seasonal & holiday — Reluctant Entertainer

Happy 4th of July! Pull out the Paper Products!

July 3, 2010 By Sandy 8 Comments

Looking back to our annual 4th of July parties that we’ve held each year, I think about the paper products that we’ve gone through. Thank goodness for the Dollar Store and very good friends who don’t mind that I’ve “delegated” when planning the menu (everyone brings a dish). I think that people expect “paper” on the 4th, don’t you?

Here’s a peek from last year’s party …

Pool time – always a hit.

Lounging and hanging with friends.

Adults mingling under the patio.

Intimate times, into the evening, as the sun goes down.

Happy 4th to all my family and friends!

Will you be using paper products this weekend?

Filed Under: seasonal & holiday

4th of July Rhubarb Tart: Perfect for Breakfast!

July 2, 2010 By Sandy 8 Comments

I made this tart early because I wanted to try it out on my family first. I’ll say that my family loved it, even though my kids are not big rhubarb lovers! If you’re having out-of-town guests, make up the rhubarb sauce ahead of time. Then it only takes a few minutes to prepare, bake, and serve it hot to your guests!

Rhubarb Sauce
1/2 lb. rhubarb, about 2 cups chopped ½” pieces
1/4 cup sugar
Few Tbs. of water
1 Tbs. butter

Put all ingredients in a medium sized saucepan. Stir. Bring to boil with medium heat stirring occasionally. Turn down heat and simmer for about 10 minutes or until soft. Chill.

(This sauce is also awesome served warm over vanilla ice cream!)

4th July Rhubarb Tart
Serves 8-10
2 pastry sheets (17 oz. box) rolled slightly into a large rectangle (follow instructions on the box how to defrost.)
1/2 cup strawberry or orange marmalade jam
2-3 bananas, peeled and sliced
1 cup blueberries
Prepared Rhubarb Sauce
2 Tbsp. butter
1/4 cup sugar

1) Preheat oven to 400. Spray large baking tray. (Or use 2 smaller trays and make “2″) Place puff pastry sheets on the tray, slightly roll. Pinch or fold the edges up and over.

2) Brush pastry with jam (we used FRESH strawberry jam). Top with bananas, Rhubarb Sauce, and blueberries to create a 4th of July FLAG.

3) Brush with butter and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden. Delicious served with whipped cream, ice cream, or just plain.

ENJOY!

By the way, I love mix-matching tables and chairs and using paper products on the 4th. My goal is to keep the party simple!

(FUN with girlfriends a few years ago in our backyard! And if you need a quick, easy way to make Sliders for your party, check out my friend Robin’s Blog, Big Red Kitchen. You’ll love this recipe!)

Are you planning on entertaining this weekend?

Filed Under: food & recipes, seasonal & holiday

A Mother’s Love: By Erma Bombeck

May 9, 2010 By Sandy 11 Comments

A Mother’s Love

Erma Bombeck

Some day when my children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates a mother, I will tell them:

I loved you enough to ask about where you were going, with whom and what time you would get home.

I loved you enough to insist that you buy a bike, that we could afford to give you, with your own money.

I loved you enough to make you return a Milky-Way— with a bite out of it—to the drug store and to confess “I stole this.”

I loved you enough to stand over you for two hours while you cleaned your room, a job that would have taken me 15 minutes.

I loved you enough to let you see anger, disappointment, disgust and tears in my eyes.

I loved you enough to admit I was wrong and ask for your forgiveness.

I loved you enough to let you stumble, fall and hurt.

But most of all, I loved you enough to say NO when you hated me for it. That was the hardest part of all.

I love being a mother, and I’ll always think back to how my mother must have felt as a mother. And now I’m following in her footsteps, and thankful for Elliot, Garrett and Abigail – my greatest gifts in life.

Happy Mother’s Day to all my wonderful friends! I hope you enjoy your day!

(Top photo: My sons heading to their prom last night!)