vettecat | Fussing with food

My mom had invited me and

sdavido for lunch today (Saturday), along with a few other people. When I asked if I could make anything, she said, "yes, if it's something pretty." (She's been having a lot of fun hosting in her new place, and likes to dress things up.) So the other night I pulled out my new Cook's Illustrated cookbook (Best Side Dishes - the one I got from the focus group) and found a recipe that looked promising. It was something I'd heard about previously, but they claimed to have made it more approachable.

So I spent part of yesterday making Potatoes Anna. I was a bit nervous at moments, but thankfully it came out really well, and my mother was very pleased. The guests seem to have liked it too... there wasn't much left. :-) I also made big soft double-chocolate cookies, and some frozen cherry fluff to serve on them, which worked really well. (And then there was all the stuff she made, of course... she believes that if the guests can move at the end of the meal, she hasn't done her job.)

On a non-homemade note, I found a yummy new bread at Stop & Shop. I picked up a loaf of their Maple Cinnamon bread on a whim, and it is really good... if you don't mind sweet! (And it's even pareve.) I'm annoyed with them right now b/c it seems they don't carry Coffee Rich anymore, but they do still have some stuff.