Party at the Cabin

It's finally starting to feel like spring, here in New York! The sun has been out, people are putting away their winter coats, and the sun dresses are starting to come out. Hooray for spring! Sure we have cold and/or rainy days here and there, but April showers bring May flowers, right?

Anyway, I am so glad that it is finally starting to warm up and feel like spring! This past weekend we had some friends visit us at our cabin in upstate NY to celebrate the changing of seasons, as well as enjoy the blossoming of our 50,000 daffodils at our cabin! It was a very casual affair, filled with delicious food and drink, relaxing conversation, hiking, daffodil harvesting, and even a soak in our wood burning hot tub!

I cannot really take credit for any of the party prep --- all of the credit goes to my parents. They arrived at the cabin a few days in advance to prepare everything. (I simply took the train the night before and brought a dessert). They created quite the feast making shrimp curry, chili con carne (in a Dutch oven!), a variety of salads, roasted potatoes, grilled chicken sausages, grilled steak, and much much more! My mom made her fruit tiramisu, whilst my contribution was super fudge-y brownies.  
Quite the spread
My dad grilling the sausages
Chili and sausages cooking on a campfire --- what a rustic sight!
Our guests mingling and enjoying the food
Campfire steak
The surgeon at work
My dark chocolate brownies
Mom's Fruit Tiramisu

The weather fluctuated from chilly to comfortably warm. At least, it did for me. I think being near the campfire certainly helped me to warm up. It was a nice mix of my mother's friends, as well as my fathers. Some faces I knew, others I did not, however they knew all about me. Although I must confess that I am becoming a bit of a city girl, it was nice to escape the hustle and bustle of Manhattan for an afternoon and just commune with nature. One of my favorite things in life is sitting around a campfire and hanging out with other people. 
Nothing brings people together like food and a campfire

Preparing for the party was very stressful for my parents and they were completely exhausted afterwards, but I think the stress was worth it. The party they created was a hit and everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. I'd like to think that for most of our guests, such a country escape is a rare treat, and we have more to offer than places like Bear Mountain. Sure, we have hiking trails and ponds where you can go swimming, but we also have a hot tub and a beautiful observation deck that looks onto the Hudson Valley. We also had yummy food and drink, and encouraged our guests to return home with buckets of daffodils. How idyllic. 

All in all, I had a great time! My parents were fantastic hosts and I think I speak for everyone when I say that the daffodil party was a great success! I am greatly looking forward to next year's party!
Beautiful sunset to end a wonderful day

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Gordon Ramsay's Cheesy Potato Dauphinoise

Image
I am fairly impressionable --- at least when it comes to cooking. When I see a recipe or a dish that intrigues me, I become obsessed and determine to give it a go. I have been obsessively watching Come Dine With Me  for at least one month and a dish that keeps popping up is: Potato Dauphionoise. I've eaten this side dish a couple times in my life, but not recently. It looked so delicious and easy to make, and I was determined to try my hand at this posh looking side. As per usual, I consulted the internet to look for recipes. As most of you know, I am obsessed with Gordon Ramsay. He is always my go to. If he doesn't have a recipe for something I want to make, I'm always feel a little lost, but luckily, that wasn't the case this time. I was delighted to have stumbled upon Gordon Ramsay's "Gratin Dauphonoise." He has yet to let me down and you know what, this dish was a winner! Something that I am adding to my repertoire.  This dish was incredibly e
Read more

Truffle Cream Cheese & Chive Spread

Image
So, I realize that this post is rather late…but I figure, better late than never, right? Over New Years, I was searching for recipes online, when I stumbled upon a new Gordon Ramsay recipe. As we all know, I LOVE Gordon Ramsay, in fact, I should probably just change my username to that.  Chef Ramsay has a recipe for a deliciously decadent, but oh so easy truffle cream cheese spread, and I couldn't resist. The ingredients are simple, you may even have most of them, and it takes no more than ten minutes to make. Oh, and it's delicious.  Whether you are entertaining guests or spending time alone, this spread is perfect for all occasions. It's great with bread and crackers, it's also delicious with grapes. The fluffiness of the cream cheese/sour cream, coupled with the decadence and amazing aroma of the truffle oil makes this a really luxurious spread that everyone will love! For Gordon Ramsay's video, please click this link .  Ingredients: - small con
Read more

Tawaraya - One of Kyoto's Most Famous and Oldest Ryokans

Image
On this visit to Kyoto, rather than stay at a hotel, my parents and I were fortunate enough two spend two nights at the very famous and exclusive Tawaraya ryokan . Tawaraya is considered one of the most famous and posh ryokans in Japan. Past guests have included Steven Spielberg, Alfred Hitchcock, and even Marlon Brando! (Many famous Japanese people have stayed here as well, but these three just popped into my head). We made our reservation one year in advance, but even then, we had difficulty getting a room!  To quote Wikipedia: "A ryokan ( 旅館 ) is a type of traditional Japanese inn that originated in the Edo Period (1603 ~ 1868), when such inns served travelers along Japan's highways. They typically feature tatami-matted rooms, communal baths, and other public areas where visitors may wear yukata and talk with the owner…Most ryokans offer dinner and breakfast, which are often included in the price of the room. Most visitors take their meals at the ryokan, which usuall
Read more