A french white wine to toast her. A menu with her favorite foods. Nice notes, cards and quotes---actually long lists---of things we appreciate about her. This past weekend we celebrated my mom's 70th birthday. What a treat on so many levels.

I promised her I would post the menu I created just for her---complete with a gorgeous lemon cake from my chef-friend Elizabeth, owner of Heavenly Chocolates in Seattle.

Some menu notes: my mom loves artichoke hearts, roasted beets and truffle popcorn. She requested I make quinoa and with a gift of line-caught salmon from my brother we had a menu in the works. Did I mention she loves truffle popcorn? I made her a truffle popcorn kit for her birthday (a great gift---here are the DIY instructions).

Mom's Birthday Menu

Truffle popcornItalian sodas for the kids (homemade raspberry, vanilla and pomegranate syrups) [homemade] nectarine rosemary jam with goat cheese and crackers [homemade] chianti jelly with brie marcona almond-stuffed dates, paired with cambazola and raisin pecan rosemary crackers Parmesan artichoke dip

Lillet to toast mom.

crostini with tomato, basil and garlic crostini with roasted garlic and smeared cambazola cheese dill lemon quinoa grilled salmon with dill buerre blanc lemon chive roasted red potatoes mixed green salad with roasted beets, goat cheese and chipolte pepitas served with a moscat vinaigrette

flower-topped lemon cake from Heavenly Chocolates