Cathie Filian: Birthday In The Park for my Mother in Law

Sunday, April 06, 2008

Birthday In The Park for my Mother in Law

This weekend we celebrated my Mother-in-Laws birthday in the park. Eddie's brother flew down from San Francisco and Tiasa (my MIL's sister) drove over from Santa Monica. We all gathered at a quaint park nested at the base of the Burbank mountains. The weather was divine - one of those rare, slightly overcast days in Los Angeles where the sun peeks at you but you still stay cool.

I spent most of Saturday cooking the dishes while flipping from Lifetime and The Halmark Channel. Nothing better than a full day of cooking, recipe experimenting and sappy TV.

The menu turned out great and all of the dishes were easy "make-ahead" and they traveled well in plastic containers and baggies.

Sunday was all about the party. We dined on lemongrass beef skewers, grilled salmon salad, grilled chicken, string bean salad, Asian fusion cole slaw, hummus & pita, tabouli, lemon pound cake, fruit with divine dip, Boston creme cake, water and fruity wine. We ate like kings and queens. On the jukebox we had John Coltrane, Jack Johnson and little Vivaldi and in the fields we had Nick, Erin & Eddie playing football and over-sized Frisbee while Ruben caught up on a few ZZZZ's.

I'll be posting all the recipes and super top-secret "picnic party" tips and tricks, including cooking with lemongrass 101. Until then.....here is a peek at the day!