Friday, January 28, 2011

My lovely grandmother had a big birthday

Wedding china, inherited goblets, loud tablecloth.
My maternal grandmother turned 99 yesterday and we threw her a party. I guess I can say it, now that there's no one around to have hurt feelings: While I loved all my grandparents a lot, she was always my favorite.  When I was a child I used to worry she was going to die and I'd never see her again. I would get weepy when we said good-bye because she was so tiny and seemed so fragile.

She is even tinier now, but clearly she was not so fragile.

Keeping me company, pre-party.
Tonight she told me, "You look pretty and happy, but once you were very slim and that was wonderful."

Hmmph.

Some other pearls of wisdom gleaned over the years:

-"Don't chase the boys, let the boys come to you."

-"Latin boys think all American girls are fast."

-"Girls look very coquette when they wear a skirt that moves when they walk."

-"Couldn't you put on a little lipstick?"

-"Couldn't you put on a little rouge?"

-"Don't put your elbows on the table -- it makes them look old."

-"You need to make exercise."

-"You should wear dangly earrings."

And right she is. Usually.

I've made her sound shallow and hypercritical, which she isn't at all. She's just a Tiger Mother of the vintage Guatemalan variety.

The meal:

-Old-fashioneds. Because my grandmother likes them.

-Dorie Greenspan's tuna rillettes. Easy and fabulous. Tuna + creme fraiche + shallot + curry powder + a pinch of allspice, pureed in food processor and chilled. Serve with crackers.

-Greenspan's sweet and spicy nuts. HIT.
Brazil nuts, pistachios, pecans, cashews, almonds.

-Greenspan's mustard batons. Pepperidge Farm puff pastry spread with mustard and baked.

-Vadouvan mac n' cheese. Not a Greenspan recipe. I've made this rich and exotic and very delicious dish probably ten times now and it's ideal for parties because you can have it all ready ahead of time. The recipe is here. I can't recommend it more highly. My one piece advice would be to ignore the instructions with regards to the breadcrumb topping and do this instead: Put  6 ounces of crusty bread  (or rye bread) in the food processor and break it down to feathery bits. Heat 4 tablespoons of butter and fry the crumbs until crisp. Otherwise, the recipe is perfect. You can order vadouvan spice blend from Kalustyan's. I've tried making it, but it's better bought.

To complete the meal, my sister brought kale salad and two excellent cakes, including a domed green Princess cake.

Happy Birthday, Dita!

Flower barrettes. Very coquette.

55 comments:

  1. Mac and cheese sounds good... had never heard of Vadouvan. Happy B-day to your grandmother ~ mine will be 98 this year.

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  2. Grandchildren show a lot more grace when it comes to some of those comments. Children, however, have a hard time forgiving! :)

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  3. Glad to see that your grandmother still has her fastball. When I last saw her (at your wedding), she greeted me with, "Melvil, you got fat!" How does one respond to that kind of greeting? I haven't eaten since.

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  4. Happy birthday to your grandmother! It sounds like quite a (delicious) party.

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  5. My great-great grandmother, who missed her 102nd birthday by 17 days, told five-year-old me, "Tell your mother to let your hair grow to cover your ears. Men don't like girls with big ears."

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  6. That cake is impressive.

    My own grandfather advised rubbing myself with bacon grease to catch a man, when I was the ripe old age of 21 and still unmarried.

    Your grandmother is beautiful and I wish I could meet her in person.

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  7. I protest! Tipsy IS slim and it is wonderful!

    But that is one cool grandmother she's got.

    I did some one handed Dorie cooking last night. Had to chop everything in the Cuisinart but hey, why not? The garlic crumb broccoli...yum. Can't wait to delve farther. If I ever stop putting of my houswarming party I will be rilletting and cheese sticking like mad.

    thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Would love to hear more about your grandmother and the Guatemalan side of your family (food, traditions...)!

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  9. What a lucky grandmother to have such a devoted granddaughter. Imagine turning 99 and being able to celebrate with two granddaughters and 4 great grandchildren. A dream come true.

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