Whooo Hooo! It is Super Bowl Weekend! Second only to Christmas and the Academy Awards (Feb. 27, if you were wondering). The most fun time for everyone to get together, eat, drink and holler at the television.
Everyone is coming to our house this year and we have asked everyone to bring an appetizer to share and some booze. You need booze for a good Super Bowl party. Just ask Don Draper.
Or, you could ask our resident NYC party-girl-about-town, Esther, who is always coming up with the tastiest cocktails. This time they are hilariously named after players from both the Packers and the Steelers. Just in time for Sunday.
If you live in Georgia, please remember to buy your libations on Saturday. When are they going to lift these blue laws already?
Since Shane’s cake turned out so well, I thought I would go for it for Kerry and Ryan’s birthday dinner on Friday night. Oh, it was so good!
We kept this a small affair – only five of us. Arancini started the night right. If you have never had these, they are risotto balls stuffed with cheese and fried. Oh my golly. And I won’t lie, I bought these beauties at Trader Joe’s – less cooking for me! Yay!
They’re bigger in person. Anyhoo, the menu was rack of lamb, pesto mashed potatoes and a veggie medley. That veggie medley also came from Trader Joe’s, but it was not so tasty, so lets not mention it again, shall we?
Last week my good friend and neighbor, Shane, celebrated a landmark birthday. Yes, he is now 21……
And of course, all the neighbors were there to toast him. We love a good party, you know. So Shane ordered up some pizza, we brought wine and beer and showed up. We are always good for bringing the adult beverages. We’re good like that.
With my buddy Shane.
I even made a cake. Now, I know what you’re thinking…really? After two misfires? Yes, really. And it turned out well. Looks like my cake mojo is back! Although I have a beef with one Miss Betty Crocker. I picked up the cake decorating tube in a nice yellow only to get it home and read that I need a Betty Crocker frosting tip to use with it. What? Really Betty Crocker? I think not. So I wrote it out freehand, sans the silly little cake tip I was told I needed. It was legible. That’s all I will say.
Not so bad.
Shane seemed happy enough with it.
And so we gathered and ate pizza and cake, washed down by wine and beer. A good time was had by all.
Lovely photo of Valerie and Shane....
...photobombed by Justin. lol
Tracy and Crystal
Jay and Rick
The guys enjoy a slice.
Humphrey was so good all night!
It was another great night in the neighborhood. Happy Birthday, Shane!
xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to the Paul Weston Orchestra – The Theme From Shane
Wasn’t yesterday with Arlynn fun? She is such a delight.
And since she was such a love to write such a wonderful post, I am going to keep it short today and talk about tacos. Tacos are Eric’s favorite food. I like them, too, but I am more partial to pizza.
The other day I gazed into my refrigerator to see what I could conjure up for lunch. Um….slack jawed and uninspired, I stared. And then it hit me. I saw some chorizo I had just picked up, spied a hunk of queso, there’s some sour cream and we even have salsa verde! Hot diggity. I always try to keep tortillas on hand and so I fished those out of the pantry. Voila!
Eric joined me in the kitchen and diced up an onion to go with the chorizo frying in the pan. I heated up the tortillas over the flame on the stove (it’s fun! it’s like camping inside!) Not too long after, we were gobbling down some of the tastiest tacos I have ever had.
One fine meal.
Life’s funny like that. When you least expect it, the tastiest treat comes out of nowhere.
I hope your day is full of unexpected pleasures, Darlings.
Today I am handing over the reins to my sweet friend, Arlynn, who loves giving parties as much as I do! She created a baby shower around a Dr. Seuss theme, which I think is just adorable.
Please help me welcome Arlynn! Take it away!
I have a confession to make here on Anatomy of a Dinner Party (ADP)… I am
a party-a-holic. Yes, there may not currently be a support group available for people
in my state of “distress,” and although my husband may wish otherwise, I’m totally
cool with it. In fact, I’m thrilled to have such an exciting addiction – I mean, who
doesn’t love a party?!? Oh yeah, back to the Hubs. I wouldn’t go so far as to grant
him the title of Party Pooper, but he certainly doesn’t appreciate my panache for all
of the excitement generated by a nicely organized party. Especially one in which
he’s kicked out and asked to leave our home for a few hours, ha! Lucky for you ADP
readers, sweet Patti does appreciate & that’s why she asked me to share my story of a recent Dr. Seuss themed baby shower I had the pleasure of co-hosting at my house! Lucky for me too, to be able to share with you – thanks a million P!!!
Well, this sordid tale of a Dr. Seuss baby shower fit for a soon-to-be precious
Princess all began when the Hubs and I purchased our first home. We’re OTP’ers
(out of the perimeter of Atlanta) – please don’t hold it against us – and found
ourselves to be living in the midst of lots of families with kids. Well, there was one
couple, right around our age who were, at the time, childless. Score one for crazy-
fun-young neighbors like us! Well, before long they wouldn’t find themselves
childless… Commence immediate party planning – and I’m talking before they even
have time to show us the first sonogram image.
I have been on a crusade to save money recently. And I bet you might be, too. Let’s help each other, shall we?
There are more than a few websites and blogs that specialize in just this thing. One site I found recently that I have fallen in love with is “Budget Bytes” written by an adorable blogger named Beth. So it is “Beth’s Budget Bytes”! She dissects each recipe and tells you how much each ingredient costs and it all looks mouthwatering. I am making one of her dishes tonight but I am surprising Eric so I will share it with you tomorrow.
My sweet friend Aimee is the author of the blog “The Coupon Diva“, another amazing way to watch your pennies. She works very hard to bring you the best deals, so go check her out.
For flat out fun and all out hilarity, visit my friend Susan at her blog “The Frugal Hostess” – she is a hoot and has some wonderful ideas to boot. Hey, that rhymes!
What am I doing to save? Well, I am certainly throwing more interactive parties. We really debated over having a Super Bowl party, and decided to invite everyone over to share their favorite football watching snack, bring their own beverages and we will rev up the Pop Corn Machine (did I tell you about the POP CORN MACHINE? We bought it for a song at a yard sale. In fact, when they told us the price, Eric and I just howled because it was exactly the amount of money we brought to the yard sale. To the penny. And it is the big kind – like at the movie theatre. So now my house always smells like pop corn. But that’s not a bad thing.) We will whip up another snack or two to share and we will open our home. Because that’s what matters – having everyone together. Not how much you spend. If you treat each guest like royalty and greet them with a huge smile and a hug, they will always be happy to contribute.
And if they don’t – well, you don’t want them in your home anyway, now do you?
Please share your money saving tips with me!
xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to Ginger Rogers – We’re In The Money
You would think that after my fiasco of trying to bake two failed cakes for Holly’s birthday that I might just give up. Oh no. I have not learned my lesson yet. Plus, I am hosting a tiny dinner party for my beloved friend Kerry (check out his gorgeous new website here) on Friday night for his belated birthday.
I needed something sassy, sweet and chic, just like Kerry. Lemon layer cake seems to fit the bill. America’s Test Kitchen made it and if they can do it, I should be able to as well, yes? Isn’t it pretty?
Photo courtesy of America's Test Kitchen
Stay tuned. And please cross your fingers for me and say a little prayer to the kitchen goddesses that I can get this one right.
xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to Average White Band – Pick Up The Pieces
You know, I was thinking about you and how I listed all those yummies Eric and I made for Holly’s birthday Sunday night with nary a recipe for you. I’m sorry, that was mean. Let me fix that today with the recipe for the Caramelized Onion & Goat Cheese Tarts.
They are very similar to the tarts I buy at Trader Joes for $6.99 for 12, but tastier and far less expensive.
Sunday night was a double whammy – the Golden Globes and our beloved Holly’s birthday! A dual reason to celebrate.
Now, you might remember me trying to make Holly a “healthy” cake from black beans, as documented in this video. That didn’t go so well. So, I tried again Sunday morning to make a “real” cake. Not so great, either. Note to self – it is extremely difficult to soften butter at room temperature when it is snowing outside.
Oh, geez, what to do now? Cake Hag to the rescue!! If you remember, they were the star of our dinner with Eddie + Jaithan this past summer, with their luscious red velvet cake. I called Maggie & Katie and even though they had been closed due to the snow/ice storm, they had one perfect cake, just for me. I have never been more relieved. Four layers of rich, dark chocolate cake layered with scrumptious chocolate buttercream. Thanks, Ladies!! Click here to see how it all turned out
Last night was bestie Holly’s birthday and the Golden Globe Awards. Both more fun than ever when combined.
But the champagne flowed and the cake gobbled, so I am feeling a bit slow today. I thought I would share this fabulous website called Sprinkle Bakes, which has the most gorgeous photography and recipes that will definitely make you smile. And with all the dismal weather we have been having, a bright spot is most welcome.
Go over to visit this scrumptious emporium and I will be back with all the details of Holly’s party tomorrow. Pinky swear.
xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to Eddie Murphy – Party All The Time
