Over the river and through the woods…
We went to Karen’s friends’ home for a Christmas party! Karen is such a schmooze – she gets invited to so many cool parties! Luckily her friends are awesome and welcoming and we were invited to two of them : )
Tracy and Clayton live way out in the beautiful Virginia [snow covered] countryside – about 45 minutes from Charlottesville.
Breathe in the country air!
Once we arrived, there was a gorgeous spread of food set out in the setting of their historic home.
I filled my plate with veggies, grapes, cheese + crackers, poached salmon in dill sauce (MY FAV!) shrimp, and baked brie
Went back for a few seconds on the good stuff
Tracy had hot cider that tasted so good on a cold day
Especially when spiked with a splash of whiskey!
We enjoyed lots of fireside chats
Before hitting up the dessert table…er piano!
Sorry to the piano lovers for two days of piano tables!
There was dried fruit, chocolates, coffee cake, fruit cake and cookies galore
I shared a plate with Matt – 3/4 for me, 1/4 for him! My favorite was most definitely the Rum Coconut Ball at the 12 O’clock there –
And the bite of molasses cookie that almost didn’t get photographed!
I sipped on some of Matt’s nog that Tracy made from scratch
Karen sporting the Christmas spirit ~
Two parties down, one to go! And then there’s also Christmas and our annual post-Christmas visit to Bald Head Island!!
Once we returned from our trip, Matt and I stole the last few moments of sunset and went for a walk to UVA and back.
Where does Beetlejuice come in?
Here!
A nice tofu + purple slurple cabbage soup!
Beetlejuice Cabbage Soup
Ingredients
- 4 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup brown rice
- 1/2 head purple cabbage, chopped
- 3 carrots, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 bunch bok choy head, chopped
- 8 oz Twin Oaks tofu, spinach jalapeno tofu (or just whatever you have!)
- 1 tbsp salt (our broth was salt-free)
- Black pepper to taste
- Red pepper flakes to taste
Method
- Add broth, rice, carrots, celery and bring to boil. Reduce to simmer on medium low for 10 minutes.
- Add cabbage and bok choy stalks. Cook for 15 more minutes.
- Add bok choy leaves, tofu and seasoning cook 5 more minutes.
Serves 4-6
It was fresh and delish!
Tomorrow, I am going to Baltimore to visit my grandmother for her birthday on Monday! It’s a quick there-and-back-again trip, but requires the usual out of town planning this evening like packing, lunch packing, etc.
Then I shall read. We’re reading The Raw Shark Texts for our Bald Head Book Club and I am just barely into the book with a week to go!
Stacy @ Every Little Thing says
What a great party! Who is Karen, to you? All those appetizers look amazing. That’s my favorite kind of spread – lots of little things so I can try everything! Have a good night!
Kath says
She’s Matt’s mom – my mother in law
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
What a classy party you got invited to! <3 the gray slouchy boots!
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
Love your boots!
You must have had a blast at such a gorgeous Christmas party! Oh, and I love pianos but I also love the idea of serving desserts on them. What a cute idea! 😀
Halley(Blunder Construction) says
Beetlejuice soup, very clever. But what about the beets? The holiday party looks warm and cozy. Can’t believe you have snow in Virginia and I haven’t seen a flake in Boston!
Jasmine @ Eat Move Write says
Haha. I once made “beetlejuice” chicken, but I wasn’t amused. I was serving guests and didn’t realize substituting purple cabbage for green would even turn the chicken purple. People look at you funny when the meat is purple.
Mr. Kath is looking pretty handsome in that first picture, girlfriend. :p
Camille says
Man, you get to go to all sorts of cool parties! That spread looks tasty!
anna says
good looking food, also love the boots? share where they r from pls!
Kath says
https://www.katheats.com/if-the-shoe-fits/
Allie says
LOVE your boots! The whole party spread looks amazing, especially the dessert table er piano 😉 Cabbage soup sounds yummy as well !
Katy (The Singing Runner) says
What a lovely food spread! Geez… you go to the best parties! 🙂
grocery goddess jen says
I bet that soup tastes delicious, but that purple color just makes it look….well, like beetlejuice! Love your cute outfit 🙂
Meagan says
Hot cider is the BEST. The veggies looked delicious. I love hearing about parties- I don’t go to many so it’s fun! And I applaud you originality on the soup – I’ve never seen one soo purple.
Meagan says
Oh yes and love the outfit!
Vanessa says
Love all the holiday parties!! I’m jealous of all that good food!!
Madeleine @ Stepping to the Bright Side says
What a gorgeous spread! Glad to see your holidays are going well so far 🙂 I want snow!!!
Amy K. @ onehealthypeanut says
That soup looks so good!! I have never seen anything like it!
Meg says
WOW everything looks amazing! I love fam and food and just HOLIDAY time, enjoy it all, Kath 😀
Stephanie @ The Travelling Tastebuds says
Gosh… I can’t believe how delicious all that food looks! I am very very jealous 🙂
[email protected] says
Purple soup looks magical!!
Alexa @ The Girl In Chucks says
The food spread looks great, but really, I’m just commenting to say that your outfit is suuuuper cute! Love it! 🙂
stacey-healthylife says
I love the addition of the dried fruit tray with the cookies.
Becca C-H says
I read the Raw Shark Texts. It was kind of a trippy book. But the good kind of trippy. I had to think about it. Actually, I read it while I was traveling as well. But I really liked it. Hope you enjoy it as I did.
Anne Marie says
I love your boots!! Where did you get them?? They are absolutely adorable 🙂
Sarah @ See Sarah Graduate says
LOVE your boots and the pictures are gorgeous!
Kristin says
Looks like you had a fun day. Have a great visit with your grandmother. Most of the snow is gone here in Baltimore (at least outside my house). Supposed to be sunny the next 2 days.
Kiran says
Believe or not, I’m craving for snow and can hardly wait for our road trip to up north to begin!!! Yeehaw!!
Hannah says
I want everything in this post! From the cookies to the soup to your boots. Wonderful!
Alaina says
What a fun party that looks like! Love the pics of you and Matt in front of the house. 🙂
Justeen @ Blissful Baking says
wow, the spread looks AMAZING. and what a fun color for cabbage soup! love it! 🙂
Dee says
Gorgeous scenery, spread, and boots! 😉
J3nn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
Karen does have to most festive engagements to attend! Those shrimp look magnificent!! Everything looks so wonderful, love it all. 🙂
Anna @ ciaotochow says
The spread looks delicious! I’m lovin’ the piano tables – so creative 🙂
Jenny at Rice n' Jeans says
Purple Cabbage Soup !
I love anything purple really.
Sana says
I hope you will be planning a baltimore meet up!
Kath says
Sorry, I don’t have time this trip 🙁
Namaste Gurl says
Mmmm, soup looks yummy and heart- warming! Enjoy your evening 🙂
jassy says
goodluck on all the party-ing and enjoy!!! 🙂
Amalfi Girl says
Those pictures should be in a magazine! Beautiful!
Faith @ lovelyascharged says
Gosh, the color of that soup is gorgeous!
Melissa @ I Never Imagined says
Rum ball…. yuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Regina says
You look beautiful! Looks like a lot of fun! YUMMY fun.
The Healthy Apple says
Those shrimp look amazing and I love the cabbage soup; beautiful and purple…love it!
Lisa says
Everything looks so picturesque–like a magazine or something!
Ffion says
I love buffets where you can try lots of different little bites!