4 tarts (two herbed tomato, two leek confit + aged goat cheese) poached 4 pounds of salmon made the frosting for and then iced a chocolate-almond cake deboned and shredded two large roast chickens made olive-artichoke dip for twenty threw together some din for the boys thawed some short rib ragu and cooked pasta to go with it (well, we needed dinner)

and planned for the rest I've to prepare tomorrow.

www.em-i-lis.com

www.em-i-lis.com

www.em-i-lis.com

The boys and I had a terrific dance party to various YouTubed videos of their (my children) hit songs, and now I'm in hysterics over last night's The Daily Show playing in the background.

Have y'all seen the footage of the racist, lunatic ass-wipe from Nevada, Cliven Bundy, who appears to have just come back alive after having been frozen in carbonite in, oh, 1840? He not only refuses to pay the back-taxes he's now about 16 years behind on but also had an armed standoff with reps from the Bureau of Land Management (who were attempting to procure said back-taxes) AND went on and on about how slavery was better for blacks than emancipation or any time since. Oh.My.God. It takes a lot to stun me, and watching him, I was stunned. How grotesque and tragically antiquated.