Cheese + A Supper Club

Saturday started with come chicory coffee that my boss brought back from her most recent trip to New Orleans, knowing that I love Cafe du Monde coffee and just as I ran out of my own supply. I had every intention of sipping endless cups while catching up on my favorite blogs and the lives of my favorite bloggers. And then, my wifi went down. It's all fine now, nothing a new modem can't fix, and secretly it was a blessing in disguise. Instead of binge watching the Sopranos this weekend, I caught up on my favorite cooking magazines, issues dating back into summer. S spent some time in our little garden on the patio, and I cooked and cooked and cooked, my favorite way to make a mess.

Here is the aftermath of a trip to the market that I posted about, as well as Whole Foods. A quest for bread and cheese led me to be indecisive. I ended up with a delicious trio of American, French, and German cheese! Paired with a local baguette made with kalamata olives baked inside and crunchy crackers, heaven. The American cheese is a soft and tart goat cheese with herbs de provence including lavender, "Purple Haze", it's my favorite. The French is the creamiest brie with the best flavor called "D'Affinois", S's favorite on baguette slices. The last, the perfect companion to other cheeses because it is semi soft and nutty, called "Bruder Basil". Not sure why they call it that, but it reminds me of smokey and nutty goudas. 

Like most do, I thought about resolutions or goals for 2014. There isn't anything that I need to do at the start of this year. We eat healthy, I cook all of the time, we go to yoga regularly, we travel, we save money for more travel, I'm reading three books at one time now that I've graduated, I dedicate all that I can to my career without sacrificing myself... The only thing that I have missed in 2013 that I think is important enough to me to make a goal of it, is having friends over for dinner. This is a college town, and like many college towns, people move away when they graduate and when they find jobs. This town is one big waiting room and I'm still here. It's okay though, this waiting room has the job that I've always wanted, a job that S has worked hard for, our favorite little gems of shops and restaurants, and this waiting room has our little home and each other. So I like this waiting room. The thing is, friends move away, and suddenly, there are less friends to invite over for dinner.

I would like to think that my goal of having more dinner parties and entertaining friends will be accomplished, but I know my nerves. I love entertaining friends, welcoming them, keeping them fed and warm in my home, but it is still nerve inducing. I'm equipped with so many delicious recipes and gorgeous cooking and serving ware and a huge dining room table that could seat 12 of my closest friends, and a new book of classic drink recipes with fresh herbs and interesting spices, and a bar cart and even a dress. But I just have to take the step to set a date, call some friends, and start a supper club.