Harvest for Habitat

This evening was the Harvest for Habitat Gourmet Dinner. It is our annual fundraising event and sadly this year the attendance was down. But, those who did attend had a great time and a wonderful meal. The Habitat Lansing staff were all in attendance, Denise, Heather, Julie, Kelly and Larry. Several board members including myself, Glenn, Mike, Laurey, Amy, Matt, and Jaqui were in attendance. Many volunteers including my friend Phyllis G. and some of her family members.

Ruth and I got to the cocktail party early. We had time to check out all of the door prize baskets that I helped put together a few days ago. There was the house quilt wall hanging, hand made bracelets, theatre tickets to MSU Dept of Theatre, Boarshead, Riverwalk, and Wharton, movie passes to NCG, gift certificates for dinner at Kelly's, the State Room, Cones & Bones, rounds of golf at Royal Scot and Forest Akers. two baskets of items for golfers, a basket of items for the dog owner, a grill set, several bottles of wine and many other items.

The Hors D’oeuvres included raspberry and brie in a filo crust, flat bread pizza, and lots of other tasty treats. We talked and mingled with board members and their guests, habitat volunteers and staff and people who just love Habitat and food.

We had a nice table of eight and we all had a fun time. Besides myself and Ruth, the table included my friend and coworker Chris and her husband Rodney, their friends Linda and Dennis, and board member Amy and her husband Mark. My friend Bob was also able to attend but since my table was full he enjoyed his dinner with some other board members. We were first served a delicious soup of Smoked Tomato Bisque, a rich velvety smoked plum tomato soup accented with chive Creme Fraîche. I really liked this course but I forgot to snap a picture. So just imagine it....

We were served a different wine with each course. Next we had Legumes and Shrimp Succulent, a spicy shrimp atop a medley of legumes, dressed in a unique flavorful vinaigrette and fresh herbs - this was not my favorite but Ruth really liked it.

More wine and then it was time for Sorbet Martini of prickly pear and guava sorbet with a touch of Tito’s handmade vodka to refresh our palate. The Chef who announced this item advised that Tito made his own vodka in Texas. It was sweet and refreshing. Yum yum!! We spent time between courses playing with the Tennessee Jumping Gourds that we decorated. Dennis taught us how to spin them and I managed to spin mine on the charger plate. Later we were picking them up off the floor as we got rather wild with the spinning part. We all had a fun time.

We were nearly starving until we finally got our main course, don't believe the starving part. The main course was Cordova Chicken and Ancho Salmon Adnan-style chicken breast stuffed with artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes and cheese, wrapped in puff pastry, paired with grilled Atlantic salmon fillet with ancho-chili butter sauce Michigan Blue Lake green beans with grape tomatoes and fine herbs. All I can say is oh my it was soooooo yummy. Adnan is the chef who created the chicken breast. During our meal we all tried to figure out what the unusual names had come from.
Between each course several door prizes were given out. My table mate Dennis won a prize of two bottles of wine, tickets to Wharton and NCG theatre. What a great prize. He was quite happy.
More wine arrived, this time my favorite, 2007 Bluefish Riesling, and then the dessert,
Almond Apple Tarte Tatin a simply elegant, warm French-style apple tart with almond crust and Melting Moments Cinnamon Touched Vanilla ice cream. It was like my grandmother's homemade apple pie. Sooooo luscious.

Finally the evening came to an end and we all headed home after nearly getting lost in the parking ramp. Another successful Habitat for Humanity fundraiser has passed. Many more to come. I hope you will consider joining us next year. My goal will be two full tables!!!!!!