...even if you are pretty sure that it will only take an hour. It might take more like three. Especially if you're cooking them in an oven known to be a bit finicky.
I like to throw parties. That's no secret. I like to throw dinner parties - also no secret. My favorite part is setting up the table, and sometimes the food ends up being an afterthought. Still, I like thinking through a menu and planning the presentation of each course.
Last night I think was my biggest failure to date. The appetizers and first course were just fine. But once everyone had finished their salads, I went to pull the ham and vegetables out of the oven. Neither were fully cooked. So I put them back in, refilled everyone's glasses, and made conversation. A few minutes later, I asked my friend if he smelled something burning, and he said that maybe the neighbors were barbequing. Um...I wish. Instead, when I went to check on the ham, I opened the oven door, and billows of smoke poured out. Lots of smoke. Smoke for all my guests to see and smell and inhale. You would think I had completely burned the entire meal. Not so. The glaze of the ham had seeped out of the foil, and was burning on the pan. Whew. Ham still edible. Veggies, not so much. At least not yet. The potatoes were nowhere near cooked through. Back into the oven they went. While we waited, Ann tended to the large burn I had incurred. Large amounts of guaze wrapped around my wrist - it kind of looked like a sweatband. More waiting. More talking. Going through the wine. Burn is throbbing. More waiting. Wine is gone. Waiting some more. Move everyone from the dining room to the living room for communion. Share in communion. Share what God has been teaching us. Focus on God is good, especially when you're distraught about uncooked potatoes. Finish sharing - go to check on potatoes. Still not done. A few tears shed. Roommate speaks truth. Tears stop. Potatoes done! Dinner is served...almost two hours after the first course. Ham is room temperature and super dry. Potatoes actually quite tasty.
Strictly speaking, the evening was a bust. Spiritually speaking, it was priceless. Praise the Lord that my worth is not wrapped up in my ability to throw the perfect dinner party. Praise the Lord that celebrating His resurrection is about far more than serving a juicy ham and well-cooked potatoes on time. Praise the Lord for sweet friends who made the evening enjoyable, even with the wait.
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3 comments:
You should have said "you know, in Spain, sometimes they don't even start eating until midnight" a la Jan.
Yep, priceless. Just think, there would have been a real LOSS if the meal had gone as planned. Not the way we think about things, huh?
krista!!!!!!! what in the world is this new job that you just got??????????
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