Baby Shower

Last week I had the privilege of going to a shower in Decatur for Baby Emma.  It was so much fun!!!

I've included a few photos of our fun morning.

These are the hostesses with Mother-to-be, Bailey.  From left to right--Kate, Mary Ila, Mother-to-Be, Leah, Cathorine and Megan.  Aren't they cute???

 Guess who???  These are the proud grandmothers with Bailey.  Me, Bailey and Ann.

Time to open the gifts      

Baby Emma and Bailey received so many nice and useful gifts

I think Bailey likes this process

She has so many cute friends. 

Kate, Bailey and Heather.  More great friends!!

Juanita and her daughter Kelsey drove from Florence to be at the shower.  Wasn't that sweet.

Thanks Juanita and Kelsey.

Delicious cupcakes---Mmmm good!!

I can't end this post without talking about the food.  I am so sorry I did not take more photos of the table and all the food.  Being a first time grandmother is a bit distracting.  I was concentrating on all those fabulous gifts!!!  The food was fantastic!!  We were met with Mimosos as we arrived and then enjoyed blueberry muffins, fruit, an egg dish, grits(what southern brunch does not serve grits), cupcakes and more!!  It was all delicious, but the coffee/ice cream punch was to die for.  OMG, I could not stop drinking it.  I resisted it until the end of the party and it is a good thing I did or there would not have been enough for the other guest.  I am still dreaming of that punch.  If I can get my hands on this punch recipe, I will share in a future post.   It is definitely worth the millions of calories!!


Thanks young hostesses for such a fun morning.  I am so thankful that Bailey has such wonderful friends that surround her with love and support.
patti

Greenwood and The Viking Cooking School

The Taste Buds decided to take a trip over to Greenwood for a class at The Viking Cooking School and a night at The Alluvian.  After all the planning and reservations, only 4 of us were able to go. What a fun time.  I'm ready to go again.  We missed you Martha, Lynn, Peggy and Anne.

Beth, Patricia, Jennifer and me checking into The Alluvian.

Glass of wine at The Alluvian before class starts.

Patricia's friend, Gage, who lives in Greenwood also joined us for
wine and the cooking class.  She is lots of fun and gave Beth some
competition on who remembers and knows the most people.

The Viking Cooking School.

Here we are with our chef/instructor Becky, in the middle, just
before class started.

Beth, Patricia & Gage--now that is some serious cooking!

Jennifer, Beth, Patricia, & me--we are multi-tasking--cooking,
drinking wine, and posing for pictures.

Our finished product: Tournedos of Beef with Champagne Sauce,
Dauphinoise Potatoes, and Oven Roasted Asparagus.

Now it is time to chow down.  In the background you can see
some of the other folks in our class. Great group of people.  For
dessert we had Mousse au Chocolat in Tuile Cups with a Raspberry
Sauce.  I was sooo busy devouring it that I forgot to take photos.
Sorry!  Delicious!!

What a fun 2 days of shopping, eating, cooking, eating, shopping
and eating.  It was a treat to be with these women that I call my friends.

patti

This Week in My Kitchen

Sorry, but I have been a slacker on my posting and cooking the past 2 weeks.  My mother and sister came to visit and spent a night with me.  We decided to go to a local restaurant instead of cooking. I was also preparing to go and visit my friends, who recently bought a condo in Auburn, Alabama,  their beloved alma mater.  I tell you all this to explain why I only cooked one thing last week.  I wanted to take something with me to Auburn so I made Muffuletta Dip. This is a Southern Living recipe.  My sister made this for a Super Bowl party and suggested I try it.  Great recommendation sis.  It was delicious!!!

Muffuletta Dip 

Thought you might like to see a few of the pictures from the weekend in Auburn.  

The Wilcoxes Condo.  So Nice!!!!!

What a great welcome mat

Little did I know that when I planned my trip to Auburn, it would be the week the news about the poisoned trees was released.  What a sicko that would poison 2 trees that were over 100 years old over the score of a football game.

The site of a very old tradition and according to the experts there is only a 10% chance the trees will survive the actions of a very sick man.

Fans gathering to remember happier times.

Could not resist getting my picture made in front of this tribute on the side of Tomer's Corner Drug Store

This was my first time back to Auburn since Harrison graduated.  What a treat!!!  A great place to be with some great friends.  Thanks Linda and Sammy for a wonderful weekend!  WAR EAGLE!

patti

My Merry Christmas!

I just wanted to share my very, Merry Christmas with you.  It began on the Tuesday before Christmas with the Pizazz party.  

 Meet the Pizazz girls

 As you can see it is difficult to get 8 women to pay attention

  

Opening my gifts from the Pizazz girls.

Christmas Eve arrived with much anticipation.  I was so excited to welcome my mother and children just in time to attend the Christmas Eve service at First Methodist.  I love that service and also love seeing everyone that has come home for Christmas.  After the communion service we were off to the Wilcoxes for dinner.  We have been celebrating with the Wilcox family for many years and always have great food and fun.  We take turns hosting our Christmas Eve dinner and we also share in the food preparation even though my only contribution to this fabulous meal was the desserts.  

 One of the great appetizers--Cranberry Brie--Delicious!!!!

Shrimp--also delicious!!!

Linda, Sammy, Harrison and Bailey enjoying conversation and cocktails.

Looks like some serious conversation for Christmas Eve

Time to Eat---Salad, Beef Tenderloin, Potatoes,  and Broccoli & Artichoke Casserole-
Wow!!!!  So Good

My contribution to our meal---Bananas Foster Cake and

Chocolate Chunk Cheesecake--I know this cheesecake looks very messy in the photo, but it was fabulous!  If you love chocolate, this is heavenly. 

After great food, friends and fun, we are ready for bed.  We sure don't want to surprise Santa Claus.

.

Bailey surprised me with matching pajamas.  So here we are--THE TWINS

 We woke to snow on Christmas Morn and guess who was the first one outside

 Avery!!!!

Looks like Santa has filled the stockings

Avery can hardly wait to get into her stocking

 Mother Bailey encouraging Avery to sit til we find Chloe--Good girl

Avery is thrilled with the toys Santa brought her

This should keep her busy for 2 minutes.

After our traditional Christmas Brunch which consisted of Breakfast Pizza, Cinnamon Rolls and Cheddar Baked Grits, it was time to open presents

The presents looked so pretty under the tree

but we all managed to 

tear into them

Such fun!!!!

Harrison gets a little help from Avery

 Now its time to play with Moe

Family photo--The Copelands

 Avery settles down to her toys and is probably thinking--enough of that family stuff

After all the presents were open, we started a jigsaw puzzle(this might be a new Christmas Day tradition), cooked, and Harrison flipped thru all the sports channels.  Since we had a very late breakfast/brunch, we snacked through out the day and enjoyed our Christmas meal that night.  We were joined by Pat and Katie.  David went on a duck hunting trip late Christmas afternoon, so I invited them to join us for dinner.  Remember I posted on David's delicious grilled teal breast, so we want him to go hunting. 

 Enjoying cocktails before dinner

Katie has captured everyone's attention

Time to eat

 Harrison gets us all settled and blesses the food.  Time to dig in.

Roasted Cornish Hens with Cranberry-Port Sauce, Potato Gratin with Rosemary Crust, and Green Beans Supreme

This was absolutely delicious!!  Will definitely be making again.  Check out my Christmas Day Menu Post for all the recipes.

On Wednesday after Christmas, I traveled to Tupelo to share Christmas with my sister who lives in Arkansas.  Not all of my family or hers was able to make the trip.  Jobs always get in the way of celebrating.

My sister Debbie opening her gifts from Bailey--Napa Firelites

Nash delivering a gift to my Mother--Great dog!! You can
see the proud Mother's face in upper left corner of
photo--Allison

All right--I have delivered enough presents.  That's Santa's job.
Now leave me alone!

Dusty (Allison's new Hubby) opening his gift.

Christmas has come and gone for another year.  It was a great Christmas!!!!  Celebrating with family,  friends, and with good food is a recipe for great memories.