The View From Mrs. Sundberg's Window
A party isn't necessarily festive or wild
July 22, 2010
Listened to the show Saturday and it was not bad. I was on my way to a gathering — not quite a party, but more than a dinner or a get-together. It's hard to distinguish what makes an event a party, but I think it has something to do with the food, what you serve it on, and the mood of the people. Thing is, a party isn't necessarily festive or wild. I think it has to do with celebration of someone or something, and that is that. The purpose of a gathering is the gathering itself; same with a get-together. And with a dinner the food is often the focus.
What I attended Friday night was definitely a party. It was a celebration of a work season having ended, and of summer, and it was one of the more lovely evenings I've spent in a long while. It started later, and I spent a good hour by myself, wandering about the library and kitchen and patio of the host's well-kept home. I'm not, by nature, a gregarious person. I do love to be invited, but I'd much rather spend time on the fringe, taking it all in.
Anyway, the great thing about parties is the range of choices they offer. You can lose yourself in the crowd, or take center stage. You can assume another identity or be blatant about who you are. You can dance, or disappear. And there's food all the while. Good food. Steamed asparagus, peppered shrimp, fresh strawberries, and rich chocolate flavored with almond in tiny triangles sprinkled with powdered sugar. For your enjoyment. And would you like a bit more wine?
Blueberry Almond Cornmeal Muffins
Blueberries are everywhere about now, and this recipe is perfect for a summer picnic. Enjoy with grilled chicken and salad.
1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup white sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp lemon extract or lemon zest
1/4 cup chopped almonds
Mix above ingredients in large bowl blending completely. In separate medium bowl, completely mix together:
2 eggs
1 cup yogurt
1/4 cup canola oil
Combine the liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients in the large bowl.
Stir together until completely blended. Gently fold in 1 cup blueberries
Spray 12 muffin cups with non-stick cooking spray. Fill cups with the batter and bake in a pre-heated 400 degree oven for 18 to 20 minutes or until the tops are golden brown. Cool 5 minutes and remove from muffin cups. Serve with butter and honey.
Enjoy!
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The View From Mrs. Sundberg's Window Archive
- Tenderness and lightheartedness
- The storm is coming
- Alive in the best way
- A gentle spirit and good soul
- Don't want to miss no more
- Just the kind of day for hard work
- Nice to have a place
- I see the woman winning
- A mood affecting the body
- From there to here
- Nostalgia's door is flung wide open
- Toward the Next Thing
- The Big Cry
- Take some time and spend it
- The sleeper must awaken
- Patience brings good things
- The world is full of adventure
- Something to be said for the moment
- The land of Heat
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- Work is like air
- One fine afternoon out there in the park
- To life and to Onward and to the rain pouring down
- Memory is such a blessed thing
- So many ways of looking at a thing
- The rhubarb capital of Minnesota
- Today light shines on it all
- All kinds of things worthy of mention
- Mother's Day Adventure
- Life is as sweet as it is difficult
- A lovely meal for a lovely girl
- The feeling of being sated, in mind and body
- Keeping a little mystery in life
- Here's to spring, yours and mine
- Naps, for me, are a dream in themselves
- One Free Day
- A sweet reward after finishing our taxes
- Seems I was the perp in what he called "a hit and run" at the pastry shop
- Fresh out of cough drops
- Dumped on
- Salt of the Month Club
- Valentine's Day Kisses
- A candle to light for someone you love, or for yourself, even.
- Nothing like fresh air to give a person a sense of well-being.
- Washing machine coma.
- Something about January
- I've always been a proponent of living in the moment
- I've been up to my ears in gift wrapping and baking
- Nothing like having a ton of snow dumped on you out of the blue.
- It's the time of year when the kids tend to hover a bit.
- Got distracted by a recipe for spritz cookies, and that led to a grilled cheese sandwich and then five grilled cheese sandwiches.
- I do turn in a bit earlier on November nights, especially after days like Saturday when I work my tail end off.
- There's nothing like the first big snow of the season
- Life is such a wild trip.
- I was born optimistic
- Something about wind has always had an effect on me
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- That's why we have hot baths, hot dish, hugs and naps
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- A party isn't necessarily festive or wild
- A Postcard from Mrs. Sundberg
- You stand there looking at each other, memorizing each other's face
- Free to Get Done What Needs Doin'
- You don't want any scars, stay home and watch TV
- And that's when they tell me things
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