We had a blast tonight (our biggest party to date!!!) but I’ve got to get to bed. Here are the highlights.
My parents brought presents!
New placemats
Chocolates!!
And a TUSKER (!!!!!!!!!!!) and Peeps!!
Easter decor, handpainted by my grandmother
Party decor. I spent about an hour rushing around the yard setting this up.
From our wedding!
Antique silverware holder
Cocktail hour
Diana’s fabulous Edamame Hummus (Ellie Krieger’s recipe made with silken tofu – I don’t have the recipe but you might be able to find it online – it was awesome!!!)
I had about 4 of these
And a few of these b/c we ran out of pita!
And a few sips of this –
Burger set-up: GH buns, condiments,
Blue Cheese Slaw (with pear this time = awesome!). Kelsey’s recipe!
Karen’s potato salad
Kate’s famous salad! (with goat cheese – mmmm!)
The beautiful napkins Matt got me as a surprise this week after a visit to Crate + Barrel for a frame
Grilling. We had two kinds of beef – lean (93/7) and regular (80/20).
Party!
Delicious – best burger of 2009! With avocado, tomato, 1 tiny slice cheese, pickle, mustard, ketchup. Matt made me a special 3.5 oz burger because I don’t need much to be satisfied.
Salads
w/ 7-Up and a splash more wine –
And for dessert we had brownies, made by Buzz, and Hello Dollies, made by Karen!
I had a small one of each -
Tonight was perfect. Great weather, friends, food. I also just ate – healthfully – and enjoyed everything so much. I don’t feel full – just perfectly satisfied without much other thought. ‘Twas a great day all around.
Tomorrow I plan on doing yoga in the AM (so I don’t have to get up super early) and then maybe walking with my mom after class. She is coming to Winthrop with me to see Food Lab in action!
Gnight y’all -
{ 69 comments… read them below or add one }
Love the place mats, chocolates, eats… yum and fabulous!!!
Enjoy your morning yoga session and walk with Mom!!
Oh wow, love everything about it!
wow! what a fun night!
What a gorgeous party. The chocolates are adorable and the new placemats are gorgeous. LOVE IT!! What a delicious food spread =) Gotta love good food, family and friends!
what a fun night! everything looks so colorful – i’m so glad spring is here.
those ladybug chocolates are SO cute!
Wow Kath that looks like such a fun dinner party! I love hosting people and cooking for them, but there’s not much room for that in my husband and mine 600-sq foot house. Your house and backyard look huge to me! Is that typical for where you live? I think living in California, I’ve just gotten used to tiny houses with no backyard. Your pictures make me want to move down south.
Looks like a great party! Everything is beautiful. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Wow looks like you had a fun night! Food looks amazing… nice shirt!!
zest!
Wow, everything looks fab. You certainly know how to throw a party! I am definitely taking decor & recipe tips.
Kath,
I have a quick question…. I know that you dont like to focus on numbers anymore, but I was just wondering if your weight has gone back to maintenance since you have gotten back home??? Also what do you think the calories of this dinner might be??
If you dont wanna answer that is fine, but I am a little interested!!
That looks so fun! Congratulations on hosting a great shindig
Look at those chocolates! I wonder if I could re-create them with cupcakes … hmm.
I think I might have to get one of those KERF shirts – yours looks so great on you!
those chocolate bugs are so cute!
What a fun dinner party
I love dinner parties. SO much prep work but so worth it!
Wow, what a beautiful, delicious looking party. And on a Thursday!
where did they find the Tusker?!?!?
Looks like a fun party! Your burger looks amazing — I’m a huge fan of avocado on a sandwich of any kind.
Fun times! Just about to publish my recap…edamame hummus is right. For the chips, look up spiced pita chips. Thanks for having us over!
What a perfect evening! Love the chocolates!
What an awesome night! Looks like so much fun!
What a great party! Love the placemats and chocolates your parents brought you!
Hi Kath!
Looks like a great party!! All the food looks healthy and delish and I must say the decor and how you set everything up in your yard, just looks fabulous!!
I also want to say, I’ve been reading food blogs now, getting encouraged, getting ideas, and yours is by far one of my favorites. Your approach to life, food, exercise, everything is so great. And you eat real stuff, that everyone can find and your recipe ideas are great too.
Thanks for keeping it real.
And I was going to ask. I’ve never been more than 15lbs overweight in my life, but I’m 5’2″ and weigh about 121-123 lbs. I would like to drop the last 5 or 10 more but can’t seem too.
I eat healthy, run 25-30 miles a week, bike one day a week, and weight train 3 times a week. Sometimes I do yoga or pilates once a week as well.
I don’t know what the final step is? Any advice for me, thanks.
Keep writing, I really enjoy reading!!
Liesl
Looks like a great party! LOVE the colors. Love the color green.
Are those green pom-pom things real? Do you know what they are called? I have always love them.
Speaking of Ellie Krieger, I met her a few weeks ago at a photoshoot (I had the honor of designing the cover of her upcoming book) – and she is such a nice person. And she is even more beautiful in real life. I also have her book “The Food You Crave” and have made a ton of recipes from it. EVERY single thing I made was delicious (and healthy!). I highly recommend it!
did anyone care that you got a smaller burger than everyone else?
You have the most beautiful garden! That must take a lot of work to keep it up!
Great pics! It’s so nice to have family visiting.
How fun! You look like you had a great time. And that hummus looks AMAZING. Must scope it out pronto
Those chocolates are so cute! Everything is, really.
Wow that looks like a fun dinner party! Those chocolate bugs look so good!
I have to search for the Edamame Hummus! Looks so good!
looks like a great party!
Omgosh that burger looks DIVINE. I love avocado (forever known as ‘aguacate’ because ’twas in Spain where I first discovered my true love of it) and…HOLY YUM. (Gosh, that phrase is sure getting around, isn’t it?)
everything looks wonderful! those little chocolates are so adorable. and you did a great job with the decorations!
how fun!! So cool your parents found a tusker!! I must look!
I want to try that slaw you rave about.
It looks like you guys had an amazing time!!
Cheers to me actually getting to play next Friday!
Oh my gosh, what a lovely party! I want to throw one of my own.
Killer party! And Kath, I want your buns
You have class on Good Friday? Isn’t that a stat holiday where you are?
The hummus sounds really interesting. What kind of pita is with it – it seems so dark in colour.
Hey there Kath,
I’ve been reading your blog for months but I’ve always been a bit of a lurker.
BUT…
Last night I tried Kale chips!!! I used cabbage greens though and burnt the first lot – oops. So the next lot I probably under cooked but they were delish nevertheless. Thanks for the idea!!
L
Oh wow, that all looks so delicious! I can’t wait for summer to come so we can cookout here! It’s probobly one of my favorite things about this time of year…
And of course the Peeps…
Your party set up is lovely, Kath – and the food all looks yummy!
I’m looking forward to living in a house once again, so we can entertain guests… it’s a bit tough in an apt.
sounds like a great party! Love those ladybug chocolates!
Looks like you had a great party!! What a great way to bring in the spring!
Everything looks so good, and those chocolates are adorable.
great use of the wedding decor! as you know VERY WELL, I love those little green balls!
my whole kitchen is black, white, green and yellow. I have to say that green and yellow are just such HAPPY COLORS. love those flowers!
and looks like a great party too- great menu!
Boy do you put together a GREAT party!!! Chocolates are adorable (I LOVE ladybugs because my husbands nickname is bug
), you burger roll looks DELISH! I’m definitely going to try and track down the edamame hummus yumyumyum
So jealous of your warm weather!
Happy Friday
Steph ,
Big yards are fairly common in the South – although ours isn’t really that big relative to a lot of others! I know from watching House Hunters how much real estate varies by region. You get more bang for your buck in the South.
Lindsay ,
I do think I am back to my pre-Africa weight – it took about 3 weeks. I’m still working on trimming down a bit more because I was up over the winter too.
I’d estimate the whole night to be between 1200 and 1500 calories. A lot, but it’s all about the squiggly line! I’m going to TRY to keep tonight lighter.
greenbean ,
A a tiny wine shop in Hillsborough!! I asked them why they didn’t bring me more!
Liesl ,
The last 10 pounds are hard, and I found I had to be really strict with myself to get there, but once I got there, I loosened up a lot. Don’t treat yourself to desserts, alcohol and extra snacks and keep up good sweaty exercise and you should be able to knock ‘em out.
Suzanne ,
So cool you got to meet her!
The green balls aren’t real – but I love how they look!
Bear ,
Not sure I understand the meaning of your question? We had another small burger and asked if anyone wanted it and someone did.
Marianne ,
Winthrop doesn’t celebrate many holidays! We don’t even get a day off around easter, and we go to class on Labor Day.
Lindsay ,
Glad you liked them!
Kath
Fun dinner!
Looks like a awesome time!! Love the crate & barrell napkins!!
And I love that you can kick back and enjoy yourself for a night(squiggly line). You are such an inspiration to me!!
What a great evening!! You two know how to host a dinner! LOVE those chocolates – too cute!
what a beautiful time!!!! have fun at school with your mom!!
The party looked like so much fun! All of the food looked delish.
My gosh you are an inspiration to live each day to the fullest… I told my husband we are packing up and coming to live with you…
Those buns look FANTASTIC!
My goodness, what a beautiful party! I don’t even know what to comment on.
Remember when I asked what you and Matt do in the yard? Well this is the perfect answer!
what an awesome backyard get together! that looks like so much fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am super jealous, especially of the dessert and edamame hummus!
Love everything in this post!!!! Makes me want to have a party, but I think my studio apartment might be too small . . . hmmm. . .
Those chocolates are so adorable!!!
I love all the spring colors in this post =)
Good food, good friends, good weather…. sounds like a great night.
Props to your folks for finding you a Tusker!
Your party looked like a blast!! I love all of the colorful dishes you had and the festive decorations. Also, those chocolates your parents brought were almost too cute to eat!
I recently made the blue cheese slaw and added a few crushed up walnuts – it was a yum addition to an already delicious slaw!!!!
You’re party looked beautiful and like a lot of fun! Those lady bug chocolates are absolutely adorable.
Have a lovely day!
Sarah
Oh how fun!! Love that pergola by the way
BBQs are the best, aren’t they?
Oh what a nice backyard party!!! You’ve made me really want nice spring/ summer weather to hit here!
I love those napkikns and that burger looks amazing! I’ve never put avocado on a buger before, but I can only imagine how good it would be!
Fun treats and party! I like all your floral decorations. That hummus looks interesting!
That looks like so much fun! What a great spread! And those decorations are so pretty!
There was so much amazing food at your party. I’m always trying to encourage my friends to make their own foods for our potlucks, but my crowd tends to go the easy route and buy it from grocers or specialty stores.
What a great party! The food looks great and I LOVE the placemats.
I can’t wait until our house is finished so I can have a beautiful party like yours!! It looks like so much fun!