PANIC AT THE COCKTAIL PARTY!!!!!

I am officially in FULL PANIC MODE! The RSVP's are rolling in for my cocktail party tomorrow night and now I am up to 12 people! Bare in mind that my apart is only 900 sq ft! So I am not exactly sure how I am going to cram everybody in.
Then as I do every time I start spinning out of control with worry and panic I call my mother. And she usually is the calming, rational force in my life. However she does have her moments when unintentionally she does more harm then good. For example she asks me if I can find plastic martini classes for the guest. I prefer to use glass because the hold the chill of the ice better. She's like you have enough martini glasses for all those guest? Thanks mom now I have one more thing to worry about. So has she talks I quickly scribble down count glasses on my to do list. Then she asks "why did you invite so many people?!" Thanks mom that helps! Then when I start to explain why, beep my other line rings. And I kid you not this is exactly how the call went:
Kim: Hello
Caller: Your having a SATC party and you didn't fing invite Me?!
Kim: Who is this?! Is this C?!
Caller: Yes this Is C
Kim (thinking) I haven't seen or talked to you in three years
Kim: oh hi, I didn't invite you because I didn't have your new number or your e-mail address.
Caller: Well someone told me you were having a party and I should go to your palce.
Kim: Sure, come on over!
I figure what's one more person?! Plus this is what this night is all about right celebrating our friendships old and new and having a good time. I just need to keep this in mind! Needless to say I am totally useless at work! Who has time to schedule meetings and update project plans, when I have a cocktail party to throw! Priorities people priorities! Oh, and top it all off since it is SATC party all the girls are going to be dressed super cute. Meanwhile I dont' have time to shop for a cute new anything so now I have to hunt through my closet for something cute and chic. But thanks to Ruby I have the shoes covered!
All is not lost though! My dear friend has volunteered to come over after work and help me set up and shop for supplies! So with her and Cory (yes Cory you are going to help!) I will be fine and we will have fun! I am so excited to see this movie. But with all this party prep I am more excited about the cosmos then anything else. I am very blessed to have so many wonderful friends to share this with! I promise when you see me tomorrow I will be the picture of calm and relaxation ( well I can't promise anything).
Quote for today: It will all be fine in the end. If its not fine then its not the end!
Love ya (mean it)

Girls Night

Unless you've been living on another planet for the last two months you know that the Sex and The City movie is opening this weekend.
To mark this very special occasion I've invited my peeps over for a cocktail party followed by going to the movies! Of course I will be making my killer cosmos (limit 2 per person) and I will have lots of New York themed snacks on hand.
I am really new at "entertaining" people at my house. I will be honest I love the thought of having friends over. But the reality freaks me out. As soon as I send out the invitation my mind starts spinning! What am I going to serve? What if they don't like it? Is my house clean enough? What if we run out of things to say? None of my dishes match! Will people care if all my wine lahave logos from wineries on them?
I have Friends who are fabulous at entertaining who make whipping up a cocktail party for eight look as easy as ordering pizza and watching a DVD! When you arrive at their homes they are laid back and relaxed and everything is laid out beautifully. I wish I had that gene!
It dawned on me that maybe I could be a good hostess too! That maybe the more parties I throw the better I'll be at it, the more comfortable I will become. And maybe, just maybe one day I do will be one those effortless hostess.
But until then I am still a neurotic mess! I am still freaking out about the fact that I don't have any serving ware! My house looks like a tornado went through it! How I am going to time all the food so it's hot and ready when guest arrive. What if a there is a terrorist attack you know the normal stuff.
As Cory would tell me I need to calm the f down! And I will, I have noticed that once my friends arrive and cocktails start flowing (booze helps a lot!) I relax and just enjoy my guest. I realize that these are my friends and they don't care that I am serving them on mix matched plates and that I got 90% of my stemware for free from wineries. And if they did would I really want them to be my friends?
What matters is that the food is good, the booze is free and that we have laugh until our sides hurt. So now that I've had my little panic attack I am ready! I can't wait to see my girls, have a cocktail and enjoy a really good movie!

Chino Farms

A couple of weeks ago I was talking with  a co-worker and she mentioned that her boyfriend is a personal chef. Instantly my ears perked up. She was telling me how he took her to this amazing produce stand near my neighborhood. I then went on to tell her how I love to cook and always looking for fresh hard to find ingredients.

She then said to me if you love food you HAVE to check this place out. She said foodies from all over the city come to this produce stand. And she wasn't kidding! I googled this place and read that some of the best chefs in San Diego come here every day to buy their produce. 

After talking to her and doing my own research I knew this is a place I just had to see for my self. So last Saturday I woke up with one thing in mind Chino Farms! Cory and I got up and got dressed usually we go to breakfast first thing on Saturdays. But not today I was on a mission! First stop Chino Farms!

When we pull up, it's this little stand on this huge farm. I thought is this it? There has to be more. As I learned never judge a produce stand by it's size. When I got out of the car I could smell the fresh produce and herbs. As I approached the stand a man who was leaving yells over to me "You have to buy the strawberries!" I was like huh? There are strawberries here? He said yes in the front row they are the best. 

Now since living in California I have become a strawberry snob there is a great little strawberry field down the street from my home that I've been buying from for the last three years! As much as I love those strawberries the ones I purchased at Chino Farms were the best I've tasted in my life!

They had two varieties of strawberries California and French. I had heard about french strawberries but never tried them. They are smaller and sweeter than the Californian. The sales person told me if you've never had a french strawberry then you have to buy these you'll love them. So I bought both the French and California. I have to say she was right, the French Strawberry is the best I've ever eaten! I had to stop myself from eating them all in the car.  

Besides the strawberries they had more varieties of carrots than I knew existed. You name the vegetable and it was there! The other cool thing is that all the produce they sell is grown locally right there on the farm!

Needless to say Chino Farms hasn't seen the last of me! If you live in the San Diego area check it out. If you don't go on your own adventure and visit your local farmers market! You never know what food treasures you might find!

Happy Mothers Day

This post is dedicated to my mother and grandmother! Today is Mother's Day and I even though I am in California and they are in New Mexico they were in my thoughts all day. So much so, that I decided to make my all time favorite dish growing up today.  I needed a little taste of home so I decided to make my grandmother's Chili Beans! These beans are my ultimate comfort food! I remember coming home from school and smelling them as I walked in the door. That smell made any stress or drama of the day just go away.  I would load a up a huge bowl add crackers and dig in!

I've never attempted to make these beans for myself. But I thought that since I couldn't spend the day with my mother and grandmother I would make them.  I called my grandma at least half a dozen times in the last two days to make sure I was getting it right. I made my chili beans and just like I would back home. I made a big bowl and crumbled crackers on top. I stuck my spoon in expecting to be transported back to my grandmothers house in one single bite. 

However I as I took my first few bites I was disappointed. The beans were fine in fact Cory loved them. But to me something was missing. I couldn't put my finger on it. Did it need more salt, less chili powder, perhaps a little more garlic powder. I just couldn't figure it out, I followed her instructions to the letter why didn't they taste the same? Then it dawned on me the key ingredient that was missing was my grandmother's love!

I know that sounds corny but its true, my beans were good but. They weren't the same and I think I enjoy them far more when she makes them for me more than I like making them for myself. My grandmother helped me developed my love for baking and cooking. Many a saturday was spent by her side in her kitchen baking desserts and preparing family meals. I owe my skill in the kitchen to her!

My mother also contributed greatly to my love of food. She taught me how to eat out of my comfort zone and try new things. When a child I would never eat pasta in white sauces. Because I thought white sauce on pasta was white gravy. And I am was not a fan of white gravy at all. Then my mom ordered a pasta dish with white sauce and told me to try it. I of course refused and she insisted that I at least try it before I decide to hate it. So I gave in and too my surprise I LOVED it! That was the day I discovered cheese sauce! I hate to think of all the food I would have missed out on if she hadn't made me take that bite! 

That is just one example of how she helped shaped my view of food. I am grateful to my Mother and Grandmother for so much. My strength, humor and over all love for food. They have always encouraged me and supported me in my dreams! I don't know where or who I would be without their love and support. There really aren't words to express my love and gratitude. So happy mother's day! I love you and thank you so very much for all you have and continue to do for me!