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October 5, 2005: Almost Married

Exactly one month from today, I will be Mrs. Derik Rinehart. Well, actually, I guess I won't, since I'm keeping my name. But I think it's silly that I have to choose between the two, as though I must declare allegiance to my new family at the expense of the old one. Pish-posh! I fully intend to answer to both names and hear no more nonsense on the issue. I suppose the women of previous generations must find it funny that we take so lightly something they fought hard for, the right to go by their own names rather than the names of their husbands, but I see it as progress. By all means, let's let roses by other names smell just as sweet and move on to more important things.

I'm sorry; was that political? I'm trying to cut down.

Last weekend, my dear sister threw yet another bridal shower for me, co-hosting with Moria, my best friend from high school. Since we gathered at Moria's house, I think it's fair to say that she did most of the work of the party, and I don't think I'm being biased in any way when I say that it was by far the most fun I've ever had at an afternoon bridal shower. (My previous shower/bachelorette party was another kind of party entirely.) Has any bride ever been so spoiled? I ask you!

Lee and Moria decided on a kitchen theme, much to my delight (I have a wok! I have a spice rack! I have a pepper grinder!), and they came up with some games that were, for once, really fun. Usually, I find that I have to grit my teeth and just get through the silly games one is forced to play at showers (toilet paper wedding dress, anyone?), but we all were greatly amused at the first one, which I'd never seen done before: Moria had me open my shower gifts from her (cake pans, mixing bowls, pot holders, and an apron), set a bunch of ingredients on the counter, and told me I had to bake a cake, from scratch, from memory! So I put the apron on and looked at all the stuff, thinking there was no way I'd be able to do it, but then, once I started to think, I realized I was going to get through it pretty well. Moria and Lee were expecting to laugh themselves silly, and, truthfully, I did have my moments. (The batter didn't look so good before I'd remembered to put the milk in.) But, all in all, I passed with flying colors, and the cake was actually edible! Also, I think I earned the most cooking points when I refused to use the storebought Duncan Hines butter cream frosting and insisted on making chocolate frosting using the recipe on the can of Hershey's cocoa instead. Moria had bought a cake from the bakery as a back-up, just in case I couldn't do it, but mine was way better. I was so pleased with myself! At the same time, I was very amused at the game, as I thought of how important it was at one time for a potential wife to be able to bake a cake from scratch and how completely irrelevant to marriage it seems now. Here's me in my apron, obviously in a state of deep concentration (and don't you just love the Donna Reed pearls?):

© 2005 Lee Carter

One of the great gifts I got at the shower was a ton of new recipes! All the guests brought them, and Moria gave me the recipes for all the delicious dips she served that day. The assembled women (my nearest and dearest aunts, parents, siblings, and friends) all wanted copies of the recipes, so I've decided to post them here for the edification of all. (Hopefully none of these are copyrighted.) We'll call it Lindsay's Bride-To-Be Cookbook.

Appetizers

Cury Dip (from Moria)

Ingredients
2 tsp. curry paste
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
4 tsp. brown sugar
4 tsp. grated onion
6 Tbsp. mayonnaise
6 Tbsp. plain yogurt

Beat all ingredients together in a small bowl and spoon into a serving dish

Hummus (from Moria)

Ingredients
2 cloves garlic
large handful of parsley
2 scallions
3 cups cooked chick peas (rinsed and drained)
6 Tbsp. Tahini
6 Tbsp. lemon juice
cayenne powder and cumin to taste
olive oil

Mince garlic, parsley and scallions in a food processor. Add the remaining ingredients and puree into a thick paste. Drizzle with olive oil and heat in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes.

Goat Cheese Log (from Moria)

Ingredients
8 oz. cream cheese
8 oz. goat cheese
1/4 cup roasted red pepper, chopped
1 Tbsp. fresh basil, chopped
olive oil

Combine goat cheese and cream cheese in food processor until blended. Stir in the red peppers. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Shape cheese into a log 2 inches in diameter; use knife to smooth the top and sides. Sprinkle with basil and drizzle with olive oil.

Spinach-Artichoke Dip (from Moria)

Ingredients
1 pckg. Knorr vegetable soup
16 oz. sour cream
1 cup mayonnaise
10 oz. chopped frozen spinach
4 oz. canned artichoke hearts
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Thaw and drain spinach. Pat with a paper towel until fairly dry. Drain and chop artichoke hearts. Mix all ingredients together. Refrigerate for 1 hour to allow flavors to blend. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Crab Dip (from Colleen)

Ingredients
12 oz. premium lump backfin crab meat
8 oz. cream cheese
1 Tbsp. extra dry vermouth
1 1/2 tsp. onion salt
3/4 tsp. garlic powder
dash or so of Worchestershire sauce

Pick crab meat clean. Combine all ingredients in a small crock pot, stirring occasionally, until warmed and melted together.

Texas Dip (from Memommie, via Mom)

Ingredients
3 medium avocados
2 Tbsp. lemon juice
2 cans bean dip
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 pckg. taco seasoning
1 bunch scallions with tops
3 medium tomatoes
1 can ripe olives
shredded cheddar cheese
salt and pepper

Mash the avocados with the lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste. Separately, combine the sour cream, mayo, and taco mix. To assemble, start with a round platter. Create a layer of bean dip, then a layer of avocado, then a layer of the sour cream mixture, then onions, then tomatoes, then olives, and top the whole thing with cheddar cheese.

Main Dishes

Cuban Black Beans and Rice (from Steph, © 1991 Vegetarian Pleasures)

Ingredients
2 cans black beans
3 Tbsp. olive oil
3 diced onions
2 green peppers, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 bay leaves
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. thyme
1 Tbsp. tomato paste
1 Tbsp. tabasco sauce
1 Tbsp. vinegar
1 cup water
hard-boiled eggs, chopped (for garnish)
sour cream (for garnish)
diced onion (for garnish)
salt and pepper

Drain beans. Saute onions and garlic in olive oil in a large pot for 2 minutes. Add beans, green pepper, and all other ingredients and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. The sauce should be thick. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve over hot rice and garnish with eggs, sour cream, and onion.

Easy Chicken Divan (from Mary Kemp, © Better Homes and Gardens)

Ingredients
2 10 oz. pckgs. frozen broccoli
3 chicken breasts
2 cans cream of chicken soup
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 Tbsp. curry powder
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 Tbsp. butter

Cook broccoli in salted water until just tender; drain. Arrange in greased baking dish. Tear chicken into pieces and place on top. Combine soup, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and curry powder; pour over chicken. Combine bread crumbs and melted butter; spread over top of casserole. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes.

Cheater's Quiche (from Moria)

Ingredients
3 eggs
1/2 cup Bisquick
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup butter
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 cup grated Swiss cheese
1/2 cup diced ham

Put all ingredients except ham and cheese in blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into a greased 10 inch pie pan. Sprinkle cheese and ham on top of mixture and pat down with a spoon. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Let set 10 minutes before serving. (Moria says the crust settles to the bottom, while the eggs come to the top, so it really does turn out like quiche! I'm going to try it this weekend, so I'll let you know if it works.)

Side Dishes

Mojo Sauce Potatoes (from Lee)

Ingredients
8 cups water
1-2 tsp. salt
12 medium red potatoes, cut into quarters
2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. water
2 tsp. fresh parsley, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 tsp. paprika
3/4 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes

1. In a large pot, combine 8 cups water and 1-2 tsp. salt. Bring to a boil, add potatoes, and return to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Drain potatoes.
2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, oil, and water. Whisk in remaining ingredients.
3. Pour sauce over potatoes and toss gently to coat. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Desserts

Craig's Five Star Chocolate Frosting (from Uncle Craig)

Ingredients
1/2 pound baker's chocolate (8 squares)
1 pound powdered sugar
1/2 cup milk
2 Tbsp. butter

Put all ingredients in double boiler and melt together. Stir until all ingredients are well combined. Continue to simmer for 20 minutes while mixing briskly, until thick. Makes enough to frost a 3-layer cake.

(Do you guys have any idea how long it just took me to post those, complete with HTML tags? I hope some of you get some use out of them...)

Just for making it through all those recipes, I leave you with the last of the shower games: a wedding Mad Lib, composed by my sister, Lee, and filled out by all assembled.

Lindsay & Derik

Once there was a slippery girl named Lindsay. She lived in Mars. For her day job, she worked as a brake pedal, but her true calling was to be a podium. She loved cracking yellow jacket and baking. She had an annoying life. She kept very busy and had 29 turgid friends. But still, something was missing.

Across town, a sweaty boy named Derik was also living a stinky life. He too was busy with his job as a flashlight. He loved tent and cavorting table in his band. He was also fascinated by dervishes and enjoyed learning everything about them that he could. Plummeting at Derik, you would think everything was flouncy. But still, something was missing.

Until one day, when Lindsay & Derik met through some lollipops at a wagon. Even though they didn't start spinning right away, they ran there was something there...

When they did see each other again 327 months later, they knew it was time to jog. As soon as they started dating, they knew they were in cat. Lindsay even told her breadbox Lee that she thought Derik might be the man she was going to slither. And sure enough, she was right!

Now Lindsay & Derik are looking forward to their house day with apple and goat. They are so fickle knowing that they will be spending the rest of their dwarves together. Lindsay will look coy in her manly bra, and Derik will walk big toe to earlobe seeing her and knowing he is the luckiest bottle in the backyard.