I found the recipe for Johnny Garlic's rosemary mashed potatoes on Food Network's website some time ago and use it to make hash browns for a big breakfast and for Christmas with half sweet potatoes for less starch and more vitamins. So, it was the one "easy" and reliable item for me to make for lunch because I had made it before and knew went over well.

I was certainly practicing my ambidextrous-ness by stirring the boiling strawberries with my left hand and trying to keep the garlic from burning in my right. Occasionally I gave up super-efficiency and took one off of the fire while I used two hands to deal with another. Luckily nothing burned and everything seemed to taste just fine.

On Saturday, I took the loaf and potatoes out of the fridge and preheated the oven. I microwaved the potatoes for two minutes because I thought they would be harder to heat in a large bowl and put both dishes in the oven. At ten minutes after one o'clock, I pulled the Redi-burger loaf out of the oven, but when I reached for the mashed potatoes, only half of the square bowl came out in my hand. The glass had split right down the middle! I stood in the middle of my kitchen with Paul and Garrett about to cry. Paul ran to grab a plate to try to salvage some of the potatoes and Garrett ran to grab is camera! He said he would have to post the story on his blog, but not to worry because no one at my luncheon likely read his blog. Besides, by then, they would have already eaten it anyway. I was scared because I couldn't imagine what I had in the cupboards that I could cook to replace the potatoes. Naturally, this is silly. Now I can think of some things, but in that moment I saw nothing but empty shelves. God bless Paul and Garrett for covering me and for my father who didn't realize that he was distracting people by introducing them around and asking them about themselves. (I know I always say this, but it seems I'm lying. I don't always invite my family to my parties, but it was the weekend and Sabbath! My mom was visiting my grandma and I wasn't about to let my dad eat lunch by himself.)

Garrett left a note on the counter when he left Sunday morning flattering me that the lunch was "outstanding" and that the preparation was "entertaining." I'm inclined to agree, but I think he still had more fun than I did.