Along the Way

Along the way of my journey, I have been blessed to meet some really great people. Last night, I got to spend time with many of them.

Nickey and I attended our second Seasonal Soiree over at the Mississippi Modern Homestead Center. After last month's delicious meal, we were hooked!

I met Marion Sansing at last month's soiree. Here is what I can tell you about her: she makes THE BEST Feta cheese I've ever eaten. I swear. She uses the milk from her goat, Acorn. Thank you Acorn for doing what you do so well! Marion also has this great wrap dress type thing made of two aprons... I really want one! So cool!

Lindsay Wilson is Marion's partner in cooking with the Seasonal Soirees. Lindsay also teaches yoga at the MMHC; I've been to one of her classes and just loved it (going back today as soon as I finish the post and shower). Lindsay also has a pair of Dansko sandals that I covet... she found them in a thrift shop in San Francisco for $4 if I remember correctly. Obviously, she must be living right! 

Marion and Lindsay started us out with a Watermelon Mint Spritzer followed by Chilled Avocado and Roasted Corn Soup, topped with Cilantro Oil, French Lentil Salad with Local Chevre Cheese and Summertime Chicken Salad made with Beaverdam Farms free-range chicken. For dessert, we enjoyed a Melon-Shiso sorbet. 

The Spritzer was OK. I'm not a huge watermelon fan after growing up around it and eating so much of it growing up (then having to endure the stench of it rotting in the fields all around in late summer... think that kind of got me to turn my nose up a bit about watermelon). 

I was very intrigued by the cold soup. First of all, I've never had cold soup. In my mind, soup should be hot. And should be served in the winter months when it's cold outside. Not the opposite. Secondly, I don't like avocado. Of course, I'm starting to realize that, over the last few months, I have tasted... and LIKED things that had avocado in them, so I might need to re-think that train of thought. The soup totally surprised me; I really liked it! It had a touch of heat in I believe from serrano pepper that was a just a bit much for me. The cilantro oil looked so pretty on the top of the soup, but cilantro is something that I'm not totally on board with either. I've always thought it tasted like dishwashing liquid.

I don't think I'm a huge lentil fan yet, but they are growing on me. The cheese, again, Marion's, was wonderful! The chicken salad was good, but tasted healthy. I like that good ole mayonnaise chicken salad! The sorbet was so good... yum! I joked that because after I had been eating completely "clean" for nearly a month, I was really wanting something "dirty". This meal was clean and tasted amazing... it was a very refreshing dinner. 

My friend Lynn rode over with Nickey and me. Lynn and I moved to Columbus around the same time and we've ridden the wave of life's trials and tribulations in those six years. When I separated from my ex-husband, she was the one who went with me to sign a lease on my apartment, get my utilities hooked, let me cry on her shoulder. Lynn has always been a very supportive friend who I know loves me, prays for me and laughs with me. She's also promised to cook "clean" for me when I go to her house for dinner. 

The three of us at at a big dining table with Abby and her husband Justin (who, by the way, is so freaking funny... I was laughing, perhaps a little unsilently and inopportune times last night thanks to him). He and Abby make a great couple!

Also at our table were Nisreen and Jay. I met them both last month and Nisreen was the henna artist who tatted me all up! When she walked in last night, she walked over to me and gave me a great big hug of support and encouragement. That meant a lot to me. It means that A, she reads this blog and B, she was really genuine. She and Jay are moving to Connecticut next week. Although I've just met them, I feel a sadness about them leaving. They are fun to spend time with.  

Of course, my two biggest supports are Nickey and Abby. Without the two of them, I couldn't do this. Thank you for being my biggest cheerleaders!!