French Study Group Potluck

One of my favorite classes this semester is French.  Aside from actually learning bits of the language, and doing pretty well in the class, I have a group of study buddies, and we nerdily meet up before each class to do our homework and study for any upcoming exams.  It’s pretty awesome, and the inappropriate jokes fly, but the best part is laughing.  Someone had the genius idea (I don’t remember who – it could have even been me, but maybe not – or I’d give credit) recently that we shold have a potluck, so we did. 

Since LA-LA is vegan, I made my signature potluck dish that happens to also be vegan – soba salad.  I kinda messed this up last time so I was eager to redeem myself in my own eyes; this time, it was a huge hit, so I breathed a sigh of relief…  Crunchy snap peas, bell peppers, and tons of veggies make this a very healthy and light dish, too.  I am positive it was a hit because it was eaten quickly, and LA-LA even wanted to take some home 🙂

ST made a frittata for myself and BM (since both of us eat everything).  Zucchini, plum tomatoes, onions, so good, lots of flavor, very moist and still good cold.  Chomp! 

She also brought in fresh strawberries for LA-LA. 

I also made corned beef and roasted broccoli with garlic.  I’d unthinkingly packed the broccoli in the same box as the corned beef, so unfortunately, LA-LA couldn’t eat that, but BM, ST and I were all over this.  Corned beef is corned beef – I’d wanted to actually make the barbecue brisket that TT brought to the FMB Rooftop Potluck, but last minute scrambling left me unable to find a plain brisket and only a corned beef (already brined brisket, ready to be cooked).  So I cooked that and just sliced it nicely.  Roasted broccoli, per usual, my specialty: just cut head of broccoli into florets and toss with olive oil, whole, peeled cloves of garlic, and salt/pepper, spread evenly on a roasting sheet and put into an oven at 450 degrees until there’s browning around the edges.  Every piece of garlic should be soft to the touch (you can spread these on bread like the BEST BUTTER YOU’LL EVER EAT)… so good! 

ST also brought in tortilla chips with Harry & David peach salsa, which had a teensy bit of heat but nothing crazy, and was really refreshing on such a day.  Mmm! 

Though LA-LA can’t eat these, she brought in chicken patties/pies from a Colombian bakery near here.  Pretty tasty – a slight heat to these, very fragrant (you could tell they used a ton of different spices) – but really adorable and yummy. 

My first plate – so good.  We properly shamed BM, who woke up late and was unable to make anything ;P but no worries.  We’re all friends here, and he’ll make it up to us 😉  Hahahaha. 

As always, life is better when you have awesome people to share food with!  Thanks for making studying fun, guys!!!  <3

Happy eating!!!