It was a nice, laid back afternoon…(Once we arrived and finally got set up dammit! Because I stress, people. You know??? I stress.)…spent with family and a few friends.
Just a few. And the ones that came (you know who you are) and didn’t stay long because they went to socialize up on The Hill, did the worst thing possible. They didn’t eat.
And too much of it came home with me.
If I eat one more freaking bite of pasta salad, I’m going to chew my hand off with it.
Speaking of leftovers, let me ask you this. One lady brought a delicious rum cake that she made from an old family recipe. You know me, combine alcohol with cake and I’m your bestest friend evah! Anyway, with all the food on the table, not much of her cake got eaten (damn right, I had some). When we were packing up the car to leave, I was pleased to see the cake left behind. I was already having mouth watering visions of taking it to bed with me that night while I placed it gently on my sisters lap in the front seat. As I walked around to my side of the car to drive off, I spotted my midnight snack’s creator coming my way.
Natalie! So glad you and Tom could make it today. Thanks again for joining us.
You’re welcome, Kim. Thanks for the invitation. Hey, was there any of my cake left?
Oh, it was sooooo good! I just put the rest in the car. (pause) Ummm, Did you want it back?
Yeah, I’d better. I want the plate.
Oh…okay.
My rum cake dreams were shot to hell. But hang on…do I look like a plate thief? I would have returned the damn glass plate to her. Do I appear as though I lack the proper service at home? Isn’t it polite to leave your contribution with the hostess? I was left baffled and more importantly, without dessert.
But as I said, I’ve got plenty of pasta salad. I wonder how it would taste with a splash of rum.
Oh my gosh, that little orange bell pepper o’lantern could be one of the cutest things I’ve ever seen! What a great spread. If I lived closer, I’d help you polish off some of the leftovers. Regarding the cake plate, I wouldn’t take that personally, I bet either she or her family was hoping there’d be some left to take home. Sorry she wrangled it away from you. Next time drive off faster!
All that will make anyone hungry. That’s some spread.
Wow. You even have flowers.
She did email me a thank you. Does that count?
And no recipe.
Funny - that seems to be going around.
A couple showed up at our Oktoberfest with a tray of veggies. They were over 2 hours late when the arrived and hors d’euvre time was long done. When they left, they took their veggie platter home.
Granted no one even touched it, but we were going to use it for Coffee Hour at church with the rest of the leftovers. We were a little disappointed…
I say skip the pasta salad and go right for the rum - straight up!
xo
LBC
I was wondering what happened to the Rum cake when all that was left of the desserts was one bite of chocolate brownie! Thought maybe you couldn’t figure out how to convey it home wtihout a cover. I was thinking - man, I would have gladly volunteered!
I believe the rule of thumb is leave what you bring unless your hostess asks you if you would like to take it (or some of it) home. (And that can be touchy as mentioned above!) The plate issue is really a non-issue when you would and could easily return it - filled even with a reciprocating dessert. Still a little green around the edges of ettiquette that one!
What about the hostess that doesn’t even serve the dish you bring? **joking** did you eat it yet?
MommaK you totally crack me up!!!!
The pictures are of vegetables and you mention cake??!!
Where is the pasta salad? I’ll take that off your hands.
That rum cake would put you right on the eve of bodily destruction. You should give thanks it didn’t wind up in your home (and body).
It might be different over in this neck of the woods, but at the end of parties generally the person who brought the item takes it home with them. If they don’t, then the host (where the plate is left) can finish it off, clean the plate and organise a way to get the plate back to them. Perhaps the plate was really important? Either way, it must have been a let down after getting excited about eating the cake! (You’ll have to ask for the recipe
)
Crap, my first thought was, “I would have lied about the rum cake,” and secondly, does that mean I’m a bad person!?!?
Great spread!
Yum!
Um, yeah, that cake was YOURS! And she didn’t even send the recipe!? Perhaps your Christmas gift to her is a copy of Emily Post’s Etiquette.
I have always thought that it was rude for people to ask for their contribution back when they leave a party. (I’m in so Cal. incase anyone wonders…
If they were to have brought a bottle of wine and it didn’t get opened…would they have asked for it back?
You put on a beautiful spread and I, too, loved the bell pepper jack-o-lantern.
I would have asked her if I could cut off a piece to take home, then made your “cut” oh, about 90% of the cake. But hey, that’s just me - another liquor and cake fan.
That is TERRIBLE that she took your cake, I mean her cake. Terrible. Did you invite yourself over for dessert?
If I were you, I’d ask if I could have the recipe.
Failing that, I have a recipe that might suit you…it’s called Jamaican Mystery Cake, and it’s super. It’s a dense white cake (maybe more like a shortcake?) with a strong, sweet coffee sauce poured over it, then topped with a rum-flavored pudding. It is ridiculously good, and I would e-mail it to you or post it on my blog later if you’d like.
Ooooooo, I’d love that!! Thank you
Cake? Oh, no. (don’t blink) That cake was so delicious that it was all gobbled up. (smile - lift eyebrows) Your plate is packed-up and ready to get washed. I can’t wait to return it to you with my special O’Dohls (whatever that non alcoholic beer is) cake.
BYE! (peel out with the cake.)
Oh what an adorable little pumpkin!
I am so using that idea for an upcoming holiday potluck. Fabulous, thanks!