Author: Suz

Categories
Food

Beth’s Pasta Salad

My future sister-in-law, Beth made this pasta salad for her nephew Miles’ birthday party. I loved it. I’m not a pasta salad lover so that’s saying something. She told me & texted me the ingredients so I don’t know specifics. I plan to make it this weekend. I thought it’d be great for easy lunches & to take to the pool.

Ingredients
box of favorite pasta, cooked to al dente
bottle of favorite Italian dressing (She used Kraft Roasted Red Pepper Italian)
small can of chopped olives (I think she used a few, but I plan to use one)
zucchini, chopped
feta cheese

Directions
Mix all together & enjoy!

Categories
Family/Travel

Busy Richmond Sunday

I’m still catching up on posts from my busy last weekend in Richmond. Here’s the (sorry so long) Sunday wrap up.

Mom & I started Sunday off going to their church. They just got a new minister & people were talking about how awesome he’d done on his first Sunday at the shower the night before. I was looking forward to hearing him. He definitely lived up to the good praise! His message was on the Good Samaritan. A familiar story from Luke 10:25-37, but he made a personal real life story bring it home. We followed up his sermon singing “They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love” which is one of my mom & I’s favorite songs & that brought us both to tears. Its on my mom’s list of funeral songs. Needless to say, I was a mess (but looked cute in my Lilly Lindsey pants)!

We said goodbye to friends at church and ran home to change out of my heels. We met up with my brother Chubs, fiance Beth & her sister-in-law Emily at the Richmond Wedding Expo. It wasn’t quite as big as the Raleigh wedding shows I’d attended in the last couple of years. But I think they got a few ideas of caterers (we enjoyed their dips & appetizers for lunch!) & locations. There was only one florist & one bakery. I actually won a free nights stay at a local hotel! We figured that might come in handy later this year.

Since we were out by Short Pump Mall, Mom & I ran over to Crate & Barrel & purchased a gift for the wedding we’re attending in 8/14 weekend. Also close by is the store Tweed. I’d heard good things about it and actually received a few wedding & shower gifts from there. They were having a sidewalk sale. Mom found a few friends’ birthday gifts out there. I actually purchased this plastic silver bracelet & necklace for $26. Coworkers thought it was Silpada or Tiffanys. I took a bunch of photos of the set last week after work including with me holding Moekitty (those didn’t work). None are good but you get the idea.I was happily surprised to find NCSU stuff there. They had a wine glass with a NCSU coozie that I fell in love with. I still thought it was kind of expensive so I told my mom to keep an eye on it. But I can’t WAIT for Christmas/birthday to open this:I plan to put it in a silver frame & hang it in our entry way. Tweed has quickly become one of my favorite Richmond places!

Beth’s brother Chris & his wife Emily had invited my parents to their son Miles’ 2nd birthday party. Since I was in still in town, I came along too. Over the years I’ve heard so many precious stories about Miles & his sister Marley~ and for good reason! They are adorable & so funny! I’d also hear what a fabulous cooks Chris & Emily are ~ they lived up to this one too! Chris made a japelno ranch veggie dip from their garden that was awesome with just the right amount of kick. Emily introduced us to Rachel Ray’s Apple Jack Quesdillas. She’s also a vegaratian & this recipe was kid friendly but adult yummy too. I plan to make them soon! Beth & Chubs brought a great pasta salad. I’ll post that recipe when I made it over the weekend. Emily also made these bug cupcakes for the birthday boy. I had to leave to head back home before it was dessert time but how cute is both the both boy & those cupcakes!

Categories
Everything Else Photography

Couples Shower Photos

I’d posted a few of the recipes from the couples shower last Saturday night, but I thought I’d share a few photos also of the fun!
You’ll be able to tell the ones we took with our basic digital camera & the ones the sister of the bride took with her good camera! How cute are Matt & Katie!
Here’s my brother & his fiance Beth.The hosts & hostesses with the happy couple!The shower was organized by cocktail hour & appetizers downstairs in the basement & back porch & yard. Then we went upstairs for dinner buffet style. I just realized I didn’t take any photos of the great dinner spread. (I was too busy eating it!) Below is my mom, Beth, & Molly T.
After dinner it was gift time! Since most of the guests are family friends of the groom, I think people tried to get a few “manly” gifts. It was still fun to watch Matt & Katie’s excitement opening gifts. How cute are the two Moms?!We were laughing at that four of us were wearing Jacks or target Jacks when someone took this photo. Can you tell the difference?
Later on in the night I realized I’d taken more & not been in any photos so we took a few of the girls I grew up with and mom/daughter pics. They don’t look alike at all right? And now they’re both 9th grade English teachers since Molly got hired last month!
Matt & Katie, after this event I know everyone’s so looking forward to y’all’s wedding for more fun & celebrating!

Categories
Food

White Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

I’m interrupting my “scheduled” post of photos from last weekend to post the cookie recipe I made last night. This weekend 2 of my favorite current coworkers & I are going to the beach! We’re crashing at my grandparents & we’re so excited for this girl’s weekend. We’d hoped there would be six of us, but due to child care issues & busy weekends, it’ll just be the three of us. Brooke, Holly & Kim, you’ll be missed! We’ll have a drink (or two) for you!

Eileen isn’t a fan of craisins so I found this recipe on allrecipes.com and thought it would work. After I’d put 16 or so cookies on the cookie sheet, I decided craisins would be yummy in the rest so I mixed those in. I tried a craisin-less cookie last night & it was delicious. Husband had a couple with craisins & said they were awesome too.

White Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
1 c butter, I softened first
1 c sugar
1 c light brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
3 c flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 c oats
2 c white chocolate chips
1/2 c craisins
Directions
Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease cookie sheets or use baking mats.
In Kitchenaid mixer, cream butter & sugars until smooth. In separate bowl, sift together flour, salt, baking soda, & baking powder & add in the cinnamon (my addition).
Stir in the vanilla & eggs to the sugar. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Mix until combined. Stir in the oats, white chocolate chips & craisins (also pecans if you wish). Spoon out tablespoon sized cookies on to the sheets.
Bake for 10-12 minutes (took a little more like 13 for me). Cool on wire racks.
Tip from another baker: Cookies best when lightly brown, so set your timer & do not over cook. Someone else said you could use butterscotch chips instead of white chocolate which I think I might try next time as a fun change.

Categories
Everything Else Food

Saturday Couples Shower Menu & Recipes

My parents & 3 other couples hosted a couples shower for Matt & Katie this past Saturday night. Matt & his family have been family friends of ours for over 20 years! My brother is in the wedding & we’re really looking forward to their Oct 4th wedding in Wilmington.
Mom & her friends got together a couple different times to plan the meals & alcohol. The SAH ladies cooked some Friday then Amy T joined Mom & I Saturday.
I was put in charge of making my Oreo Brownies. I also helped with the fruit salad by melon balling, cutting up strawberries, grapes, pineapple (I ate the core!). Amy & Mom steamed shrimp using the Old Bay seasoning recipe. I was the official stirrer of mom’s Cranberry Salad Cole Slaw & I encouraged adding more craisins! (recipe below.) I feel like there was something else, but I’ve forgotten.
I don’t have all the recipes, but here’s approximately the menu.
Appetizers: Hot Corn Dip (version of recipe below), Cherry Tomatoes halved with basil & fresh mozzerella inside with basalmic dip, Chipolte Raspberry Cheese Ball, & Steamed Shrimp.
Dinner: Cranberry Salad Cole Slaw, Potato Salad, Spiral Ham, Curried Fruit Chicken Salad (with Costco Rolls), Fruit Salad, Deviled Eggs.
Dessert: Oreo Brownies, Creme Puffs & Strawberries with chocolate dip.

Cranberry Salad Cole Slaw
Ingredients
4 c coleslaw (1 bag)
1 bunch broccoli
8 slices cooked bacon (we omitted)
1 small chopped purple onion (we used Vilada)
1 c craisins (or more)
1 c mayo
2 tsp red wine vinegar
1/2 c sugar
Optional: silvered almonds or chopped walnuts
Directions
Mix first 5 ingredients in medium-large bowl. Set aside. Mix last 3 ingredients in a large bowl (they’re the dressing). Combine all ingredients just before serving.

Hot Corn Dip
Ingredients
1 (11 oz) can Mexicorn
1 c mayo or sour cream
1/2 c Parmesan shredded cheese
1 c Mexican mix shredded cheese
3 tbsp finely chopped Jalepeno peppers (Mom uses 1 (4 oz) can green chillies)
Directions
Combine and bake for 30 minutes at 350. Serve with scoops.

Curry Fruit Chicken Salad (Jan said she got it from allrecipes.com which is where I found this one but not sure its the same, but its close though)
Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked & diced
1 stalk celery, chopped
1/2 small apple, peeled, cored & chopped
1/3 c golden raisins
1/3 c seedless green grapes, halved
1/2 c chopped toasted pecans
1/8 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp curry powder
3/4 c mayo
Directions
Combine & stir all ingredients together. Serve & enjoy.