Hi Everyone,

This past weekend our cousins visited from Germany. Flight delays and the activities we had planned didn't allow much time for last minute meal prep or for leisurely restaurant meals (the plan was to visiting ancient graveyards in various parts of CT to document some of their ancestors). I decided it would be easiest to make some meals ahead. I prepared an 8 layer veggie dip to serve with crudite and Zone bagel chips (a meal in itself), and a chicken dish with a Mexican theme, both in amounts that would provide some leftovers. The prep for these took less than half an hour in total, the day before. I also made a big garden salad, using several heads of Romaine as the base, and I put together a very large bowlful of mixed berries (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries, all washed and ready to serve). We had the dip, veggies and chips, along with some strawberries, when they arrived between 4 and 5 PM, and this sustained us well as we did the graveyard trips until sunset. When we arrived home, the chicken dish when into the oven, and I served it as a late dinner around 9PM, together with the salad. For dessert we had the berries with a dollop of whipped cream (from the can...Cabot, the real thing). Throughout the weekend I served plenty of flavored water and iced tea (Trader Joe's has delicious unsweetened blueberry flavored bottled green tea in glass bottles), and had beer on hand for those who wanted it with their meals. Breakfast on Sunday morning was just as easy. I served toasted Multigrain Zone Bagels and put light cream cheese, smoked wild salmon, butter and almond butter on the table. I'd planned it so there would plenty of berries leftover from the day before, and they were delicious at breakfast with the bagels and lox. Lunch was just as easy; leftover salad and dip, and some cold meats, cheeses and Zone rolls for those who wanted sandwiches. We finished up with Zone brownies. My guests loved the Zone foods, and were very interested when I explained the hormonal and anti-inflammatory perks of eating them. One of them was blown away that they could do all that and taste so good too. At the end of the weekend they left with copies of "Toxic Fat" and "The Anti-Inflammation Zone", and some Zone brownies to have later for a snack. :)

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sue
Consultant of Zone Labs
Certified Zone Affiliate