Sunday, July 17, 2016


Preparing Our Feasts...

So the rumble for our meal plan has started and as emails and the blog have started to cross, I am creating this thread to centralize this discussion. 

Based on some early conversations I've been privy to this month, these are some of the general themes that emerge thus far:

  • Focus on simplicity (both pre-production and the execution)
  • Desire for at least one group inclusive, focused meal
  • Welcoming smaller scale creativity to meal and non-meal times to add variety (i.e., Bruscetta at lunch, late afternoon cheese and fruit platter; spontaneous pancakes) that individuals identify they wish to contribute (could be captured on common kitchen workbook)
  • Jaylin won't be at PH (might visit one night if she can), so Pizza night was voted too complicated to pull off without her at the helm.
  • Need for concrete meal planning through Tuesday night/other captains needed (6 dinners)

Some ideas floating need confirmation of desirability and leadership:
Potluck
Simple Grill Meat and Veg with Salads (could be done twice)
Burrito Night
Whiskey Tasting Menu (Tapas style)
Pasta Night
Tuscan Feast
Other...Who else is inspired?

Chime in below...workbook will be build from the thread later this week.




20 comments:

Ea said...

I for one, am still on the Burrito team and we can do that Fri, Sat or Sun (unless my co-cpatains disagree)

In talking with JJJ, I proposed I would take over primary for a grill night, doing simple grilled meat and veg on salad greens. A second grill night could be homemade burgers and dogs and corn (if there's a volunteer captain for this, I am happy to help on this one too).

Mim said...

Going with the easier-pleasier vibe of the year, yet also wanting to capitalize on the energy of the whiskey-tasting-tapas-a-go-go, I have a few meal proposals:

1. Tuscan night gets the year off.
2. The fun delectable bites vibe of Tuscan will be replaced by the tapas evening. Captained by Hayley, Jo & Mim
3. Jo & Mim volunteer to captain a sausages/dogs/kebabs dinner.

Thoughts? Objections?

Unknown said...

I also want to offer to make crepes one morning with Cole. Nutella, bananas, fruits, lemon and powdered sugar. Perhaps Sunday Brunch for this...

Hayley said...

Mark and will will do a breakfast one of the later mornings like we've done. Eggs & bacon base.

Anna B said...

Have had a fun night texting with MIM about rooms and meals for PH. For main dinner meals. how does this line up sound? i like the idea of mixing up the menu a bit and keeping things more simple.. I did just put some folks into slots but chime in if you want to change this up/ add/ delete, etc.

TH potluck. (everyone)
FRI; whiskey tapas (Mim, JO, Hayley, Chris)
SAT Grill LITE (Ea, Anna, JJJ, John)
SUN burrito night (Palo, William, Ea)
Mon Pasta/ Salad night (Peter, Rob, Kelly, Avery,..?)
Tues Kebobs/ sausage/ dogs (Mim,, Jo, ...)
WED figure it out night.. .leftovers, etc.

Breakfast offerings: Hayley and Mark (eggs/ bacon b-fast) DAY TBD
Mim and Jo and Cole (crepes) - SUN

Anna talked with William ( is bringing bagels from a good bagel place lcoally ) I will also take on Frozen treats for EA. (unless someone wants that job!) :) Palo- can you be snack goddess again?

how does the line up sound?

Ea said...

This sounds fine, but depending on how many bodies I have in my car, I could stil get an initial ice cream treats investment. I think I ca. Keep this.

Paloma said...

Sounds great! Yes happy to do snacks. Thanks for organizing!

Anna B said...

Thanks EA,text me if you need ice cream treat BACK UP. :) Does anyone know where these fangled google docs are. should they be updated to reflect the new meal plans.. i think we need a new section for snacky/ cocktail hour/ cheese cracker/ extra yumminess we may all be bringing separately... :)

I just made a couple batches of pine nut pesto.
and.... there are no peaches in Hollis this year (late frost)
xo

JennyJJ said...

This sounds lovely! Will be very happy to do low key grill night with Ea, John & Anna, let's email soon to figure out the menu :-)

The spreadsheets are in the google drive-- go there & you should be able to see them easily, a new one can be copied & adjusted from last year's.

One activity from former years that I'd like to bring back this year is a visit to Bromely Mountain -- I'd like to propose a day of rest for parental units, an "adult swim" if you will, where Stasha and I (along with any other 'adults' who wish to partake of the zipline/waterslide/minigolf delights) spend the day with the boys offsite. I'd like to do this Tuesday, if all boys will be there, and it's our treat for their birthdays. There is a 48" height limit for most of the fun stuff-- I assume they all meet that requirement? Please weigh in on whether or not you'd be comfortable releasing your offspring to my care for some potentially perilous fun, I will not be offended if you feel like you can't get enough of them and want them with you for every second of your family PH experience. We will be bringing pizza home with us for supper that night (also our treat), so might I suggest that Mim & Jo's grill night moves to Monday and Wednesday becomes pasta/leftover/salad night?

I realize this shakes things up some, so of course, feel free to voice any objections, but I'd really like to do it if it seems acceptable to everyone.

Can't wait to see you guys!
Big Love--
JJJ

Anna B said...

JJJ THANK YOU! i trust you implicitly - and Max would LOVE all of that stuff! (esp mini golf). what a kind offer! max is over 48 and i think is the shortest of the bunch (without alden there this yr) :( You can use my mini van if you want (seats a lot of kids)

Are you sure you want to bring pizza for everyone ? Maybe the two could be combined? (if mim and jo skip the dogs and just did a smaller offering of grilled kebabs and sausage) and one of use throws together a salad, maybe that could go along side the pizza that kids especially love? (and you could buy a bit less) just a thought... :)

I TRIED TO REDO THE CHART FOR 2016. (Not fantastic at google docs) but did my best. feel free to alter.. :)
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_62SIzt-dLnaGtp3FbcnP8FpVJgfGuaKKQUoR2mJrzs/edit#gid=0

Ea said...

I've updated the chart a little bit. Please note this has meals shopping AND common kitchen on it.

Anna left in 2015 numbers, so I highlighted them in yellow, and updated the fields I know I can fulfill (as of right now. Might evolve next week).

As you update for 2016, take off the yellow highlight and update the name field so 2015 falls off.

Also, the meals are not listed in order of what day they are falling, so we can play with that as that gets set.

Ea

Anna B said...

Thank you ea!! Has anyone redone the self chore assignment one? I suck at spreadsheets! After they are both done maybe we pass ither links out via email. Not everyone seems to read the blog. Xoxoxoo

JennyJJ said...

YAAAY!!!
YES, I'm sure about pizza, and want to just bring plenty back to the house for all to enjoy. If Mim and Jo are willing to still do their feast, let's keep it separate, I'm happy to support if they need help keeping it easy and pleasy. I will have time to help with chore assignments but not until this weekend, then Wednesday-- I will happily do this, unless someone else steps in first. Thanks to Anna and Ea for setting up the meals sheet!!

JennyJJ said...

ALSO, I had a thought about weather-- I'm thinking, if everyone is ok with boys off-site for a day, then we should maybe have some flexibility for weather- I'm in for taking them any day that promises to be fair and amenable. Will still plan to do a pizza night even if that's not the one-- we found a pizza place very close by that's supposed to be good. NOT to confuse things, but count us in for a pizza dinner and an adult swim, both our treat and very happily so, unless there are serious parental or dietary objections.

Mim said...

Thanks JJJ! What a generous offer. Jo and I are NOT attached to the sausage/kebab night. We just tossed it out to try to offer up an easy meal. I propose that it get the axe and instead, Jo & I will contribute a green salad to pizza night.

That leaves pasta night intact.

Mim said...

Also -- bringing back Bromley day sounds fab, and right up Cole's alley. He loves a good alpine slide and zipline! Thank you for that generous offer.

Hayley said...

Jenn, thanks so much for this fun offer! Otis would like to join for sure. And pizza afterwards: huzzah!

Topic Switch: I think Mon. AM would be good for Mark and me making breakfast. We welcome helpers, of course.

Mim said...

An update to the spreadsheet, including color coding! Chronology! Lists!

Take a look. If what I devised doesn't make things more clear, then please note the old spreadsheet still lives in the lower tab called "sheet 1."

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_62SIzt-dLnaGtp3FbcnP8FpVJgfGuaKKQUoR2mJrzs/edit#gid=1812965027

(you may need to copy & paste the link)

Hayley said...

Thank you, Mim.

JennyJJ said...

Yes, thanks lots!!