So, I was too wiped on Wednesday to describe what happened at the Potato Bake.
Let me just start out by saying that I am a big proponent of the saying, “A committee of one gets stuff done.” I do not like to delegate because 1) it takes so long to explain what I need that it’s just easier to do it myself, and 2) I am quite often let down by the delegated one.
So, let me also make very clear that I do not blame anyone. I am even letting myself off the hook here, because to berate myself just adds to later paranoia.
Long story short: We didn’t have any potatoes.
Seriously. For a potato bake. No potatoes.
Every other year our director orders the potatoes and I spend the day before washing, poking and wrapping them to get them ready for baking the day of the dinner. This year, our interim director asked the store if they potatoes could be pre-baked and delivered and the store said, “Sure”. I was very glad of that because each year I am so anxious about them being overdone or underdone. This time it wouldn’t matter, because I wouldn’t be the cook!
She called last week and was assured that they would be delivered. Here’s where I might blame myself. I woke up the night before and thought, “We should call to confirm”, but I didn’t. I forgot.
The poatotes were supposed to arrive between 4 and 4:30. At 4:30 I called the store and asked if they were running late. The man said, “We were told the 23rd.” (Friday)
Now, I am not laying blame so I am not even going to investigate if it was on the ordering end or the writing-it-down end, but the mistake had been made and here we were – with half an hour until the people would arrive.
We turned it into a Chili Feed. I took the six crock pots of chili, asked people to go buy chili beans to add and scrounged up some more chili. God turned it into a loaves-and-fishes event and we fed the people. ALL the people who came for this dinner because it was a fundraiser for a little girl with luekemia. ALL the people who were in a line that stretched out of the building. ALL the people smelling my scorched chili sloppings from trying to heat up beans enough to add to this sketchy chili. They didn’t get a great dinner, but they got a dinner.
So there you have it. The absolute worst thing happened and we lived to tell the tale. I was so grateful for all the people who came together to make it work. Lloyd was a rock star, too. He gave great directions, toted and carried, made his delicious Mediterranean 3-bean salad, washed dishes, took out the trash and stayed until the very end.
The end.
Deborah says
I wondered when you knew there were no potatoes because when I saw you at 3:30, you did not look panicked. That is a good idea to have someone else bake them, however.
Elaine Royuk says
It was perfectly fine! The atmosphere was fun and there was plenty of food. Who knew how that the 5 loaves and 2 fish story could be reinacted at a church in Seward, NE!
Kristi says
OH, Lauren! What a nightmare! Your quick thinking and massive amounts of chili saved the day.
Kris says
Bless your heart! It IS a good idea to have someone else bake them, though…just on the right day. Enjoy the weekend!
Brad says
Maybe this could be the first of many years where you call it a potato bake, but you serve something else. It could be really exciting for people to find out what’s being served each year!
Jill says
LOVE this idea. “We planned it this way. Thought we should keep people on their toes!!” 😉
Kris says
Great idea!