Canasta Dinner.

It all started over a couple decks of cards. We all decided it would fun. After all, we get together with Dave and Kristi fairly regularly. What better way to spend a couple hours then visiting over a competitive, full contact friendly game of cards? So we paired up guys against the girls... no problem! We ladies were doing pretty good, I must say, with the guys winning just often enough to keep them interested challenged. After a few months, we had won over 20 games, the guys somewhere in the upper teens. Well, someone(one of the guys, no less) had the great idea that we should start back at zero wins a piece and play for a "prize". The first team to reach 25 wins would get a special dinner made by the other team. "Great idea," we ladies agree. After all, it seemed as though skill rested in our favor :)

They say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. Well, I would say it provides some pretty good motivation in cards as well. The tide turned! The guys pulled out ahead, and I believe held the lead through most of the round. We ladies would pull up from behind... possibly taking the lead by a game (or 2) here and there. But the guys would rally and come back in full force to pull out in the lead. In the end, they won 25 games to 22. 

Time for Kristi and I to plan dinner!

We decided on Italian. 

For drinks we served a strawberry margarita (great recipe),

a white moscato, and Le Passione (both my favorite wines).

For an appetizer, we served bread with garlic olive oil.

Kristi brought some venison sticks.

(Ok... some may argue that venison is not Italian. I say, "Who cares? They were delicious!")

Our first course consisted of an "Olive Garden Soup" copy-cat recipe that Kristi found.

WONDERFUL!

(Thanks, Kristi, for leaving some leftovers. Perfect comfort food for this very snowy Sunday!)

She also put together a wonderful salad served with a balsamic vinaigrette.

Time to eat!

For the main course, I made Rolled Lasagna.

I tried a new recipe. It was good, but, needs a little tweaking. It seemed a little bland and a little dry.

We also had sautéed green beans.

For dessert, (thanks to some inspiration from Pinterest), I made

mini chocolate cheesecakes, lemon shooters, and mini tiramisu.

I must say, the tiramisu was a very pleasant surprise. I'm not always a fan of tiramisu. But this

 was delicious and the favorite dessert of the evening. Although I must admit, my personal favorite was

the cheesecake. I decided to try using ground oreos for the crust... YUM!!

Well, I do believe our dinner turned out to be a great success. And, I must admit, that

although I am hoping this round of canasta has a different ending, making dinner was a lot fun!

The guys even enjoyed it so well...

THEY DID THE DISHES!

And, of course; the evening continued with a few games of canasta!

Dave and Kristi... so glad we are friends!

Grandma Tea

Today we had the privilege of all three Grandams over for tea.

G'ma Jan (my first husband's mom) surprised us all. Madison had called with a request

to "dress-up", and "dress-up" G'ma did. She wore a nice dress, long black gloves (from

her granddaughter dress-up box), about 5 or 6 necklaces, nice big earrings, and her little white hat.

Not having and make-up, she used a marker to give herself "rosy-red" cheeks. She came walking up the drive with a cane (which she does not need). And to top it all off, since she doesn't have a long dress jacket, she wore her pink bathrobe. When she arrived she explained, "I dressed like a little old lady going to tea!" We all decided we would have to have another tea sometime and we will ALL

dress like "little old ladies going to tea!"

The three grandmas.

(Nana, my mom; G'ma Jan; Grammy, Mark's mom)

Nana and G'ma live within a couple hours, but Grammy lives in TN.

We are enjoying having her here this week for a visit.

The tea table!!

Chicken salad on cucumber slices.

Chocolate teacakes.

Mini cream cheese and fruit parfaits.

Thanks, Grandmas, for a wonderful tea!

We hope you all enjoyed it as much as we did.

Love you all!!

Merry Christmas

A Birthday Tea

Magdalene and I had been wanting to host a Tea Party of quite some time.  We just seemed to get swept away with life and never got around to it, until Dec. 8th! In honor of Magdalene's 12th birthday (Dec. 7th), we finally hosted a Tea Party! 

To keep the "tea table" simple and uncluttered, 

we set a separate table for the food.

Chocolate is a must for any and all parties! (At least the parties I host)

Magdalene and I made cinnamon scones. We used a tulip

cookie cutter rather than having the traditional triangle shape.

This is the "teapot" cake. I am so thrilled it turned out just as

I had envisioned. I am no professional cake decorator, and I was working without

directions. I just used the pampered chef batter bowl for the pot, an ice-cream cone for the spout

and handle, and a small cake cooked in a metal 1 cup measuring cup for the lid.

I couldn't have been any happier with the results.

Chocolate mini donuts! And mini "fruit pizza" cups.

I found some free printable "photo booth props" for some photo fun.

Each guest had the honor of a photo taken with the birthday girl.

TonyJean

Regina

Madison

Clare

Anna

Dominique

Clare and Madison were the two oldest girls in attendance.

Madison (being the older sister) and Clare, a good friend of both Madison

Magdalene, were asked ahead of time to help me serve the others.

They did a marvelous job!! Thank you both!

CAKE TIME!

I had a moment of "but it's too cute to cut".  Then I just reminded myself, I made it

to be eaten. It was almost as good as it was cute :)

The girls played a dice game and each took home a teapot

or teacup they acquired during the game.

All in all, I think Magdalene and I did well hosting our first

official tea party!

Magdalene... I hope your day was special.

I hope you know you are special to us!

We love you.