That's Entertainment (College Style)

Hey, parents and all others who have contributed to my formation as a being who can perform tasks conducive to relating socially with other humans!

I cooked a meal for guests! Aren't you swelling with pride right now?

Ben and Liz came over last Friday evening, which made it all possible.  The following pictures are here primarily for you, parents, so that you can stroke your chins and say, "After all, she actually can set a respectable dinner table--but wait--oh, God; are those paper towels being used for napkins?"

Dinner table with lobstah-lantern (prior to its journey in a box to Somerville)

On the menu:  vegetarian pumpkin chili and apple cider that was eventually hot

Let's get a detail of that chili--three types of beans, butternut squash, red peppers, onions and spices in a pumpkin-tomato sauce base.  Not my recipe; I stole it and then (parents, you shouldn't be surprised) didn't follow it.

Accompaniments:  toasted pumpkin seeds and hot rolls that got a little too hot on top.  They were tall rolls in an oven meant for short rolls; what can I say?

All served with cold grapes, butter and jam.  I never thought jam really went with rolls meant to go with chili, but since it was always on the table when you, parents, made chili, jam made the cut.  And then nobody ate the jam.  Better luck next time, jam.

All in all, the food wasn't most important--it was a wonderful evening because the company was wonderful.  Nevertheless, there are other perks of entertaining besides the opportunity to have wonderful company:  1)  The prospect of having wonderful company compelled me to clean the apartment so fast that it didn't know what had hit it, and...

2)  Leftovers.