Another Birthday Dinner!

So today we hosted our third birthday dinner this month. This time for my godsister. She requested this new pork recipe I made a few weeks ago that includes a nice amount of sake, soy sauce, ginger, and garlic. Lamb is always a favorite so I made that along with the usual chicken. For sides we decided on rice pilaf; pasta with Parmesan; a vegetable mix of mushrooms, bell pepper,broccoli, and cabbage; and a romaine salad with tri-colored peppers. As usual I enjoyed the preparations, cooking, and the best part-seeing everyone enjoy the food. But one thing is beginning to be even more important, having help. For years help has been offered but refused. Simply put the kitchen is my domain and trespassers faced a wrath that was non too pleasant. But in the past month after negotiations I've found that it is okay to share the kitchen, and furthermore it is nice to have help. So today I left the rice, vegetables, and salad in the capable hands of my parents and sister. They will be welcome to help anytime, with my supervision of course.

The picture is of today's birthday cake. Described on the pastry shop's website as: Cheese Cake Duet - A chocolate brownie bottom layered with a delicious cheesecake & topped with chocolate ganache. I'm not allowed to put the actual picture of our cake with the birthday girl's age on it so I took the stock picture from the Sweet Dreams Pastry Shop site! They have the some of the most scrumptious desserts around.

Birthday goodness

Fall and spring are my favorite seasons. Spring in particular because of the sense of renewal, the turn of crisp cold to invigorating warmth. And I'm not the only one, everyone stops wearing their winter drabs and dons vivid and exciting clothing. Flowers start to bloom and the sun stays out a bit longer. Besides all this, my birthday comes just after the beginning of spring. March as a whole is the birth month of of a lot of people in my family including my mother. So birthday celebrations lively birthday celebrations are in order.

This year we'll have a few birthday dinners and of course lots of delicious cake. Most importantly I'm humbled by the wonderful people in my life. I woke up to birthday emails from friends all over the world and throughout the day received phone calls as well. Life isn't perfect but it is joyful and with all these great people I feel a bit spoiled!

We started celebrating on Sunday at a chain burger restaurant and a lovely cake from our family friend. Yesterday the family surprised me with dinner and a cake from one of our favorite pastry shops. Mom was so worried about cooking for me! She said that it was a bit nerve wracking to cook for someone who cooks to the extent that I do. Of course she had nothing to worry about-the food was excellent. Besides the fact that there is nothing like having someone cook for you, she has the skills-after all Dad taught us both!