A Make Your Momma’s Recipe Party

 

We put an interesting twist on our MSU basketball watch party yesterday.  It was decided that the dish everyone would bring to share would be something our mothers made in the 60’s or 70’s.  It was a stroll down memory lane and the fun part was hearing everyone’s stories. We enjoyed sloppy joe’s, deviled eggs, homemade mac and cheese, strawberry pretzel jello salad, iceberg lettuce salad and three bean salad. Desserts were peanut butter cookies and a decadent chocolate cake.

I brought an appetizer that my mother always made at Christmas using the gold standard of the 70’s - Velvetta cheese.  It is a recipe I had forgotten about, but still delicious.  It was fun to go back in time with some of these classic dishes which may not fit into today’s healthier eating, but have that comfort food factor. When was the last time you had any kind of jello dish?  It’s been awhile for me, but reminded me so much of childhood pot lucks when there was always one or two on the table.  

The basketball game was a loss for MSU, but the party food theme was a win that everyone had fun with.

What would be the dish you would bring?

My Mother’s Party Browns

1 package party rye bread

1 lb ground beef

1/2 lb hot sausage

3/4 lb velvetta cheese, cubed

2 T oregeno

2 T Worcestershire Sauce

Salt and Pepper

Brown ground beef and sausage.  Add cheese and seasonings.  Put bread on a cookie sheet and top with meat mixture.  Bake in 350 degree oven 12-14 minutes or until bread is slightly crispy.  Makes about 3 dozen.

Life Lately

 

Life is busy, but good busy.  I have been quite social with breakfasts, lunches and dinners. I have also been getting my hands dirty, which I love; both in my volunteer role and still working hard in my neighborhood to get things back to normal after the hurricane damage.  There has been a lot of mulch spread this past week, including in my role as a captain for Make A Difference Day in Venice.  

I ventured out to a park that is very close to me, but is known for having a lot of alligators since it is adjacent to a river.  It really is a nice, peaceful walk with old Florida ambience.  And, I am definitely much braver and more nonchalant about gators than when I first moved to Florida.  Don’t bother them and they won’t bother you.  But, the warning signs you see are just a little different here lol

Finally, I have been making a point to read more lately.  I finished The Henna Artist and it is exactly the kind of book that makes me appreciate being in a book club. I can’t say I would have picked if up on my own volition, but I throughly enjoyed it and found it is the kind of book that immerses you in the culture and characters so much, that when you are done it stays in your thoughts.  

Have a wonderful weekend!

Fashion Show Fun

 

I put together a table of friends and neighbors to attend a fashion show that benefited the group where I volunteer.  It was a fun way to spend an afternoon and feel a part of the larger community as well. The hotel ballroom where it was held was full to capacity and we enjoyed the delicious desserts and champagne while waiting for the models to come out.  Two of the models were co -volunteers so that was fun too.  

The outfits modeled were all from local stores in our downtown shopping area and we received discounts to many of the stores if we saw something we had to have.  There was a mix of casual and dressier styles and they were definitely wearable clothes for the Florida lifestyle.  

A highlight for me was the decor made from debris gathered from Hurricane Ian (no shortage of that) and fashioned into ballgown look a likes.  It was very creative and I love anything that uses natural material.

In the past few days I have been on a shopping outing with friends and now a fashion show,  Not my typical Florida days, but definitely a fun change.

Happy Friday!

Winter Reading List

 

I am finding more time to read lately and the cooler temperatures this past weekend, really had me in the mood.  It is also lanai coffee and reading weather on my comfy couch.  Add a blanket if the wind is blowing off the lake and it’s pretty much heaven.

There are  currently a lot of books on my list and that makes me happy too.  It’s hard to be patient for new releases by my favorite authors, but it’s always so satisfying to revisit the well remembered characters and see what has happened since the last book.  

Here is what I will be reading in the next few months.  Read along if you would like and we can discuss in the comments.

For my February Book Club

New from the author of Finding Mrs. Ford 

New from JoJo Moyes

British crime series favorites return

DI Gemma James and DCS Duncan Kincaid

DS Maeve Kerrigan

Prosecco and Vodka Grapes

 

This is the time in January when I am ready for the month to be over and start to think about Valentines Day.  January is my least favorite month even though I really can’t complain about the weather like I when I lived in Michigan and it meant endless gray skies.  I don’t do resolutions, make a word of the year or generally do a lot of introspection about the old or new year.  I just like to get on with my routine after the business of the holiday and for me, that is a good thing.

So, if you are in your routine too, but starting to think about the next fun holiday, these little bites of deliciousness are such a fun way to celebrate adult style.

Here is how I made them and it couldn’t be simpler.  

Place about 1 pound of green grapes in a medium sized bowl. Pour in enough Prosecco to cover grapes.  Add 2 ounces Vodka.  Cover bowl and let sit overnight.  Drain liquid, roll grapes in sugar and put 2 or 3 on a toothpick to serve.

Enjoy and Happy Friday!

Top 3 Recipes in 2022

 

I do have a tendency to try new breakfast type recipes, so it is really no surprise that my top 3 recipes on the blog in 2022 are of that category.  Baking in the morning is my favorite, because it just feels cozy.  All these recipes and simple and quick to put together, so you will be enjoying them with your morning coffee without delay.  

The past 2 years, my top recipes have included  a viral or tic Tok sensation that I have tried for fun, really not expecting much.  But, to my surprise, both have been good (2021 top recipe).  A sign of the times as I save and try more recipes found on Instagram.

Happy 2023!  I look forward to sharing my recipes, travels, family events and especially Florida life with all of you and seeing what you are up to as well.

1.  2 Ingredient Pull Apart Cinnamon Apple Bake

2. Simple Strawberry Bread

3.  Healthy Breakfast Cookies