My Birthday: Hubby Cooks

My birthday was quickly approaching and C asked me what I wanted to do to celebrate. Did I want to go out for dinner just the two of us? Dinner at a restaurant with friends? Potluck? Cooked dinner? Big party? After changing my mind a couple of times, I went with my mood and decided that dinner with a few good friends would be much more enjoyable than a large potluck. C would be cooking and I wasn't to lift a finger. My favorite kind of dinner-present! Along with the birthday dinner of my choice, part of the deal is that the birthday boy or girl also gets to pick what cake that they want. I had decided a while ago that I wanted a Hawaiian Wedding Cake with Seven Minute Frosting. The cake sounded light but dense, with pineapple and coconut. After many unhealthy meals for a couple of weeks, all I wanted was a dinner full of vegetables and no cake. So, cake was off the menu but the rest of the dinner would be chock-full of fresh veggies and the main would be a buttery Costco salmon. Mmmm!!

Five of my close friends showed up to our house one by one and we all settled into the living room while C worked on the beautiful dinner. He was well prepared with wine and appetizers and set out an attractive spread of salted peanuts, crackers with Boursin (the most delicious soft cheese with garlic). My friends brought some wine and we cracked open a bottle to share amongst ourselves.

snacks and wine to start the evening

There's something incredibly relaxing and enjoyable about spending time with good friends, eating, drinking, chatting. Maybe it's selfish, but I thoroughly enjoyed doing nothing while C prepped up all of the food. Definitely the best birthday present. It's an interesting transition. When I was a kid, that was always our birthday treat: my mom would let us decide what we wanted for dinner and what kind of cake we wanted for our birthday. This was always something that I looked forward to every year. I remember last time asking for homemade roti and chickpea curry, my mom's shredded pickled cooked beets, and self-saucing pudding for dessert (a chocolate cake baked in a pan that creates its own sauce as it bakes). Now, instead of my mom making me this dinner (except she does still have me over for birthday dinner, heehee), my husband is making it for me. My husband! Holy Time Warp Batman, I'm a grown up with my own family now!

My wonderful husband went to Costco to pick up the salmon fillets (the only place we buy salmon from) and while he was there, he picked up a big bouquet of colourful tropical looking flowers. The arrangement was placed in a bright stripped jug on the table for everyone to enjoy. When I lived in my apartment in St.Boniface, I would often buy myself a bouquet of flowers when I would pick up groceries for my dinner. I always found that fresh cut flowers brightened up a room and made the space feel more homey.

flowers and appetizers

C brought home some mini bell peppers. I had seen them on my last trip to Costco and thought that they were cute so I was looking forward to tasting them.

a forest of mini peppers

With a glass of wine warming my belly and the salt of peanuts still on my lips, C called out from the kitchen the dinner was on and for everyone to sit down and eat. The meal looked amazing! A rainbow of colours on the table was exactly what I hoped to see.

my 29th birthday dinner

C had spent a lot of time making dinner and it was great! Roasted cubed carrots and beets made up one platter, with a large bowl of green peas to pare with the sweetness.

plentiful veggies

Another interesting veggie C found at Costco was yellow and green baby squash. He roasted those as well and simply seasoned everything with olive oil, salt and pepper. The salmon fillet was baked with C's secret seasoning, shhh, Clubhouse Salmon Seasoning. Honestly, that mix is mouth-wateringly good!

salmon and sides

Everyone dug right in and the mmm-ing and ahhh-ing began. It's wonderful to have a husband that can cook! I loaded up my plate, unabashed, and joined the rest of the team in savouring the meal. This was a fantastic dinner and I have to thank my sexy and wonderful husband for doing the shopping and cooking for the night. I very much enjoyed relaxing with my friends and laughing. Turning 29 wasn't too bad after all.

my bountiful plate