pig roast

Jeremy had a big pig roast today. I woke up at 6:30 and couldn't go back to sleep because I was too excited. I've been waiting for this pig roast for so long, and I really worked myself up for today being the greatest day of my life. I don't think it would be too far of a stretch to say that my summer hit its peak today, but I hope that isn't true. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to top something like this though. It was sunny, then it rained, and then it rained while it was sunny, but no food got soggy and I think everyone probably went home a few pounds heavier. Barbeques are like building burritos. You think you aren't eating that much because you're only getting a little bite of everything, but there's just so much food, you end up eating enough food to feed a small family.

That'll do Pig, that'll do

 (you guys have seen "Babe" right??)

The China box that the pig was cooking in for hours and hours

The first wave of food:

cornbread, red and green salsas made by Justin #1, potato salad (without mayonnaise, so much better that way!), guacamole and hummus, and more food you can peep at below.

Melissa and I made 2 dishes. This one is cucumber, celery, mint, and feta in a white wine-olive oil dressing. So easy.

And this one is spicy sweet potato salad with black beans in a garlic-jalapeno-cilantro dressing. I think it's a Mark Bittman recipe, maybe? Find it here

 Brussel sprouts made by Justin #2

This sushi was the food I was the most excited for after the pig, and it was made by Yasu's super wife, whose name I have no clue how to spell, so I won't try. But lemme tell you, it was the best. Ever.

This was so pretty and also really delicious. I really liked the lemon with the smoked salmon.

Watermelon and feta salad made my Sarah, the summer-iest sweet and savory combo

Plate #1 with a little bit of everything on the table, including the orzo salad which Austin and his wife made. Also, just because this is my first plate doesn't mean I hadn't already eaten a ton of food before this without a plate. It just means that I realized having a plate allows me to maximize my eating capabilities.

Taking the lid of coals off

Roasted pig inside

Austin, Justin 1 and Jeremy flipping the pig

Pale pig

Spinach and mushroom gallettes made by Kathy and Richard, supreme cooking team. There were actually a few tomato ones but I couldn't find any, so I just ate two spinach ones...

Cheese platter from Daisy

Normally I wouldn't hover too much over this plate (this is a lie) but I completely devoted my weekend to purifying my digestive system for today by not eating dairy or too much gluten, and I didn't drink (that much). I mean, I drank carrot juice for lunch yesterday. I had a LIQUID LUNCH, I would never do that. Then today, I became a gluttonous troll.

Watermelon and lemon ginger lemonades made my Olivia and her husband

There was a lot of waiting for the pig

And more waiting

Watching the box was like watching golf, you know something's happening but you can't see it. This was more exciting because there's a real crispy, fatty reward at the end. Not some trophy nobody knows about because who watches golf? Like really, name one golfer that's not Tiger Woods. I can even name more football players than that. Maybe.

Jeremy and Anne-Marie, pig-roast hosting angels

Really, it takes some extra nice people to have a million people over to mercilessly attack an 80 lb pig and then some

Checking the back of the pig

YEAH

The main event

Parading the pig in

There it is

Crispy, bubbly, fatty, cracklin skin

 Cutting the skin

 The meat underneath

 Impressed and excited

Jeremy had this wacky bear claws for tearing up the meat and I got to use them. It was a little bit scary how natural it felt to be ripping into the pig with my fake claws. And then I knew I was always meant to be a carnivore.

So greasy

Tacos were the best best best vehicle for the pig meat

Melissa made these for me, with Justin's red salsa (that was so good n smoky), Bill's baked beans, cilantro, and onions

Plate #2.5

Jeremy's pickled ramps

Ok by the time I was done eating, I really thought I was going to have a heart attack. You know that point when you're feeling pretty drunk and you should probably stop drinking, but you're having a pretty good time, so what's another? Then you do, and the rest of the night is a blur but you don't regret it at all. This was me but with food. I totally forgot about dessert, and there was so much of it. It was a real struggle to taste it all (I think I missed a few things), but I got a second wind. Well, it was more like a second gust because I only managed a few bites of each thing.

In the tin is a strawberry crumble tart something but I'm not sure who made it, and going clockwise: strawberry bread (by Kristin), brownies (mystery baker??), key lime pie blob by Rachel of "Rachel's Pies," cornmeal lime cookies and blueberry lemon cookies, also made by Kristin. It was the best dessert selection because I always prefer fruity desserts to chocolate or caramel or..whatever else.

 Pig grease, yum

My body hurts more today than it did after I rode a bike for the first time in forever. It felt like a work out. I am so tired and sore (why do my legs hurt??). I think this is what people mean when they say the "burn" they feel after working out feels good.