<p>Harriet–sounds like he was adorable…my daughter was flowergirl at 2 1/2 and walked up the aisle with her big bro – even dropped the petals sweetly–once seated she let me know she needed to go potty–so we quietly walked out of the chapel–as we approached the door she shouted–“daddy be right back I just have to go potty” the rabbi was not amused–I was</p>
<p>All of these discussions about weddings and food made me hungry. Time to get off my computer and microwave the leftover pilaf for lunch. Not too exciting… For dinner, I’m planning cedar-plank grilled salmon with couscous and a mixed greens salad with feta cheese, dried cranberries and balsamic dressing. You are welcome to drop by - I always make a ton of food!</p>
<p>It just dawned on me that I have to figure out what we are going to do for the two graduation parties in our family! Some non-meateaters will be present, and I have to plan accordingly!</p>
<p>lindz - LOL about your flowergirl! My little one once announced that she’d love to be a princess because “princesses never have to go potty”.</p>
<p>BunsenBurner</p>
<p>I have a seasoned pine plank that I’ve used in the oven for salmon, but I never had a grill big enough to put it in. Do they work in grills or do they just burn up?</p>
<p>Bethie, I buy “single-use” planks at Costco or HD (here they come in 6-pack). The trick is to pre-soak the plank in water for at least 30 min, pre-heat the grill, then turn off half of the burners and grill the salmon using indirect heat.</p>
<p>I also have the big reusable plank for the oven which I bought from the company started by the chefs of Sea Star restaurant. Their spice rubs were amazing.
[Meet</a> the Chef](<a href=“http://www.plankcooking.com/owner.htm]Meet”>http://www.plankcooking.com/owner.htm)</p>
<p>Check their recipes - I tried a few and they worked great.</p>
<p>BunsenBurner - a yummy salmon dinner for you too! I am so jealous. Tuesday is our run-around afternoon, and I’m in and out too much too cook anything like that (meaning anything that deserves to be eaten just out of the oven). With everyone coming and going, I usually make pasta or order takeout . Tonight, it’s baked ziti, salad and garlic bread. You enjoy your salmon though.</p>
<p>salmon sounds perfect must pick some up for dinner…</p>
<p>just remembered my youngest was a ring bearer at 2–he took his job very seriously–halfway down the aisle he turned around to return to the wedding planner and innocently said “you forgot to put the rings on the pillow” he was not happy that he didn’t really bear any rings–but complied anyway–guess we do confuse little minds sometimes…</p>
<p>What do you do with the used planks? Here in VT, we feel we can’t throw stuff like that away. Bon fire anyone?</p>
<p>Oh, I think the used plank can be used for heating purposes quite safely; after all, it is natural wood. However, most grilling happens in the summertime, not during the heating season, so the planks have to be stored somehow until then. Just do not store them in the garage - the smell of salmon might attract mice. And we know what happens when mice get in there ;)</p>
<p>What are you all doing for graduation of your HS and college students - parties, trips, etc.?</p>
<p>:: runs through the Vigil Lounge tossing moonpies and Dove bars on her way to the azalea garden and a pizza dinner with her beloved H ::</p>
<p>::Moonpie hits me on the head but misses my mouth. Darn.::</p>
<p>No big plans for graduation. We asked S and he told us he just wants us to save the money for college. Simply frugal.</p>
<p>my son doesn’t want a party–so just a special dinner after graduation–which is next Saturday evening–unusual time 6:00 p.m. I’m excited and we are then planning a road trip from Florida to Virginia with several stops along the way—open to any of your suggestions for fun spots along the way—Ga, SC, NC </p>
<p>mountains–your son sounds practical—not a bad trait…</p>
<p>Homemade whole wheat pizza dough is rising as I type…funny I had just made it before I sat down to catch up on the days goings ons here. Though not as dieticious as that yummy cedar plank salmon, when you make it from scratch it’s not as bad calorie-wise. It helps with the junk food cravings anyway.</p>
<p>As far as cakes, I used the Martha Stewert (sorry mythmom) wedding cake recipe for my older D’s graduation cake last year. I bought one of those graduation hat cake pans, then made several layers in 9x12 pans…put them together, decorated with lots of colored buttercream and voila’…Tiki Graduation Man!!! Not only was he adorable, he was mighty tasty…see, Martha isn’t all bad! So you can guess, last year’s party theme was Tiki. This year I’m doing a joint party with D’s friends…fun & colorful. I don’t know if I’ll do a cake again or not.</p>
<p>linz, I love to do the driving trips…even though it takes forever to get out of FL from here. Do not, I repeat, do not miss lunch at Mrs. Wilkes in Savanah, GA! In fact, if you can spend at least 1 or 2 nights in Tybee Island, you will have a great time. Though we’ve stayed a few times in the Carolina’s, unless we’re going to a cabin, I would normally just go straight from Savannah to VA. You really can’t go wrong though anywhere in the Low Country or the mountains in the Carolinas. It’s all lovely and good food is abundant. I don’t know how far you want to vere from I-95, but the Biltmore House and Asheville are really great to go to.</p>
<p>2forcollege, great minds must think alike-- we are having homemade whole wheat pizza tonight, too.</p>
<p>Suggested a road trip to S. His reply, “My idea of nothing.” Sigh; wish he were younger again when he loved camping trips. He’s done enough traveling through the years, so we are staying put this summer.</p>
<p>welllll…drum roll, please!!!</p>
<p>We have a decision at our house! D2 called a coach and verbally committed this evening!!! She will play soccer at a small D1 OOS public university after her graduation in '09! She’s still trying to contact other competing coaches to let them know of her decision. She’s scared to do that but we insisted on personal phone calls before the word is out. She has to make her calls in between studying for her APs but she just wanted to be done with it…too much stress! WOW! This was very quick! Now we hang on until signing next year. What a process! DH not home but I think I really will have that glass of wine!</p>
<p>S doesn’t want a party. Imagine we will have a couple of folks over for a BBQ, as the neighbors invited us for their graduation parties and it’s a good reason to hang out.</p>
<p>H is freaking about potentially not being able to go on vacation this summer: both Ss would appear to be getting jobs (wahoo!). S1’s job starts the Monday after graduation and ends the day S2 starts football practice. Sigh. We have plenty of frequent flyer tickets and we would be going to stay with our friends at their house in Northern CA, so it won’t be lots of $$ (good thing), but it’s the logistics.</p>
<p>NorthMinnesota - Congratulations! You will have an enjoyable year. Stay on, though, and keep us posted.</p>
<p>I am shocked H, S and I don’t seem to care if we don’t go anywhere this summer. We’ll definitely be doing short road trips but no long ones. We just want to keep that 529 growing. We got our tax rebate yesterday and that went straight to S’ 529. Our next major trip will be to visit S in wherever he lands for study abroad (talk about loooong-term plans).</p>
<p>I’m definitely staying! Need to find out other college tips and trade secrets! The nice thing is D2 may be entering as a sophomore…need to find out more info on what scores equal what! </p>
<p>We never go far for summer vacations…just to our cabin at the lake. Both girls play soccer so we can’t be gone during the season or we travel with them to tournaments. We traveled to Florida, California, Nebraska,Iowa and Illinois so far this year.</p>
<p>Interesting-- we had salmon for dinner too! Has anyone made the recipe where you poach it in the dishwasher?</p>
<p>thanks 2for–appreciate your suggestions, sounds like worthy stops – I think I knew you were also in Fl-- a mind is a terrible thing to lose…</p>