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

Hosting an Oscar Party?

I am crazy about the Oscars whether I have seen any of the movies or not.  I am all about entertaining family and friends, and this is a fun event where we can gather with good food and cocktails. I have individual ballots for everyone to vote on who they think will win the categories.  Your own Oscar trophy to take home is the coveted prize. Check out orientaltrading for your party needs.

Suggestions for tasty& easy menus include "mini & small items". 

Mini deli ham sandwiches made on Hawaiian dinner rolls melted with assorted provolone/cheddar/horseradish cheeses.  Add a dash of mustard to sandwich, place all sandwiches in a large 13x9 pan, cover with foil and heat at 325 for 10 minutes or less.  Just enough time to melt the cheese. Serve on a platter. 

A large salad bowl with spring mixed greens, walnuts, dried cranberries and Goat cheese medallions will be offered.  I like to use Newmansown  Raspberry and Walnut Lite Dressing with this salad.  

A delicious spinach and artichoke dip recipe can be found on gimmesomeoven  and it's made in your slow cooker.  Serve it up with multi grain pita chips, crackers, celery, carrot sticks, broccoli, and sliced cucumbers.  It's made with all fresh ingredients. (Check out the picture below).

Simple dessert will be a variety of ice creams topped with your choice of chocolate sauce,  Bailey's Irish Cream, or Frangelico Hazelnut Liquor.  My daughter, Kaitlyn of SistersMarie, loves sharing her mini peanut butter and banana cinnamon waffles.   She purchases mini cinnamon eggowaffles,  heats as directed, spreads peanut butter on bottom, places sliced banana slices on top of the peanut butter and top with the another waffle for a fun mini sandwich. 

What will you serve at your Oscar party this year?  

Make a "Red Carpet"  with a plastic tableware rollup found at your local party store. 

Recipe & Photo found on gimmesomeoven.   

Slow Cook Herb & Lemon Chicken

My daughter in law Lisa from stilettosanddiaperbags and sistersmarie shared this easy recipe to make in the slow cooker.  It is so simple to throw together and makes the house smell amazing when you walk in the door.  Did I mention it's healthy too?  

Ingredients: Fresh whole chicken, lemon, yellow onion, garlic or garlic paste, stick of butter, salt, pepper, fresh rosemary,

I bought a fresh chicken (I used Perdue), rinsed it and placed in in my slow cooker.  

I sliced fresh yellow onion, a lemon, and half a stick of butter.  (I use organic meats and produce when I can).  

I placed a couple of slices of lemon inside the chicken.  I didn't have fresh garlic,  so I substituted a tablespoon of garlic paste and spread the garlic paste on top of the chicken. (I like Gourmetgarden found in the refrigerated section of the supermarket) They have done the work for you and made a garlic paste from organic finely chopped garlic. It's a true time saver!

Begin to place sliced lemon, butter, rosemary, onion on top of the chicken, salt and pepper, pour a half a cup of water in bottom of slow cooker and cook on high for 6 hours or low for 8-10.

I bought fresh green beans from our local farmers market, snapped them, and froze uncooked in freezer plastic bags so I could savor the freshness of season a few months longer.  

This meal would be perfect to serve fresh beans as a side along with a fresh salad.

Do you have a favorite side to serve with chicken?