Entertaining midday is a luxury many working folk don’t get on a regular basis, unless you throw a weekend luncheon. But I’m telling you, this is one of my favorite ways to enjoy good food and a small group of cherished friends or family. From the show-off-the-new-house-to-the-aunties luncheon, to the I-don’t see-my-girlfriends-enough-anymore luncheon, there is always an occasion to have someone — anyone! — over to enjoy some savory lunch fare. I admit, I got out of the habit when Owen came along, complete with midday naps that squashed the happy luncheon party.
My love for the luncheon has ironically come back in recent months, and I have to give all of the credit to Owen. Our local moms’ group has gotten into the habit of throwing a monthly pot luck lunch, and damn, we are having fun! The kids are old enough that they play well together and we can chat and visit and enjoy the recipes that turn up every month. And dare I say you might, on occasion, find some wine at our buffet?
If you love lunch as much as I do, I hope you’ll enjoy this luncheon menu I put together from some favorite recipes that crossed my path recently.
I love that Richard Olney’s garlic soup is a thick and creamy one without any cream. Instead, this recipe uses eggs to thicken and bind, and who doesn’t love the taste and health benefits of an egg? I thought of Kona and her obsessive love for garlic with this soup… here’s betting she’ll either try this recipe or devise something similar just to partake in the yummy goodness of garlic after reading this post.
This isn’t just your average mushroom quiche: this mushroom and fontina quiche is chock-full of five cups — five cups! — of assorted wild and gourmet mushrooms. If you loathe the culinary fungus, then run the other way, but if you adore the earthiness of mushrooms and think they’d be great smothered in cheese and eggs, then join me in worshiping at the alter of Epicurious.
For dessert, how about a rustic tart? This crispy braeburn apple and almond sheet tart caught my eye because it’s light on wheat (just a few sheet of phyllo) and includes delicious almond meal instead. Which, incidentally, is made into almond cream. Yeah, yum.
Really, can you think of anything more delicious than soup, quiche and a seasonal dessert? OK, something with chocolate… maybe in the next menu!
Clacked by Debbie McDuffee
on Nov 02, 2009 @ 10:00 EST5EDT
