First off, my Mom’s party was a complete success! Luckily one of the guests was a pianist, so we had a piano accompanist! Um, let’s just say I have no videography skillz! The first part is singing Happy Birthday, the rest is singing around my Mom’s piano, which went on for over an hour and everyone had such a great time!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MV5QdgwHW6o]
So I started my weekend on Friday meeting my brother Charlie at my Mom’s house going through our last minute plans. We ended up meeting my sister for lunch at Erik’s Deli in Oak Park.
Then onto the store to pick up last minute items, which would be the first of three trips to the store before party time!
![OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA](http://biz319.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/a1-charlie-011.jpg)
I needed a recipe for a big sheet cake, and found complete success in this recipe – I copied here recipe to the T and everyone said it was extremely moist. Find the recipe for the Texas Sheet Cake I made here.
![OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA](http://biz319.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/a1-charlie-017.jpg)
One of the appetizers I was going to make was chicken pesto meatballs. I had planned on making my own pesto, or worst case scenario buying some, but as luck would have it, my Mom had just made some and let me use hers – thanks Mom!
Pesto Chicken Meatballs (adapted from Big Bold Beautiful Food)
Ingredients
2 | pounds chicken breast, ground in food processor |
2/3 | cup pesto |
1/2 | cup Italian bread crumbs |
1/2 | cup Parmesan cheese |
1 | pinch of salt |
1 | pinch of pepper |
2 | Eggs |
Directions
Mix all ingredients until well combined. Shape into balls a little smaller than golf balls. Bake at 350 for 10 – 15 minutes. Finish off with pan fry to crisp up.
The only difference between the original recipe and mine is that I used chicken breasts and ground them myself, left out the onion and omitted the splash of milk, I didn’t think they needed it. Wow, these were good. I was going to have a dipping sauce with them, but I was overruled as they stood on their own.
So Friday night my Mom wanted to go to a pizza place we went to as children – Jim and Pete’s on North Avenue in Oak Park. Only one slight problem. My mom’s sister and niece were flying in from Washington D.C. and Richmond, Virginia to surprise my Mom! Of course Charlie and I knew they were coming, but weren’t exactly sure when they would get to my Mom’s house since they would be taking a cab.
Well its 6:30, Mom starts to say she’s hungry, Charlie and I are like “really? we ate kind of a late lunch!” We kept putting her off, hoping that they would show up and we’d go out to dinner together. Finally I said “Mom, I have a dilemma, I ordered something for your birthday that was supposed to have been delivered earlier, and we can’t leave the house until it arrives.
It was then we decided to order pizza – and literally about 15 minutes later my Aunt and cousin walk in! I thought my Mom would be completely surprised, but I think Charlie and I whispering gave her some clues that something was up!
Hannah and I got back to my Mom’s house on Saturday around 11:00 and we all finished cleaning and setting everything up and doing the last minute cooking. My sister and her family came over to decorate – its funny, one of the signs said “Happy Birthday Jerry – Only 7!”
We finished cooking, got the beer and wine stocked – completely overestimated the beer drinkers and underestimated the wine drinkers, but it worked out okay!
![OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA](http://biz319.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/a1-charlies-021.jpg)
Time for family pics!
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![OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA](http://biz319.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/a1-charlies-037.jpg)
![OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA](http://biz319.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/a1-charlies-056.jpg)
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![a1 charlies 106](http://biz319.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/a1-charlies-106.jpg)
I think these two pictures sum up if my Mom has a great time or not!
My mom is really involved in the 19th Century Women’s Club of Oak Park. Here she is with a couple of her friends from the club. The tall woman at the front was hilarious. After one particularly fun song they sang, this woman bent down and kissed the top of my Mom’s head!
My mom did not want any gifts, although some people did bring them, but requested canned goods to be dropped off at the food pantry. That is another organization my Mom is heavily involved in – she’s so busy at 70!
It was interesting – we put on the invitation: Open House – 6:00 to 10:00. Well, I am pretty sure everyone came at 6:00 and stayed until 10:00! All told I think we had about 50 people there – the last of the group left around 10:20, we all cleaned up and then we opened her gifts and cards and before we knew it, it was 12:15!
Hannah and I slept over and I made pumpkin pancakes for breakfast. I’d been promising them to my brother since he saw them on my blog last year!
![OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA](http://biz319.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/a1-charlies-080.jpg)
Needless to say I was so tired when I got home yesterday. I picked up food for lunch, we started watching the Bears game, I did a couple chores then ended up falling asleep on the couch for about an hour – nice!
Thanks for all the comments on the Oprah video – don’t you just love everyone’s big hair!
And today marks the first day of voting for Foodbuzz’s Project Food Blog! Would love for your vote!
Go to this link. On the left hand side of my profile there should be something that says “I am entered – vote!” That will take you to my Foodbuzz home page and at the top there should be a tag at the top that says “vote for this entry! Hopefully that works! 😀
Can’t wait to catch up on what you all have been doing! 😀
Oh, yeay, glad your Mom enjoyed a great birthday, and that you & your family had such a nice time!
I voted for you – good luck!
Thanks Julianne! 😀
What great pictures-you have a beautiful family!!! 🙂
you got my vote – good luck!
Thanks Christo! 😀
My vote is in
Thanks Bonnie! 😀
What a great time for your family celebrating your mom’s life! She must have been thrilled. Those meatballs looks so good, I will be trying those for sure.
Looks like you had a great time especially your Mom 🙂
Made me want to throw a party 🙂
Thanks for all your help with the party Biz! I thought it was such a great time.
I just voted for you, your instructions worked out fine!
Thanks Jenn!
Wow – what a great party! I hope I am HALF as active (and young looking) as your mom at 70! I think that is so great that you were able to get together and celebrate. And I LOVE sheet cake. 🙂
I just voted for you!
Thanks Holly! 😀
Glad the party was a success. Looks like some great family pictures were taken. I love how everyone always looks happy at all the get togethers you go to.
I just had someone say Texas sheet cake for the first time when I was eating it the other day. They made it for our class. I always made cakes like that at summer camp because it was easy, but never called it that. I also learned about Rotelle (not sure if I spelled that right). I obviously do not hang out much in the south.
Just now catching up with your blog. You’re so busy!! I love the pictures of the birthday party. Everyone looks so happy. 🙂
Of course, the food looks yummy as ever. I want to come to your house for dinner!
Looks like you had a very busy (and fun) weekend!!
Also, I voted! Good luck!!
Thanks! 😀
Everyone looks so happy! So glad that all went well!
I love canned corned beef hash. Truth be told, I was actually quite disappointed the first time I had real hash at a restaurant. I turned to my husband and asked “What the heck is this??” It still cracks him up that I prefer the canned dog food version to the real stuff. 🙂
Just voted for you. Good luck, Biz!
Thanks Jenn! 😀
Beautiful family! You ladies all look so much alike – love it! I’m glad the party was a success and those pesto balls look AMAZING. Wow – I could see how you’d want to do a sauce with them but glad they didn’t need it.
Great post!
Oh Biz, Family gatherings are the best! Looks like you had a great time. Great photos!! Pumpkin beer? That’s a first for me never heard of it. Gosh, you learn something different everyday. Just the other day I learned a little something about pie crust from Veronica ( Recipe Rhapsody ). I knew that adding egg wash to the top of your pie would give a wonderful color, but I had bo idea to add the egg wash to the bottom of the pie before filling to prevent sogginess!! I enjoyed reading your post on your family gathering. Family is so important!! Glad you enjoyed yourself 😉
I didn’t know that either!
Looks like a great weekend with the family! The party looks like it was awesome 🙂
And Harvest Moon is one of my favorites, I just had some in Ohio…but can’t find it anywhere in Louisiana 🙁
I’m glad the sheet cake recipe worked out for you–your photos look like you not only had a busy weekend, but a lot of fun. Thanks for visiting my site.
What a wonderful weekend with family! I love all of the pics! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
oh and sad, but I like that canned corned beef. lol My Dad & I used to make it for breakfast…a lot! lol
That party looks like it was a blast – love the video, as I felt like I was there! The piano playing must have been so much fun…y’all know how to throw a bash!
Those chicken pesto meatballs look great and I’m going to forward that recipe for my mom to make (she cooks – you know I’ll never get my lazy a$$ to make them, lol!).
Love the family pics – everyone looks fantastic!
That party looks wonderful Biz – you guys did a GREAT job!! I am so stealing your meatball recipe as I’m always looking for new finger food. You know I’m going to have to put the onions back though, right?
Love all the photos and noticed that Hannah and Claire have the exact same eye color!
I like turtles.
Ha! I love that video!
Here is the link. . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMNry4PE93Y