I never saw an episode of Sex and The City, which is probably why I don't get the cupcake thing.
My sister was hosting an abbreviated family dinner at her house last night ~ our parents, an aunt and uncle, myself and my sister. Six people. This, of course, meant that my sister made enough food to feed a battalion of Marines. Cheese ravioli (three pounds), sausage and peppers, chicken in tomato sauce, corn on the cob. Force of upbringing/habit I asked what I should bring and she asked for salad and bread. Now, when I cook, I cook for the number of people being served... not the 5th Army. I put together a spinach salad and baked a loaf herb bread. This was a bit of a disappointment to my sister. She was seriously worried there wouldn't be enough. I just laughed. There's no point in trying to make her understand she doesn't need to provide enough food to feed Mongolia... all you can do is laugh and shake your head at her insanity. I'm convinced she starved to death in a previous life. And, there was leftover salad and bread.
While baking the bread yesterday morning I did give a thought to dessert. My sister usually provides at least three choices (no, I'm not making this up), so, I figured that since she didn't ask me to bring something, she had the dessert issue covered.
Alas, no.
After I arrived and we started plating the hors d'oeurves (three different cheeses, two kinds of olives, six different varieties of crakers, pepperoni and bruschetta) she suddenly screamed OH SHIT.
No dessert.
Panic attack ensued. I am not exaggerating - complete meltdown. I kept telling her the last thing we needed was more food but she was freaking out because she had forgotten about dessert. I said I'd run to the store and get some ice cream. That wasn't enough. I won't bore you with the slightly demented conversation that took place, but what she wanted me to get was enough dessert for an Italian wedding... on a Sunday afternoon (profiteroles, gelato, cannoli... etc). She then decides she'll go to the bakery and pick up "something". I fully expected her to come back with their delivery truck fully loaded but all she came back with was her own SUV with... cupcakes. At $5 EACH! $60 of cupcakes, all different flavors and colors (and a dozen cannoli and a pound of cookies... only the Italian gods knows why). She then went on, and on, and on, waxing poetic about the wonders and joys of cupcakes. Me, I just heard waa waa wahh waaaa. Tuned her out completely. I cannot believe she spend $60 on cupcakes.
Our parents arrived and, as always, were stunned by the sheer tonnage of food cooking - our aunt and uncle were equally shocked when they arrived. I don't get why though. Gretchen has actually toned down the amount of food she sets out. This wasn't as bad it used to be. We all received leftovers for the week. No, I'm not exaggerating. I have seven containers of ravioli, sausage (with pepppers excluded), and chicken. I refused the insanely overpriced cupcakes took some cookies instead.
My sister needs to work for a food kitchen or feeding the military. As with everything else in her life she goes competely over the top with generosity when feeding people and it makes her happy.
