The first thing I did when I arrived was to tell Phyl she was going to kill me for choosing Thursday at Merrilyn’s instead of going for an x-ray of my left hip. This gathering was just too important to me, I’ll go tomorrow morning. She rolled her eyes and gave me the finger wag! Delicious appetizers: Apple Gruyere Tarts, Sausage Crescent Rolls, Chicken Wings!Merrilyn’s Banana Bread for dessert:Always so fun much fun! Dave and Phyl loaned me a cane – what a difference it has made in my ability to get around.

Always a fun get-together with delicious treats. Tiny Reuben sandwiches, Endive with goat cheese/orange/walnuts/sweet balsamic reduction, and Jalapeno jelly over whipped cream cheese. Dessert! Brownies with Moose Tracks ice cream. Oh my!

These get-togethers are always fun. In two hours, we can never quite cover every important topic. Another round of good food. I made a tomato tart to practice for the next Throwdown. Merrilyn made a terrific frittata and Phyl made a carrot cake for dessert.

A beautiful afternoon with good friends and good food.Bacon-wrapped pineapple and cherry cream cheese spread for crackers or fruit:For dessert: peach cobbler a la mode:

Always fun and always delicious!

Merrilyn has a beautifully landscaped yard. This Philadelphus was in full bloom:

Always great food!
and dessert!

Thank you Merrilyn for hosting our get-together every time.

Phyl and I love our get-togethers at Merrilyns’. The food is always so great. Phyl made Shrimp Toasts:

Merrilyn made Norwegian lefsa:

I needed to practice my Throwdown dish for the next RLEHS Sunday Social, so I made Blood Orange and White Chocolate Cream Cups:

Everything was yummy. Thanks Merrilyn for having us over.

Except it’s Wednesday. We changed the date because I work in Placerville tomorrow and the time because of Project Ride Smart. Thank you, good friends.
As always, great food, wine, conversation, and best of all, time with friends.

Except that it was Wednesday. When a TRUSD mandatory meeting (in order to do CELDT testing for English learners in Kindergarten and 1st grade) for Thursday was made known at the last minute, thankfully Merrilyn and Phyl were able to switch our get-together to today.

Dear friends in Foley AL, Tom and Paula, should recognize the following beverage, Frozen Good. And Phyl chose a matching outfit!

Yum!

The food is always great: Shrimp Remoulade w crackers and pumpernickel and Salmon Mousse in pastry cups.

The best part, as always, was good conversation with friends.

The last time we got together was the end of May, that’s WAY too long. Work and vacations were the culprits. Once again, great food and conversation. We each keep making different and delicious treats each time we get together that we thought we should make a cookbook. This time: Fontina Risotto Cakes with Fresh Chives and Lemon Aioli, Prosciutto-wrapped Cantaloupe,
and Graham Cracker Cake.

This was favorite recipe for birthday cakes when Phyl was growing up.

To be honest, I have kitchen tool envy.