Pumpkins and Surprises!

Our friend Laurie @ Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Lauries is hosting My Favorite Things and I’ve got LOTS of favorite things going on here!

This pumpkin is going to the Grove tomorrow with a bouquet of fall flowers to tailgate at the Ole Miss Auburn game. As I’ve told you before—the Rebels DO know how to tailgate in high style! But this is just fun and not nearly “Halloweeny” enough :) On to Pumpkin # 2!

You’ve heard of roach motels? It seems we’re having a bit of a rodent problem here.. :)

Cinderella’s coachmen run amuck!

And what is this? The “baby left this for his girlfriend in the kitchen tonight. A bucket of spiders? A vat of witch’s brew?

Oh wait…there is something in the bottom…..a spider ring in a velvet lined box? Is this a joke?

And there he was….her boyfriend….my baby…. down on one knee with the real thing in his hand. She said YES!

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Happy Halloween from a very tired, very emotional mother of the groom-to-be! This has been one of my FAVORITE days :) You can join Laurie and the party here! I am also joining The Tablscaper for Seasonal Sundays. You can find this fun party here. Thanks for sharing this with me!

Tailgating…An Old Family (wink) Recipe

September at our house means football and tailgating. For me there is almost nothing better than watching the Ole Miss Rebels or the Pride of the South marching band take the field….almost nothing.

But tailgating in the Grove might be even better. Ask anybody who has ever visited the Grove. Tailgating here has been elevated to an art form—a feast for both the eyes and the palate. I posted last year about the elaborate tablescapes here.

But with busier fall schedules and more demands on time, most of us don’t always have time to concoct a specialty. Here’s where the old family recipe comes in.

You remember the lovely York family? And who could forget those pillars of society the Pillsburys! They’ve loaned us a secret family recipe! I’ll tell you if you promise not to tell anyone else.

Okay, slowly now….Bake the brownies according to directions. During the last three- five minutes of baking remove the pan from the oven and cover with a layer of York peppermint patties. Return to oven to melt. When patties are melted, remove from oven. Swirl with a spatula or knife to blend flavors. Allow to cool and harden before cutting.

People will ask for the recipe. Just tell them it’s an old family recipe and smile. Please join Michael Lee West for Foodie Friday by clicking on the button on the sidebar!

Thanks for stopping by. Grab a brownie and leave me note :) And good luck to your team this weekend….unless you root for Tulane or the MN Vikings :)

Never Lost a Party

The ESPN Road Warrior named it number two on the list of the top ten best places to tailgate and called it “so sublime even William Faulkner would be at a loss to describe it”. The Grove at Ole Miss…officially it’s a tailgate party, a picnic. But experience it firsthand just once and you will know it is so much more than that. The New York Times called it a cocktail party, a family or class reunion, fraternity and sorority rush, and a political handgrab all rolled into one. This past weekend the University of Mississippi, Ole Miss, hosted number one ranked Alabama. Over 62,000 people attended in a damp cold mist. Most of them, I think, started in the Grove where outdoor tablescaping has reached an art form. Beginning at midnight on Friday, people start arriving with tents to stake out their real estate. They bring flowers, chandeliers, tablecloths, chairs, sterling silver, televisions and, of course, food. The centerpieces alone are worthy of magazine layouts.

Pumpkins are a familiar theme this time of year.

Faux magnolias, the state flower, make their way onto some tables. I can’t repeat what Beloved would have said if I had asked him to haul this one in.. :).

Colonel Rebel, the school mascot, stands guard at many tables…but all are welcome here.

Some people branch out from the traditional red and blue theme. I’ve seen this zebra tent (yes, the whole tent is zebra) for a couple of years now.

Custom designed tablecloths adorn many tables.

And although most are red and blue, some tailgaters branch out… .

and bring all the comforts of home.

At game time most head to the stadium…to watch the Rebels and hear the Pride of the South marching band. We watch…. ever hopeful and return to the Grove to continue the party and finish off the food —win, lose, or draw.

Pimiento cheese is a staple….at home at a cocktail party or a picnic. People think I have a secret family recipe. There are two secrets. First, grate your own cheese—sharp, medium, whatever you like best. The shredded cheese in a packet never produces the same texture. Mix it up with the amount of mayo you like. But here is the secret—dry Italian dressing. Just add it to taste for the best pimiento cheese ever!

So… we lost to Alabama. We’ll ride off into the sunset. I remind the men in my family that it’s a game. We came, saw old friends, feasted on good food and had a good time. No matter what…We may not win every game, but we never lose a party!

Click on the TT button to join our gracious hostess Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. On Friday join Michael for food and recipes at Designs by Gollum. Click the button on the side for immediate transportation!

Celebrating the Holidays....Are You Ready?

Are you ready...heck yeah, damn right...Hotty Toddy, gosh a mighty....Ole Miss football has its official kick off this weekend. You may not be familiar with us lately. You may, however, know those Manning boys--Peyton, Eli and their father Archie who played at Ole Miss in the '70's. We will spend part of our Labor Day weekend attending the University of MS vs the University of Memphis game in Memphis. This is our first year in ten years not to have a child at Ole Miss--I've had lots of practice tailgating! I thought I might share one of our favorite tailgate recipes. It's always a hit, can be done ahead of time, and fills up a lot of hungry people!

Tailgate Muffalettas

Horizontally slice a loaf of French bread. Drizzle both sides with olive oil and Italian seasoning. Top one side with ham, salami, and pepperoni slices. Top the meat with olive salad. I buy mine in the deli section or salad bar section. You may need to chop this a little more finely if the olives are large. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese . Top with other side of bread. Wrap tightly in aluminum foil. The sandwich can be made ahead of time up to this point. On game day, bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes. To keep this warm, I wrap it in newspaper tightly. Be sure to take a serrated knife to slice it at the tailgate. This is always a winner!

Cheri at It's So Very Cheri is hosting a Celebrating the Holidays Party. Click over for more fun, recipes, and pictures Have a fun, safe, and happy Labor Day. Hope your team wins :) !