Sweetheart Banquet 2008

Over the weekend Danny and I had the PRIVILEGE of serving again this year at the Pastor's College annual Sweetheart Banquet - it is always so much fun to be part of blessing the students with a night of romance! I had never served in the kitchen before - what a blast!! We were there for hours on Saturday doing prep work and then on Sunday from two until around ten. It is one of the highlights of the year for the students and their wives. Selfishly, part of the reason I love to do this event is because I learn so much about cooking and hospitality from the team that is there helping! (I actually learned how to make Mango Salsa and Quiche Lorraine, after messing up the first batch and using only one egg instead of nine!!)

This is a busy busy kitchen - but luckily big enough to contain all the activity going on!

In between courses we got to sample the leftover "italian soda" that was being served... what we were really hoping for was leftover crab cakes... no such luck...

The food that was planned was absolutely the fanciest, gourmet meal you could imagine!

Danny and the man next to him (in the picture below) were in charge of running the kitchen and making sure all went smoothly - they both did an awesome job!! Danny is such a humble, gentle and gracious leader, I love working with him in the kitchen. (and anywhere else dear!!)

Hannah and Ryan were there most of the weekend with us - they played in the gym and brought cards to play with, but by Sunday evening, Hannah was looking really tired... but what a trooper she was! The kids helped however they could, hauling things in and out of the kitchen, washing asparagus, snipping flowers and spices, they really were a huge help. Now that the kids are older it is so great to be able to bring them along to these events.

Can't wait 'til next year!!!