Ever since I started HRX, I’ve had fantasies about one day turning the blog into something bigger – a cookbook full of HRX recipes, a meal delivery service, a catering business, etc. But, it was all very much “hypothetical” and “down the line.” For now, I thought, I will just concentrate on expanding my blog and sharing quality recipes with my followers. Well, sometimes opportunity is thrust upon you before you’re ready – or before you think you’re ready. One such opportunity was thrust upon me about a week and a half ago. One of my very good friends, a member of the Junior League of Washington, asked me if I’d like to provide the Junior League with a donation by catering an alumni breakfast this past weekend. A million thoughts flashed through my head: Am I ready? Could I really cater a breakfast for 30 people? What would I make? Would they like it? What if I crash and burn? One thought, however, prevailed: I HAVE TO DO THIS!

I had just over a week to prepare, so I decided, to make things easier on myself, I would use and/or adapt recipes that I’ve made before. A novel thought as I rarely choose the path of least resistance. I spent a week running back and forth to the grocery store and practicing my recipes. I had a slight fear that I would end up in the kitchen at 2 a.m. the night before the breakfast frantically scrambling eggs, but, thankfully, I was able to stay organized and on schedule. I went to bed at a normal hour, and Saturday morning, I was able to calmly bring the JL ladies sustenance as they prepped for their annual Tossed and Found Rummage Sale.

Not only did I make a lot of great contacts and get some ego-stroking kudos, but I adapted some of my old recipes to make them even more delicious. Here’s the menu of goodies I provided:

Chocolate Banana Bread Bites: These are a take on my Chocolate Banana Bread Brownies. After trying a couple different versions, I finally hit upon the perfect combination of fruit, flours, and chocolate. I added a little bit of all-purpose flour to the previously gluten-free version but retained the healthy buckwheat and flax. I also added an extra banana and some more chocolate to up the flavor factor. This new version is much more rich and intense so it’s best served as little mini muffins.

Maple Yogurt Parfaits: This is the one new recipe I created for the event. It’s super easy and I promise to post it soon.

Woody’s Egg Salad: Always a favorite, especially when served with bagel chips, smoked salmon, and arugula.

Egg in Prosciutto Baskets: My Spicy Eggs in Ham Baskets are very popular, but I was worried about serving jalapeno to the masses as not everyone is down with spice in the AM. So, I took the same concept and used different ingredients. I swapped the ham for prosciutto and topped the eggs with chives, fontina and parmesan cheeses. If you liked the original version, you will die for this version! Recipe coming soon…

Now that it’s all said and done, and the initial anxiety about making 30 individual yogurt parfaits has subsided, I can’t wait to continue forward on this path and see what else HRX can do!