C's 2nd Birthday Party and Some Appetizer Recipes

So, today we got the family and closest friends together for Caroline's birthday party.  Some were missing due to on-the-road working and/or stomach viruses, but most of C's family was represented.  In case you may have missed it, Caroline is totally smitten with Elmo.  He seems to have come out of nowhere!  So what's a mommy to do?  Throw a "Melmo" (Carolinese) party!  First, check out the invitations I created:

Now, no birthday party would be complete without cake.  FYI, Publix informed me that unless I had a signed copyright release from Sesame Street, they could not freehand create my vision of an Elmo cake.  So I promptly took my business to another popular, national chain who did a truly beautiful job!

Here are some snapshots from the day.  You can see genuine happiness and glee on her face in most of the pictures.  Somehow she just knew it was "her" day.

Caroline playing "Where's Waldo" in the foreground.  Smiling are C's Nona and Godmother/cousin Stephanie

"Look how big and strong I am!"

C's sweet "Khaki".  Kylee was missed today!

In typical Morris family photo tradition, everyone is looking a different way.  (Usually my direction of choice is at the camera!)

As a bonus to you, I am offering a couple of fantastic recipes that were such a hit!  First, I made a delicacy (using that word generously) called "White Trash".  I found it through the magic of Pinterest, but here is the actual link to Cooking With K's post.  Let me just tell you, people were asking me to move the White Trash because they couldn't keep their hands out of it!  It is that good!

Also, I made a dip that I used to make a lot, but for some reason it got almost forgotten.  It's a hot Swiss and bacon dip that was completely eaten in just a few hours.

Hot Swiss Cheese and Bacon Dip

1 cup Swiss cheese, grated

8 oz cream cheese, softened

1 cup mayo

1 tbsp chopped green onions

Mix the above ingredients and spread into a Pyrex dish.  Top with the following:

1/2 stick butter or margarine, melted

1 sleeve Ritz crackers, crushed

6-7 sliced cooked, crispy bacon bits

(Melt your butter and pour over Ritz before spreading onto dip.)

Once the dip is assembled, bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly.  Serve with assorted crackers.  You will want to double this recipe if it's for more than a few people.  I doubled it today and it still got gone.

Well, we had a great birthday party today, followed by the announcement that Alabama will play in the National Championship game -- an LSU rematch!  Whoop Whoop!  What a great day!

Later gators,