Some details

So here is the promised Third Post. Our planning remains “fluid” but we think we have things under control and ready to share.

First we want everyone to know we are very happy to host this reunion and we want it to be easy and fun for everyone to attend. We have decided the best way to do that is for the six of us to organize the food part and get all the stuff we need.

The brisket is our own grass-fed beef and we hope to have a few home grown things from the garden as well.  We’ll look after getting all the other groceries we need for meals and we’ll organize the preparation. We will ask for help as needed but we figure 7 cooks are already enough to spoil the broth so please consider the meals part looked after.  This year is all about passing the torch to the younger generation so us old farts can sit back and relax.

While we appreciate the offers of food or “chipping in,” Joan and I really want to do this for all of you.  We can afford it and we have no plans to charge anybody anything. We already know this will meet with some resistance so we decided we’ll put out a “tip jar” for those of you who feel compelled to chip in. (Troy, the breakfast chef, really likes the idea of having his own tip jar.)

The Setup:

The plan this year is to keep everything close and accessible. We now have a large covered deck on the west side of the house with a ramp to the lane. Using both decks and the house as well as the surrounding yard should give us plenty of room for meals and visiting. As well, the firepit area will be set up directly across the lane in the level grassy area which will make it more accessible. (Not sure if we’ll be able to have a fire for sure but we are hopeful.) If we have inclement weather, the garage will be ready with tables and chairs and even heat if we need it.

The Menu:

Friday night – homemade pizza – Chef Heather Marie is in charge and will be organizing her minions to help out.  We have an outdoor Ninja oven that cooks pizzas in minutes and we also have a pizza stone we use on the barbecue so she is confident she can crank out enough pizza to keep us satisfied.

Breakfasts – Chef Troy (Grill Chief of Golden Days Beach) is in charge. Eggs, bacon, pancakes, hash browns, toast, etc. will be available.

Saturday night – Smoked Brisket and Grampa Larry’s baked beans, Diana & Story’s onion salad, buns, potato salad, green salad, etc. I won’t be able to keep my nose out of the brisket smoking but Chef AL is the main babysitter and it sounds like Alex is eager to join him. (Wait until he finds out I make AL drink homemade Grope when we smoke a brisket…)

Sunday night – Gramma Joan’s special chicken thighs cooked on the smoker with leftover sides and whatever else we think of.

Lunches – We’re thinking large late breakfasts and evening feasts will dampen enthusiasm for lunch so nothing definitive planned.  There will be snack/appy foods available and for those so inclined we will have weiners and buns ready to cook up hot dogs over the fire whenever the urge strikes.

Desserts: cookies and squares, ice cream and fruit

What to bring:

Chairs – especially folding chairs for around the campfire. We have a pile of chairs here already so if it isn’t convenient to bring some don’t worry about it.

BEER – For those of you who are into the craft beer growlers how about everyone bring a growler or 2 from their favorite local craft brewery? We can have a fun taste testing. If you have a favorite beer glass or mug for beer maybe bring that too Other than that, please bring whatever beverages you would like to have for the weekend. (Juice will be provided with breakfasts.)

Snacks – If you have some favorite snacks you want to bring, that’s great. Please don’t get carried away with amounts and don’t feel obligated to bring anything.

Ok, that’s enough for now. If you have questions or comments please post them at the bottom of this post. Just a reminder to anyone who hasn’t let us know when they are arriving and leaving so we can plan food amounts.  (Heather Marie has created a spreadsheet to keep all that organized and there will be hell to pay if I don’t get all the info entered into it correctly.)