Hey friends, it's been a while, and I've missed you all! How are you?
I'm going to spend some time this afternoon catching up with everyone's blogs. I've been super busy but thankfully all the stuff consuming my time and attention is done and dusted. This week is Thanksgiving break, and last year the district started giving us the entire week off. How nice is that?
The diaper cake was apparently a big hit at the baby shower. My friends said that several people asked if I make them to sell, and said that if I don't, I should. (Maybe I should consider a small side hustle in designing diaper cakes? Some extra cash would be nice). The most important thing, though, is that the parents really liked it and appreciated the effort.
Last Wednesday night I hosted my book club. That was another thing I had on my plate, cleaning the house and planning food and drinks for that. Since I usually only have to host once a year, I like to make it extra nice, and it stresses me out more than it should. This year wasn't too bad, though. Since Gregg retired he does 75% of the housework anyway, and he went to a lot of extra trouble doing things like dusting blinds and ceiling fans, mopping hardwood floors, and generally making everything as easy for me as possible. I love that man!
For food, I made toasted King's Hawaiian ham and Swiss cheese sliders, hot spinach artichoke dip with assorted chips and crackers, deviled eggs, crockpot grape jelly meatballs (don't laugh, they're good!), and cranberry pineapple relish. To finish I bought three ready-made desserts from Sam's: apple pie, pumpkin cream cheese roll, and a big box of assorted baklava. There were three kinds of red wine and two white, as well as iced tea, bottled water, and sodas to drink. My guests inhaled the food and complimented everything, and I think they had a good time. We're not used to having much company, and a dozen women milling around and talking and laughing for two hours makes me feel like a hurricane has blown through when it's over. Even the dogs were exhausted. *
The next night, Thursday, I made up another huge batch of deviled eggs for a work potluck on Friday. For those and for book club I used already pre-boiled eggs from the grocery store deli. For family meals, I'd boil and peel my own, but for a crowd the pre-done ones work like a charm. There was a ton of food at the potluck and coming on the heels of book club I don't feel like I want much more rich, heavy food. I'm considering some simple alternatives to the big turkey dinner on Thursday.
This morning, I had a 9:00 appointment with the dentist, the final appointment for this new crown I've got. It's a relief to have that done, even if I am $900 poorer for it! I will say that my new young dentist did a really good job, and this has been the most discomfort-free crown I've ever had. I told him so, too.
So now I have the week off, and no more pressing obligations. It's going to be a quiet week at home, with Gregg and the pups and Marco. I went to the bookstore and bought a new novel I'd been waiting for, and there are several tv shows and movies I'd like to watch. I'm looking forward to a really relaxed, hassle-free Thanksgiving.
Some random pictures from the last week or so:
I finally got around to making Gregg his belated birthday pineapple upside down cake last weekend!
I bought this pretty Christmas cactus at the grocery store and added fairy lights brighten up the dining room.
This cat has been hanging around a lot lately, hoping for a handout. I might have been guilty of leaving some cooked salmon out there for him/her one night when the weather turned very cold. Oops.
We've ended up with three big bags of apples (don't ask) and I'm trying to get creative to use them up. Last night I made battered, fried apple rings dusted with cinnamon sugar. They were delicious warm, but soggy and oily and awful after getting cold.
The boys!
The girl!
The other boy, my favorite. He has no idea I took this picture. Don't tell him! :)
*The book we discussed this month is a classic and one of my all-time favorites: My Antonia by Willa Cather.
46 comments:
The upside down cake reminded me of my mothers 1970 s cooking
Oh my goodness, what a delicious post! You busy BEE! The diaper cake was amazing- nothing even remotely like it in the market so yes, side hustle for sure! That is an incredibly special memory for the mother to be! Well done, you!
Oh, the photos of the kids! And so nice to see a sneaky photo of Gregg! I can’t remember the last time I had pineapple upside-down cake. It looks exquisite!
How wonderful to have the whole week off! When I taught, we were lucky to have an hour early out on Wednesday. Now the district has a half-day (or perhaps full day) off Wednesday for people who travel. Love the cactus with the fairy lights--very festive! Enjoy the holiday.
What marvelous hostessing you do. No wonder they were happy. And I wonder if you can indeed pick up a bit of $$ for cake designing. Sounds like a plan.
The cake looks so delicious! The apple rings do, too but I can see how they should be eaten immediately. I am blessed with a husband who is a team player too and they ARE the best. Enjoy your week off! Maybe just a turkey breast in the crockpot?
Well, you've been busy, between hosting and feeding the neighborhood cats and sneaking photos!!
$900 is a pretty good deal on a crown. Pineapple upside down cake is one of my favorites. And that pic is supper!
Never tire of seeing the pups!!!!!!
That upside down pineapple cake looks soooooo good, and I want to like it, and have never enjoy any I had...it is always way too sweet for me. If you don't post again, I 'll wish you a good and Happy Thanksgiving.
The other boy was in the perfect position. You just had to snap that photo, would have been a missed opportunity had you not.
Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
My dental insurance covered over half the cost, thank goodness. Making the cake in a square pan made it easy to cut perfect size portions with a pineapple ring and a cherry in each one!
I really have been busy! And that cat has a really haughty attitude for a hungry stray, lol.
I bought three frozen turkey breasts for the freezer because the sale price was so good, but I think I'll do something different for Thanksgiving this year!
A small side income would definitely be nice, even if it was just some pocket money for extra little indulgences now and then.
I think they probably hit their height of popularity in the 70s!
Thanks Linda! You're always so kind!
I looked up from my book and saw his head framed by the wreath and I had to snap a picture!
I love fairy lights draped on houseplants this time of year. The nights are so long and dark...
Exactly! It's a nice autumnal photo.
That pineapple upside down cake looks scrumptious. I used to do entertaining like you. Now the small group of friends I set up I host at a coffee shop. Last Friday weather was lovely so we sat outside. No house cleaning needed!
The book club food you prepared makes me think, Delicious! My Antonia is a good book. I read it for a class on American novels. Send Gregg along to my house next, please. It needs a thorough cleaning.
Love,
Janie
Wonderful photos! And my gawd, that upside down pineapple cake looks delicious! I watched a cooking show one morning last week and their featured recipe was "party meatballs" -- the crockpot grape jelly meatballs you talk about! I've had them before and they ARE good.
Remember I said you could make such "cakes" for a living, Jennifer? Maybe not entirely for a living, but it is entirely realistic to get a little extra cash, and from something you enjoy doing, too.
Your book club gathering sounds very luxurious! Five different wines - I would have just plonked one red and one white on the table and asked everybody to help themselves :-D
Gregg with the wreath "around" his head is a great picture! And of course I love the cat. He/she is obviously not put off by the scent of dogs. Has Marco spotted it yet?
What novel did you buy that you were waiting for?
Happy Thanksgiving Week to you, dear friend!
What a lot of tasty food you prepared. No-one could have asked for the wrong thing as you catered for every taste.
I love the dog photographs and Marco. Your visiting cat is very pretty and will be back for more treats, I'm sure.
That sounds very nice--meeting your friends at a coffee shop. We didn't need to clean quite as thoroughly as we did, but it was a good excuse for a deep cleaning.
My Antonia is one of my favorites. I'd forgotten how nice it is!
The party meatballs and upside down cake are both probably 70s classics! LOL!
I had two whole bottles of red and two half bottles of white left over! I can put them aside for the holidays. With around a dozen people coming, I was afraid two bottles wouldn't be enough, and I like to have extra in any case.
The book I bought was shortlisted for the Booker prize months ago and I read a review of it and decided I wanted to read it when it was released. It's The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller. Two other books I considered buying were Flashlight by Susan Choi and The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother) by Rabih Alameddine. I normally don't by hardcovers but I wanted to treat myself. :)
Those classic party recipes (sliders, meatballs, etc) never fail to please! There's also a pretty black cat hanging around too. I'm trying to only leave food for them out by the road, away from the house, so they won't be encouraged to come into our back yard. Our two dogs are violent towards cats and I'd feel terrible if anything happened to them!
I can't imagine throwing a party like that! Or a book club event either. Whatever. You really outdo yourself every time. The other women must feel completely intimidated when it's their turn to host.
I love the picture of your best boy. His birthday cake looks perfect.
Wow! You certainly sure put out a wonderful spread for your book club group! I've gotten lazier and lazier when it comes to entertaining and keep it pretty simple now. I'll host Thanksgiving this week and I just make the old favorites and don't try anything new anymore. ;)
Diaper cakes used to be a going business. Yours is a nice one. No harm in giving it a try.
Wow Jennifer. You have been busy! All of the food sounded really good, and I have had grape jelly meatballs and they are indeed really tasty. I loved the photos of your "kids." Happy Thanksgiving!
The pineapple upside down cake looks so yummy! Hope you have a great Thanksgiving!
A lovely upbeat post. You seem to be in a good place just now Jennifer and I hope that you and your lucky husband have a happy Thanksgiving Day. Please give my regards to Marco.
Fried apple rings! Clever!
It all looks wonderful - and yes, grape jelly meatballs are delicious! Spread the word!
Mary, I promise you no one feels intimidated about hosting me. I make a lot of food, and we clean like demons beforehand, but I lack some proper serving utensils (like a pie slicer/knife) and I always use good quality paper plates and plastic cutlery and glasses because I don't have enough nice things to serve that many folks. Really, it's a stretch for me! And I guess I overcompensate for feeling like I don't measure up, hence all the food and worry.
Most of this stuff was premade, Ellen. I figured out a long time ago that these women would swoop in, scarf down food, and carry on a bunch of different conversations and wouldn't notice if food was carefully prepared homemade.
I wish a couple more friends would get pregnant so I could practice a few more and have more pictures to show!
I hope you've had a good Thanksgiving, Michael! Thank you!
It IS yummy, and really easy. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
Such a nice comment--thank you, my friend! I'm mostly in a good place. I have my days, but overall, I'm a very lucky woman and I'm grateful. Marco sends a big parrot squawk right back to you!
I need a candy thermometer so I can get the oil temperature right. They'd've turned out better if they'd been fried better. :)
I spread the word regularly! Ha! I thought of you today. We were watching some AI generated junk on Youtube about the "top party appetizers from the 60's!" and half of them are on regular rotation when I entertain! LOL. Oh well. Those old/vintage cookbooks are great for party ideas!
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