On June 10th, at the Hayti Center, my sister Karen and I prepared, on premise, a spread for over 100 guests. Senator Floyd McKissick was honored by People of Faith Against the Death Penalty. The center was filled with clergy and friends celebrating the successful efforts to ensure passage of the North Carolina Racial Justice Act.
For the reception, we made gallons of fresh peach iced tea with mint from my garden, served a cheddar cheese ring filled with hot pepper/cranberry jam, an artichoke/parmesan dip without the usual spinach, but with collard greens instead. There was tortellini with a parsley pesto sauce as well as a marinara sauce, and meatballs with a pineapple sweet and sour chutney. An assortment of pecan wafers and sugar cookies surrounded a basket of fresh strawberries with whipped cream. Herbs from my garden and hand painted wooden platters of sunflowers were the backdrop for a festive late spring celebration.
