Celebrating Birthdays

My husband, Michael was born on Father's Day making it a memorable event for my in- laws as he was their first born. Our family tries to give him his own birthday celebration aside from Father's Day because he is so special to all of us and we want him to have his own day.  He likes keeping it simple, so this year we are all gathering for a supper picnic style and I'm the main grill chef.  He loves grilled steak with pineapple as a side, and chocolate cake.  So to kick it up a notch,  I'll prepare a fun ice cream sundae bar to serve with his homemade chocolate cake.  

Lightly season steak with salt, pepper and onion salt.

Grilling fresh sliced pineapple sprinkled lightly with cinnamon sugar is delicious and easy.

Everyone enjoys a make your own sundae bar.  Provide ice creams, cookies, pound cake, whipped cream, sprinkles, cherries, hot fudge, chocolate and caramel sauces. 

Happy birthday Michael.  You are loved and appreciated♡

Happy Special Birthday Sweet Daughter

Happy birthday to our Kaitlyn of sistersmarie.  From the moment we saw your beautiful face 30 years ago, you have brought sunshine, love and joy into our lives.  We love the way you celebrate each day! May you always know how much you are loved.  Happy, happy, happy birthday and many more!

Family blessings and wishes for a happy life.

I am such a proud and lucky Mom!

May you have all the sweetness life has to offer always.

You're just as sweet and precious now as you were then.

         We love you all the love in the world !  Forever & Always, Your Family

Fire Up the Grill for your Hotdog & Hamburger Station

Hotdog & Hamburger Topping Station
Dessert Table

 Our menu (below)  is fun and typical summer fare.  My hubby has a June birthday, so hosting a family cook out is always an easy idea.  Even better if the weather cooperates with sunshine and a warm day.   My family likes the Barbecue printables I found online. I printed them as signs and put them in frames for our table...put a fun spin on it.  

Our menu included:

• Grilled Burgers with Provolone and American cheese
• Hot Dogs with a "Fix your Own Hot Dog Toppings Station"
• My "Famous" Bow tie Pasta Salad with Hard Salami, Cubed Mozzarella, black olives & Italian Dressing
• Fresh Fruit Salad (grapes, kiwi, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, raspberries) 
• Homemade Macaroni Salad with Mayonnaise, chopped pimento and diced green pepper
• Large relish tray with fresh broccoli, cauliflower, baby carrots, cut celery and dill ranch dip
• Potato Chips...Kettle and Barbecue (love!)
• Baked Beans with bacon (crock pot)
• Homemade cupcakes and Birthday Cake (yellow and chocolate)
• Large Dispenser of Homemade Sangria with raspberries and pineapple (delish)
• Large tub filled with iced bottled waters, ice tea, colas and various soft drinks..juice boxes for the little ones
• Toppings:  Chopped onions, chopped tomatoes, black and green pimento stuffed olives, pickle relish, sweet pickles, ketchup, various mustards

Quick tips for putting together a fast but fun BBQ:

1.  Never shop without a list.  Mentally think through all you need to make your event a success.
2.  I always make an effort to go with dishes I can prepare ahead of time. I made my pasta salad, fruit salad, vegetable and relish tray the day before, stuck them in the refrigerator until serving time.
3. I made baked beans in my slow cooker the morning of the barbecue, let them cook all day long and you can serve them up in the slow cooker or pour into a pretty bowl before serving.
4. Any baking you need to do can be done the day before too.  Basically, taking advantage of these steps allows you time before your family or friends arrive to chop and dice your toppings and fire up the grill.

Happy Grilling and thanks for stopping by .

                                                                  LakehouseLyn

Birthday Cake of Love

Today is my birthday.  I celebrate each year with my family and friends.  My husband calls it my birthday "month" of celebrating.  Five years ago my Mom unexpectedly passed away the month before my birthday. So that year my family got together and surprised me with a lovely brunch they all cooked together.  It was so special they made all of my favorite foods and even did clean up!   Now that's a gift in itself!  

My Mom loved sunflowers and I have loved marshmallowpeeps for as long as I can remember.  Our daughter surprised me with this special birthday cake topped with peeps looking like a sunflower.  She used the round cake pans my Mom had used to bake all of our family birthday cakes in for years and years too.  It melted my heart and I'll never forget it.

It's so easy to make and perfect for a birthday you are celebrating in the Spring, Summer or at Easter.

Here's ingredients and directions.

Ingredients:  15 Yellow Marshmallow Chicks Peeps, 1 standard box cake mix (yellow cake mix looks like a sunflower), 2 containers of chocolate frosting, 1 bag of chocolate chips, two 8" round cake pans lightly sprayed with cooking spray and shake with flour.

Prepare the cake mix according to the package. Cool the cakes in pan for ten minutes before removing from the pans.   Place one round cake on a plate or cake stand and top with chocolate frosting.  Place the second round cake on top of the frosting and frost rest of he cake with the rest of the chocolate frosting. 

Place the Peeps chicks on top of the cake around the diameter with faces facing inward.  Place the chocolate chips on top of the cake .

Embrace and Celebrate each Birthday and Thanks for Stopping In!