There are birthdays and then there are BIRTHDAYS!!
This was a BIRTHDAY!! and not even a milestone year.
First of all, all four of them (my two sons and their girlfriends) planned, shopped and made the complete dinner, fire in the fireplace, and Polish style entertainment, plus an awesome gift this past Saturday.
I got a KITCHENAID!!!!
A beautiful blue one that looks so pretty sitting on my counter upstate.
Remember when I was trying to win one? Well I have a confession to make. I have a white one but we keep it in the NYC apartment and then when I want to bake upstate, we haul it up and then haul it back. So I wanted to win one to be able to have it in both places. I know it’s a bit spoiled but hey, I do like to use it. So now, no more of that. I have a big beautiful blue one sitting on the counter there. Yipee!!
The way they gave it to me was so great. I had come in from working in my studio while all of them were in the kitchen cooking and they said, “ Mom, your birthday present is here in the kitchen, you just have to find it.” At first, I walked right near it but with all of the commotion going on, I didn’t notice because they put it in the place where my white one was all through the holiday. Then when I saw the beautiful blue machine, I literally screamed! What nice, thoughtful kids!! I am so, so lucky.
And here’s what they made for dinner.
Roasted eggplant salsa, Asian style, served with Parmesan pita chips and my martini!
Pernil – Puerto Rican style pork shoulder, slow roasted in the oven and finished on the grill.
Jasmine rice with saffron, black eyed peas, (from dried), onions and green peppers along with sauteed Swiss chard and kale in olive oil with garlic and white wine.
Shortbread cookies with Polish chocolate hazelnut chunks on top.
EVERYTHING was sooooo delicious!!!
After appetizers and cocktails we had their entertainment portion of the evening. We celebrated the Feast of St. Andrew – Andrzejki – as it is called in Polish. Always celebrated on November 29 or the 30th, depending on what region in Poland you are from as it is either celebrated on the day or the eve. You melt wax and pour it through a hollow key handle into a bowl of cold water. The wax solidifies while you douse some more water on it. You then take the wax shape that forms and look at its shadow and interpret it. It is a prediction for the upcoming year. Mine was my face, Steve’s face in glasses and Australia. Steve’s was emu – an animal native to Australia.
Maureen!!! – here we come!!!
These kids did so much work to make an awesome birthday celebration for me. Besides planning the menu, shopping and cooking, they went to ten places to find the keys with holes in the handle and finally found them in an antique store in Millerton.
Here are all of our wax shapes.
It is great to be loved!
The Tea Spot Meditative Mind Shortbread Cookies
The Very Best Way to Cook Corn on the Cob
Sunday Night Stuffed Peppers
Chicken Breasts Roasted on Tomatoes and Fennel
Country Style Pork Spare Ribs with Just Cook Herbed Coffee Rub
Oh my goodness………….LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your smile and happiness! All that pure joy just jumped off the computer screen and fell into my lap.
So darn tootin happy for you!
Happy, Happy, Birthday to you!
Cheers and Cheers to those kiddos of yours!
Daleen Wilson recently posted…a sassy two step of gratitude
Thank you, thank you, thank you!! 🙂
What a nice way to celebrate your birthday.
Jovina Coughlin recently posted…Food Gifts For The Holidays
Totally!! It was fabulous!!
Happy Birthday and what a wonderful gift!! The kids did a great job, the food looks wonderful and it sure sounds like everyone had a great time.
apuginthekitchen recently posted…Thank You!
All true!!! Thanks so much Suzanne!
Your sons and their sweeties understand the secret ingredient as well as Mama Mary. So happy for you.
You got that right!! It was a lovefest the whole holiday!
Happy belated birthday!
yummychunklet recently posted…TwD: Baking Challah with Julia
Thank you!!
So this means you’re coming, right?? 🙂
What a glorious birthday celebration!! I’m so happy for you.
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef recently posted…Chicken with Coca-Cola Sauce
Oh I would so love to come – wouldn’t it be great to really meet!!? Let’s hope this is all true. Agata says the wax says it will come true!
Happy Birthday Mary! Your smile is infectious and love how your family spoils you like you do for them. Many blessings and Love!
Thank you Judy!!! They do spoil me!
Belated happy birthday wishes to you, Mary Frances! It sure looks like you had a wonderful celebration. And what a gift! I lug my KitchenAid back and forth to Michigan, so, I can appreciate how nice it is to have a 2nd one on hand. Good for you! 🙂
ChgoJohn recently posted…See Quince? Make Jam First Then Jelly
Oh I’m so glad someone else understands. They’re heavy!! Thanks John, for your good wishes. I hope you had a marvelous Thanksgiving!
Kitchenaids totally rock! Ours fell on the kitchen floor the other day and didn’t even stop beating; they’re totally bomb-proof!
The Healthy Epicurean recently posted…Rum and raisin carrot cake and frustrated traffic wardens
That’s so funny – it didn’t stop beating!!! Surprised it didn’t dent wood or break a tile in your floor!!
Happy belated Birthday and wow weren’t you spoiled! An amazing gift! And a wonderful meal.
Evelyne@cheapethniceatz recently posted…Great Food Blogger Cookie Swap: Chocolate-Dipped Orange Peel Cookies
I know – 🙂 Thanks!
Happy Birthday…yeah, I know…late. Beautiful KitchenAid. I know all about Andrzejki and other Polish celebrations! Nice, very nice 🙂 ela
Cool!! I loved this Polish celebration!
Happy belated birthday! I think I’d be a wee bit excited as well if I got a Kitchenaid!
Lizzy (Good Things) recently posted…Tomatoes roasted with garlic, lime and balsamic
Well you could see I was!!! Funny thing was that I took the first picture of all of them cooking, and even posted it on Facebook, and never noticed the blue KitchenAid was sitting there all the time!