Recently, one of my closest friends from college asked if she could hire me to cook for her sister’s bachelorette party weekend. Now, before you say anything…remember a few of the things you have learned about me thus far on our little “getting to know you” journey through this blog. 1. I love food 2. I obviously love a good time 3. I’d rather lounge by a pool than lunge in the gym 4. I actually enjoy cooking 5. I like to describe things in humorous detail before getting to the actual point. So if you are only here to read about the food…scroll waaaaaaay down. 6. I love…did I already say food?

So really this was a no brainer for me. Three days in beautiful Indio, California, surrounded by friends and the chance to dream up some amazing menu ideas? It’s like a little slice of heaven for someone who has champagne taste buds on a Jack in the Box dollar menu budget. I was able to get early access to the house Lindsey rented so I could get unpacked and start prepping food, as the bridal soiree would be arriving later that evening. I knew the place was going to be incredible and it definitely didn’t disappoint. Five bedrooms, a separate casita, pool with a slide, swim up bar, putting green. It was unbelievable. I knew that once the decorating crew arrived it would be even better. Side note: My friend Lindsey and her sister Ashleigh are like the Chip and Joanna Gaines of event planning. Every baby shower, bachelorette party, or yearly college reunion is planned months in advance with every detail perfectly executed. Swag bags upon arrival, official cups, games that are actually fun…it’s always a weekend to remember and this one was no different.

I played with menu options for months, toying with new ideas, and then spent the week before cataloging every item I would need to shop for and each spice I needed to bring from my house. I know. It’s weird that I actually get a high off this AND the actual cooking part. Friday night’s heavy app menu went off without a hitch and everything was set out in perfect timing with the girls’ arrival. We ate, we drank champagne, and we laughed. But let’s get back to that champagne part…

I feel like I have been a dedicated partner to my beloved favorite drink. But for some reason, it decided to turn on me. Of course you’re thinking, “It’s a bachelorette party. I’m sure she drank too much and deserved whatever hangover was coming to her.” Yeah no. In the middle of preparing my breakfast casserole for the next day, I decided to grab a bottle of the bubbly and put it in the fridge to chill. Call it science, or heat, or over-shaking in transit…but the second that bottle touched the shelf, it exploded. Shards of glass went flying everywhere by the force of the fizzy bubbles I usually so thoroughly enjoy, cutting my hands and legs. One piece went rogue and split open my upper thigh. After the initial shock, I looked down and saw a cut with fat peering back at me. Winning. My first initial thought after my EMT hubby told me that, “No. A big bandaid and more champagne will not be a good idea” was who the heck was going to drive us to the ER?? It would definitely be one for the books if I had to take an Uber to the hospital. Luckily, of the 15, there was a sweet girl who was pregnant and volunteered to drive us. Thank you Lexi for your patience and willingness to sit in an ER room with 5 million germs. You’re the real MVP of this story. Long story short, a quick trip to the hospital, some medical grade super glue (I requested this over stitches. No big needles for me), steri strips, some colorful bandages, and we were good to go. In theory, I should write an entire blog  post about the hysterical scene that transpired in the ER, but let’s just say the nurses thought we were pretty entertaining and congregated in my curtained cubicle when they maybe should have been checking on the half dozen stomach flu patients in there. Maybe they thought Lindsey and I were a breath of fresh air or maybe they just wanted to hear the exploding champagne bottle story. Either way, “Walter” took spectacular care of me and my bum leg and we were in and out in under two hours. Back at the house, cooking resumed and the rest of the weekend continued. Glass and cut free.   

Champs bottle: 1

Megan: 0

Here are the food deets…in case you were wondering. I wanted to post recipes but the thought of trying to calculate all of this is just too overwhelming. I also meant to take pictures of all the food I made but that didn’t happen either. I will do a “party” blog post soon with recipes for my favorite sauces and appetizers and try to refrain from the 12 page story preface. I said, “I’ll try”.

Friday night heavy apps:

*Brie baked in puff pastry with brown sugar and dried cranberries

*Assorted cracker and cheese tray

*Orzo salad with black olives, red onion, artichoke hearts, and feta cheese, tossed in an italian vinaigrette

*Water crisp crackers topped with goat cheese, blackberries, and drizzled with honey

*Salt and vinegar roasted fingerling potatoes with dijon aioli

*Caprese salad

*Panini sandwich bites with fresh mozzarella, pesto, black pepper bacon, and fresh basil on ciabatta  

Breakfast:

*Sourdough breakfast casserole with caramelized onions, maple sausage, and roasted mushrooms

*Egg frittata with roasted red potatoes, applewood smoked bacon, and goat cheese

Appetizer by the pool:

*Fresh, raw, ahi tuna marinated in an asian sesame sauce with avocado and green onions, served in crispy wonton cups

Lunch:

*Pork carnitas taco bar

*Sides: homemade guacamole and salsa, fresh radish slices, cabbage, red onion, chipotle mayo, sour cream, and mexican red rice

Dinner

*Iceberg wedge salad with creamy green onion and dill dressing, topped with crumbled bacon, candied pecans, and feta cheese

*Cheddar cheese garlic potatoes

*Bacon wrapped asparagus

*Roasted prime rib

Dessert:

*Peanut butter chocolate bars

Calories: 2

Carbs: 1

Megan: -4