how exciting! Your tuscan pork sounds wonderful... mind sharing the recipe?

I jinxed myself. The sink heard me typing last night -- DH found a leak under the sink this morning. The pipe to one of the sink bowls is stripped and barely holding on to the sink bib itself. Luckily the side with the disposal is ok.

Tuscan pork: Preheat oven to 375. Sear a boneless, trimmed loin (2-3 lbs) in oil. Take off heat and rolled in mixture of 2 t. each fresh chopped rosemary and sage, 2 cloves minced garlic, 1/2 t black pepper, 1/2 t. kosher salt. Cut a crusty baguette in half and scoop out the soft insides, brush the iside of the loaf with olive oil. Place pork inside baguette so most of pork is covered, tie loaf with kitchen twine at 1-2 inch interval. Trim off ends of loaf. Rost on baking sheet for 60-70 minutes or until internal temp reaches 155-160. Remove from oven and rest 10 minutes. Slice and bon appetit!

GW police plz don't kick me off for posting a recipe in kitchens!

Oh, and this a.m. DH said -- Oh! Fed Ex called, the sink will be here Monday p.m.!

thanks! Sorry about your sink! Murphy's law, huh?
GW police, don't kick me off for requesting a recipe! I won't do it again! :)

I'm so glad you posted that recipe! I'm having my folks over for dinner tomorrow and that sounds delicious. I've made beef Wellington before but never done a roast inside of a (pre-baked) baguette. I'm looking forward to trying this!

Enjoy your last dinner in your old kitchen, and look forward to the first one in your new kitchen!

RJR, you can do it!! Even with the bum sink! (But oooh on the big Stages. That's a sink that could convert me to stainless steel ;) )

My last dinner party was Seder for a couple dozen people (unplanned) two days before demolition. I had to borrow some pots and a portable electric roaster, and used a lot of disposables to set the table, along with my mother's old stainless flatware (usually used outside) because I actually knew where to get at it in the packing up. Bright table cloths and cups and pretty flowers make the table attractive, even so. There was some hysteria over the meat not getting cooked on time in the funky old oven, and some serving issues, but it all worked out.

You can do it!! The new digs will be spectacular, but it's the hands making the meal that are really important! And having your friends and family around you to say good-bye to the old. Go for it! And enjoy yourself! Make some happy memories to take into the remodelling stress with you.

If ya have to do another party, make it simple so you don't have to cook. You might give this a try, it was the first dinner party I served when I moved into my new home and didn't have things set up.

Buy a series of different salads at the deli in your grocery store. Place them in individual salad bowls piled high with a serving spoon/fork in each one. Place on a buffet area or island in a circle around a spring centerpiece like a vase of flowers or bowl of fruit. Chill a stack of salad plates or use heavy duty white paperplates and let guests serve themselves. Hot garlic bread, some nice wine...you are good to go...it is easy, quick and fun. My guests really liked it.

Have fun renovating your kitchen!!!

Chicagoans & rtorgy1 -- this roast cauliflower and chick pea recipe goes great with the pork!

pllog -- I'll pine for your new sink (my old sink . . .) and you can be jealous for a bit over mine (like that would happen, with your TDF digs). I went to see if I had any old pictures of that kitchen and our 5 holer Kohler -- we do, but it's when we were bathing our daughter in it -- she's about a week old. Obviously the picture really was about her, and not the sink. DARN! what was I thinking, focusing on the baby, not the sink?

Tonight we had a wonderful time and laughed so much about our teen agers . . . . you gotta laugh or cry, luckily our kids we can still laugh over. It's true, it's not about the surroundings the food is prepared in, it's the pleasure about preparing and sharing it with others.

But then, when DH and I were doing the clean-up, and not everything was fitting into the DW, I knew what he was thinking -- "Maybe we should rethink that second DW . . . ." But nope, it just took me a few more minutes to handwash those serving pieces that wouldn't fit in. I'll use another drawer stack more often than a second DW.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cauliflower to accompany pork:

Oh, I'm so glad it was a good time. And you get a pass on the sink picture. Babies really are more interesting!

Wait, how do you cook a cake in a Crockpot??? I totally love cooking, but baking is my weakness. Nothing turns out amazing....I do have a Crockpot though, so what can I make in it for dessert that people will love??? Totally curious!

Good Luck on the demo--fun fun fun!

Firsthouse -- here's the link to the recipe -- mine did not rise, so I wasn't sure if it was going to be good. Not to worry, it was very good, with a wee bit of ice cream. My sister makes this all the time and hers rises in the crockpot. Warning: This is dangerous to your coronary vessels.

Here is a link that might be useful: crockpot cake

thanks for the cauliflower recipe- it sounds (and looks) wonderful! I'll have to try these soon!

Yes, thanks for the cauliflower recipe. It looks great.