SNDC is Not a Dinner Club

Instead of our usual SNDC Aug. 2, the plan is to join the other Grinnellcentric types from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Woodstock Park for the official alumni potluck picnic. Last year, this led to a large impromptu trip to see The Dark Knight, which was almost as awesome as the organized event.

Mike here. We’d talked about having a picnic for the final Star Trek in the Park on Sunday 7/26. Brian just wrote by email to say that (a) he had some trouble posting here, but (b) he’s hoping we can either do SNDC at his place or simply wrap up by 8 so he can get to his place for an 8 p.m. event.

Fortunately, I can post. So in order to avoid last week’s confusion, I’m posting Brian’s email here to kick off discussion.

And I quote:

Roy and Electra are here visiting, so I am offering up an alternate option for this weekend. Hopefully in enough time that someone who was excited about Star Trek in the park could still go tomorrow…

I am hosting a different event at my house at ~8PM on Sunday. If people were willing to arrive a little earlier than usual and come here, I think we could be done by 8 without much trouble. Electra has a dance class from 4-7, so she would probably miss most of the gathering, but Roy and I would be there the whole time. Roy also did not sound completely opposed to Star Trek in the park if folks think it would end in time for him to get back here at 8.

Roy will also probably be available Sunday, August 9th, so this is not an exclusive, one-time only kind of deal, but I wanted to toss this out there for people to consider.

3520 SE Taylor St.
Portland, OR 97214
5:30 pm Sunday, July 19

It’s still my turn to host since I didn’t really organize the Sauvie Island adventure last weekend. In response to Courtney’s list of ingredients, how about we make Cabbage Soup?

Soup

Garnish

• Balsamic vinegar or lemon or lime juice – Dan
• Minced fresh herbs
• Chopped green onions

Rice – Dan
Wine – Dan

Am I hosting this week, or is Dan? Anyhow, I’m not logging on with a recipe right now, just some details on the abundant vegetables at my disposal.

I have:

• cabbage (small, bright green head)
• one fennel bulb with fronds
• lots of sweet onions (Walla Walla)
• carrots
• broccoli
• green beans
• LOTS of new potatoes – red and yellow
• A good number of delicious tomatoes, bursting with ripeness.

I also have some beets, but I think I’ll be eating them tonight on my own.

I’ll be on the hunt for recipes that might take advantage of this cornucopia, and I might post some ideas in the comments later today. If any of you have thoughts, this would be a good place to share, too. Or if any of you have abundant produce you’d like to contribute.

We’ll be having a picnic at Sauvie Island for SNDC either on Sunday, July 12 or on Sunday, July 19. Here is the plan.

• Those of you who want to carpool with me can meet me at my place at 5:30 pm. The rest of us will meet at the parking lot of the Sauvie Island Wildlife Area (cost to park is $3.50 per car, I believe).
• I don’t have time to pick berries, but if some of you want to head up there earlier and do that, we can just meet together at 6:00.
• I’ll make the Purple Potato, Sugar Snap Pea, and Mint Salad.
• I’ll also bring utensils and plates.

Others could bring:

• Bread and sandwich fixings.
• Fresh fruit.
• Water (and maybe juice). Note: Someone needs to bring water (and cups), because there isn’t any available on site.

The entrance to the wildlife area is at Sauvie Island Wildlife Area, 18330 NW Sauvie Island Road, Portland, OR 97231. The directions are:

Please leave a comment to let us know what you can bring.

This week we will do some improvisitional cooking!! I will be hosting at the new house, 924 NE 65th Ave. From Halsey or I-84, go south on 68th, west on Hassalo, south on 65th.
From Glisan, go north on 63rd or 67th, take Pacific to 65th, then north on 65th.
The house is a cute little Cape Cod with a white plastic picket fence.

The Recipe
Bangkok Padang Peanut Sauce – BKS
Garlic – BKS
Onion – BKS
Unsalted peanuts – BKS
Canned baby sweet corn – BKS
Rice – BKS
Whatever fresh veggies look good and you can imagine eating in a stir fry – Everyone else
Beverages – Everyone else
Dessert – Everyone else

I have some broccoli, carrots, and red pepper that were fresh quite a while ago that I am happy to use up if needed.

Directions
Start rice cooking.
Make veggies bite size through the power of wedges.
Put a little bit of oil in a hot pan.
Add garlic and onion and cook a bit.
Add veggies in order from most cooking time->least cooking time, with some peanut sauce added every now and then as you go.
Try to avoid liquid accumulating in the pan as this can lead to sogginess.
Put in some peanuts partway through.
Put on top of rice. Add more peanut sauce as desired.