September gathering

The 11th Ragamuffin Cooking Club gathering is hereby announced!!

This time we will hopefully have some new faces joining our group in place of some good friends who have moved on to other adventures. Now, for a bit of international flair to the cooking club:

Theme: La cuisine de français (French cuisine)

Date & Time: Saturday, September 16th, 6:30pm UPDATED! Saturday, September 23rd, 6:30pm

Place: Chad & Karen's

We need signups for the following:

• Appetizer / soup / salad - tentative, appetizer from Jess (if she can come the 23rd)
• Main Dish - Coq au Vin from Phil & Rose
• Side Dish 1 - Pumpkin Soufflé from Heather
• Side Dish 2 - Pommes de Terre puree a l'ail et l'oignon from Rachel
• Non-alcoholic drinks - sodas from Jill & Jonathan (w/ baby!)
• Wine / cocktails - red wine from Michelle
• Dessert - Crèpes from Chad & Karen
• Plates (we have enough cups) -
• Plastic silverware -

Need l'inspiration? The Food Network has about 51 French recipes to choose from. If you're feeling daring and want to read recipes IN French, you can search the French Food and Cook site. Of course you can always swing by the library and pick up a copy of Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking if you're feeling daring. And maybe Phil could offer some good suggestions on this one. :)

Dessert party

Rachel and Rose seem to REALLY enjoy those champagne and sherbet dessert drinks!

Dessert party

Michael checking out the little banana pudding pies he and Toni prepared.

Dessert party

Toni chatting it up with the club mascot, Bailey. :)

Dessert party

Phil and Heather chatting at the table.

Dessert party

Jonathan, our guest Barbara, and Jill - enjoying their surprise baby shower along with our dessert party!

Dessert party

Eclairs made by Phil and Rose. Mmmm....

Desserts and a surprise!

Well, we pulled it off! Jill and Jonathan were surprised to arrive at the RCC to find not only a festive dessert gathering, but a surprise baby shower! We had a few of their friends join us for the fun, and overall I think it was a blast. Chad and I have been dealing with a lot of stress lately, and it just reminded me of the great community we've found with our cooking friends... it was so refreshing to spend time with everyone!

In addition to baby gifts, food-wise we feasted on a dessert-a-palooza:

• homemade eclairs from Phil & Rose (I will email recipe since I can't post a document)
• individual banana cream pudding tarts from Michael & Toni
• ice cream sandwich / turtle dessert from Jonathan & Jill
• peanut butter cake from Heather
• champagne and sherbet from Heidi & Kristi
• 2 liters from Michelle
• (non-homemade) derby pie from Chad & Karen

YUM. If this is any sign of the cookie swap to come this fall, I'm getting even more excited! Stay tuned for pictures and a sign-up for the next club: French food! La cuisine de français!