Dane’s Army Change of Command Ceremony

One bite at a time.

I’m here, I swear. I think there’s a fine line between blog guilt (wanting to post, but literally not having enough hours in the day) and not having anything except a handful of photos to show for yourself. I’m straddling that line pretty nicely.
You see, a couple very monumental things have happened in the past 10 days and I think I’ve been across this island more times than I ever care to admit.
As you know, my maid of honor was in town–hooray! But what you might not have known is I have been preparing for Dane’s change of command ceremony for about a month now.
Change of Command? When an officer takes command of a new company of soldiers.
*I am quite certain there is a much better explanation of this somewhere, but you get the idea, right?
Anyway, aside from being ecstatic for Dane, I was also panicking on the inside, because everyone knows that any good celebration requires food and said food doesn’t just appear out of thin air. Cooking and entertaining is in my blood (see: a two week culinary tour of Italy last fall), so there was really only one option for me and that was preparing this feast myself.
…and then Dane sent me the guest list of 200 people. Insert panic face. I think the most people I have ever cooked for was 10. Maybe 8. Oh hell, probably 5 and that’s pushing it.
But of course, I was taking this on a come hell or high water, there would be amazing food. I spent all day Monday cooking. Read: I woke up at 4am to start boiling water. If you follow me on Instagram, all my food photos are finally making sense.
The outcome? 15 quarts of baked ziti, 40 pounds of meatballs, two containers of roasted red pepper bruschetta, spinach dip, 8 loaves of french bread, two vegetable platters, 2 pounds of cheese, 1 pound of salami, 6 dozen cookies, two cakes and one very deserving captain.

 

 

 

 

 

And yes, I added glittery gold stars and red tablecloths.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Congratulations Dane! I am so proud of you and all that you have accomplished. I cannot wait to see where life takes us and I’m so grateful to get to walk beside you.