Beginning the Crawfish Countdown

Perhaps in a different life, many moons ago I wronged a weather man. It never fails that when I attempt to do something outside it seems that the weather turns against me. We have had countless beautiful weekends the past 2 months so it never seems to amaze me that on the Crawfish Boil weekend we are getting a "cool" front. We started the week at a 20% chance of rain on Saturday but now depending on what source you look at, the chances are between the range of 30-50% now.

News flash you crazy weather man, our crawfish boil will go on. Dave located a source for the mudbugs. He contacted a guy named Homer who is going to meet us at the Hideaway on Dunvale Saturday 10am with 3 30lb sacks. That's 90lbs of mudbugs, unpurged. I have been reading on the internet how to purge them and all sources indicate to just run them through water until the water is clean.

Several great friends have stepped up to the plate being that this is my first boil. Miriam loaned me a second crock pot and Bonnie was kind enough to loan me a massive 90 quart cooler to store some of the critters in and Adrianne and Jennie are stepping up to help me cook the critters. Dave is off to Academy tonight to buy a 80quart pot and burner so that we can cook a sack at a time.

Currently we have a total of 40 RSVP's but I know of 8 that have not RSVP'd that are coming. ...By the way people how hard is it to respond to an evite? You are either a yes or a no. Just click the button..... Oops I digress.

Deidra has located several card tables and I have been stock piling newspapers. So I think we are all ready to go. Here is the breakdown and lists for the next several days as we countdown to the hoedown.

Thursday Night:

Costco:

Box of Fresh Garlic

2 Containers Lime Juice

Box of cubed butter

2 packages of italian seasoning

paper towels

Kroger trip 1: (this is a trip so that Dave can have his ingredients to make red beans Friday night)

Roses Red Beans - 2 packages

garlic

green bell pepper - 2

celery

onion - 2

Friday Night:

Kroger:

rice

onion - crawfish boil
tricolor pasta - 4 bags
cherry tomatoes
red onion
mushrooms
sausage
corn - frozen ears
red potatoes
stuff for potato salad
plastic bowls
silverware
plates
Chips and Dip

Crab Boil Liquid - 2

Party Central

Wow this month and May is jam packed with party's. I feel like I need a hotline, "Hello this is Party Central, how may I help you?" So here is the latest lowdown on all the upcoming events:

Saturday, April 19 - Donald and Jimmy's Housewarming
This event is a bit easier for me since I am only responsible for a cheese dip and cookies. I am going to make my layered goat cheese spread. Recipe is below for those interested.

Goat Cheese Spread - Southern Living, 2002
Ingredients
2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
8 ounces goat cheese
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 teaspoons chopped fresh or 1 1/4 teaspoons dried oregano
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup basil pesto
1/2 cup dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped
Garnishes: dried tomato slivers, fresh oregano sprigs
French bread slices or crackers

Preparation
Process first 5 ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Spread one-third of cheese mixture in bottom of a plastic wrap-lined 8- x 4-inch loafpan. Top with pesto; spread one-third cheese mixture over pesto. Sprinkle with dried tomatoes; top with remaining cheese mixture. Cover and chill 8 hours.
Invert spread onto a serving plate, discarding plastic wrap. Garnish, if desired. Serve with French bread slices or crackers.

Saturday, April 26 - Crawfish Boil
We have located two pots to boil the mudbugs in and we are on the hunt for tables right now. I need to send a notice out that people need to bring lawn chairs. Deidra and I will probably do the grocery shopping on Friday. As far as the bugs I am still researching if we should get them on Saturday morning or Friday.

Menu:
Pasta Salad
Potato Salad
Chips and Dip
Vegetarian Friendly - Red Beans and Rice
Sausage, Corn, Potato, Crawfish Boil
Shrimp??
Breann's Sheet Cake
Christine is also bringing a dessert

Saturday, May 3 - Tom & Miriam Housewarming, Tom Birthday, Cinco de Mayo
Miriam and I met last night to discuss menu and decorations. Here is what we came up with for this tri-celebration:

Menu:
Veggie Skewers
Beef & Chicken Fajitas - Dave and I will handle purchasing the meat and grilling
Grilled Portabella Mushrooms
Roasted Corn
Spanish Rice - I am going to see if I can purchase from El Tiempo
Quacamole
Queso
7 Layer Dip - I will make this
Homemade Green and Red Salsa - I will make this
Birthday Cake

Decorations:
Chilli Pepper Lights - I have these
Mini Sombrero Hats - I need to look for these
Paper Flowers
Pinata

Sunday, May 18 - Elizabeth's Disco Brunch Bridal Shower
Menu:
Bacon Quiche
Quiche Lorraine
BBQ'd Shrimp
Beef, Chicken, Cheese, Spinach Quesadillas
Artichoke Spinach Dip
Fruit Tray
Chips and Salsa
Cake - Kim has ordered

After all of these events I will be flying out for a much needed Mexican Vacation in Cabo. Till then Cheers!

Crawfish Boil Menu

Menu for Crawfish Boil: 

Chips and Dip 

Potato Salad

Pasta Salad

Red Beans and Rice

Crawfish, Sausage, Potato, Corn Boil

Brownies

Ice Cream Sandwiches

Updates

Okay so here is a quick update of things:

Deidra's Birthday Party:

The most successful food item by far was the sauteed zucchini wrapped in proscuitto and served with a ranch/sour cream mix. It was gone within the first hour. The bacon quiche were gone but I had a few leftover of the green onion quiche. Total crowd size was approx. 20 and I had way to much food. Sent the sandwich tray and antipasto try home with Deidra. Although I doubt she remembered.

Overall I think I could have toned the food size down and maybe had a bit more enterainment persay.

Next up:

Donald and Jimmy's Housewarming: Saturday, April 19, 2008

Menu:

Spin Dip, Chips-N-Dip, Garden Ranch Macaroni Salad, Blue Cheese & Chix Croissants, Hunnus & Pitas, Cucumber Sandwiches, Tomato Sandwiches, Spicy Pecan Nibblers, & Massey's Goat Cheese Dip.

I am in charge of homemade cookies and the goat cheese spread.

Miriam and Tom's Housewarming: Saturday, May 3, 2008

Currently working on invite list, need to work on menu. It will need to be veggie friendly and lean towards the Cinco de Mayo theme.

Elizabeth's Wedding Disco Brunch: May 18, 2008

Kim took care of the formal invitations. I am still working on planning a menu.