Let the shopping lists begin!  5 pages of a spreadsheet filled with multi-colored-highlighted-items to buy in bulk at Costco, Trader Joe's and last minute grocery stores I am sure. The shopping lists for today include all grocery items to be stored in my kitchen ceiling high. I am also purchasing a ridiculously large amount of meat for tomorrow when I will be balling and baking meatballs and frying sausages.  Today I'll be making the sauce from scratch and storing it in my freezer.

The planning has gone fantastically well thanks to my organized bride and wedding planner.  I have set up rentals to outfit a whole kitchen, hired a staff of fun and hard working caterers (my friends), and successfully offered a tasting to Meredith and Vlad.  I took a week off of all of my regular clients, cleared my schedule and am ready to start cooking!!

THE MENU

Homemade turkey sausage patties topped with a slice of roasted red pepper with a sweet onion date chutney topped with fresh cilantro

Sweet potato mash with sugared pecans

Italian beef meatballs with homemade tomato sauce (a la my wedding)

Stuffed red peppers with rice stuffing

Salad cups in endive with an orange and a sweet walnut goat cheese crumble

Stuffed button mushrooms with my famous rosemary caramelized onion and white wine mashed potatoes

"Leftover" turkey sandwiches with an herbed cranberry mayo