Molding Megg

Homemade fudge was waiting for us on the table! Above the fudge is Megg during our first course with the amazing coconut, chicken, lemongrass Thai soup.
Lettuce wrap with chicken, cucumbers, rice, carrots with a savory peanut sauce.
These crisps were light and flavorful. Homemade with won ton wrappers.
This was the brie by the end of the night.
This applesauce cake had a thick layer of Carmel in the middle and the top was sweet and crunchy.

Last night I had a great opportunity to dine with some of my favorite ladies in the world. They all happen to be great actresses and guess what folks? They are nice and supportive and stable, loving people. And yes, I know them all well. Actresses get such a bad wrap. Anyway....

My dear friend Melissa, who I have known for a very long time and who I seriously learned more from about acting then she will probably ever know, invited me over to have dinner with her and her daughter, Megg. Also in tow were my talented friends Erin, Laine, and Jen. But there was a catch. We were invited to dine and then help Megg with some monologues and a song for upcoming auditions. I wasn't sure what to expect but I did know that if she was anything like her mother than she would probably be the one teaching us a thing or two.

After dinner we settled into a family room and were ready to be entertained.

I was so impressed with her poise, grace and talent that it blew me away. We all had good suggestions for her which we watched her take with gusto. It was easy to help her and fun for all of us.

Afterwards, over dessert and coffee we had fun girl talk. I laughed for so long my checks were hurting.

I have asked Melissa for the recipes from last nights meal and will edit this post to include them as soon I get them.

I wish Megg breaking of legs and all things you are supposed to say, although I don't think she needs it, she is already oozing with talent.

Thanks Melissa and Megg. What a great treat to be all together.

UPDATE:

As Promised - the recipes:

Chicken and Rice Lettuce Wraps

1 cup Jasmine rice or any flavored Thai brand rice (cook according to package directions)
2 grilled chicken breast halves, shredded
1 head Boston, Bibb or Iceberg lettuce, leaves separated
1/2 cucumber, halved lengthwise, cored, and cut into 1/8 inch thick matchsticks
2 carrots, peeled, halved, and cut into matchsticks
OR 1/2 bag matchstick carrots
3 scallions cut into 3-inch long thin strips
Torn fresh mint leaves, basil leaves, and cilantro

DRESSING:
1/2 cup seasoned rice vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
6 tbls mayonnaise
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup finely chopped, peeled fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 tsp sesame oil

Puree all dressing ingredients in a blender until smooth.

To Assemble: Put all ingredients in bowls on a platter with ginger dressing on the side. Start with rice and layer ingredients inside lettuce leaf. Sprinkle with herb leaves and drizzle with dressing.
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Sesame Wonton Crisps

1 tbl vegetable oil
2 tsp cornstarch
12 square wonton wrappers, thawed if frozen
2 tbl sesame seeds, toasted
1 tsp sea salt

Preheat oven to 375. Stack wonton wrappers and halve diagonally. Arrange in single layer on a large baking sheet and brush tops with oil mixture. Sprinkle evenly with sesame seeds and salt and bake in middle of oven until golden brown, about 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer crisps as browned to a rack to cool. Can be made 1 day ahead and keep in an airtight container at room temperature.
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Old-Fashioned Caramel Applesauce Spice Cake

Cake:
1 box spice cake mix
3/4 cup liquid egg substitute
1 1/4 cups applesauce
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup fat-free caramel dip for apples, heated slightly

Streusel:
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup cold butter, slivered

Cake: Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease and flour a 9 x 13-inch baking pan. In a large mixer bowl on medium speed beat cake mix with egg substitute, applesauce and oil. Spread half of the batter in prepared pan. Bake until set, about 30 minutes.

Streusel: Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, stir together sugar, pecans, and cinnamon. Cut in butter until crumbly.

Finishing: Top partially baked cake evenly with heated apple dip and spoon remaining batter evenly over dip. Sprinkle streusel evenly over batter. Bake until set, about 15 minutes longer. Serve warm with frozen yogurt, ice cream or whipped cream.

Just go!

Two of my favorite people singing at one of the yummiest, prettiest places in Richmond. I saw them perform together at Karsen's a few times over the Holidays and each time was a treat. Do yourself a huge favor and just go!

Embarrassing my little Bother...I mean Brother.

I am sure that throughout my life I have been a constant source of embarrassment for my little brother. So why stop now, eh?

Here he is with his son. Chip seems to be wide awake but my brother is looking a little tired.

Chicken stuffed with Ham and Cheese

Because one meat just isn't enough.

I wanted to try a new recipe. I was feeling brave. I was pleasantly surprised with how well these turned out. I didn't have a recipe but I did have a pretty clear idea of what I wanted. That doesn't always work out well.

I split a chicken breast and pounded it within an inch of its life. I placed a piece of thin sliced ham and Swiss Lorraine on the chicken. I folded the chicken tucking the ham and cheese inside as best I could. I dredged it in flour, egg and then breadcrumbs. I browned the chicken in a little oil and butter for a few minutes on each side. I placed the chicken in a baking dish on top of a mixture of tomatoes, corn and okra, (out of a can) then added a little white wine and baked it at 350 for about 50 minutes.

I also cooked asparagus in butter, lemon and garlic and topped that with sauteed almond slivers. I topped a few of the chicken pieces with an extra slice of cheese just for show.

I am well known for over cooking meat like chicken and pork so I was very happy when these turned out juicy and tender.

Chuggers reunion

You know, reunions are funny things. I have never been to any of my High School reunions. I don't think we even had a 20th. I did go to my 20 year Avodah reunion. That was a group from my camp that lived together cleaning the camp the summer we were all 16. That was a great summer and I will tell more camp stores at some point. There are so many of them.

Last weekend my friends got a group of us reunited that used to hang out at a restaurant called Chuggers. Chuggers has been closed for a while but the times I spent there are still pretty vivid in my mind. Every Wednesday was an open mic night hosted by a comedy troupe called the 955 club. It featured local comedians. Were they always funny? No. They were heroic though. That I know for sure. Comedy is hard, y'all.

I had not seen these folks in a good 5 years. I considered not going. People change and friends grow apart. Sometimes it is good enough to leave the past in the past. Except I really missed these folks and thought about them often over the years. This group was close and comfortable and It felt like a safe haven from the rest of the world when we were all together. How often do we get that? And how often do we get to revisit that? So I sucked it up and went. Trying not to be self conscious of the fact that I look a little different and have yet to make my first million or write the next great American novel or become a household name (except for maybe a few households but we won't speak of those).

With in a few moments of arriving at my friend's house it was as if no time had passed at all. It took me a while to take everything in. To look at the faces of my old friends. I know change is inevitable. Things are always changing and hopefully we are always growing and learning but some things also stay the same. That is comforting.

Arrr Mommy!

My Mother went to Miami to visit my Sissy and got cozy with a local. I believe they are canoodling.

A Very Muffin New Years

There was champagne tasting
dancing

sunset
And rise
the ocean
Some exciting stories

a lot of cooking

And eating.

That is how I spent my New Years Eve.

I wish everyone a very happy New Year full of love, good food, great company, and peace.