Home Cooking for Friends

Last week it felt like Festivus given that every night brought a new activity; dining out in Portland, entertaining at home, drinking exotic things like Sake and Evan Williams, bowling on the Bay side, and feats of strength in the form of getting my arse up and being made presentable for work each day. I  did manage to pull through and persevere with enough Advil to sedate a pregnant rhino . No Mom I'm not becoming a professional bowler or a booze hound ;) just celebrating the season and my entry into the 42nd year of my life which will happen in about 3 hours and counting.
So winter seems to be tis-the-season of comfort food. Rich, hearty meals you can sink your teeth into and drown your seasonal depression in. Last week was no exception and of note our Wednesday evening at home entertaining our friend Brett who came down from the fair hamlet of Winterport Maine.

Setting The Table

Brett is like the big brother I never always wanted, the person who taught me to drink bourbon, embrace my crass-side and whittle wooden idols like in that episode of the Brady Bunch, yeah you know... the one with the tarantula.

Carved Roasted Chicken, Squash & Onions

For Brett I prepared roasted chicken with acorn squash & roasted sweet onions, jasmine rice dusted with cayane  pepper and salad greens with hot house tomatoes & cucumbers.










We enjoyed a nice bottle of Cabernet Savignon and ate a ton of chocolate for dessert.
Have I mentioned the thing about feeling guilt over the sheer volume of food one eats over the holidays? No? 
I may need to check into the Betty Crocker clinic after New Years and I'll ask Mario Batali to be my sponsor.  He'd definitly smuggle in some good charcuterie and baguettes.