Tonight Lori and I played host to a couple of our friends – Stephanie and Denise. The menu was grilled steak with bacon alfredo whipped potatoes and broccoli sauteed in a lemon basil butter. I created those while Lori (in all of her “spare time”) managed to produce a fantastic apple tart with an orange-apricot glaze.

This meal was actually a bit of a turning point for me as I didn’t have a “recipe” for anything I made. I decided on the menu and just created it. I know I didn’t invent anything, but I also didn’t copy anyone word for word…. it was kind of nice. I’ve learned just enough about cooking to be dangerous.

This was also the first time I’ve grilled steak to different levels of doneness (is that even a word). Stephanie was a medium rare (which I managed more of a medium), I am a medium to medium well (which I nailed), Lori and Denise were medium well to well (which Denise claimed it was “perfect”). I used technology, of course. I have an instant digital thermometer that I use in beer making that works well for approximate levels of doneness for meat as well.

Anyway, I believe everything went over well and Lori’s tart was fantastic. That will be good for breakfast tomorrow!! Unfortunately, Lori had to leave to go visit some doggies right after dinner so she missed the good times that followed. Stephanie and I “helped” Denise study for her written private pilot exam that she is taking on Monday. I’m not sure that she’s any better off after our “study session” but it certainly was a lot of fun. The whiskey and rum helped in that department. I must say, you never know what you’re going to get when a group of pilots get together and then throw in the alcohol… good times, I say, good times…