Saturday, September 20, 2014

Mimi's 90th Birthday!

Two weeks ago, we surprised my Mimi with a 90th Birthday par-tay!  She had no idea we were all coming from out of town, and miraculously, we were able to pull off the surprise!  Mom and Aunt Vicki outdid themselves with the pink theme and Mimi loved all of it.

Growing up, I spent lots of time with my Mimi and Papa.  When they had poker night at their house with their group of friends, I would beg to go stay with them.  I have the greatest memories of picking up pecans in their front yard, riding bikes up and down their super-long driveway, and going for rides in the pick-up truck in their pasture. (just to name a few!)

After my Papa passed away, Mimi moved into "town" and in our neighborhood.  She would pick me up from school in her Grand Marquis and was my babysitter when the parentals were out of town.  Every Sunday after church, you could find us over on Hudgins Dr feasting on one of Mimi's "Sunday lunches".   The first time I ever got pulled over for speeding, she was riding shotgun with me...and boy did she get a chuckle out of the whole thing!  We share a love of clothes.  She gave me my first "nice handbag" at age 7...a Dooney & Bourke.  I was smitten!

Her mind is as sharp as ever.  What a blessing it is to still have her in our lives.  While visiting her in Chattanooga, she said to me, "Virginia, sit down and tell me what everyone is wearing this fall!"  To say she knows me well is an understatement.  I love you Mimi, and am so blessed to have you in my life!


Her sash was the finishing touch on her pink outfit!


K and Lib were in on the pink theme too!


She turned the corner into the room and was speechless!  Surprise!


Mom had these super-cute napkins made for the celebration!



And of course Nicole from the A'ville Home Bakery outdid herself with a massive sheet cake!



Mimi and her two children; Aunt Vicki and my dad


Mimi and her three great grandchildren...and there's a 4th on the way!  Congrats to Bret and Sasha on their upcoming arrival!


Mimi and her girls!


Love my Mimi!


All the grand kids!


Kids and grandkids!


Here's our entire Decker family...we may be small, but we are mighty!






Casey's Baby Shower

In August, we celebrated the upcoming arrival of Frances Elizabeth Busby!  Cricket hosted us at her beautiful home and we loved showering Casey with all things pink and girly!

Frances, we are anxiously awaiting your debut...Can't wait to meet you and spoil you rotten!






Instead of a sign in sheet, we guessed when Baby Frances would arrive!




I loved getting to hold sweet Carter Brown after the shower was over!


Casey's mom sewed her these beautiful monogrammed bibs!  GORGEOUS!





Hostesses



August Recipe Club

Jordan's Creamy Slaw



1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sugar
2 Tbsp. cider vinegar
1 tsp. refrigerated horseradish
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 (16 oz) package shredded coleslaw mix

1.  Stir together mayo, sugar and next 4 ingredients.  Stir in coleslaw mix, stirring until blended.  Cover and chill until ready to serve.  





Jordan's Slow Cooker BBQ Pork



1 (3-4 lb) boneless pork shoulder roast (Boston Butt)
1 (18oz) bottle barbecue sauce
1 (12oz) can cola soft drink

1.  Place roast in a lightly greased 6 qt slow cooker; pour barbecue sauce and cola over roast.  Cover and cook on Low 8-10 hours (I cooked for 8 hours in a crock pot) or until meat shreds easily with a fork.

2.  Transfer pork to a cutting board; shred with two forks, removing any large pieces of fat. 




Caron's Zucchini Lasagna



3 medium zucchinis, sliced length-wise
1 tablespoon olive oil or coconut oil
28oz can of crushed tomatoes
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 small onion, chopped
3 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped
1 teaspoon oregano
salt and pepper, to taste
15oz container of ricotta cheese
½ cup parmesan cheese
1 large egg
16oz shredded mozzarella cheese

Thinly slice the zucchini length-wise and place a little bit of salt on each and lay on top of paper towels, continue doing above with zucchini slices then another layer of paper towels. Allow the zucchini slices to set for 10 minutes.
Add olive oil or coconut oil to a grill pan and grill the zucchini slices for about 1 minute on each side. This allows extra water to be removed.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
In a medium sauce pan, combine the crushed tomatoes, garlic cloves, onion, basil, and oregano. Bring the sauce to a simmer and add salt and pepper to salt.
In a large bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, and parmesan cheese. Mix together. Set aside.
Using a 9x13 casserole dish or two 8x8 baking dishes, spread some of the sauce on the bottom of the dish.
Place a layer of zucchini slices, then a layer of cheese, ricotta, zucchini slices, then sauce. Repeat until all of the ingredients have been used.
Bake covered for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes.



Anna Kate's Pasta



2/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup mayonnaise 
3 tablespoons Greek seasoning
1 16-ounce box penne pasta, cooked, drained, cooled
3/4 cup grape tomatoes, cut into halves
1/2 cup feta cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

Whisk together oil, juice, mayonnaise and seasonings in a large bowl.
Add cooked pasta, tomatoes, feta cheese and basil. 
Cover and chill 8 hours.


Amy's Tomato, Peach and Burrata Salad



1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
2 large tomatoes, cut into pieces
2 large peaches, cut into pieces
6 ounces burrata cheese, cut into pieces
3 tablespoons freshly chopped basil

1. To make the balsamic reduction, pour the balsamic vinegar into a small saucepan. Heat over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and let simmer, swirling the pan occasionally, until reduced to about half of the original amount, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.

2. Meanwhile, place the tomatoes and peaches on a platter or plate. Top with burrata cheese chunks and basil.

3. Drizzle the balsamic reduction over the salad and serve.

Note-you can find burrata cheese in most grocery stores in the cheese section. If you can't find it you can substitute fresh mozzarella. Burrata cheese is very soft and will not slice well. Just add the creamy chunks to the salad




Whitney's Salad


Sarah's Grilled Chicken


Rhonda's Corn Salad



1 cucumber
2 tomatoes
1 bell pepper
1 purple onion
2 12 oz cans of shoe peg corn
1/4 cup sour cream
4 tablespoons mayo
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1/2 tsp celery seed
1/2 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tsp salt

Mix and refrigerate until serving 



Virginia's Maple Blondies



2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
10 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup maple syrup
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Confectioner's sugar (optional)

1.  Preheat oven to 350.  Grase a 13x9 inch baking pan.
2.  In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.
3.  In a large bowl, combine butter, sugar, and syrup.  Whisk in eggs and vanilla.  Gradually stir in flour mixture.  Spread batter in prepared pan.  Bake for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.  Let cool completely on a wire rack.  Cut into 12 squares.  Sprinkle with confectioners' sugar, if desired.


Dee Dee's Strawberry Cake


1 (18.25-ounce) box white cake mix
1 (3-ounce) box strawberry flavored instant gelatin
1 (10-ounce) package frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed and pureed
4 large eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup water
Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe follows)
Garnish: sliced fresh strawberries


Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease and flour 2 round 9-inch cake pans.

In a large bowl, combine cake mix and gelatin. Add pureed strawberries, eggs, oil, and water; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Pour into prepared pans, and bake for 20 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pans, and cool completely on wire racks.

Spread Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting in between layers and on top and sides of cake. Garnish with sliced fresh strawberries, if desired.


Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting:
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (10-ounce) package frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed and pureed
1/2 teaspoon strawberry extract (I used vanilla extract instead)
7 cups confectioner's sugar (You'll need to buy 3 boxes of confectioner's sugar to have enough.)


Directions:
In a large bowl, beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Beat in 1/4 cup strawberry puree, reserving remaining for another use. Beat in extract. Gradually add confectioner's sugar, beating until smooth.
***Note:For pinker frosting, add 2 to 3 drops of red food coloring to frosting.***


Fockers Beach Trip

Every year, I get together with my college crew, the Fockers.  I look forward to it for months.  This year, we all gathered together in OBA.  For the first time in several years, every single person in our group was there.  This was especially special this year, as our friend Alex has been battling Hodgkin's.  She was such a trooper and was able to make it for the weekend...it was the icing on the cake!

All of these girls have a special place in my heart.  We've been friends since we were 18 years old when we met in ole Molly Holly on bid night.  We can go years without seeing each other, but when we reunite, it's as if no time has passed at all.  Can't imagine my life without these crazy girls in it!

The Birmingham crew was packed and stacked!
#fockerselfie



As soon as we unloaded it was out to the porch to enjoy the beach views!
#cheers



We spent all afternoon/night on the beach just catching up!
#rossstreetroomies


Night #1!
#missingMelandAlex


Each morning started off with a couple cups of joe along with us in a circle just talkin'!
#coffeewasamust


You can tell we've gotten older as we all wear cover-ups, hats and shades now!
#fockerstakeOBA #readytoseeAlex


Britt kept us entertained with her cheerleading skills!
#gobritt


We took it old school and did a little building!
#elevator #overserved


We sat in a circle all day on the beach and really never got up...it was absolute perfection!
#cheers


Here we are...all 11 of us!
#loveyall #hootyhoot #chioforlife






Kinzi's Baby Shower

Back in July, I helped host a baby shower for my BFF, Kinzi.  We had the soiree at the Three Earred Rabbit in Trussville.  The food was delish, presents were abounding, and Baby Harrison and his momma were showered with love!















 
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