A Holiday Feast for Friends

Our hosts, Tim & Sandi Premselaar

Tonight Ken and I attended the amazing bi-annual Holiday Celebration dinner hosted by Sandi & Tim Premselaar.  There were 34 people attending and what an astonishing and complex production for friends!
When we arrived, there was a whimsical Christmas tree in the grand foyer that included a holiday decorated toy train that circled the tree.  In between greeting friends and making witty conversation, Rod Hoffman spent some time on hands and knees getting the train to make it past one corner where it kept getting hung up.  Everyone crowded into the bar for wine and cocktails and then enjoyed the delicious hors d'oeuvres that Sandi had prepared.  My personal favorite was a mushroom and green onion puff pastry dough pinwheel.  I am hoping that Sandi will share the recipe!

Susan Neumann, Susan Taylor, Peggy Swistak, Cathi Hatch

Sandi and Tim, who are the most gracious hosts, had removed all the furniture from their family room and had set up tables and chairs there and in the dining room in order to seat all the guests.  In addition, Sandi had removed all the crystals from her chandelier and had hung crystal Christmas ornaments in their place.  I also admired her collections of wise men, nutcrackers, and the extensive collection of a choir of tiny wooden angels.  There wasn't a corner of their home that had not been decorated in celebration of Christmas and the holidays.

Trudi Syferd, Rod Hoffman, Diane Kuenster,
Toni Hoffman, Tom Raschella

Toni & Rod Hoffman

Moe Krabbe, Doug McCallum, Dave Syferd

Spike & Carol Anderson, Bob Cremin, Carole Ellison

A few of the other lucky friends attending the party included Susan & Gary Neumann, Carol & Spike Anderson, Susan Taylor, Peggy & Michael Swistak, Toni & Rod Hoffman, Sue & Tom Raschella, Diane & Gordon Kuenster, Joyce & Doug McCallum, Trudi & Dave Syferd, Carole Ellison & Bob Cremin, and Arlene Wright.

I can't even begin to scratch the list of international offerings, but the menu included roast beef with a tarragon sauce, baked lamb with garlic, baked ham with cranberries, an Indian version of lamb moussaka with chutney, chicken and almonds in phyllo pastry, Indian curried fruit, and the desserts included sticky toffee pudding, eggnog cheesecake, chocolate cheesecake, bread pudding, Christmas cookies, almond crescent cookies. and pastry wrapped maraschino cherries with frosting.  Just when we all thought we would pop from over-consumption, Sandi's helper brought a tray of Stilton cheese, crackers and candied grapes to clear the palate.  Sandi is an absolutely amazing cook and has collected recipes from all over the world where she and Tim have both lived and travelled.

Our table shared stories of first dates with our spouses or partners and it was fun to hear the various stories from the different perspectives of the two people.

As we departed, I told Sandi that we really do want to invite them to our house, but that we need to have them lower their expectations substantially.  I am trying to decide which pizza company I should call for delivery.