What began as plans for a get-together with a few friends on the recent long-weekend, morphed into a barbecue party for 13, a number which tested the limits to how many people we can comfortably seat on our small patio. The idea of a sit-down dinner around the table was scrapped for for a casual “plates in your laps” affair.
The weather was great for it.
The house cocktail was a double batch of this Rum Punch. To help keep it cold, I froze some of the punch in a glass dish the previous evening. Since it had alcohol in it which doesn’t freeze, it remained slushy rather than turning into a solid block. It worked out perfectly, although we also had lots of ice on the bar-table too. Everyone brought along their favourite drinks as well, so there was plenty.
Appetizers included Isabel’s delicious hummus, which I requested specifically because I love the way she makes it. As I raved about it she shared that it’s the simplest recipe, this one from the Williams-Sanoma website.
I made some dip for veggies and this Olive and Cream Cheese Spread to have with crackers. Also Nick toasted some papadums on the barbecue.
↑ Appetizers ↑
Nick manned the grill, cooking up some delicious chicken that Andrea’s friend, Dean, had prepared. We also had homemade hamburgers, artisan weiners from Sanagan’s in Kensington Market and veggie dogs.
There were a wide range of salads too, including an excellent pasta salad that Andrea made (that used Tzatziki as the dressing … yum), and a huge tossed salad prepared by George. Nick made his recipe for coleslaw and my recipe for potato salad.
↑ Time for dinner! ↑
Leslie, an extraordinary baker, made a couple of cheesecakes for dessert, one with a strawberry topping and one with blueberries. So delicious! For non cheesecake eaters there was a bakery cherry pie that Nyla brought and fruit salad made by Meghan.
↑ Serving dessert, taken by Leslie, on her phone ↑
As you can see, the food really was a group effort.
↑ I love this picture that Leslie took on Chops’ phone ↑
↑ Eddie, taken by Isabel on her phone ↑
↑ This guy never misses a party. ↑
There was a lot of seat switching and mingling. All in all, it was a very good time, with a lovely joining of old friends and new ones.
Thanks for checking out my post. I hope you have a great weekend.
xo loulou
