Monday 8 February 2010

Sunday Lunch

We love Sunday lunch and frequently invite friends to join us and find it often turns into a long and leisurely event. We had asked some friends over for this Sunday and I was really looking forward to it. However when I woke on Sunday morning I didn't feel particularly well. I decided to give it until mid morning before making a decision as to whether we should put our friends off until another weekend; we had suggested they arrive at about 1.30 pm for 2.30 lunch. However by about 10.30 am I was feeling much better and we went ahead with the preparations.

On reflection I wish in some ways I had postponed it because I just couldn't seem to "get my act together". I dithered my way about the kitchen, almost preoccupied and couldn't concentrate at all on what I was supposed to be doing.

I had made some bread rolls to go with homemade stilton soup - the soup was made on Saturday and was fine, the rolls were heavy! We had roast rib of beef, yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, veg and gravy. The veg was fine - OH always does the veg on these occasions. The beef was OK, beautifully tender if a little overcooked. The roast potatoes were slightly soggy I thought, nothing like as crispy as I normally serve them, the yorkshires failed to rise suffiently and the gravy went lumpy ( I did manage to retrieve this by whisking very hard and fast for a minute or so).

There was a choice of desserts. Home made cream caramel (always a favourite) and lemon surprise pudding and we had apple strudel and profiteroles in the freezer (bought from our local Tesco store and good standby's). Our friends both decided on lemon surprise pudding. That was a blow to me as it had not turned out at all as it should have done with a golden sponge topping and a "surprise" pool of lemon sauce underneath - usually delicious. Yesterday it was a sunken, slightly too brown topping and the sauce was just about runny!

But - we enjoyed our friends' company and they seemed to enjoy everything. We all ate our fill and lunch went on until about 7 pm. We chatted and laughed and had a good time - what more could I ask.

11 comments:

Gill - That British Woman said...

people generally visit more for the company rather than the food I find!!

Gill in Canada

Deb said...

I think we sometimes put to much pressure on ourselves to make everything perfect...and usually our friends and family aren't expecting perfection...just your company...

Von said...

Slightly off song but you did a great job and had fun, what more can you ask for?

Maggie May said...

I do so envy people like you who really enjoy cooking!
I never have enjoyed that and it always seems an ordeal to me. I would love to be able to afford a cook every now & then!

Nuts in May

DeniseinVA said...

Hi Anne, it sounds like you put on a lovely meal even though you weren't satisfied entirely. I'm sure your friends thought it was scrumptious. Have a great weekend. Snow heading here again, over a foot on top of the two we've already had!!!

Monalisa said...

I love doing dinner for family and friends. I watch old repeats of "Come Dine With Me" and it gives me ideas. I like laying the table properly, making starters, main and puddings, the whole thing. Of course, not everything is perfect, but nobody minds, we all love to get together. I even get satisfaction clearing up afterwards for some some reason...

Strawberry Jam Anne said...

Gill - I guess you are right there - I know we do!

Deb - again - you are right.

Von - We certainly enjoyed it all.

Maggie - yes I do and am just getting back into it properly after all the upheaval.

Denise - yes we did enjoy it. Good luck with all the snow you are having, have been watching it on our news.

Cezar and Léia said...

Hello Anne
I would love to be talented with culinary stuffs as you are!For sure it was a perfect Sunday, don't worry about!The important thing is friendship and good times! :)
Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Hugs
Léia

cheshire wife said...

We all have off days now and again. Hope you are feeling better now.

SquirrelQueen said...

Lunch sounds delicious and I'm sure everyone completely enjoyed the meal. It's the friendship and conversation that really make the evening.

Nishant said...

I would love to be able to afford a cook every now & then!


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