On Saturday we were invited to have dinner with our friends Bob and Kate Johnson. They live in New Hampshire—the banana belt to those of who live in central Maine. Indeed, there was a striking difference in the amount of snow around our two homes—nearly bare in New Hampshire and about three feet or so around our little house in the big woods in Maine.

Both Bob and Kate are terrific cooks, and an invitation from them means two hours of anticipation as we drive to their house. There were four of us—me, my husband Clif, our daughter Shannon, and her fiancé Mike—and by the time we reached New Hampshire, we had worked up good appetites. To be truthful, almost embarrassingly good appetites.

This meal was Kate’s creation, and for appetizers it included homemade French bread, two homemade salsas, Brie, and blue corn chips. Almost a meal right there. But next came macaroni and cheese, pickled carrots and onions, and flank steaks. Then of course dessert, apple crisp, which I brought. The icing on the cake, so to speak, was the conversation that went with the meal, and the topics ranged from books to movies to politics.

We did show some restraint. We didn’t completely devour everything. (I’m not ashamed to admit I considered eating the last of the steak.)  But let’s just say we made a good dent in the food Kate served, and, if I’m not mistaken, I think we pretty much polished off two loaves of French bread. (My, they were good. Crusty on the outside, soft on the inside, and a beautiful, perfect shape.)

Kate graciously allowed Clif to photograph the food and the process, and the photos below will give readers some idea of what a wonderful meal we had. Truly, it was worthy of a “bon appétit” as well as “merci beaucoup.”
Thank you, Bob and Kate!