Happy Birthday to Me

Just like peanut butter and jelly, peaches and cream, and boiled shrimp and hush puppies, no two words go together quite as wonderfully as cruises and food. My birthday has been no exception. Although I have been following my planned itinerary of salad and yogurt on this cruise, I completely fell off my good intentioned wagon today -- and it's not my fault. I awoke to find a Happy Birthday banner strung across my cabin door and an inviation to breakfast in the Crystal Dining Room. What followed was culinary extravagance. Those of you who know me well will appreciate the fact that I actually chewed things I normally eschew.


This would be my peach nectar, cointreau, and champagne Bellini, the mini bagel with smoked salmon and wasabi cream cheese, the waffle cone with lemon cottage cheese and marinated strawberries, the small doughnut filled with cointreau flavored vanilla custard and the raspberry and chocolate corflake crunch. Appetizer course!






This would be the creamed spinach and creme fraiche with caviar that was the side dish and topping for.........











the truffle omelet, the grilled beef filet tournedo and the little brioche and prosciutto "Monte Cristo" sandwich.

Yes --- breakfast!









Needless to say, I was much too full to think of having lunch....so I just had dessert for lunch! Lemon curd with meringue, creme brulee with blueberries and strawberry, fresh berries, kiwi sponge cake with mandarin oranges and a vanilla custard swan shaped cream puff......and another Bellini.







After "lunch", I returned to my cabin to find a birthday card from the Symphony's Master (not called the Captain, I've learned) and this request to join some crew at dinner.


I'm resting up.......

Life is good. Tomorrow is another day to think about returning to my diet!