This is 40

Making the risotto - it was delicious

Good, dear friends around a table to celebrate - what more could I ask for as part of my continuing birthday celebration?

Lemon zest?  Keli's your girl as Derek looks on.

Every birthday needs a candle, even if it is in a lemon pots de creme.

Happy Birthday to me.

Dave seems to be the teachers favorite student, so he actually probably did more chopping and prep work than Vanessa this evening.

Mike & Jen are so busy with the pork products that they can't even look up.  They took great pride in doing a great job with dinner.

Even though there were some plumbing issues at home, the Sudermans were fully present to help celebrate.

The Roberts also did their fair share of the prep for dinner.  Ashley actually got pretty good with cutting goat cheese with dental floss later in the evening.  The trick is to always use unflavored floss!

Let's be honest, after 21, it's the birthdays that end with 5 & 0 that beg to be celebrated.  Everything in between can be managed with a dinner out and a casual time with friends and family, but the 5 & 0 birthdays beg for something more.  This year, with a 0 birthday to be acknowledged, the party just keeps going.  After the jubilant time in Avalon, a delightful family party and unforgettably terrible root canal, the celebration just keeps going.  This time, some of my dearest friends took an evening to toast to 40 with a cooking class and dinner.

Because we made great food, the evening was delicious (whipped creme fraiche on crostini with honey & pepper, arugula, roasted corn, chickpea and pancette salad with pistachio crusted goat cheese, spring green & asparagus risotto, herb-rubbed prosciutto wrapped pork-loin and lemon pots de creme with raspberries) and the company was sincere, without pretense and perfect.

We have a tradition in our family to honor the birthday person by going around the table and highlighting something we especially appreciate about that person.  Apparently this tradition is not so unique, as the Riddles have a similar tradition that they initiated after we had eaten our meal.  This tradition with family feels comfortable and safe, as family is family and they are obliged to love you flaws and all.  This tradition with friends is beautiful and encouraging in ways that make you want to be better.  This is people who choose you, telling you why they choose you, and it inspires you to be the person they see in you.  It's humbling and spirit lifting to listen to people who choose you, encourage you.  It also highlights the importance of making wise connections with the people you let deeply into your life.  I am blessed beyond measure by the people around that dinner table, and am so very thankful that I get to call each and everyone of them friends.  If this is 40, it ain't never looked better.