HAPPY FRIDAY !

Princess Blondine

Friday greetings all –

Super fun episode today on this first Friday of 2024.  I can’t help but think first Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday of 2024.

Beginning with –

STEPHANIE’S CHIC ON THE CHEAP

Outstanding appetizers and presentation + I got an invite!

The evening will go down in my memory as one of the coolest, chill New Year’s Eve parties I’ve ever attended.

Need I say that Stephanie had prepared their beautiful home in welcome mode — candles, music, fantastic lighting AND the presentation of her appetizers (which were fabulous) + her collection of vintage plates (as you can see in the pictures she posts in her column today)?  Stunning beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces.  I’m gonna be on the lookout for cool pieces at thrift stores and bring them home and make them mine.

AND THEN hanging out in Rick’s (their) “party barn”!
SVVC (stands for So Very Very Cool – I just made that up – ha).

Great lighting, high-five collection of vintage neon and mirror signs on the walls,  fantastic playlist of tunes that would make a seasoned DJ proud, cold drinks and seriously cool, eclectic couch and chairs for seating — just like I’d imagine a top notch Speakeasy hang out place.

You gotta try Steph’s appetizers.  Superb.  I love the dip.  And the meatballs – but –  Really?!  Chili Sauce + Grape Jelly?  I was a little (lot) skeptical.  However, I tell you that they blew me away.  So good.

And, Steph hooked me up with to-go boxes of dip and Meatballs!  Brought them home and ate them for the next day or two.

My appetizer contribution was Brisket Queso + Chips.  I tried to find the Blue Corn tortilla chips because I thought they’d be a festive sort of addition.  But the store I was shopping at was out of them.  So regular tortilla chips it was.

And only 4 ingredients – not 33.  ha

Steph and I did toast to the New Year in the green, vintage wine glasses.  And, no, we did not share – ha.  It was a ton of fun!

QUICK QUESTION

Do Public restrooms make me feel self-conscious?
My answer – not one bit.  When ya gotta go … show me the way!

DON’T BE AFRAID TO FAIL

I love this little old newspaper clipping.  Perfect reminder to all of us no matter where we are in our world.  Try, try and try again.

BRISKET QUESO

Just 4 ingredients (if ya don’t count making the brisket yourself).  Pretty darn good.

Thanks everybody for popping in today and giving us a read + sharing + commenting.

Ready?
Set.
Here we go.

STEPHANIE’S
CHIC ON THE CHEAP
FRIENDS, FOOD AND FROLIC!

Hello Beauties!

What a great New Year’s Eve get-together we had.  We invited Cheryl and a guest to come over and spend the evening with us in my husband’s “Party Barn.”

We both agreed to make an appetizer.  I was a little intimidated by this because Cheryl is a fabulous cook.  Her recipes are usually 33 ingredients and mine are usually 3 ingredients or less — which they were that night.

I’ll share these very easy recipes later in this column.

When I entertain for large groups I always use throw away plastic dishes.  Who wants to wash a bunch of dishes, right?

Since there were 4 of us at this New Year’s Eve get-together, I decided to pull out some fun, interesting pieces that I have collected which I’ll share with you!

PIC #1

These funky dessert plates (which I use as appetizer plates) were popular in the 40s and 50s when cigarette smoking was considered very Vogue and sophisticated.

In that era it was common and social to have a cigarette after dinner with dessert and coffee when entertaining.

These dessert plates are divided into 3 sections.  The largest section for dessert, the smaller section on the end was for mints and the section next to it was a built in ashtray.

If you’ll look where my finger is pointing you’ll see the molded holder to lay your ciggy in.

Smoking AND smoking in the house with a built in ashtray on your plate — my, my how times have changed.

Also in this photo is another cool shaped plate that belonged to my grandmother which I served candies and chocolates in.

The 2 awesome shaped, cool green colored wine glasses were also my grandmother’s.

I put these out for Cher and I to share a special New Year’s Eve toast.  We didn’t share our wine with the guys, hence, only the 2 glasses.  haha

PIC #2

This super “complicated” DIP consists of:

  • 1 package of softened to room temperature cream cheese
  • 1/3 bottle of Herdez Guacamole Salsa

Stir together until creamy.  I did add some chopped, fresh jalapeno on top for garnish and crunch.

PIC #3

A new Meatball recipe I’ve learned about, but had not tried (is again) very “complicated” :

  • Dump in a crockpot 32 oz of frozen meatballs (Farm Rich frozen meatballs are far superior to others I’ve tried)
  • 1 – 12 oz bottle of Heinz Chili Sauce
  • 1 – 12 oz jar of Welch’s Grape Jelly

Cover crockpot with its lid and heat on high for 3 hours or low for 5 hours — stirring occasionally.

PIC #4

When I entertain at my home (if I have time), I like to put together a little goodie bag for my guests to take home.

I did have time for this party and had lots of leftover goodies in my freezer from Christmas.

In the bottom of the bags is Peppermint Bark hot chocolate, then on top of that is homemade caramel popcorn and then topped off with a few Raspberry + Chocolate Truffles.

Just a little snack to munch on the next morning while watching the New Year’s Day parades.

Breakfast of Champions!
Diet starts tomorrow!
Here’s to 2024!  Cheers!

~ Stephanie’s Chic on the Cheap
is exclusive
to Daymaker Readable Art
Contact Stephanie via Comments in this episode

Funky Desert Plates
Room Temperature Cream Cheese
5 For Friday January 5
5 For Friday January 5

QUICK QUESTION

DO PUBLIC RESTROOMS MAKE YOU FEEL SELF-CONSCIOUS?

DON’T BE AFRAID TO FAIL

You’ve failed many times, although you might not remember:

  • You fell down the first time you tried to walk.
  • You almost drowned the first time you tried to swim.
  • Did you hit the ball the first time you swung a bat?
  • Heavy hitters, the ones who hit the most home runs, also strike out a lot.
  • R.H. Macy failed 7 times before his store in New York City caught on.
  • English novelist John Creasey got 753 rejections before he published 564 books.
  • Babe Ruth struck out 1,330 times, but he also hit 714 home runs.

The point is — don’t worry about failure.  Worry about the chances you miss when you don’t even try.

~ from an old newspaper clipping

BRISKET QUESO

No big secret to this recipe.  Old school Velveeta + Rotel combo plus brisket and a little extra something.  Turned out pretty good!

HERE’S HOW IT WAS MADE

  • 16 0unces of Velveeta, cut in cubes
  • 1 – 10 ounce can Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies
  • 2 cups of cooked brisket sliced and diced (think shredded)
  • 1 cup of favorite salsa

GET A SMALL CROCKPOT OUT AND READY FOR ACTION

PLACE VELVEETA CUBES AND CAN OF ROTEL IN CROCKPOT AND TURN ON LOW

HEAT FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS UNTIL VELVEETA AND ROTEL TOMATOES ARE CREAMY – STIRRING FROM TIME TO TIME WITH A WOODEN SPOON

NOW

ADD SHREDDED BRISKET AND A CUP OR MORE OF FAVORITE SALSA AND HEAT THROUGH – STIRRING FROM TIME TO TIME

TA-DAH!

SOME CAUSE HAPPINESS WHEREVER THEY GO; OTHERS WHENEVER THEY GO.
~ OSCAR WILDE ~

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND
SEE YA MONDAY
SAME TIME.  SAME PLACE.

10 replies
  1. Carol says:

    What a fun way to spend New Year’s Eve! And so many beautiful vintage dishes and glassware. And delicious EASY recipes. SVVC!!!

  2. Marty says:

    Re: New Year’s party: I’ve certainly eaten lots of meatball appetizers and none did i find the need to ask for the recipe. HOWEVER, enter the 3 ingredients of Stephanie’s! I attend lots of pot lucks. I’m in. Thank you.

Comments are closed.