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Monday, May 26, 2008

Preparing for a Food Onslaught

We are heading to my parents' house today for a Memorial Day celebration. We're supposed to be there at 2 p.m. and since I grew up there, I know what's coming. An onslaught of wonderfully delicious treats are ready to be eaten the moment we arrive: chips, guacamole, salsa, cheeses and crackers, steamed dumplings and brouschetta with fresh tomatoes and basil. My husband and I will be offered wine or sparkling wine or beer and shortly after our arrival out will come baby lamb chops with mango salsa and maybe a toast-pointe with fig spread topped with a slice of prosciutto and crumbled goat cheese. Those are just the nibbles. "Dinner" will follow and will consist of pinwheel sausage and marinaded flank steak all cooked on the grill. Mom may do the obligatory burgers and dogs but her hers won't be standard, for sure. Burgers will be homemade (but will contain too many onions that we'll all complain about). And of course there will be a full array of salads to accompany all of this. You should know that we eat this way every time we go to my mother's house.

So what do you do when you know you are headed somewhere like this and you feel compelled to use some restraint throughout the remainder of the day? Well, I think I've perfected a plan. Eat a very hearty breakfast early (like 8:30 a.m.) and then a small snack about noon (maybe toast and jelly or a half-sandwich?) Today, in fact, we ate bagels and cream cheese from a wonderful bagel store in town whose bagels are very authentic and whose baked goods are fantastic. Visit them in Lynbrook or online: http://www.lynbrookbagels.com/

Of course, when you get to that place that stuffs you tremendously, you're on your own. The only other suggestion I have is to visit the new Lynbrook Runner's Stop (a few stores away from the bagel shop) and try out new sneakers on the in-store treadmill!


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