The Way We Roll at Our House

I hope you all had a beautiful Easter! We are fortunate that all our "kids" flock back to the nest for holidays. There are just seven of us to sit down to dinner but our house is small so it is a challenge. Last Christmas I was inspired by a post on the talented Karla Nathan's blog. She had more people coming over than her dinning room could accommodate so she pressed her studio into service. Well, duh! Up until then we would haul the big table from my art room, add the leaves and place it in the living room. Then we would walk on top of the chairs to get a seat and the boys and the girls would all try to talk over the top of each other. Yes.
So here you have a picture of the "girls" table in the art room. I don't use my holiday dishes at Easter because they are Johnson Bros. Friendly Village and have a very Fall/Winter look. Just the everyday dishes and a little girlie "foofing". Happy girls. The "boys" table is in the kitchen and they can talk about bicycles and boy topics to their heart's content. They get place mats so they don't make a mess and I don't even make the husband clean up his "nest" that is leaning against the wall. Happy boys.

Our holiday menus don't vary much. Smoked ham, augratin potatoes, fresh asparagus, deviled eggs, french bread and "pink stuff". I made the french bread with ranch dressing mix sprinkled over the butter and browned under the broiler this year.

The "pink stuff" is always in the yellow bowl. It is just how we do it. The pink color didn't come out well in the photo so you'll just have to trust me that it is very pink and VERY good. What is "pink stuff" you might wonder??

• 1 container of whip topping


• 1 large can pineapple tidbits, drained


• 1 can cherry pie filling


• 1 can sweetened condensed milk

Fold it all together and refrigerate a couple hours. It has a mouse-like texture and a heavenly flavor!

Years ago my Grandmother gave me a little plate that read "My house is small, no mansion for a millionaire, but there is room for love and room for friends and that's all I care". Amen.