*POOF!*
Off goes the power at 5 o'clock p.m. on a Friday Night --
our Family Fun Night of the week.
Hmmmmm . . . what shall we do about dinner now?
Not that I had any really great ideas on a muggy eve following an afternoon of grocery shopping and thrifting following a morning of experimenting with my new yo'gourmet yogurt maker (which I haven't exactly mastered yet . . . post coming soon). This tired gal found the *POOF* less exciting than did the little ladies that scurried around gathering flashlights and reminiscing about all the fun we always have during a power outage.
"Good thing we have a woodstove," observed Rachel cheerfully.
I bit my tongue rather than mention the humid 90s registering on the thermometer.
"Hey," cried Elizabeth, "Let's make fondue with the fondue set we just got at the thrift store!"
Cheers went up from all corners of the keeping room.
(Did I mention I stood in the kitchen with a shocked look on my face. I guess I expected someone to say, "Hey let's eat bread and apples with a bit of cheese and then mom doesn't have to cook and make a mess which she will have to clean up in the dark without a dishwasher's assistance. Did I mention the crabbiness flowing through my brain on this muggy day? Did I also mention that I often fall apart between 4:30 and 5:00 p.m. if I don't have a bit of respite and a cup of tea about 3:30ish -- which I missed this day?)
The giggles and glee swept everyone up in cheerful busy-ness creating a wave of joy that literally swept away the grouch in me.
Rachel ran to retrieve just the right cookbook.
With a little help from Remy, we came up with a luscious cheese fondue made from cheddar cheese and milk (plus a roux of flour and butter) with a hint of garlic, paprika, nutmeg, and the juice of a lemon dashed with a bit of salt and pepper.
With proper accompaniments like fresh brown bread,
sweet 100s from our garden,
juicy grapes, and generous chunks of gala apples,
Along with a sweet treat of Virgil's old-fashioned Root Beer
(free of any high fructose corn syrup)
We prayed and dug in with delight!
Heavy-laden little forks hefted gooey, gushy, globs of YUM into our mouths.
Fortunately I had the foresight to choose a cheddar-colored table cloth,
so blops didn't distract us.
Long before the fondue ran out
Our appetites ceased calling for more.
We pushed back with a sigh and
NO ROOM FOR DESSERT!! 
Imagine that . . .
: D
p.s. The power returned before we sat down to dinner, so I washed dishes in a brightly lit kitchen ALL BY MYSELF (and enjoyed every minute of it after such a fabulous feast).
12 comments:
What a memory making moment! Glad the girls were able to chase away your grumpies. I once knew a family that would perposefully trip the power once a month to help facilitate connectedness that so often alludes families with so many daily distractions. I much prefer to find the joy in the moments it happens unexpectedly, like you were able to do this evening. :)
Yum! LOL about the woodstove.
We had fondue at my brother's house last year for the first time in as long as I can remember. It was very good! The meat was a little tricky though, I found it was cut a bit too thick so it took too long to cook. Oh well, live and learn.
I enjoyed reading about your visits and high five to your daughter for cooking a surprise meal--that was such a nice treat!
We had our first fall storm the past couple of days with 70 mile and hour winds and 32 foot ocean swells. I am ready for a nice, calm weekend :-)
What a lovely account- I know what you mean about those heart-sinking moments when forced cheerfulness is required! So glad it all turned out for good :)
If my electricity goes out, we have to resort to sandwiches, or cereal. Everything I have is run by electric power.
Your fondue looks great! Fun times, fun memories!
This looks SO good!
Oh this sounds like a perfect dinner and a perfect Friday night!
Hope that you are having a day filled to the brim with joy! ♥
What a lovely memory to make. I have this sweet picture in my mind of your girls working together to make the most of it, reminding me of the March girls in Little Women.
I understand your grouchiness at that time of day. I always hit a wall about that time, and must sit down with a cup of tea. I have learned to enjoy my break instead of fighting it, but sometimes life just gets in the way.
Oh, it looked so good. But - One Woman - does not need to make a spread like that. Blessings sent your way.
As God's word says," A merry heart doeth good like a medicine" so glad JOY is so contagious and that it caught up with you. Looks like all ended well. Power out here gives me no break..we have a gas stove. BE BLESSED
What a great way to eat while the power is out. I need to remember this next time our power goes off.
Hello, dear Debbie,
I know that I'm commenting on an older post. Just wanted to stop by and visit you.
I just love how your daughters' enthusiasm was catching, and the inconvenience ended up being fun. It's so easy to be weighed down with the cares of this life.
I am so sorry for the serious sickness of your mother-in-law. May the Lord be pleased to lay His healing hand upon her, and hold you all near to Himself in comfort. <3
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