Ruth's Birthday Dinner

Not only do we have an annual sibling day, but also we three sisters (since brother is out of town) take turns cooking a dinner for each other for our birthdays. I cooked Friday and we celebrated Ruth’s birthday (which was August 9). This was the first Friday (these dinners usually take place on a Friday evening) that worked with all of our schedules (mainly Suzanne’s).

I made Ruth narrow down the category in which I’d plan the menu: chicken, beef, fish, pasta, soup. She chose soup and salad. Needless to say, there’s always a dessert and she narrowed that down in the chocolate category.

I pulled out Mastering the Art of French Cooking (Julia Childs) and Celebrate with Paula Deen.

The salad was my own—just chopped up teeny tiny—everything: romaine lettuce, celery, carrots, cucumbers, zucchini, tomato and green onions. Choice of dressing was Champagne Pear Vinaigrette or Cranberry & Walnut with Gorgonzola. I made two soups the day before: Garlic Soup (Childs) and Shrimp & Lobster Bisque (Deen) – the bisque won out for dinner. The Molten Lava Cakes (Deen) sounded chocolately enough and topped with homemade vanilla ice cream, how could I go wrong? The cakes didn’t molt like I wanted as I think I needed a deeper custard cup, but all in all it was pretty yummy.

Since Ruth is the expert bread maker, and one's bread doesn't compare, and I was short on time, I bought a loaf of French baguette from Bread Co.

Suzanne had a gift for both of us—a journal full of love. I picked out some “fortunes” from my craft stuff and wrapped them up without looking at them so we had a fortune after our meal. Seemed like they were appropriate for each of us. I can only remember parts of Suzanne’s—Master retreating… and Ruth’s—Go for it. Mine: “However long the night, the dawn will break.” and (they’re two sided): “If you fail to practice your art, it will soon disappear.” Both nice reminders of what’s happening with me now. I will glue my fortune in my journal of love.

We finished off the evening getting in the hot tub yacking about whatever came to mind. I’m glad we do birthday dinners. It’s nice in so many ways.