Annual Holiday party over

I finally feel like I can breath again.  The dinner for 18 is over. I had to clean the house, decorate two trees and the alcove above the stairs and make the food.

For the meal I set up a salad bar and had everyone make their own salad.  The entree was three soups, again served buffet style.  There was a  Chicken Tortilla soup, Beef stew with carrots, peas and rutabaga, and a Corn and potato chowder.  For dessert I made a "Lava cake"   where you make individual chocolate cakes in a large muffin tin, cut out a bit in the middle and fill it with hot fudge.  It is then warmed in the microwave and served with ice cream.  All my guests wanted to bring food but I told them no thanks, so they all brought wine.   So a good time was had by all !!!  I did have a helper for four hours.  She has come for several parties and says she enjoys it.  The alternative would be to be a home milking cows.