Ample Apples for Amazing Recipes!

Remember the apples I mentioned my neighbor gave me from his tree? Here is an update about what I have done with them!

I should have weighed the apples I received, as I am not even sure how many pounds there were! There were at least 35 - 40 apples though, most of them between two and two-and-a-half inches in diameter. The possibilities were endless!

My neighbor's harvest last year was delicious - both in a pie and in the Apple Crisp jars I made this summer from the filling that I froze.  I decided to try a different recipe this year though, as this one for Homemade Apple Pie Filling from the blog Chocolate Moosey caught my eye.

I tripled the recipe linked above, but I used about a 1/2 cup less sugar, 1/2 cup less water, and only doubled the cornstarch.  I mis-read the recipe (oops!), and added the apples in the saucepan with the other ingredients, instead of at the end.  It didn't seem to matter that they cooked right along with the sauce though; in fact I sort of like the way they became nice and soft before baking. The great thing about making a big batch of this pie filling is that you can freeze the rest for later use!

For a bridal shower gift, a friend of my Mother-in-Law gave me two glass pie plates.  One contained an amazing Apple Crumb Pie, and attached to it was the recipe!  It has been a favorite of ours for almost a quarter-century!!  

Perhaps I will provide the full recipe for this pie in a future post, but you can read most of it here!

A couple of weeks ago though, I saw a recipe for Quick and Easy Skillet Apple Pie from the blog Let's Dish. A pie made in a cast iron skillet! I had to try it!

Part of the ease of this Skillet Apple Pie recipe is that it recommends using a can of Apple Pie filling - so no need to peel and chop apples! My homemade filling was already made though, and it substituted perfectly for the canned variety. I used three cups of my filling to made a Skillet Apple pie, and still had four cups of filling left.   The remainder is now in the freezer, and will be used in the future for another pie, crisp or cobbler.

I was very pleased with how my pie turned out.  It stuck a little to the pan for some reason, so the slices didn't come out neatly in one piece. No worries, it tasted absolutely amazing anyway.  I was really glad we had some vanilla ice cream to serve with it!

I still have some of the apples left.  I can't decide if I should make:

Apple-Zucchini Bread from Nancy C

or

Simple Apple Smoothies from Upstate Ramblings

or

Dutch Apple Pie-Lette Cookies from Pink Recipe Box

They all sound wonderful, don't they?  Whatever I decide to make, I just found a terrific use for the peels: a recipe for Apple Peel Jelly from Little House Living. Since the only other ingredients necessary besides apple peels are sugar, water and lemon juice, it would be a shame to just throw those peels away!

A very Happy Canadian Thanksgiving to all of my Canadian readers today!  (I am thankful for my generous Montana neighbors and their apple tree!) Vanilla ice cream is delicious with an Easy Skillet Apple Pie - but the Canadian tradition of a slice of sharp cheddar cheese would be lovely with it as well! 

If you are not in the mood for pie, perhaps my Maple Walnut Cake with Maple Icing would be a good dessert option for your feast!

What should I make with the rest of my apples?

This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!

Making Everyone's Day.

All sports provide the opportunity to excel in all sorts of ways.

Sporting events are often about more than just the game, as this clip from a CBS newscast clearly shows. This video has gone viral on the Internet; if you have already seen it, you will know why. (I first watched it when it was posted here.)

I'm glad I took the time to watch this video to the end.  From the words and emotions shown by this young wide-reciever, he obviously really "gets it."

This is the kind of magic that make our world a better place. Let's keep sharing this message - until everyone has seen it. 

Can you think of a time when you were able to "make everyone's day"?

Happy Weekend. Please share this post.

The Corners of Hardship and Happiness

Image: A busy intersection, but not the one described!

About a month ago, I drove up to the scene of a traffic accident. I had to sit through a couple of green lights until I was directed through the intersection by an officer. While my car idled, I took in the scene. It made a lasting impression upon me. I realized I was witnessing a true cross-section of human existence.

I'm not sure that words can explain what I saw, but I will try.

The damaged cars were near the corner to my left, through the intersection.  A young man, quite obviously in his teens, was standing beside an old-looking car with the right fender bashed in.  It appeared that the other, expensive looking car had hit this boy's vehicle, possibly as he was turning left after the light had changed to red.  No one involved in the crash seemed physically hurt, although the owner of the nicer car may have been impatient, and the boy appeared upset.

I noticed an older-looking couple waiting for a chance to cross the street on the far-right corner. Their ragged-looking outfits made me assume that they were quite poor - but from their very public display of affection, they seemed happy!

Also waiting to cross, on the corner just to the right of my car, were three people - a small girl, a boy in a stroller, and a man who appeared to be their father.  The boy was bigger than a child you would normally see in a stroller - larger than his sister, in fact.  He was exhibiting some symptoms that suggested a diagnosis of cerebral palsy.  When I first noticed them, the father looked tired. While they waited, however, it appeared the small girl said something to make her father laugh. Then they both leaned in and acted out their joke, to engage the boy.

A police car was parked at the corner to my left, with its lights flashing to warn motorists of the accident. Just as this scene all took root in my mind, the policeman waved me on. I navigated carefully through the partially blocked intersection.

In just the few moments I sat on that corner, I observed all of the following conditions of humanity:

Young      
Old
Rich                
Poor
Happy
Sad
Impatient
Scared
Healthy
Sick
Tired
Energetic
Chaos
Order

Life is just like that intersection.  

In varying degrees at varying times, we are all on the corners of hardship and happiness.  Sometimes our fate is determined by which corner we turn; sometimes we are forced - or lucky enough - to go a different way than we had planned. Somehow, life works. Especially if an element of order is present, and if we always make sure there is enough love.

Do you agree?

This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!

Stolen Debit Card!

Our daughter's bank debit card was compromised. While checking her transactions, she noticed several $1.00 purchases she hadn't made. She contacted my husband and me for help, and we all learned several things about the best way to handle debit card theft.

Via Fifth Third Bank

Educate Your Children About Debit Card Management

Parents should be sure their kids understand the importance of keeping a positive balance in their debit account, protecting their card against theft, and checking their account transactions daily. They should also know when and how to contact the bank about their account. In case a theft is discovered when parents cannot immediately be reached, teenagers should understand the process of how to cancel a card.

Bank Transactions Should Be Checked Frequently

Our daughter's habit of checking her debit transactions daily is how she discovered the card had been compromised. By noticing this so quickly, she was able to minimize the dollar amount actually charged to her account. According to the Federal Trade Commission, "Your protection against unauthorized charges depends on the type of card — and when you report the loss." Checking your bank statement frequently for charges you have not made is wise.

Cancel a Stolen Card Immediately

Our daughter was confused about why a thief would make purchases of just one dollar, so she called us. My husband explained that this was done to determine the validity of the account. Thieves, according to CreditCards.com, "often first test to check that the accounts haven't been canceled by aware customers by sending a small charge through." Our daughter then called the phone number on the back of her card and her card was deactivated. She was informed a new card would be mailed to her, and she would not be responsible for any purchases she did not make.

Always Verify the Correct Mailing Address

Unfortunately, none of us thought about the fact that it is our home address that is listed on my daughter's bank account, not her college address. The card arrived promptly, as promised -- but to our house, located several states away from where our daughter lives. Oops! I had to mail the new card to her, which created a further delay.

Image by SusanF

Always Have a Method of Payment Besides a Debit Card

Everyone should have a method of payment besides just one debit card, in case the card becomes compromised, lost, or stolen. Fortunately, our daughter could shop using her checkbook until her new card arrived. As an extra security, it is always smart to always keep a little cash on hand.

When a debit card is compromised, it is common to feel flustered. It is important for debit card holders of all ages to know in advance what to do if their card is compromised. This knowledge will ensure their ability to take immediate action to cancel the card, which might reduce their odds of being responsible for some or all of the charges made by the thief. Share this article with your teenagers and they will know exactly what to do if their card is stolen.

What other advice would you offer when a person's credit or debit card has been used by someone else?

This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!

~~*~~

Editors Note: This post, originally published on 10/9/14, has been completely revised and revamped for improved readability, comprehensive content, and style. Prior to revision, it was syndicated by BlogHer and published as What to Do If Your Debit Card Gets Stolen.

The Purple Toy

"Go get your purple toy."  When I say these words, our dog is overcome with joy.  

She will look at me, cock her ears and wag her stub of a tail.

Then she will dash through the house in a mad frenzy, searching every room on the main floor, or racing down the stairs to check our lower level.  Sometimes she comes back looking puzzled.  I send her off again with the sentence, "Go find it - bring me your purple toy.”  Usually she will come back with it.

Our dog would not win any awards for obedience. She knows all of her commands, but quite frequently she will decide it is worth the consequence to not “stay” or “come” when told.  Especially if a deer is nearby. She does have a considerable grasp of the English language though.

“Are you hungry? Is it dinner time? Ready to eat?” These are all phrases that she comprehends, even if they are spoken without inflection and at any time of the day. The human members of my family will sometimes ask each other, “Have you F- E- D the D - O - G?”  But it would seem that our dog has learned to spell - although I suspect that if we substitute the wrong letters for the words, she might still think we are spelling about her dinner.

What is special about the purple toy? It is made of indestructible rubber - apparently deliciously chewable, with a hollow core that can hold some kibble or a smear of peanut butter. It slurps and smacks as it is being chewed, and must be challenged for hours to give up that last little taste of peanut butter.  We have bought other similar dog toys over the years - but none seem just as special as this one.  Unfortunately, we no longer remember the make of this dog toy, and we have been unable to find a replacement. It is amazing it has held up as well as it has for almost a dozen years - I just hope it never gets lost!

Sometimes the dog will bring us her toy without being asked.  If I open the peanut butter jar when she is around, off she goes on her mad dash.  If she can't locate the purple toy, she sometimes returns with one of the hollow marrow-bones that we have given her.  She stands there with a pleading look in her eyes, until I hold out my palm and she delivers it right to my hand. 

Then she begins to salivate, as she waits for me to fill the center with peanut butter.

It is fun to see her so happy.  

In a September post, I mentioned we needed to buy a new dog bed.  I think she is pretty happy with the one we purchased!

Have you ever seen a dog toy exactly like this one?  

We have had this purple dog toy for over a decade - and don't remember where we bought it.

Any idea where we could buy another one?

This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!

Please Help Me Pick Out My Birthday Present!

I need your advice.

My husband is encouraging me to pick out a laptop computer as my birthday present from him! While I was trying to decide between the different computer options available, I asked the Best Buy technician a billion questions last week. I still can't make up my mind.  

Here's where you come in. It just dawned on me that I have a valuable resource of expert opinions readily available to me - many of my blog readers know a lot about computers, and all of you use one! Will you please help me pick one out?

 This is the Mac desktop I have used to write most of these posts.

I am pretty sure I want an Apple product.

Actually, I have already narrowed down my choices somewhat.  We are an "Apple" family - all of our cell phones are iPhones, my husband has an iPad, and we have owned an Apple desktop for the past decade.  I plan to stick with an Apple product - not necessarily because it is superior to the competition, but because it is what I am used to. One huge bonus that I see is that I would still be able to access to our large iPhoto file from my laptop.  That being said - if you think Apple is a poor choice for a blogger, please tell me why!

What will I use this laptop for?

I probably will continue to do some writing/ blogging on our desktop. There are several reasons it would be really nice to have a laptop though.

• For travel: Having a nice computer with me will make it a lot easier to blog (rather than get frustrated trying to use our ancient and undependable netbook; borrow a family member's computer; or write posts on my phone - which I have done!)
• Change of scenery. With a laptop, I can blog from any room in the house - or the library, a coffee shop, a doctor's office, ... or anywhere I can connect to the Internet! 
• For exercise: I have become more sedentary than I like as a writer, and I really need to build more exercise into my day. The option of creating a standing desk with a laptop, or even adding a shelf to our treadmill, and doing some walking while I work has a lot of appeal! 

What size of screen?

I want a big enough screen to work comfortably on, and for my aging eyes to easily see.  But I do not want something big or heavy. I think I have decided on a 13-inch screen. 

• An 11-inch is definitely too small for my needs, as I open multiple windows at a time.
• I don't think their is enough difference between the 13-inch and 15 inch screen size  to justify the extra size, weight and price of the 15-inch. 

Which models are in the running? 

Technically, I believe Apple refers to the computers in which I am interested as “notebooks.”  I ruled out the Macbook Pro, because it is the heaviest of the three models I have been comparing. As far as I can tell, the only real advantage of the Macbook Pro is a CD player, which I don't need. (Or do I?) I think I have narrowed my choices down to:

•  the 13-inch Macbook Air versus the 13-inch Macbook Pro with Retina display.

Air versus Retina Pro?

As far as I can tell, and from information on the Apple Website:

-The Macbook Air is a little lighter, and has a longer battery life (12 versus 9 hours, I think) than the MacBook Pro with Retina DIsplay.

- The MacBook Pro with Retina DIsplay has one more Thunderbolt port than the MacBook Air - and an HDMI port (whatever those are!) 

- The MacBook Pro with Retina DIsplay has considerably more storage capacity and more memory than the MacBook Air (but there is always the Cloud ... )

- The MacBook Pro with Retina DIsplay has much better resolution and pixel density (better display) than the MacBook Air. 

- The MacBook Pro with Retina DIsplay has a more powerful processor, so it is faster than the Macbook Air.

- The MacBook Air is less expensive, but perhaps not enough to sway a decision, if the features of the MacBook Pro with Retina Display are more desirable.  I may need to purchase Cloud space or external backup for the MacBook Air, which would lessen the price difference.

So - What's a Blogger to Do?

I will primarily be using this laptop for writing and blogging.  I want to chose the computer that is best for this these tasks, while being easy to see and use, and portable.  As you have seen on this blog, I do incorporate quite a few of my own photos into my blog posts, but my photo editing efforts are not extremely technical. 

The battery life and lighter weight of the MacBook Air are extremely enticing - but so is the storage space, more powerful processor, and enhanced screen of the MacBook Pro with Retina display.

Here are my questions for you:

What type of computer do you currently use - and are you a blogger?

Of these two Apple products, which do you recommend I buy - and why? 

     OR - - Is there a different laptop you think I should consider?


My birthday is over. My husband really wants to give me my gift - and I can't wait to get it!! I value your opinion - and I would really appreciate your help in choosing it. 

Photobombed by my feline assistant!

Please leave your suggestions in the comments.

Thank you for your help!

This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!

How To Make a Cake for Both Chocolate and Vanilla Lovers

Back in May, I wrote a post called Chocolate or Vanilla?  

In that post, I provided a link to an article about how to make a Chocolate and Vanilla cake, but unfortunately the link no longer works. I apologize for any inconvenience this has caused, and today I am re-publishing the article here:

How to Make a Chocolate and Vanilla Cake, with Chocolate and Vanilla Frosting

This was exactly the cake my son wanted for his 11th birthday

Decisions can be tough when they involve choosing cake and frosting flavors

Sometimes it can be hard to choose between vanilla and chocolate cake, with white or chocolate frosting. This was my son's dilemma on his 11th birthday. I came up with a solution that enabled him to have it all.

Mom to the rescue with a solution

To provide both kinds of cake, I baked a two-layer marble cake: vanilla batter with swirls of chocolate. (You can use a cake mix or your own recipe.) Then I made two kinds of frosting. You guessed it - one chocolate and the other vanilla.

Directions: 

I iced the cake the way you normally would ice a two-layer cake - with some modifications. These directions explain the method I used:

• Place one layer of the cake (completely cooled) on a plate.
  
• Use a knife to lightly etched a line right down the middle.
  
• Spread vanilla icing across the top of one half.
  
• Use a clean flat or offset spatula to spread chocolate icing across the top of the other half.
  
• Carefully center the second layer of cake on top of the first.
  
• Lightly etch a line through the center of the second cake, directly above the split between the two types of icing on the first layer.
  
• Extend the etched markings down either side of both layers to the plate.
  
• Using the knife marks as a guide, completely ice one side of the cake with white frosting. (Note that when the cake is cut into pieces, if you put this directly above the white icing previously applied, each piece will only have one kind of icing.)
• Using a clean flat or offset spatula, ice the other half of the top and sides with chocolate frosting, taking care to cover the cake completely, but keeping a straight clean line between the two types of frosting.

To make this cake even more unique for an 11th birthday, I carefully drew the number 11 on the top - using colors of icing opposite to the side of cake I was drawing on. I did it freehand, but you could pipe it on if piping is a method you are more comfortable with. Finally, I placed 11 candles around the perimeter of the cake.

A cake for chocolate - and - vanilla lovers.

Icing a cake this way is not very hard to do - a little patience and a spatula (and a piping bag, if desired) is all that is required.

Let them eat cake - chocolate and vanilla too!

The end result was a unique and strikingly attractive cake. It was fairly quick and easy to make, and it satisfied cravings for both chocolate and vanilla flavors. All that was left to do before eating it was to sing Happy Birthday and make a wish.

Have you ever made a cake with two flavors to satisfy the varied tastes of your guests?

This article was originally published by Yahoo Contributor Network on February 21, 2014, but Yahoo Voices was shut down, and rights for this content reverted back to me. 

 
This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!

My 5 Favorite Things About Fall - and a Complaint!

The topic of the Lifestyle Sista's linkup this Friday was 5 Favorite Things About Fall. Since I read some of the posts, I have been thinking about how I feel about this time of year.If I had to pick a favorite season, it would be summer.  Spring and autumn tie for second. Strange as it may seem, for a person who was born in Canada and loves living in Montana, winter is my least favorite season.

First of all, let me voice a complaint about fall:  

It often snows during the first week of October!

I took this photo this week (October 2nd).

We had a little snowstorm on Thursday (October 2), and temperatures dipped down to 22 degrees F. (-5.6 C). It was a chilly night, but then we didn't need our coats at the soccer game the next day.

Here are 5 things, however, that I do really do like about fall:

1.  If we have snow, it melts quickly because the ground is still warm.

The snow melted, but it remained cold for a while.
Even this deer looked grumpy about it!

2.  Fall is the season of my birthday (October) and my wedding anniversary (September).

Perfect fall weather made our wedding reception even more special.

3. The past few years we have received a fall gift of apples from our neighbor's tree!

Aren't these apples beautiful!

4. High School soccer season is in the fall in Montana - typically better weather than in spring.

Fortunately, in this photo from yesterday the white marks on the field are chalk lines - not snow!

5. The colors of autumn are unbelievably stunning in the Eastern part of North America - but also can be very pretty in the West.

This photo was taken several years ago in September at Glacier National Park, MT.

What do you like about Fall? 

This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!

It's Contagious. And Okay if You Pass It On.

Lewis Carroll Quote 

I'm not writing much today, because I want to be sure you have enough time to view this video from Life Vest Inside.  It's well worth watching - all the way to the end.

When my children were small, we had a picture book called Just in Passing, by Susan Bonners.  It was one of our favorite books to look through - page after page showed a yawn being passed from one person to the next until if finally gets back to the baby who yawned on the first page.

Acts of kindness are a little like a yawn.  Contagious.

An act of kindness.  Is there a better way to make the most of a moment?  

What is the kindest thing a stranger has ever done for you?

This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!

A Chocolate Dessert - Party Perfect and Portable Too!

Twix Brownie Trifle is the dessert I made for my party last week, that I promised I would tell you about today. Even the name sounds yummy.  When I find a fantastic recipe, I love to share it!

Twix Brownie Trifle dessert - made from the recipe I found on a wonderful blog!

Sometimes you come across a new recipe that you just know will be good.  When I saw this dessert on the blog All She Cooks, I was sure it would be awesome. Chocolate, more chocolate, and Twix candy bars ... how could it not be amazing, right?

In her recipe for Twix Brownie Trifle, Jessica (the author of All She Cooks) suggested preparing individual servings of this dessert in little jam jars. It looked wonderful in her pictures, and this seemed like an ideal way to serve a dessert to a large group! I counted my 8-ounce mason jars. Despite using some for the housewarming gift I gave my daughter and her roommates, I found that I had 14: exactly the number of party guests I would be hosting.

At my party I served this dessert without the lids, with an unwrapped candy bar for garnish.

The recipe didn’t specify how many servings it made, so to be on the safe side, I doubled it.  After making the 14 individual servings in 8-ounce jars for my party though, I had quite a bit of the prepared ingredients left over.

This trifle dessert is so easy to make and assemble

I found a good use for this!  My son and his friends went on a camping trip the following evening.  Once again using my jars, I made individual servings of this trifle for each of them. These were easily transportable once the lids were on, as the tent would only be a short distance from their cars.

I made this Twix Brownie Trifle exactly as directed in the recipe from All She Cooks, with the following exceptions:

• Instead of Twix Bites, I purchased a big bag of Twix Minis.  Coarsely chopped, I used the same volume called for in the recipe. Just before being served, I topped each jar with one Twix Mini candy bar.
•  By doubling this recipe, I was able to make a total of 24 (8-ounce) jars of this dessert.  

Minis - the size of candy bar I used.

I have made a lot of desserts, for numerous friends. This one has gotten as many compliments as any I have ever made. Several people at the party asked me for the recipe.  My son's friends saw me the next day, and thanked me for the wonderful treat! (It sounds like I wasn't the only mom who provided food - they said it was a good thing they decided to car-camp this time, as they never could have fit it all in their packs!)

Desserts all packed in a cooler bag - I just needed to add an icepack and they were ready to go!

I was worried that these portions might be too large, as it is a very rich dessert.  With just the exception of a few, all servings were devoured completely and the jars were practically scraped clean! 

Good to the last spoonful!

Now head over to the blog All She Cooks and get the recipe. Then take a peek at the other great recipes posted there. Happy cooking!

Have you ever made a trifle dessert before?

All of the opinions expressed here are entirely my own and I received no compensation for any of the content provided in this post.

This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!

8 Tips for Easy, Delicious and Stress-Free Entertaining

Last Thursday, we hosted a sit-down dinner party for my husband's colleagues and their spouses.  There were 14 of us in all. And it was one of the easiest and stress-free parties we have ever had!

It certainly helped that the weather was absolutely perfect for our outdoor gathering, but everything went really smoothly. Most of this is pretty common sense, but since it all went like clockwork, I'm sharing some hosting tips with you today. (Besides, if I write them down, I can refer to this post for reminders, the next time we entertain!)

A mismatch of tables, chairs and table linens, but the result was comfortable and festive.

Tips for Easy Entertaining:

1.  Plan to have an easy appetizer.
Remember the mushroom paté I made to take to a wine tasting dinner last weekend?  I purposefully made enough for both parties.I knew this one was coming up just five days later, and the pate keeps well for a week in a sealed, refrigerated container. All I had to do the day of the party was:

• smooth the pate into a pretty dish, 
• add a knife, crackers, some grapes and some cheese.
• supply some small plates and napkins.  

By the way, the mushroom paté is even better if you stir in some chopped, roasted red pepper!

2.  Prepare the main entree two evenings ahead of time! 
I knew the day before the party was going to be busy for me, and I didn't want to be cooking last minute on the day of the party.  I found a (new, never tried!) recipe for a dish that looked delicious, yet could be made ahead:

• Coq auVin Blanc with Spring Vegetables from Pam Anderson's cookbook, Perfect One  Dish Dinners: All You Need for Easy Get-Togethers.  
• Shopping, cooking and cleanup were all done two nights before our party.  We doubled the recipe and kept the casseroles in the fridge, then slowly warmed them up, covered, at 350 degrees F for about 40 minute before serving.  Everyone loved it!

NOTE: I discovered that Pam Anderson writes a delightful blog called Three Many Cooks - and here's a link for her Quick Coq au Vin, an even simpler variation of this recipe than what I made.  

I forgot about taking photos, so I don't have a picture of these serving dishes when they were full!

3.  Serve a simple salad and fresh french bread.

• A spinach salad with feta cheese, dried cranberries, toasted pecans and a balsamic vinaigrette went well with this dish and kept the menu simple. 
• We had the salad all ready, and the bread cut before the guests arrived. 
• Hmmm.  We don't eat butter with our french bread, and I totally forgot to supply any. Wonder if any of our guests missed it?  Maybe don't forget to supply butter!

4.  Lay-out glasses and beverages right before the guests arrive.  

This way guests can help themselves, and you won't be scrambling to wipe any spots off the glasses! The beverages we served:

• Wine and sparkling waters, kept cold in a tub full of ice.
• A cooler of beer, with home-brews added by a guest.
• A dispenser filled with citrus-flavored ice water, self-serve, with glasses nearby. 

This easy set-up allowed guests to replenish their beverages as they desired.

5.  Prepare the seating area, and have all dishes, cutlery and servings items laid out. 

This was the only mild stress we experienced! At the last minute, we decided it was neither too hot or too windy, and that there were no wasps around or threat of rain.  We changed our plan, and decided to eat outdoors.  This meant hauling out tables and chairs, and finding the right tablecloths -- but all was well in the end!!  Some helpful hints to make serving go smoothly:

• Don't stress about matching linens, chairs, etc. outdoors - let the scenery be the decoration and enjoy hosting an informal gathering!
• A silverware/ napkin caddy is useful, placed close to where the guests will sit.
• Lay out hot mats for casserole dishes, plates and serving spoons in advance, so they are ready.
• Toss and dress the salad just before the meal is served

A perfect evening for dining outdoors!

6.  Be prepared for nightfall when dining outdoors!  

We forgot we no longer have the luxury of the lengthy days of sunlight.  Just before dessert, it began to get dark.  Fortunately, lanterns and a readily available supply of candles kept the party going. What I should have done:

• Anticipate nightfall.  Have candles and lanterns in place and ready to light.

7.  Prepare an easy-to-serve and very delicious dessert! 

Dessert - check tomorrow's post to see how I made it!

I tried another new recipe, and oh, my - everyone loved it!  This dessert was so easy to make, I can't really take any credit - except to recognize a great recipe when I saw one!  

I was able to partially prepare this dessert the night before our party, and just put it together in the morning.  I plan to share my tips for making this recipe on this blog tomorrow - so won't give a lot away now, but here are a few helpful dessert tips I have discovered:

• Set up the coffee pot and fill the tea kettle; have both ready to turn on when you begin to clear the dinner plates. (Most people prefer decaffeinated coffee after dinner.)
• Pre-fill a creamer and a sugar bowl; and have a selection of tea bags handy.
• Be sure any cutlery and napkins needed for dessert are available to guests.
• Let guests know early that you will be serving dessert, so they save some appetite for it. 

These little canning jars were the perfect containers for individual dessert servings

8.  Make cleanup easy!

• Try to have all your prep work cleaned up and put away before guests arrive.
• Be sure to run and empty the dishwasher before the party, so there is room for the dishes.
• I go through a lot of dish cloths when I am cooking and filling the sink with pots and pans!  Make sure you have some clean cloths available, in case guests help wash and dry any dishes.
• Try to cover and refrigerate leftovers before dessert, so they don't spoil.  
• Remember to extinguish all candles, and bring any furniture inside that is not suitable for the weather, even if you are too tired to put it all away that evening.

And that's it!
The only other thing to be done, is to relax and enjoy every minute of the party!

Be sure to stop back tomorrow and learn how to make this scrumptious and versatile dessert!

I thought these portions might be too large - but almost everyone scraped out and ate every bit!

This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!