Breakfast: I have probably posted over a hundred photos of oatmeal in the past year, never sweetened with anything other than fresh and dried fruit. Until now! Gary had made a thick syrup from some hardened brown sugar and we treated ourselves to a little on our morning oats. It was quite decadent! I had it with Bai Mu Dan white Tea.
Lunch: I cleaned up the leftovers: Red Lentil Tomato Soup and Kale Salad.
Daily Green Juice: Kale, Collards, Celery, Carrots, Ginger, Lime
Dinner: Gary and I were invited to Shaikha Paula Al-Sabah’s Manhattan apartment for dinner. My friend Linda Long, who introduced me to Paula a few years ago, organized the event. I was honored to learn that Paula is a fan this very blog! And so the plan was for all of us to make dinner together based on some of the simpler recipes here in What Vegan’s Eat. I planned a menu that we could all help assemble on the spot, with very little prep and effort. One pot meals: rice and beans and kale salad. Simple clean food. My friend Linda Long is not only a spectacular author and photographer, she’s also an amazing shopper and insisted I give her the grocery list. When Gary and I arrived, we were greeted at the door by Paula! It was a magnificent apartment worthy of its own blog on architecture and design. Paula gave us the champagne tour and directed us to her pristinely appointed kitchen; a vision in white marble and stainless steel. Gary and I were honored to be allowed to cook there assisted by our friends, both new and old. Linda had shopped for the groceries and everything we needed to prepare the simple menu was there so we rolled up our sleeves and got to chopping, instructing the others in how they might assist, while sipping on champagne as we worked.
Fran Costigan brought the desserts. And what desserts! Unbelieveable! But you would expect nothing less from the “Diva of Dairy-Free Desserts”!
Once the menu was completed, the simple food was presented elegantly on fine china in the dining room, each dish had it’s own golden pedestal. The Kale Salad with Bell Peppers and Papaya.
Black Thai Peas.
The table was spectacular.
We began with Cream Carrot Bisque with Red Lentils. I substituted curry powder for the Herbes de Provence in the recipe since I knew Linda didn’t like rosemary.
Then we passed around the other two dishes. Black Thai Peas is made with black eyed peas in a spicy coconut tomato sauce. Forbidden Nutty Rice is a fragrant dish made with brown, black and red rices, apricots and almonds, and seasoned with cardamom and coriander.
Desserts: Fran brought her classic chocolate cake in honor of Linda’s birthday. Linda told us Fran has been making her a birthday cake for years. When Fran was in New Zealand over Linda’s birthday in December, Linda opted to wait for Fran to return to get her cake. Fran made another cake that was gluten-free (for me!) along with vanilla, chocolate and caramel sauces and samples of cookies from recipes she is creating. Linda bought some So Delicious Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream to top it all off.
We talked and toasted many times with some wonderful red and white wines and finished this perfect evening in a blue room with some hot black tea and light and lovely conversation. It was a magical night. Thank you, Paula!