hijabi I can't believe you cooked all that considering you started at 3. props.
I have a similar kitchen- open archways to other rooms, but our dining table is in the kitchen. If a guest (well, if it's my friends, not an auntie) is hanging around the kitchen I get them to help me finish cooking.
So today my mother roasted half a turkey breast (or Tandoori Turkey as she called it, fully masala-ed up of course) which was enough for 5-6 people, skillet potatoes, and wild rice. I got a pumpkin pie from Whole Foods and I warmed it in the toaster oven with a marshmallow on top. Yum.
I made
Cream of Wild Mushroom Soup from Barefoot Contessa, it wasn't bad but way too rich. And kinda bland even though I added some cayenne. If I made it again I'd add 2 minced garlic cloves, dashes of tabasco instead of cayenne, and leave out the half and half. Chicken stock would have more flavor than the mushroom stock. Also I couldn't find shiitake mushrooms so just used white button in place of them. Mushrooms are cute and fun to chop but kinda tasteless. If you're a mushroom lover you would probably like it, but I wouldn't make it again.
making the mushroom stock and sauteing the leeks:
browning the mushrooms (I added the carrots from the stock back in):
here's the recipe:
Cream of Wild Mushroom Soup Recipe: Recipes: Food Network