fullygoldy (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
fullygoldy) wrote2006-11-04 09:49 pm
fullygoldy) wrote2006-11-04 09:49 pm
Rupert's 14th Birthday
Rupert hasn't really decided what he wants to do for a kid-type celebration, but we did the family tradition tonight. Since DH was discharged from the hospital yesterday, he was present for the birthday dinner, but we were not able to go to "the restaurant of choice" so we had to create a birthday dinner here. We did the same thing for Mavis last Feb, and she enjoyed hers, so we figured it would go okay for Rupert too.
After a few days of contemplation, he finally decided this morning that he wanted "crab! Lots of crab!" for dinner. And soup to go with. We discussed the merits of various soups, and settled on a corn chowder (the recipe actually called for crab to be added at the last minute). We decided to make the chowder sans crab, because we'd be serving the crab as the main dish. The chowder consists of onion, garlic and frozen corn kernels sauteed in EVOO, but I added a healthy dollop of bacon grease for the flavor on Rupert's suggestion. Then chicken broth is added and the pot boils about 10 minutes, and then a cup of heavy cream is added and it simmers while another pot of diced potatoes, frozen corn and red peppers boils. Then the creamy pot is blended smooth, and the chunky pot is drained and stirred into the creamy broth. At this point, you may or may not garnish with crab, red pepper strips, cracked black pepper... you choose. It's rich but mild and very yuummy.
For the crab, I got 3 King Crab legs (one for each of us eating - DH can't have crustaceans right now, and his tummy wouldn't let him anyway), plus a Snow Crab cluster for each of us. I roasted it in the oven over a pan of crab boil because the King Crab was too big for steaming over a pot.
Rupert made me a lemon martini, Mavis had "green tea wine," Rupert had egg nog, and DH had an orange gatorade "martini." DH's plate consisted of baked tilapia (thumbs down tonight), orange jello, and corn chowder (both thumbs up).
It was a lovely, lingering meal with lots of conversation, and very reminiscent of our best family meals. What a great beginning to DH's homecoming. Rupert also seems pleased with the portable DVD player he scored as a bday present. Next weekend, he'll take a couple of friends to Ultra Zone or to a movie,a nd that will be that.
After a few days of contemplation, he finally decided this morning that he wanted "crab! Lots of crab!" for dinner. And soup to go with. We discussed the merits of various soups, and settled on a corn chowder (the recipe actually called for crab to be added at the last minute). We decided to make the chowder sans crab, because we'd be serving the crab as the main dish. The chowder consists of onion, garlic and frozen corn kernels sauteed in EVOO, but I added a healthy dollop of bacon grease for the flavor on Rupert's suggestion. Then chicken broth is added and the pot boils about 10 minutes, and then a cup of heavy cream is added and it simmers while another pot of diced potatoes, frozen corn and red peppers boils. Then the creamy pot is blended smooth, and the chunky pot is drained and stirred into the creamy broth. At this point, you may or may not garnish with crab, red pepper strips, cracked black pepper... you choose. It's rich but mild and very yuummy.
For the crab, I got 3 King Crab legs (one for each of us eating - DH can't have crustaceans right now, and his tummy wouldn't let him anyway), plus a Snow Crab cluster for each of us. I roasted it in the oven over a pan of crab boil because the King Crab was too big for steaming over a pot.
Rupert made me a lemon martini, Mavis had "green tea wine," Rupert had egg nog, and DH had an orange gatorade "martini." DH's plate consisted of baked tilapia (thumbs down tonight), orange jello, and corn chowder (both thumbs up).
It was a lovely, lingering meal with lots of conversation, and very reminiscent of our best family meals. What a great beginning to DH's homecoming. Rupert also seems pleased with the portable DVD player he scored as a bday present. Next weekend, he'll take a couple of friends to Ultra Zone or to a movie,a nd that will be that.