super bowl snack ideas

this year we are not going to a super bowl party.  jordan has a fundraiser with his band in the morning and i am volunteering.  in the afternoon he has a rubik's cube competition - i know, so nerdy cool.  we are planning to watch the game at home and enjoy some good food but not with a big crowd.

we know the super bowl is all about the commercials, the halftime show and the FOOD!!  if i were hosting a super bowl party here's what you might find on my table.

from good housekeeping

this is so stinking cute.  a 7 layer dip surrounded by a crowd of chips, veggies, and drinks. love it.

from jelly shot test kitchen

sophisticated jello shots in the team colors.

from my frugal adventures

brownies in the shape of footballs.  i am making these for the band cake fundraiser.

from michelle paige

a bowl of super bowl rings. so simple and fun for the kids.

from bon appetit

the one thing i am making this sunday is nachos.  i mean look at how yummy these are.  i will make a lightened up version with ground turkey and reduced fat cheese but i expect it will be just as tasty.

from skinny mom

we call this pep-chee-crack; pepperoni, cheese and crackers but in the shape of a football.

from less than perfect life of bliss

 and maybe a popcorn and candy bar using the team colors.

that should be enough to keep a crowd happy.  let me know if you have some cool ideas for the game.

girls' weekend

8 girls got together in palm springs to celebrate gaby's bachelorette.  i knew that gaby did not want a "las vegas experience", but instead just wanted her bridesmaids to get together, relax and do some girly things.  so that's what we did.

jennifer and i emailed each other over the last few months working out the details of the weekend.  her in-laws were kind enough to let us use their very nice house for 3 days.  jen, rachel, gaby and i arrived on friday afternoon.  the house had 3 bedrooms and a guest house.  so everyone had a place to sleep.  gaby and i lucked out with the master suite.  it was awesome.  the bed had a massager for each of us.

we hung out, chatted and then headed to the store to get the groceries.  i came up with the menu for the weekend and wrote up the list.  we had dinner reservations and needed some time to get ready.  so our shopping time was limited to 30 minutes.  it felt like an episode of top chef getting around the store, buying what we needed while keeping track of the time and money.  but we made it and went just $2 over the budget.  not bad.

then we went back, put everything away and got ready to go to dinner.  we decided to eat at circa 59 in the riviera hotel.  i had been here just last month with bobby and the kids and thought the girls would enjoy it.  great food.  we sat outside by the pool.  but the weather was so warm, we were sweating.  and it didn't help that the waiter was kind of creepy. but overall a great time.

after dinner we went back to the house and took a dip in the pool.

the next morning the rest of the girls arrived.  my sister-in-laws, niece and another friend.  gaby and i put together little gift bags with things they might need for the weekend; water bottle, flip flops, a pedicure set, hair ties, fruit bar, a journal, and pen.  just  something to make them feel at home.

everyone got comfortable, had lunch and then went for a swim.  for lunch i set up a rainbow salad bar.  i saw a picture of this on pinterest and wanted to do it for the girls.  we also made grilled cheese sandwiches with goat cheese, avocado and tomatoes.

after a bit of swimming everyone got to participate in the at-home spa.  i found a few recipes online with natural ingredients for a hair mask and body scrub. we also had a clay mask, foot bath and tons of pretty nail polish.  and of course there was food.  cheese, crackers, and fruit.

then it was time to get ready for dinner.  jenn picked out las casuelas for our group.  a fun, party atmosphere mexican restaurant in downtown.  we went around the table and gave gaby advice on marriage.  it was fun listening to everyone's perspective, married or not.  (sorry my camera had a smudge so everything was coming out glowy.  or was it just our joy shining through?

we also did a little shopping for hats.  i picked this one up at a souvenir shop.  

back to the house for her lingerie party.  no pictures to share on that.  but let's just say we had a blast, laughing, quizzing and embarrassing her. you can't have a bachelorette party without a little blushing, right?

we served fruit cobbler and ice cream for dessert.  sweet.

everyone went to bed and a few of us stayed in the kitchen chatting.  we ended up staying up until 4am!!  i can't remember the last time i did that.  i laughed so hard and really enjoyed sharing everyone's company.

sunday morning we had fruit salad, toast and eggs for breakfast.  then we sat around the table talking.  it's amazing how we never got tired of just chatting and learning so much about each other.  we shared things we loved about our husbands and things we do to let them know how much we love them.  i can say that we all have some good guys to share our lives with.

by the time we were done chatting it was time for lunch.  no one really wanted to go out so i picked up some pizza at bill's pizza.  the same place i took the kids for lunch the last time we were here.  it was delicious.  and we finished up some of the leftovers too.

and then it was time to go home.  we didn't even make it to the outlets.  that's how much fun we had hanging out together.  and yes, all we did was talk, eat and laugh for three days.  not a bad way to spend the weekend.  we even made friendship bracelets in the wedding colors to remember our time together.

i secretly hope that we can make this an annual girls' weekend.  whether here in palm springs or some other place.  one of the girls lives close to napa.  now that would be an amazing weekend.

what a great time, with some great women.  i love the way it all turned out.  and i can't wait til the wedding.

i will be off for a few days.  have a lovely weekend.

bridal shower recipes

when i put together a party i try to mix some purchased items with some homemade items.  for my sister's bridal shower i did just that.  

things we bought to save on time and hassle:

mini quiches from smart n final

salad kit was from costco

mini red velvet cupcakes from a bakery

things we made to save money and to make it our way:

the chicken salad.

assembled the skewers.

mini muffin spinach dip.

brownies, but i used a mix

mother-in-law made the lemon squares, that were lovely and yummy.

dipped our own strawberries in chocolate.

i wanted to share some of the recipes that i made for lunch.

chicken and cranberry salad

2 c. rotisserie chicken diced

2 celery stalks, diced

1/4 c. red onion, diced

1/4 c. dried cranberries

2 tbsp. light mayonnaise, more if desired

1 tbsp. dijion mustard

i don't actually measure when i make this recipe.  i just add and mix until i get the right flavor, so use my measurements cautiously.  mix everything together and spread onto the croissants or dinner rolls.  you can also replace the cranberries with dried apricots.

3rd time i've used this photo, but it's so pretty.

mozzarella, tomato and basil skewers

 this is a super easy, but yummy appetizer.

toothpicks

marinated mozzarella mini balls

grape, sugar plum or cherry tomatoes

fresh basil leaves

start with the tooth pick add a mozzarella ball, then a tomato and finally a basil leaf.  not too difficult.

variations:  i have made these with sundried tomatoes instead of the fresh.  you can use the plain mozzarella balls and then drizzle the assembled skewers with balsamic vineagar, olive oil, salt and pepper.

mini spinach dip bites

recipe from picky palate

1 13.2 container of pillsbury refrigerated french bread dough

2 tbsp. olive oil

2 cups baby spinach, light chopped

1 clove of garlic, minced

3 oz. of softened cream cheese

1/2 cup light sour cream

2 tbsp. shredded parmesan cheese

1/8 tsp. chili powder

1/8 tsp. garlic salt

1/8 tsp. sea salt

1/8 tsp. fresh ground black pepper

1/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

preheat oven to 350 degrees.  spray a mini muffin tin with cooking spray.  cut the dough into 10 slices and then cut those slices in half. 

form those slices into rounds that will fit into the muffin tins.  leaving a well in the middle.

heat oil in a skillet. add spinach and stir until wilted.  add garlic and cook for an additional minute.  remove from heat.

mix together the cream cheese and next 6 ingredients. add spinach and garlic to the mixture.

put a tablespoon of cream cheese mixture into each bread bowl.  top evenly with mozzarella cheese.

bake for 15-17 minutes until brown. 

mine came out pretty stuffed and the cheese was brown and yummy.

hope you enjoy these as much as i do.

you're invited

please join us for a "look" at a very special bridal shower in honor of my sister gaby.

date: saturday, june 27
time:11:30 am (lunch will be served at noon)
place:  my parents' backyard (always a lovely place for a party)

please be prepared for very hot weather.  hotter than we anticipated. 

make sure to put your favorite recipe into the cookbook that we will give to the bride.  it's always important to have the best recipes on hand.

find a place at the table decorated in yellow and white.

don't worry we didn't rent dishes or linens.  my sister-in-law and i have a large party inventory and were able to put it all together.  the only thing we rented were the chairs.

when you arrive enjoy a refreshing drink.  with this heat, you will need a glass with plenty of ice. ice tea, lemonade and "spa" water with cucumbers, lemon and lime slices.

or enjoy a crisp glass of riesling or prosecco.  for a little delight, add some prosecco to a glass of lemonade for a bubbly, lemony mimosa.

lunch will consist of mozzarella, mini tomatoes and basil skewers.

mini spinach dip muffins (that will be a party favorite).

chicken and cranberry salad on croissants.

mini quiches and costco parisian salad to fill up your plate.

enjoy some time with family and friends. and maybe meet a few new people.

we will of course play games like bridal bouquet toss.

love bingo.

guess who said what correctly and you could get a bingo.

and pass the gift.  which is a fun way to get to know each other.

there will be touching speeches

laughter and maybe a tear or two.

for dessert you will enjoy mini red velvet cupcakes, mini brownies, lemon bars and white chocolate covered strawberries.

we will shower the bride with lots of gifts.

before you go, please take home this token as a thank you for being a part of this special day.

this shower was given with love by sandy, jennifer, adriana, my mom (not pictured) and me.
eta: thanks for letting me share some of your pictures as well.

i wish we could have had you all there, but i hope i captured what a wonderful day it was.