Mother’s Day 2014

This year we celebrated Mother’s Day at my sister, Katie’s house.  Which is just as well because she did happen to say, loudly, that posts regarding her family have been ‘very light on’.  So here is a post all about Mother’s Day at Katie’s house.

Two girls sunbathing

Two girls sunbathing

Except first I have to tell you all about how Rosie is recovering.  I was allowed to bring her home from the animal hospital on Saturday morning.  The vet said that for her weight she had ingested enough theobromide to send her into seizures.  Somehow, she avoided the seizures which is good because then she would have been put on a respirator.  I was pleased Rosie didn’t have to suffer that sort of treatment but Carl was relieved for a different reason – being on a respirator would have sent the bill into the thousands instead of what it was, nearly $500.00.  Who knew a chocolate Easter bunny could be so expensive.

Rosie resting on the clean washing.  She wasn't able to open her eyes on Saturday

Rosie resting on the clean washing.  Too dopey to open her eyes.

The poor girl was so dopey on Saturday she could barely open her eyes.  She asked to nest in the clean washing basket so as a special treat to help her on her way to recovery, I lifted her into the washing basket where she made a nest on Carl’s shirts.

Just before sundown I took her out for a gentle stroll and her usual trick is to bark at as many things, living or dead, as she can.  But that night she couldn’t because over the past few days, the retching from all the vomiting had caused her to lose her voice.

Triplets!  Ruby and Rosie with their cousin, Elsie

Triplets! Ruby and Rosie with their cousin, Elsie

Anyway, she survived!  Some of us are more happy about that than others but let’s move on…

Not everyone could make it to the Mother’s Day lunch with one of my sister’s being in Beijing and another in LA and Archie stating he had a shift at work, but even so, there were still 20 of us around the table.

Canapes

Canapes but the prosciutto was sliced too thickly

Katie’s job was the main course and the rest was delegated.  I was on for the hors d’oeuvres which was very easy.  I already had some olive bread sticks from a hamper I was given so I went up to the deli and bought some prosciutto to wrap around the sticks.  I have to say I was disappointed in the prosciutto as it was pre-sliced and sliced too thickly and a bit dry. 

Antipasto canapes

Antipasto canapes

I also bought some bell peppers stuffed with pesto, some balsamic onions and a few dolmades.  Someone did look at the selection and ask, ‘Where’s the olives?’ but that’s the thing; we always have olives and so I thought that at this function, they could be left off the list.

14.05.11.18For the lunch we were seated at one very long table with kids down one end.  They were given a different menu and served homemade sausage rolls that looked golden and glossy.  Dipped in tomato sauce, there were no complaints from that end of the table.

Sausage rolls straight from the oven

Sausage rolls straight from the oven

The older crowd enjoyed an eye fillet of beef cooked on the bar-be-cue then after a rest, sliced thinly and place on a bed of rocket and covered in a sauce made from finely chopped cornichons, basil and parsley mixed with lemon juice and olive oil.  It was fabulous.  I think I need to blog that recipe.

Bar-be-cue action

Bar-be-cue action

Eye fillet of beef on a bed of rocket with a dressing of cornichons, herbs and lemon juice

Eye fillet of beef on a bed of rocket with a dressing of cornichons, herbs and lemon juice

We also had some chicken sausages because it’s not a bar-be-cue without a sausage.

Chicken sausages beside an RMS Titanic cocktail napkin - I have a few leftover!

Chicken sausages beside an RMS Titanic cocktail napkin – I have a few leftover!

The meat was served with a choice of two salads.  One was beetroot and du puy lentils with a sheep’s milk yoghurt dressing and then some chopped mint to give it a kick of greenery.  It was served in the largest salad bowl I’ve ever seen.

Beetroot and Du Puy lentil salad with yoghurt dressing

Beetroot and Du Puy lentil salad with yoghurt dressing

The other salad was chickpeas and cherry tomatoes and feta with lots of diced herbs.  Very refreshing and so good for you.

Tomato, chickpea and feta salad

Tomato, chickpea and feta salad

Self-serve buffet

Self-serve buffet

There were two girls on dessert.  My sister, Milly, made two baked cheesecakes that were decorated with strawberries and served with whipped cream.  She changed the recipe to give the cheesecakes a gluten-free base and wasn’t happy with the results but I thought the dessert was wonderful.

Cheesecake

Cheesecake with cream and strawberries

Cousin Pip made a gluten-free plum cake and I will ask her for the recipe.  It was very moist and not too sweet and the cake had some lime zest in the mix so it was quite refreshing.  It was served with a creme anglaise that was amazing.

Plum cake with creme anglaise

Plum cake with creme anglaise

It was then time for a break from the children so Katie gave them some money and sent them up the road for an ice cream.  While the kids were on their errand, chocolates were brought to the table but I seriously couldn’t fit another thing in.  After a day of beautiful Autumn sunshine and an incredible meal spent with family, it was time to trek it home.

That's the boys on the garage roof

That’s the boys on the garage roof – time to send them to the shops

Arabella had had a late night

Arabella had had a late night

In the car on the way home I asked Alfie what ice cream he had.  He said, ‘I didn’t get one’.  I was devastated because I have to work so hard to get him to eat and it’s my goal for him to end the day without negative calories.  But after a de-brief with Katie this morning, she said he spent his money on a bag of lollies!

Flowers from my cousin's garden

Flowers from my cousin’s garden

We’ll have to let it be at Katie’s house again next year.

14.05.11.25If you liked this post, you’re welcome to share it!

Comments

  1. Sounds like a wonderful day with the family! And great news that Rosie’s on the mend! xxx

  2. I’m a sucker for a sausage roll. Is it bad I’d have those over the eye fillet? Good to see Rosie is back with her pack x

  3. Such a fun family get-together! Sounds like you had a lovely mother’s day. 🙂

  4. Looks like you had a gorgeous Mother’s Day; it’s great to be able to get the family together. And how nice that you’re able to have a table large enough for everyone! I don’t even have enough dishes for 20! (If the same pattern, anyway). That beef looks awesome, I’d love to see the recipe on the blog.

  5. Glad to hear yall had a wonderful Mothers day get together and Rosie is ok after her ordeal! Poor gal!
    For someone with as large a sweet tooth as mine – those cheesecakes and plum cake look divine! And so does that Beetroot and Du Puy lentil salad! Happy Monday!

  6. looks like a great space for the big meal – all the food looks great – that salad bowl is huge – and I am pleased to hear Rosie is doing well

  7. It sounds like your family is full of good cooks! It looks like you had a lovely day and I’m so glad Rosie is okay. That is good news.

  8. I’m so glad to hear that Rosie is on the mend. Poor dear.

    Sounds like you had a fun Mother’s Day. What a wonderful, big space for everyone to sit. Looks like Katie has a nice house. Of course, all the food looks delicious. Wish I could have wrangled a place at the meal!

  9. Danielle says:

    Very glad to hear Rosie is much better, that photo of Arabella and the girls is so sweet!
    What a lovely, relaxing Mother’s Day and a great space to enjoy it in, quite envious of Katie’s kitchen. Yes to the cornichon dressing recipe please 😉

  10. What a lovely Mother’s Day feast! I just love when family gets together like that…Those cheesecakes look amazing! You should definitely get that gf plum cake recipe! 😉 Glad you had a good Mother’s Day, Charlie!! xo

  11. So glad to know Rosie is recovering. Poor baby! I am sure her voice will be fine soon. That looks like a fun Mother’s Day!

  12. TWO CHEESECAKES?! Can I come next year?

  13. Emma Cooper says:

    Sorry to have missed it! Looks like a great place for a Christmas Gig. Love those tablecloths! xx

  14. What a wonderful day with family. I am so impressed by the beautiful food and the variety.

  15. Hehe you don’t do things in halves do you? It looks like a wonderfully fun day-and relaxing for Arabella 😉

  16. It looks like you assembled a wonderfully diverse and tasty assortment of dishes to celebrate. Good planning there.

  17. What a fabulous day you had. The beef looks amazing, you really will have to post that one. I’m so pleased Rosie’s on the mend, that whole incident must have been very frightening. GG x

  18. I’m glad Rosie is getting better. That beef looks wonderful so yes please to sharing the recipe! Glad you enjoyed your Mother’s Day. X

  19. I definitely think you need to post those recipes too, and how lovely of your family to change the ingredients to make the food friendly for you.
    What a wonderful day with so many loved ones to share it with- especially little Rosie! Xox

  20. Thank God for Rosie . . . !!!

  21. Looks like a great gathering with plenty of food choice. I chose the beetroot salad and the chickpea dish and both tasted excellent – oh, and a slice of gluten-free cake.

  22. It sounds like a lovely day! What an enormous table and big crowd to feed, but it looks like the food was sufficient for the job. I like the idea of separating off the smaller people and giving them food they want too. So much easier for everyone!

  23. Yay for Rosie being home, poor girl and what a magnificent feast you all enjoyed.
    Have a lovely day Charlie.
    🙂 Mandy xo

  24. She has a fabulous looking house for such an event. I loved the very long table. That meat looked really good too. I am glad to hear your poor pooch survived the ordeal.

  25. Gorgeous spread, how do you manage to stay so slim????? Looking forward to recipes.
    So glad to learn Rosie is doing well.

  26. Happy mother’s Day Charlie 🙂 Even though I’m a couple of days late! You are definitely by far one of the best mothers I know to your children and your doggies! I have so much respect for you!

    I’m also glad Rosie is feeling much better and it’s so cute that Elsie is their cousin and is still within the family!

    Hope you had a wonderful Mother’s day because you deserve it 🙂

  27. What a fabulous lunch!! WOW! You folks sure know how to cook. 🙂

  28. What a lovely family get-together! We got to be with both of our daughters this year which hasn’t happened since they were both still at home – it was spectacular! Glad to hear your dog is on the mend as well – so scary!

  29. What a feast! The beef was cooked to perfection…and my mouth is watering over those cheesecakes. And, best of all, I’m so happy that Rosie is back home with you!!!! xo

  30. Aww, what a lovely dinner! Cheesecake is always a good thing. Did Alfie actually eat the lolls?

    http://hillcountryprincess.com

  31. Such a cute bunch! I say that the family that cooks together, stays together :)…Great to hear about Rosie’s recovery!

    Julie
    Gourmet Getaways

  32. Brilliant day and yes it’s definitely not a BBQ without a sausage.
    Carolyn

  33. You must be relieved that gorgeous Rosie is home and recovering. Looks like you also had a lovely Mother’s Day with all that beautiful food. x

  34. Mom’s day is one of the best days of the year. Love the spread, and your cheery faces too. 🙂

  35. Glad Rosie is doing better! Sounds like a great celebration. I hate it when prosciutto is sliced too thickly — doesn’t seem to have the same flavor for some reason. Love the way the windowed walls at Katie’s house slide open! Such a nice feature.

  36. Glad to see you went all out for Mother’s Day, and that your doggie is doing better! Those kinds of things can be so stressful, but things are looking up!

  37. Gosh, what a spread! It looks like an absolutely wonderful Mother’s Day, you have a beautiful family!

  38. What a wonderful way to spend Mother’s Day, Charlie, with family and fine food. That fillet of beef looks fantastic. I hope you do post the recipe for us. I recently bought some prosciutto and it, too, was too thickly sliced. I should have known I was in for trouble when the clerk had to ask another what prosciutto was. Lesson learned. Next time, ask for another clerk. So glad to read that Rosie is doing better. It doesn’t take much to run up a bill at the Vet’s. I’ve been there and once joked that my vet should put a plaque over the door of one of the exam rooms: “This Room Donated by Max & John.” 🙂

  39. What a perfect Mothers Day my friend, your spread is an awesome celebration 😀

    Cheers
    Choc Chip Uru

  40. I love family functions like this, always so much fun, (and delicious food!)
    Glad to hear Rosie is on the mend too.

  41. Your family dinners always make me homesick for family. I don’t have a lot of sisters, just one and only one brother but all three of us love to cook (and eat) together. Thanks for sharing your mother’s day with us and glad that little Rosie is on the mend.

  42. That’s a fabulous Mother’s Day lunch! So nice to be at the house where there are always good cooks. 😀 I’ve seen those sausage rolls on the food blogs but I haven’t had a chance to make them. Look like something my kids will enjoy! 🙂

  43. Looks like a fantastic Mother’s Day was had by all, and I’m so glad Rosie is going to be okay. What a scare. I’ve always heard that chocolate is toxic for dogs, and she’s so tiny.

  44. so glad Rosie is ok!! I was so worried 🙁 Wow what a spread you had…looks like a wonderful Mother’s Day!

Trackbacks

  1. […] Mother’s Day my cousin, Pip, brought a plum cake to our family lunch.  It was a fantastic cake that’s not only inexpensive to make but also extremely easy to […]

  2. […] when my extended family celebrated Mother’s Day with a lunch and there was a wonderful salad of eye fillet of beef on the table and I promised to […]

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