June Birthday Celebration

My sister, FeistySis, is adorable.  (It runs in the family.)  For her hubby’s birthday recently, she printed out the above menu not so we’d know what we were eating, but rather, so she wouldn’t forget to serve something (a common theme in our family… we are scatterbrained a bit, and love lists).  It reminds me of when we were little and my dad would draw up elaborate menus… and when software became ‘advanced’ enough, he’d print them out, decorated with clip art.  My sister did that one Christmas, too… I wonder if she still has that file.  Heh. 

FeistySis enlisted me to take pictures of the food but then kept adding to the table, so the table shots aren’t really quite completely … full. 

Homemade pico de gallo slash salsa.  It’s a cross between the two, not quite one or the other, but definitely delicious. 

Homemade cole slaw.  Yes, there are pineapples in there. 

Store-bough guacamole that’s been doctored with the above pico-salsa.  NOM. 

The crudite platter.  Normally I’m in charge of chopping because I am anal retentive and everything comes out the same size/length.  This time, she spared me and chopped it before I got there.  I did put it together though, again because I am anal retentive and make everything super neat…

I made spinach dip from the Knorr’s packet, though! 

Let’s try this again. 

FeistySis grilled clams, which came out really well I thought.  I didn’t expect them to be so easy. 

No FeistyFamily gathering is complete without deviled eggs, honestly.  Even if you don’t see pictures of them, they were on the table… mmm

Ribs!  Fatty, juicy, and marinated in something… then grilled.  I envy her a bit having a backyard and a grill… then I remember she lives in Long Island.  😉 

My plate!  Chips, deviled egg, rib, spinach dip, guacamole, cole slaw, veggies.  So good.  Honestly, it’s hard to really show you how much I eat at these things since I tend to graze… or sit in the chair and eat for hours, as everyone does the same, chattering loudly.  That’s the kind of family we are. 

We also opened a bottle of blueberry wine Snorlax brought back on one of his trips to Maine.  I wasn’t a huge fan of it, but my FeistyMom liked it…

Grilled veggies that FeistySis drizzled balsamic vinegar over… pretty tasty.  She said it was her first time cooking zucchini, but now that she knows it’s so simple, she’ll do it more often.  Yay! 

Dessert – Red Velvet cake.  I think this was from Wal-Mart (I told you, she lives in Long Island – they have things like Wal-Mart!).  And it was pretty good.  Not Cakeman Raven good, but undoubtedly also not $6 a slice, either… I ate my slice happily!  (I would have taken some home if I didn’t feel all fat from my trip to the West Coast!)

I know the dessert portion of the menu says ice cream and pineapple – my sister ALWAYS has ice cream in BULK in her house – but instead we had super ripe and super sweet canteloupe, and strawberries, which my nephews adore. 

Happy nommings!  How do you and your family celebrate birthdays and special occasions?  Anything always on the table, like our deviled eggs?  Or do you go with whatever’s in season?  Or do you go out?  Share your celebratory rituals please 😀