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The birthday linner

January 17, 2013 by Mary Frances 14 Comments

The birthday cook-a-thon celebration for my husband was a huge success and just so much fun. We started cooking at noon and ate from 2:45 to 6:45 just in time to put Zach on a 7:10 train back to New Haven. So what do you call a leisurely meal like this that encompasses lunch and dinner? Linner!

While every dish was great, what was even more terrific was the time spent together, planning, chopping, sharing pots, debating, arguing, laughing and agreeing. My oldest son was upset at first with the look of the short ribs. He said they weren’t going to look pretty enough. Being a designer, that made me feel good – at least he learned something from me! We played games in between while watching football. And since one person did not have responsibility for the whole meal, there was time off for everyone. It was really a wonderful day of just being together.

Now for the food! Here’s the photo essay.

Birthday making torta— Making a zucchini, red pepper and fennel torta

Onions sauteing in a Le Creuset pot.

Onions sauteing for the short ribs

Browned short ribs in a Le Creuset dish

The short ribs, browned

Mozzeralla, tomato, baby arugula and olive oil salads on a burgandy rimmed plate from Pottery Barn.

The salads – mozzarella, tomato, baby arugula and olive oil

Linguine with olive oil, garlic and spinach topped with broiled breadcrumbs in a bowl, recipe from Union Square Cafe.

Linguine with olive oil, garlic and spinach topped with broiled breadcrumbs

The beautiful zucchini, red pepper, fennel and mint  torta on a crystal platter

The beautiful zucchini, red pepper, fennel and mint torta

The  torta with red bell pepper, zucchini, fennel and mint.

The torta serving – so pretty!

Delicious short ribs with creamy polenta squares on an antique Wedgewood plate.

The main course – delicious short ribs with creamy polenta squares

The birthday dessert - beautiful warm, chocolate-filled pastries.

The birthday dessert – beautiful warm, chocolate-filled pastries made by Agata, so yummy!

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Filed Under: Dinner, Lunch, Meat Tagged With: baby arugula, birthday celebrations, chocolate-filled pastries, mozzarella, olive oil, polenta squares, red bell peppers, short ribs, spinach linguine, tomatoes, torta, zucchini

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Comments

  1. Busy Girl Health says

    January 18, 2013 at 4:25 PM

    Mary, this looks fantastic! The torta looks so good – do you have a recipe for it?

    Thanks!
    – Brit

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      January 18, 2013 at 4:54 PM

      It was really delicious and clean tasting. My son made it up. Let me see if I can get the details from him. I’ll get back to you!

      Reply
  2. Francesca says

    January 18, 2013 at 4:51 PM

    What a wonderful birthday meal. I think it’s great that the whole family cooked it. You are a lucky woman! 😉

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      January 18, 2013 at 4:54 PM

      I know, I am lucky! Thank you.

      Reply
  3. quilt32 says

    January 18, 2013 at 5:36 PM

    Lovely meal. The salad looks especially delicious to me.
    Lillian
    lillianscupboard.workpress.com

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      January 18, 2013 at 5:52 PM

      The salad was fantastic – so simple and so good. It is always about the quality of your ingredients and this was particularly great, creamy mozzarella.

      Reply
  4. suth2 says

    January 19, 2013 at 3:09 AM

    What a lovely way to have your meal. That is the way we do our Christmas meal, leisurely over several hours with each person contributing. Happy Birthday to your husband.

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      January 20, 2013 at 8:31 PM

      Thank you! We really enjoyed it – as I’m sure you do your Christmas dinner.

      Reply
  5. yummychunklet says

    January 20, 2013 at 2:25 PM

    Everything looks fantastic! Love the veggie torta!

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      January 20, 2013 at 8:12 PM

      Thanks!! I’m working on the recipe now so stayed tuned!

      Reply
  6. Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says

    January 20, 2013 at 10:13 PM

    What a great meal. I think I’d like to make the same menu!

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      January 22, 2013 at 12:56 PM

      It was great! Torta recipe to come…

      Reply
  7. Judy says

    August 8, 2013 at 2:03 PM

    Every recipe you post, you say how you love the “secret ingredient.” I’ve yet to see what that could be. Enlighten me, please.
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Mary Frances says

      August 8, 2013 at 9:56 PM

      LOVE IS the secret ingredient! Start from a happy place. Cook with the intention of love for all your ingredients, in all your actions. Imagine the joy on people’s faces when they eat your food and how delicious it’s going to taste.

      Reply

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