Neighborhood Holiday Party 2017

Hello All!

I know I've been MIA lately but I had good reason!

Each year we host a holiday party for our closest family, friends & neighbors and this year it was on December 10th!  So, once the scurry around of Thanksgiving was behind me, I had to get busy cleaning & decorating the house while hubby put together the menu.  Yep, he's the 'chef' of the family and I become the 'sous chef' ... we are a good team and it all gets done!  We usually have around 40 people but this year we only had 31 since many of the 'kids' are now in college (and 1 is even married) which meant they weren't able to join in the festivities.

Since my little family were all there this year, we took the opportunity to get a few family photos taken (thanks to neighbor Sheri for playing photographer).

Back row L-R:  Grandson Jon, Son-in-Law Frank, Hubby Mark, Granddaughter's Boyfriend Mark

Front row L-R:  Grandson's girlfriend Destany, Daughter Carolyn, ME, Granddaughter Morgan

(Aren't they beautiful!!! ... so proud!)

 

Here's a quick photo of most of the neighborhood gang!  

As you can see, most of the time the ladies end up in one spot chit chatting and the guys end up closer to the food table!  LOL

Speaking of food ... here was the menu this year:

Main Course:

Pierogies & onions

Sausage & peppers

Shrimp Coctail

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Bar-B-Q Meatballs & Weinies

Sandwich Ring

Fruit Salad

Meat & Cheese Tray

Relish Tray

Veggie Tray

Mushroom/Artichoke Salad 

(recipe can be found in my Recipe Tab under the header)

Greek Orzo Salad (NEW this year - recipe below)

Sausage & Mushroom Tarts (NEW)

Crab Rangoon Tarts (NEW)

Artichoke Tarts (NEW)

Sweet & Sour Kielbasa (neighbor Christi Shamp)

Pepperoni Bread (friend Lona White)

Desserts:

Peanut Butter Fudge (always a huge hit)

Nut Roll

Poppyseed Roll

Various filled Danish

Cookie Tray

Cream Puffs (neighbor Kim Timms)

Beverages:

Wine Bar

Beer

Water & various soda pop

If you leave our party hungry ... it's your own fault!!!  LOL

But, that rarely happens!!

Now about that  

ORZO SALAD RECIPE . . .

1 1/2 Cups uncooked orzo pasta

2 (6 oz) cans marinated artichoke hearts

1 tomato, seeded & chopped (we used yellow & red cherry tomatoes halved)

1 cucumber, seeded & chopped (we used an English seedless cucumber)

1 red onion, chopped (we used half)

1 cup crumbled FETA cheese

1 (2 oz) can black olives, drained

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper

Directions:

1.  Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.  Add pasta and cook for 8-10 minutes or until al dente: drain.  

Drain artichoke hearts, reserving liquid (we DID NOT do this)

2.  In large bowl combine pasta, artichoke hearts, tomato, cucumber, onion, feta, olives, parsley, lemon juice, oregano, and lemon pepper.  Toss and chill for 1 hour in refrigerator.

3.  Just before serving drizzle with reserved artichoke marinade.

INSTEAD, we combined 1/2 cup Italian Dressing and 1/4 cup of Red Wine Vinegar and drizzled over the salad.

What a FABULOUS time we all had!

Needless to say, I RELAXED today!!  I had all the dishes washed before going to bed after the party and got most of them put away today but my body said ENOUGH so I spent the afternoon watching 4 episodes of THE CROWN while hubby took a nap!   But we are looking forward to doing it again in 2018 ... God Willing!!

More crafting & cards will be coming your way soon ... but until then, thanks so much for stopping by and enjoy your week!!  For those getting snow ... stay warm and be careful!!

As always . . .