December 15, 2004
Wednesday
In general, I follow a plan outlined in the December 1990 issue of Classic Pillsbury Cookbooks. This was a booklet-sized series of recipe collections usually sold at supermarket checkouts. I can see myself in line at the Giant, five-year-old at my side and midweek grocery supplies in the basket. It’s getting on toward 4:30, the winter twilight coming on, dinner to be gotten on the table and some work to be done on Lynn’s angel costume for the church Christmas program. I pick up the little book with a picture of Poppin’ Fresh grinning at a sheet cake that features a Santa face with a beard made out of marshmallows. I turn to the section called “Having Company” which offers three party plans for multiples of 25, complete with detailed menus and preparation timetables. “I can do this,” I say.
And I did, using the magazine’s outline as a template, adding and subtracting elements over the years as I learned what worked best for me and my guests.
Today then is Dip Day, the day I prepare the mixture for the Wine and Cheese Pinecone and the Creamy Salsa Dip. Both use cream cheese. The traditional Philadelphia brand bricks are on special as “buy one get one free” at the Giant this week. I need one brick each for the pinecone and the salsa mixture, and one each for the Festive Pear Tart, and a hot crab dip that I’ll mix up and bake on Sunday. So I bought four but only paid for two. My Very Frugal Mother would approve.
To be included on the notify list, e-mail me:
margaretdeangelis [at] gmail [dot] com (replace the brackets with @ and a period)