Cooking With Friends

 It was a beautiful and relaxing Sunday afternoon when Br. Damian Whalen  led us down the culinary path to savory Surf, Turf, Tomato/Basil and Potato Delights.

The Moons and the Brekkes were the lucky recipients of his tutelage.  Time to divide and conquer;  Marian and I tackled the Panzanella Salad a la Pioneer Woman.  Tony mastered the luscious Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes, also courtesy of The Pioneer Woman.  Charlie tamed the Bacon-Wrapped Filets and Tequila Line Shrimp Skewers into submission on the grill while Br. Damian brought a taste of Asia to the mix with Sesame Snow Peas with Carrots & Peppers.

Fine wines flowed freely, including a 2002 Nickel & Nickel Vogt Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and a Far Niente 2013 Napa Valley Chardonnay, thanks to our friend Beth Nickel!!  From across the pond, we also  enjoyed a Gerard Bertrand Cote des Roses from the Languedoc Region of France.  

Dessert was a simple combination of fresh strawberries marinated in Cassis and fresh mint served over gelato with Beth Nickel's signature dessert wine, a 2005 Dolce.  

The collaboration didn't end with dinner!  This great bunch of cooks pitched in and made clean up a breeze.  

Cooking together, sharing a fabulous meal and just being together symbolize the zenith of friendship and hospitality.  A fine Shindig indeed!

Lane's 65th Birthday Bash!

Our Dear Friend, Lane Whitesell turned 65 last month.  We hosted a birthday bash for him and all his friends..  We surprised him with his mom, Janet, and his baby sister, Ann, from Dallas!

A fine time was had by all!!  Lane prepared a Scandinavian Buffet with smoked salmon, all things pickled; including herring, beets, onions, radishes etc...  Chocolate and Carrot Cakes were also at the ready!


Lane is my dear friend!!  We met on my first day on the job at KCSC 90.1 FM in August of 1995.  He's the oracle of all knowledge about opera, books, chemistry and cooking..  We hit it off immediately and started planning our first party during my first air shift...

Lane encouraged me to start cooking and think beyond ordering meat and cheese deli trays from the Skaggs deli....  That was just the beginning.  We've cooked together and hosted many lively and fun parties together ever since.  

Happy Birthday Lane!

Jackie O Book Club

It was my great joy to host a group of amazing women for a new and delightful book club luncheon. We discussed “Jackie’s Girl, My Life with the Kennedy Family,” by Kathy McKeon. Naturally all members are dining incognito wearing “Jackie O” Sunglasses surrounded by white lilies, Jackie’s favorite! I had to make sure my guests were shielded from the paparazzi that constantly stalk rural Edmond along with the flocks of deer.

The Fabulous and Spectacular Flowers were provided by Tabulous Designs!! Tab Bynum does an amazing job festooning my house with beautiful and fragrant floral designs for all of my parties!!! PM me for his contact information for your next party!!! 

We dined on chilled Gazpacho, Caesar Salad, Shrimp Cocktail and a copious array of chocolates and nuts… 

Libations included a delectable Dry Rose from the Languedoc. And, well yes, there was more; Prosecco Bubbles, Rombauer Zinfandal, and Spanish Albarino. Bon Appetit!