I'm the Party Mummy. The Mum who likes to party. I know how to plan and host kick ass soirees. I can ream off any number of yummy appetizers, wine pairings and tasty cocktails off the top of my head.
And can I just say, that's a lot of pressure. Despite what you've heard (likely from me directly) I'm not perfect. And when the "Party Mummy" screws up, do you know what her supportive friends do? Sling an soothing arm over her shoulder and gently tell her it's ok?
How about laugh their heads off? And the mocking, my god, the mocking...
I can't even fire up an attitude about it, since I'm the worst offender. I'm the arse who laughs first when somebody trips and THEN asks if they're ok. Ah, Karma. She's a bitch. Not you Karma, I mean the karma that slaps you upside the head when you start getting a little too smug. THAT karma. She scares me.
Last week I attended a lovely GNO dinner and little did I know that karma would be there (the nasty karma, not the nice one). Ali, the lovely hostess was providing a scrumptious lasagna, and I offered to bring my famous, super tasty, caesar salad. She said it wasn't necessary, but being the fricken "Party Mummy", I sang my salad's praises and insisted. I believe I may have used the words, "it's to die for..."
I made the salad as I was going out the door and decided to toss in the dressing before heading to the car. I didn't factor in the sub-zero tempertures and the heat vent on the car floor near my unsuspecting salad. Creamy moist dressing and a blasting heat source are no friend to romaine lettuce.
By the time I arrived and revealed my caesar sensation, my salad was a sad shadow of its former crisp self.
Ali checked out at my salad, looked at my proud face, looked back at the salad and then back at me and asked, tactfully, "What the frig is that?"
I peered into the bowl. To say my salad had experienced significant shrinkage is an understatement. It was now a shrunken pitiful serving for two, at most. Did I mention this was a dinner party for eight?
I picked up the bowl, gave it a shake and attempted to fluff the romaine with a fork. To no avail. My caesar salad was a flop.
The next time I spout off about my AMAZING salad, I must remember the famous quote: Lettuce not forget, those who brag, dine on salad in a bag.
I wish I'd taken a photo. My description just doesn't do its sorry state justice.
I'm going to Ali's on Saturday night and I offered to bring....one lettuce leaf soaked in dressing. This might be the last time I'm invited back.
Curiously, I'm in the market for a new caesar salad recipe. (not joking). Do you have recipe for a homemade dressing that is fairly easy to make, tastes great and doesn't involve raw eggs?
Photo Cred: photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/54359128@N00/4811137329">Organic salad with avocado</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)</a>
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