the whole plate.

Last night, my sister hosted a potluck at our apartment in honor of a friend of hers who is moving out of the city.

There is something wonderful about coming home after a Monday of work to an apartment full of good people, good smells, and good tastes.  I’ve always been of the opinion that the work week should begin quietly, but I may have to reconsider that stance.  Last night we had eight girls [women?  ladies?  What exactly are we twentysomethings?], an overabundance of appetizers, entrees, and desserts, and a little bit of Monday evening wine.  Not a bad kickoff to a work week.

the first of my sides: cumin-scented roasted fennel, red onion, bosc pears

The group in attendance was not made of everyday chefs [excluding myself, of course].  But they each got out their oven mitts, cookbooks, and casserole dishes, and I found it a little bit fascinating to observe the types of dishes that arrived.  It’s occasions like these that remind me of the way “real” people eat.

Several of my sister’s friends are on Weight Watchers, and they were sure to mention that their recipes were WW-friendly – egg whites here, sugar-free there.  I have to say that my dishes were definitely the odd ones out.

my other cooking contribution: indian-spiced okra and tomatoes [there is an indian name for this that is escaping me].  click for my recipe.

Unsurprisingly, I took it upon myself to do up some vegetables.  If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that people in the real world almost never think to prepare vegetables, aside from the basic crudité hors d’oeuvres.  While I am happy to try others’ dishes, I am never content nor satisfied without plants.  I added to the eclectic mix [some brought Mexican food, some Italian, some Mediterranean, some traditional American] by adding something Indian to the table.

my sister’s dish was a rachael ray recipe that is actually delicious: basil shrimp with feta and orzo.

My sister is an accidental vegetarian most of the time, simply because of the type of food I keep in stock.  She may not have developed a love for kitchen time, but she has acquired a taste for an ever-widening array of fruits and vegetables, and her microwave-preparations are typically a blend of pure and whole foods.  The pescetarian entree she chose to prepare was perfectly natural and perfectly delicious.

a potluck dish: taco salad

Differences in philosophies definitely make the world go round.  I  know most people think of food in a completely different manner than I  do – most aren’t vegetarian, don’t think to eat vegetables, and don’t  worry about ingredients lists.  Most think of food in terms of  splurges and saves, as something to watch or counteract.  I think, for  some, that works, and though I’ll never agree with eating chemicals,  non-organic meat and dairy, or a lack of plants, I don’t try to push my beliefs on anyone.

another potluck dish: corn pudding

When it comes down to it, I think everyone in life just wants to eat well and taste good flavor.  Our preferences and outlooks might differ, but that’s the beauty of a potluck like this one: our mix of styles all came together on top of one dining room table.

In my dish, I  used vegetables, olive oil, and spice; my sister used fresh herbs, shrimp, and full fat cheese.  I don’t need to  count a thing, because I know the food we use is as healthy and natural as can be.  That’s my strong belief, and as we live by it every day, we both put it out on the table.

magnolia bakery banana pudding.  omg delicious.

It’s nice to be at a point where I can enjoy a party, eat a plateful of food, a plateful of dessert, and a glass of wine, wake up the next morning, cook my normal big breakfast, and continue on with life.

How do your friends eat?  Are they health-conscious?  Waistline-conscious?  Standard American?  Something else?

Related posts:

1. living in the real world.
2. a potluck for the amateur gourmet.
3. spring pea and fennel soup, and eating real food.