First First Sunday Supper a Huge Success!

The first Sunday Supper was a huge success! Exactly what I hoped would happen, and I can see this thing getting really large. Since I can only fit 12 people in my house, though, for now it remains thus.

One of the first rules of blogging, especially blogging about food, is to insert pictures! Notice there are no pictures of the event, because out of 12 people, no one took any. Not that people didn't like the food; I think just the opposite--they were so into the event that stopping to take out phones and cameras and snap pictures was obviously not the first thing on their minds! Nice.

Anyway, it was a traditional German-like affair--sausages from the German butcher, parsleyed potatoes, sauerkraut, kale and green beans from the garden, and rhubarb crisp, also from the garden. I had a few gluten-free vegetarians at the table, so I tried out some chickpea-based veggie sausages from a local restaurant. Expensive, but well worth it, as they were all eaten. These are on the culinary horizon and you can find many recipes for them online, but I would not choose one over a nice brat or smoky herb from the butcher. 

I think what I liked most about it all was the coming together of a large range of different age groups (30 to 85) and interests--mathematicians, foresters, musicians, lawyers--and how well it all worked so well together.

So, on to next month, a vegetarian affair--polenta topped with mushrooms and taleggio cheese melted over all. I am hoping for some wild mushrooms to be available, but if not, cultivated will have to do. 

I think the potatoes were probably the biggest side dish hit and I got requests for the recipe, so here is not really a recipe, but how I made them:

4 pounds red or other potatoes

1 bunch parsley

1 cube butter or 1/2 cup olive oil, or brown butter, or a mix of any of these

white wine vinegar to taste (at least 1/2 cup)

Cube the potatoes and steam them until desired doneness (the softer they are, the more they will become creamy while mixing--mine were almost mashed by the time I was done). I steam them because it retains more nutrients than boiling.

Meanwhile, chop the leaves of the parsley.

When the potatoes are done, put them in a bowl and start adding the butter/oil and the vinegar and salt and pepper until everything is quite tasty. You are aiming for a slight tang to the potatoes, along with a richness contributed by the butter/oil. Be generous with the oil, vinegar and salt and pepper. When you have the flavor where you want it, add the parsley and mix. 

It seems like a lot of parsley, butter/oil and vinegar and salt, but potatoes are very good at softening flavors, so don't be skimpy!

First Sunday Supper Club

I did it. Three years in my head, and now I have to put my food where everyone else's mouth is.

I grew up eating Sunday dinner, as did a lot of people I know. My mother was a great cook and did it almost every day for seven people, day in and day out, three meals a day. You would think she wanted to rest on Sunday, but most Sundays we got Sunday dinner--roast chicken, roast beef, and a host of other tasty traditional meals that we ate with gusto! Often we had worked all weekend on some family project, and Sunday dinner and dessert were our reward.

Throughout my adulthood, whatever the circumstances, Sunday dinner has always remained just that--the one meal with which to take time, prepare thoughtfully, and, if possible, share with friends and family. Even when shared just with myself, Sunday dinner was always something I took pleasure in preparing and eating. It started the week off right and put me in a good mood for Monday mornings.

I have always been in awe of the power of food and a great meal shared with others to build community. I am sure that if the world sat down to a meal together, there would be a great deal less conflict and a great deal more of caring for and supporting each other. Additionally, I am an avid gardener and forager, and always have more than I can eat from the garden and the fields and forests around Seattle.

About three years ago, the idea came to me to start small--bring together a group of friends, family, and anyone else who wanted Sunday dinner and a bit of community, and cook them dinner! I banged it around as it morphed it into several different variations, big, small, etc., but always came back to the same theme--food and community.

A couple of weeks ago, I finally got tired if it nagging me. The idea just wouldn't leave me alone. So, I sat down and figured out how many people I could feed, how much of a contribution people would be willing to make, and then put the invitation out there.Needless to say, the table is full. The inaugural meal of the First Sunday Supper Club will honor faux Oktoberfests everywhere--sausages from the local German butcher, homemade sauerkraut, potatoes of some kind (still not sure), homemade pickles, something green from the garden and of course, dessert!

As the date draws nearer, I am surprised that I am getting nervous--is this thing going to really take off? Do people really want to do this? Ack! I know--vulnerability is good for the soul somehow. My soul should be full of lots of goodness by the time this is all over.

I will be sure to report back.