just a little party in the garden

hot does not begin to describe the temperature!  it was about 104 but we still gathered together to have a dinner in the garden.  i promise, the next time we will do this on a cooler day, a much cooler day, did i mention that it would be a lot cooler next time...

the menu was simple, trash can turkey and desserts from darry and myself and everyone in attendance brought a salad or a beverage or both.  it was a nice way to spend an evening, even if it was hot enough to bake potatoes on the sidewalk.  since it was so hot, we cooked the turkey off at home much earlier in the day.  

the set up.  turkey was brined overnight and is now suspended on a stake above a cake pan full of herbs, citrus rinds and beer.

the trash can was placed over the turkey and darry built a fire around the base of the can.

if it wasn't hot enough for you, it surely was by this point!!!

about 2 hours later, here is a perfectly roasted turkey.

darry carving the bird!

and now, time for the desserts!

maple pecan tart with a pinch of bacon in it, shortbread and biscotti

my other tart had a secret ingredient.  the lemon curd was flavored with stone ground mustard and believe it or not, it paired beautifully with the blueberry jam!

the tart before i brought it out to the garden to bake it a second time...

afterwards, i brought it home and took a picture of the inside view...

we had a fabulous time together, nothing quite like good food and friends (and sangria doesn't hurt) to make a wonderful evening fly by.  see you in the garden!