Christ School Hits for the Class of '66

My Dad and his boarding school buddies are one of the most entertaining groups of men you will ever meet. Their 50th Reunion is next weekend and I'm working on a mix for them to kick off my fundraising for our ALZ Walk.

Here's what we have so far..
(There are 33 songs total, make sure you use the gray slider on the right to scroll down)

What else? Anyone feel like shagging?

Backyard Parties

We have a kid-friendly Backyard BBQ coming up and as much as I get the itch to go over the top and plan plan plan...I just don't have the energy. So here is what I dream of doing when in reality I'll toss out some blankets and bubbles and call it a day. (Please tell me your energy comes back soon! I don't remember being this tired the first time. Yes I know having a crazy three year old is also to blame but damn.)

So you're asking.....then why throw a party? Because I love to entertain. And I love parties. And we have NO Weddings on the calendar and not many birthday parties either. I also miss my friends and when you have kids the easiest way to see them is to invite everyone!

via Lancaster Lane

An Outdoor Movie Party is definitely on my list once the kids are older

I miss alcohol.

For a Goonies Movie party...Brilliant!

My attire

Anyone have a good recipe for this?

Also, I need a Canoe.

Damn I love Banana Pudding. 

I see you liquor bottles....

My next house will have an outdoor area like this. (With a huge obnoxious plasma for Football above the fireplace) Come on. Art? SMH.

via Hi Sugarplum

All pictures via Pinterest (Which sucks for the owner's of the pictures)

Happy Summer Entertaining!

xo,

K

Pimento Cheese Hierarchy

From the amazing Thesis by Emily Wallace quoting Remembering Bill Neal....

"Neal served pimento cheese with crackers as an appetizer on the menu at Crook’s Corner. Of that item, he wrote, “Pimento cheese is the pâté of the South, a moveable feast that goes to picnics, 

football games, and beach weekends. A grilled pimento cheese sandwich is a Southern 

drugstore classic that evokes as much debate as the topics of jambalaya and juleps. 

Everyone is fiercely loyal to one version or another; this one pleases the patrons of 

Crook’s Corner." 

The first time I had Pimento Cheese was in  my sister-in-law's family home in Winchester, Kentucky in 1996. We were up there for Wedding meetings and her friend Andrea looked at me and said, just eat it. I was perplexed by grated cheese and mayonnaise on 2 slices of white bread but IT.WAS.HEAVEN. (This could be coupled with the fact that I was chasing it down with an ice cold Ale-8.)

Fast forward a few years and the Fresh Market in Asheville started carrying two flavors (Jalapeno and Regular) in their outstanding appetizer/side dish case. We became fast fans of the Jalapeno Pimento Cheese and it was permanently added to the Boylan repertoire of hors d'oeuvres at parties and tailgates. I wrote about our Fresh Market obsession last year HERE.

One year while at Pawleys Island we noticed something called Palmetto Cheese at the cute gas station market at the corner of 17 and the South Causeway (This little market is no longer). Well being the traditionalists we were we didn't get it. We actually had 3 TUBS of our tried and true Fresh Market Pimento Cheese in a cooler that we traveled with so why change? Two days later a few friends stopped by the beach house and brought some of this "Palmetto Cheese" with them and we were done for. It has been our favorite ever since. Again the Jalapeno is our favorite flavor but the Bacon is something worth trying!

photo via Living Well Kitchen

The last lucky dairy contender is the white cheddar pimento cheese that my sister in law found at Kroger of all places. She tweaked the recipe but it is delicious if you want something a tad different!

White Cheddar Pimento Cheese

-Sharp White Cheddar Cheese

-Jar of Pimentos

-Mayo

-Shred the cheese, wash the pimentos (so the cheese doesn't turn orange) and mix in mayo. Tada. It is that simple. Mayo/Cheese ratio is up to you. I have heard you could add a dash of Worcestershire to spice things up but don't trust me...I add that to everything.

Local Runner Ups:

 Augusta's Pimento Cheese

I tried this once at the Southern Women's Christmas Show (yes, I'm crazy and attend it) and I thought it was quite good. I always opt for Palmetto or Fresh Market but maybe I should give this local gal a chance again.

My Three Sons from Greensboro

 I think I sampled this in the Teeter but don't remember my reaction. Anybody a fan? Did you know the founder went to dental school at UNC and was the Ram mascot!

Tupelo Honey's Pimento Cheese

I love their Gooey PC Sandwich on a cold day with tomato soup. I haven't even been to the Tupelo here in Charlotte yet! Since Asheville opened their South location it has been much easier to hit them up for my favorites when in town. Can't say I have ever bought it packaged though.

Callie's Pimento Cheese

Never tried Callie's but I do love her biscuits. 

Do you have a favorite? A secret family recipe? A crazy food you add it to? (That ham and pimento cheese looks out of this world)

NPR did a great story on Pimento Cheese HERE. 

Emily Wallace (who I do not know) wrote a BRILLIANT Thesis on Pimento Cheese HERE. Read it. I read the whole dang thing.

photo via John Auken via Garden and Gun April/May 2010

And of course my Southern favorite Garden and Gun wrote about it HERE.

xoxo

K

Birthdays as an Adult

Dream Birthday Scene. Add a liquor bar, 50 bottles of wine, some balloons and more twinkle lights. Perfection.

When we first moved to Charlotte a Birthday tradition was born. My parents, best friend (and her then boyfriend) would come into town and we would head to Roosters to watch UNC win all the games of the ACC tournament. A boisterous crazy lunch was followed with naps at the house and then dinner cooked by the dueling Chef combination of my husband and father.

Since having kids my birthday has taken a sort of backseat to my insane plans for my son's birthday which is 11 days later. Typically we just have a few friends over and cook dinner. 

Dinner parties are my absolute favorite because 1. I don't have to drive 2. I love entertaining, and 3. I love being home. 

This year we are throwing a combo birthday party with 3 of my son's buddies and it happens to fall the day after my birthday. And truth be told a huge epic dinner party is still tricky with kids because I'm not sure there are noise makers loud enough to drown out my ridiculously loud voice or my singing with my father...which would wake the toddler and thus ending said party. It is also hard to ask all my friends who now have more than one kiddo to get sitters and come over just to selfishly eat cake with me.

(A ridiculously fun group and dinner filled with laughter and shenanigans)

Since I just haven't been feeling 100%, a dinner out at a restaurant seems appealing. Should I schedule a fun dinner Thursday night or ask whoever wants to to come to Roosters Friday for lunch? (I took my actual birthday off) 

Backyard dinner? March? YEAH RIGHT!

Or do beg my Dad to make Red Beans and Rice and invite friends and kids over? (We would need a bigger house!)

One thing is for sure. I want Doberge Cake from Gambino's. It isn't cheap but it the absolute BEST birthday cake in the world. Up to $89.50 these days but I promise it is worth every single penny. Dad, you ordering this?!

See? 1982, Andrew Jackson Condominiums where my Grandmother was living at the time.

 I also want the signature drink to be my often-frowned-upon Bourbon and Diet Coke. Jim Beam folks. Klassy. And served out of these FANTASTIC cups by Lionheart Prints. I don't know her but her Instagram feed is one of my favorites and I love everything in her Etsy store.

So Friends in Charlotte...let's take a vote. Dinner Thursday or Lunch Friday? And check back later for DOUBLE POST THURSDAY! OH YEAH! (Did anyone else read that in Despicable Me voice??)

I'm going to list my gift ideas since somebody (cough cough) has admitted they are clueless.

xoxo

Aging K

Zeb Weaver's Famous Cheese Dip

Yes. Those are twinkies!!!!

I love junk food. LOVE. And I really love bar food. One of the only days of the year I believe you get a free pass to eat both is the Superbowl!!!! (Or really any tailgating experience) Thank goodness we have the Olympics, World Cup and then Football again to get our guts extended past our pants. 

Here is my favorite cheese dip for your Superbowl party this weekend. We are not doing anything fancy..probably sitting in our living room rooting on Denver in a kiddie pool of cheese dip. I kid I kid. (not really)

Do you all think Peyton will retire if he wins? I'm a big Manning fan so either way I just want him to get another ring. 

For girls that don't watch Football here's a semi-accurate snapshot: Manning was with the Colts, missed the entire 2011 season, had four neck surgeries, signed with the Broncos in March 2012 and has killed it ever since. Wes Welker is also a Bronco but was a nasty dirty gross Patriot. John Fox is an ousted coach from the Panthers, and Jack Del Rio was a loser in Jacksonville. I hope each of these men leave Sunday with a huge win!!!!

Also girls, here is a shout out to his wife.

Zeb Weaver 

My Dad, his buddy Denny, and Zeb.

Dr. Weaver was a fixture in Asheville. He was a dear friend to my Father and one of my favorite people to berate the Tar Heels with. He hosted a Christmas party at his home with his beautiful wife Dianne every Christmas Eve and I would permanently sit myself by his infamous cheese dip.

Zeb passed away last year and will be sorely missed. He used to tell my father that his duck gumbo "tastes like a bunch of eraser!" just go get his goat and wrote one of my recommendation letters for Chapel Hill. 

He was an incredibly accomplished doctor, "Dr. Weaver had received the Alpha Omega Medical Society Award, the Roche Award, the Mosby Award and the Army Commendation Medal. He published papers in the fields of Hematology and Oncology and served as an Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Chapel Hill and served as a Director with the Institutional Review Board of the Charles George VA Medical Center."

Christmas Eve 2010, Gaines and Zeb

I think part of the reason I adore my parents' friends so much is that since my older brother didn't grow up in the house with me I felt like my parents friends were my friends. Whenever my parents entertained I would spend the cocktail hour with them in the kitchen catching up and listening to their stories. That, and my parents seem to have some pretty hilarious and amazing friends.

Zeb's Dip:

1 package of Velveeta

1 jar of salsa

1 package of Jimmy Dean Sausage

1 can of Cream of Mushroom soup

Instructions: 

Grab a skillet. Brown the Sausage. Cut up the Velveeta into smaller chunks, toss on in. Wait until cheese is all melty and gooey and add the cream of mushroom. Dump in the salsa.

Ta-Da!!!!!

You need to serve in a crock-pot or chafing dish or warming tray since the Velveeta gets all gooey. Why didn't us southern girls register for Chafing Dishes? I had to borrow my friend EA's but you can bet I'm asking for one for my birthday. Because that is what every exhausted, hair falling out, wine-o, soon to be 34 year old working mother wants...a fucking Chafing dish.

GO BRONCOS!

xo

K

Oh, and just a refresher....

 My favorite Football player....

Least favorite