Forty (Maybe) and Fabulous (For Sure)

Forty (Maybe) and Fabulous (For Sure). Gone are the days of the run-of-the-mill, over-the-hill parties.

Here’s a 40th birthday party theme she will love!

You know those life-long friends you couldn’t get rid of even if you tried? Yeah, I love those ones. Here are a few of ours. Taye is helping momma celebrate her birthday. He really didn’t care at all about the photo. He just wanted the cake. Who can blame him? The cake is good.

I decided upon Flo and Francis the flamingos to help us celebrate and created a little “lawn” for them to stand in with some wheatgrass from the store.

Everything at the table must match the theme when I host a party. I’m kind of fickle that way. Thank you for your cooperation, green dish. These Lil’ Smokies heated up in a slow cooker with barbecue sauce are an easy party trick and are always devoured very quickly.

Cucumber cups with a little smoked salmon mixed together with minced onions and some mayonnaise and salt & pepper are a perfect party food. For this party, we topped them with olives but, oh, the possibilities.

I’m pretty much not allowed to have a party without bringing out my Saucy Balsamic Burgers anymore. This time I was a bit of a rebel and added the zest & juice of one orange to the sauce. And it was okay because it was a girl’s party. At least that’s what I told myself.

What party is complete without M&Ms that are screaming out to be individuals? Welcome to the party pink, green and white. Welcome.

My favorite of this party was the pink lemonade floats. Just don’t tell Flo & Frances.

Pink Lemonade Floats

• 2 cans frozen pink lemonade
• 2 – 2-liter bottles Fresca
• 1-gallon lime sherbert

Combine pink lemonade with Fresca. For a super-fun party, add a little vodka to the lemonade. Or, you know, more than a little. Place a scoop of lime sherbert and pour lemonade over sherbert. Place glorious pink and green striped paper straws into floats and smile. I mean, how can you not smile when you’re using a paper straw? Is there anything cuter?

Northwest Salad

For this gorgeous salad, simply toss some fresh spring lettuce onto your prettiest platter. Top with fresh blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and sliced strawberries. Cover with lemon dressing and then sugared pecans. Feta cheese also goes well with this salad but is ever so optional.

Lemon Salad Dressing

• 1/4 cup juice from a fresh lemon
• 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• Sea salt
• Coarse ground pepper

Simply shake the salad dressing ingredients together in a container with a lid & drizzle on your gorgeous salad. This recipe makes about a cup of dressing so you will have leftovers for another day. Just save in the fridge.

Sugared Pecans

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup white sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Dash of freshly ground nutmeg
• 3 cups pecans

Beat 2 egg whites with a hand mixer until frothy. After egg whites are frothy add vanilla, sugar, salt, cinnamon & nutmeg. Mix well.

Stir in pecans.

Line baking sheet with parchment paper and spread pecans onto a baking sheet.

Bake pecans for 45 minutes to an hour, stirring every 10-15 minutes. Sugarcoating will harden as they cool.

Polka dots, oh how I love you.

Flo looking fabulous.

Cami was delighted that her mud pie ice cream birthday cake was handmade by Joey Fatone while he was here. She’ll definitely be even cooler at the water cooler this week.

Cami Dearest, Happy forty (maybe)… and fabulous (for sure)! We love you.