Dinner Tonight. In Parts.

Today is a special occasion. It's Youngest Hawthorne's 18th birthday! So I'm preparing some of his favorites for him for dinner tonight. I don't know if I'll be able to blog the entire meal now, but I'm starting out small, doing a course at a time. First off, Caesar Salad. Now, you may have had Caesar Salad in restaurants, but I've yet to have a Caesar Salad that comes close to mine and Mr. Hawthorne's.

Our mise en place: Bertolli's Extra Light Olive Oil, Lea & Perrins, 1 egg (to be coddled), Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard, garlic, lemon, Il Villagio Parmesan cheese, and anchovies.

First, Mr. Hawthorne chops away at the anchovies until he has a nice paste. Check out that knife action!

He adds the garlic to the anchovies.

Next, he squeezes in 2 lemons.

Here's the mixture.

He whisks it all together.

Add in the mustard.

Then coddle an egg. Bring water to boil in the microwave. Drop the egg in the water for 60 seconds.

Add to the dressing and whisk in.

Add in some Lea & Perrins.

Then slowly add in olive oil, whisking constantly, to make a nice emulsion.

Grate in some parmesan cheese.

Grate extra cheese over torn Romaine lettuce leaves which have been washed and chilled.

Add in the homemade croutons.

And serve. It was me, Mr. H., YH, and two of his friends. No leftovers. Just the way I like it.