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| I do my table setting and decorating in stages, helps when you have to work and do stuff before and after work. This is the silver epergne on my dining room table ,stage one, with Easter grass and my antique hand blown Glass egg collection. I will add fresh flowers the day of the party. Secret, I have a thing for Easter Grass. Love it!!! |
What a day for a party. First of all it is April Fools Day! I keep thinking, what if the April Fools me and not show up? I don't think that would ever happen, most people have trouble turning down a beautiful meal. I am sure there will be a April Fools before the evening is over.
I belong to a group of good friends. They all live in the next town up, Louisiana, Mo. They all live in a couple of blocks from each other, on a hill. Thus, the name,"The Hill Group." I am not sure how I got in this group, as I no only do not live on that hill, I also live in another town. Putting all that aside, I am sure glad that I am included in this fun group. One couple in the group, Carl and Judy, always seem to host the dinner parties. We usually meet once a month to celebrate any birthdays that month. Some times we just meet, because we like to eat. Sometimes we go out to different restaurants to eat. This month it is Judy's birthday, so I felt it would be good if some body hosted her. So, I guess that somebody is ME!
I have been working getting the spring yard work done. It is far from finished, but the side yard, where every one comes and goes, looks pretty good. I mowed it last night, again, just so it would look fresh.I have also been working to get the screen porch opened for the season. It get's awful dirty during the winter and takes some effort to get it cleaned up. It is ready and the weather is suspose to be spectacular.I just hope it is not too warm, I sure do not want to turn the air on, especially the first day of April.
The host of this group usually makes the main course and every one else brings a dish. We usually have so much wonderful food. This way it does not cost the host too much nor cause them too much work. I am having a odd menu.But, it is things I like and can make very well. I am having Mac and Cheese with Ham. Yes, that's the main course. I make the best mac and cheese in the world. I have won contest with it. I am also serving Fried Cabbage with Bacon. Yum. I add sour cream and caraway seeds at the last minute. All most every one in this group likes beets. When we go out, they always get them off the salad bar. I am having a Beet Jello Mold. Yep, you heard me right again, Beet Jello. I have served it for years. It is a shock to most guest. But when they finally agree to try a bit, they ususally like it. I love serving jello molds. I always put them on glass cake stands and they are so pretty. It will be fun to see how this goes over. I am including my receipt, just in case you want to try it.It is more of a salad than a dessert.
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| My kitchen ice box has become a florist cooler for the past week or so. I cut the flowers from the garden, put them in warm water, let them set for a few hours to drink and then keep them fresh in the cool temperature of the ice box. Comes from years working as a florist. |
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| This is the first year my white bleeding hearts have done well. I love em! |
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| Not much room ffor food, but sure is pretty when the door opens and the lilacs smell so good. |
I have been working on this party for a while. As the garden flowers are blooming so early this year, I have been picking them and putting them in the ice box, just like the florist do, to hold them for tonight. I am serving buffet style, with all the food on the kitchen island. This is a very informal group, kinda like my family. I still want it to be pretty and nice. I have created an Easter centerpiece for the dining room table. I used my silver epergne and hand blown glass antique Easter eggs. I have a large collection of them. I did a post about them last Easter, scroll back and visit it. I believe it is titled, " Which Came First, Chicken or the Egg?"
People are bring a Green Salad, Carrot and Raisin Salad , Olive Spread and Crackers and Home made Cake and Ice Cream. What a feast.
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| This is how the finished product looked. The silver epergne, eggs,flowers and GRASS! |
I wish you could all be here to share with us. I am sure there would be plenty as I always seem to make way to much. I guess I think every one eats like me. I grew up in a family with 7 kids, so large pots of food were common. Come by anytime for a tour. I will always leave the lights on and Sissy Dog will meet you with a jump and a kiss. If I know you are coming, I will cook up a mess of something. Hope you enjoy and try this beet jello, you will be surprised.
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| Close up of the Eggs and GRASS! |
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| Arranging flowers on the kitchen island. |
BEET JELLO
1 can, 1 lb. 4 oz. pickled beets, chopped
1 package, 3 oz. lemon jello
dash of salt
2 tablespoons green onions, chopped fine.
2 tablespoons prepared horseradish
3/4 cups chopped celery.
Drain beets, add water to beet juice to make 1 and 1/2 cups.
Heat and add jello, stir well to dissolve , add salt.and green onions.
Chill to partially set.
add beets, horseradish and celery.
You can put this in a nice dish, or I double the receipt and pour it into a oiled mold.
Before serving, run knife around edge, set mold into warm water for a few seconds , turn onto a
serving plate. I some times serve with mayonnaise.
Try it for Easter or any time.
I wanted to take a picture of the jello, but people started arriving and it just left my mind. Part of getting old, they say/! I took some pictures of the guest, when I put them in Picasa to clean up, I hit the wrong button and they are gone. Another part of getting old. I know I am getting old as this party just about did me in. I loved every minute of it, but,the body say's help. What every happened to YOUNG???
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| The rest of the pictures are of my porch. It is just off the kitchen. Everybody wanted to be out there last night. It was April 1st and almost 90 here in Missouri. Almost too hot, but was a beautiful evening for a party. |
