Eight for dinner

Tonight we were eight for dinner. Originally we were going to be 4, then we got a call from mom and dad and we were 6 (yea, they're back-- although we are happy when they get to travel and we know they enjoy spending time with Jeff, Julia and the trout at roaring river, we always miss them when they are gone for more than a few days), then we got a call from Taylor and Ann-Lisette and just like that, we were 8. For just such an occasion, we keep a stash of spaghetti in our pantry, an easily scalable ingredient. One more can of sauce, 16 more ounces of noodles and we're set. And tonight, we didn't even need to adjust our menu, spaghetti was already on it. Cook some sausage and chicken, canned mushrooms, salad, bread, add garlic, olive oil, basalmic vinegar, parmesan cheese and we have a 3 course, 5 star meal, better than almost any restaurant. No drive, no gas for the drive, no waiting for a table, no tab. I figured it out and for $15, eight people ate what would have cost (with tax and tip) $120 at The Olive Garden. So, our 2.5 hours of labor (mostly me and Amber) saved us over $100. That's $40/hour which is absolutely nothing to sneeze at, if such a thing can make you sneeze. All in all it was a good time, and even though we're not prone to plan dinner for 8 on a Tuesday night, when it just happens, it's a blessing. So, if your in the area and you're hungy, give us a call on the way over, there will be plenty.

P.S. 6 weeks and 2 days to Greenleaf.