A Tale of Two Birthday Dinners...

March has been quite the busy cooking month for me. I've enjoyed it so much, but am looking forward to a slower April. I know I really need to get a little more serious about exercising, but I've kinda been stuck in my kitchen. Besides the Spring Fling at Whitney's store, I've also prepared food for an Easter Egg Hunt (I forgot my camera, sorry) and two birthday parties (one of them being our daughter, Kate's). With the exception of the spring fling, all of my March cooking took place this week (in the past five days...I'm pretty wiped).

For the Easter Egg Hunt (please imagine colorful and appetizing pictures)
I made: (for 55)
Caprese Salad Skewers
Mini Caesar Salad in Parmesan Frico Cups
Meatball Sliders
Chicken Satay with Peanut Dipping Sauce
Fruit Kabobs

For Jessica's Birthday Party I made: (for 25)
Fruit Platter
Salad with Cranberries, Walnuts, and Feta topped with an orange-balsamic vinaigrette
Cheesy Garlic Bread
Grilled Vegetable Ravioli with Prosciutto in a marinara and alfredo sauce
Banana Cupcakes with Lemon Frosting
Chocolate Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting
Carrot Cake Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Coconut Macaroons

We held the party at the newest location of the Jessica and Friends ministry. Jessica and Friends is the organization my in-laws founded to serve the disabled adults in our area. It is a faith-based ministry that includes group homes, respite care, and now, a vocational-training center. Their aim is to create dignity for individuals with special needs to learn a vocation and also to learn some basic life skills. Construction will be finished in the next few months and they hope to welcome their first participants June 1st. I have interspersed some pictures of the almost-renovated building. We had a fun birthday party and it's really special to see the work than many have labored over for the benefit of individuals in our community.

As a small aside, there is a salon here in York that is organizing a fundraiser and I'll give you all of the details later, but let me just say, $10 haircuts and 100% of the money will be given to Jessica and Friends-












For Kate's Birthday Dinner I made: (for 10)
Cauliflower Gratin
Garden Salad
Fruit Platter
Pickled Beets and Eggs
French Bread (bought, not made)
Grilled Flank Steak
Ice Cream Cake

The highlight of the night was probably when Emma opened the package of moon sand my mom so meanly bought for Kate. You know how when kids open a bag of chips and they somehow manage to fly all over the room? Picture fluorescent pink moon sand flying all over a living room with a cream rug and ten people. Thanks, Mom. Really, I kid. The sand actually vacuumed "up" quite well (if you're in the market for a vacuum cleaner, I would suggest the Hoover wind tunnel). The real highlight was seeing Kate's face throughout the night and realizing that she felt really special!




Rob and I are leaving for our family's cabin this weekend: no kids, no internet, no tv - nothing but a few library books and our hiking shoes!