First- Thank you so much for all of your sweet comments and emails about Bailey. Being able to vent on my blog was really helpful and I really appreciate everyone being so supportive.
So last night we had a rather impromptu big family dinner at my aunt's house. I see my family members a good bit but we rarely get together as a big group outside of Thanksgiving and Christmas. With the crazy warm weather we have had up here, it was so nice to sit out on the back porch, relax and catch up.
My cousins lost their baby boy at birth last year and we just found out that they are expecting a baby girl in January. She is still considered a high risk pregnancy (and is only 28!) but we are all crossing our fingers and praying that everything will turn out well this time. It has been a long road for them- to lose their baby on his due date. Oh, and the hub (my actual cousin) could be called back to Iraq for a second tour with the National Guard right around the time of the due date. A lot of breath holding going on in that household right now!
It's fun to see all the kids running around but OMG are they loud! My older cousins and I were saying that we were never that loud- or really loud at all- as kids. We concluded that it is a generational thing. Who knows. They are all so cute though so it's all good.
I decided to try a few new recipes. In my family when we have these supper get togethers, we sort of all bring a dish or two. It seems perfectly normal to me but I have friends who think this is odd to pot-luck it at family meals. It's the best in my opinion because then everyone brings their specialities. One aunt makes the most amazing baked beans. A particular cousin makes a family favorite Jello salad (and I don't even care much for Jello but this is one of our family's most coveted side dishes- sooo yum!). Anyway, for fun I tried a few new online finds and they were really quite tasty. I altered the original recipes a bit so here are my versions....
Shrimp Dip
*1 (8ounce) package cream cheese, softened (the orig. recipe called for 2 but it made WAY too much. I also use low-fat but use whatever you love best.)
*1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
*1 teaspoon hot sauce (or to taste)
*1 (4 ounce) can small shrimp, drained
*1 green onion, finely chopped
*1/4 (12 ounce) jar cocktail sauce
In a medium bowl, beat together the cream cheese, lemon juice, cocktail sauce and hot sauce until well blended and fluffy. Mix in the shrimp and green onions. Transfer to serving dish and chill for 1 hour or until firm. Top with a bit of cocktail sauce for color. Serve with crackers, bread sticks and vegetables.
And I saved the BEST for last....this will be one of your new favorites and staples. Ready?
Asparagus Roll-Ups
*20 fresh asparagus spears
*20 slices of white sandwich bread, crusts removed
*1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened (again, I use low fat but use whatever you love)
*6-8 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled (I say 6-8 bc it called for 8 but I only had 6 and it was still super fabu)
*2 teaspoons minced fresh chives (um I never measure chives. I pluck a bunch from out back and cut them up w kitchen scissors until I think it "looks" pretty enough)
*1/4 cup butter, melted
*2-3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Place asparagus in a skillet with a small amount of water; cook until crisp and tender, about 6-8 minutes. Drain and set aside.
Flatten bread with a rolling pin. Combine the cream cheese, bacon and chives; spread 1/2 tablespoonful on each slice of bread. Top with an asparagus spear. Roll up tightly; place seam side down on a greased baking sheet. Brush with butter and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Cut roll-ups in half. Bake at 400 degrees F for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned.
