I've been wanting to throw Dan a birthday bash for years now and I never seem to get around to it, but this year I was determined!!! The tarp was still set up from Patrick's party, so we just added twinkle lights to it and made it a red, white and blue theme (since my whole house is red, white and blue now) by making a few red, white and blue floral centerpieces (which are now sitting pretty in my yard) and it looked great!
I used cheap plastic table cloths and weighted them down with popcorn boxes with soup cans in them topped with popcorn. I then added a bunch of popcorn balls to the table for a sweet snack. Dan's favorite candy is a Heath Bar, so I added chunks of Heath to these popcorn balls and it was a hit! My popcorn ball recipe minus the Heath Bar chunks can be found HERE.
I cooked and prepped for 2 days straight and it was TOTALLY worth the effort. There was plenty of food for everyone with tons of leftovers for us! I used all my tried and true FAVORITE recipes (Dan's favorites too) and all the food was a hit! I've been asked for all the recipes, so I told everyone I'd post them here, so expect a recipe bombardment soon!
So, the menu was grilled artichokes for an appetizer followed by Cherry Coke ribs (I swear to you, you have NEVER tasted better and that includes in restaurants!!! They are amazing!!! It's not my recipe, so I can brag all I want!), made to order sirloin burgers, my favorite baked beans ever, grilled corn on the cob, feta and strawberry salad, spinach and cranberry salad, fresh squeezed lemonade and the most delicious watermelon punch (I've never made this recipe before, but my friend Minette makes it all the time and it is the most delicious drink I've ever tasted and it was beyond a hit- thanks Min!!!) and lastly my mom's AMAZING potato salad (again, the best potato salad I've ever tasted hands down!). I then had the popcorn balls, S'mores Kits, and a pineapple upside down bundt cake with cream cheese frosting!!! YUMMMMMM!!!!! Wow, what a food bragger I am! I feel I can since I hardly ever make any recipes up, just prepare them. But still, my bragging may be a tad excessive! :)
So that was Dan's birthday! Tons of food... his best buds... Name That Tune... laughter... and fire... the perfect night! It was a pleasure to throw it for him. Love you, Dan!
What a FUN party!! You are so amazing!! :o) Love it all!
Posted by: Account Deleted | July 02, 2009 at 11:47 AM
Amazing. I'm glad my husband doesn't read your blog or he'd think that is what he should get too. :) You're awesome.
Posted by: chellie | July 02, 2009 at 08:02 PM
You are definitely Wife of the Year Gillian!
~Kim
Posted by: ~Kim | July 03, 2009 at 11:32 AM