maven&meddler

Ah, the pre-Christmas festivities were wonderful with lots of friends and family, plus lots and lots of cooking involved.

Poached salmon nicoise with marinated haricot vert, marinated fingerling potatoes, boiled eggs, morrocan preserved lemons ( which were the main flavor component of the marinade) and kalamata olives. We offered two platters of this.

The haricot vert were cooked almost to al dente and then immersed in icewater to preserve the color. Both the cooked potatoes and haricot vert were marinated over night for intense flavor. The salmon was also poached the night before and sat in the cooled cooking liquid to stay moist.

I’m such a lucky woman. An Italian son-in-law to be who loves to cook, and BTW is very accomplished at it. He has earned full rights and privileges in my kitchen anytime.

Of course, my step-daughter has always held the center of my heart as well as my regard.

But then son-in-law proceeds to solicit free medical advice from Dr. Donald Van Dyken. Family practice physician premier.

Lori Carpenter, of Huffman & Carpenter, Inc. gets fully into the Christmas spirit.

Jesse Jobe shares a laugh with Rita Silpalia

The ever lovely Margaret Van Dyken with Suggi Brumberger

We got lucky at Mr. Rose one day, and made some awesome new friends, Shelly and Suggi - recently of Saratoga Springs, NY. They’re now spending winters here in Reno.

Dr. Clay Cooper, of Desert Research Institute, wife Lori Carpenter share some incomprehensible science conversation with fellow neighbor Jonas Silpalia - brilliant inventor and wastewater engineer. I couldn’t understand a word they were saying.

Molly Burnski - AKA Mean Marlene - former Hello Hollywood dancer gets on the phone with choreographer Mistinguett. When you have a professional dancer in the mix, stuff happens…

It starts with one…

 Then the other…

But ends with a Christmas kiss….