Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Company Picnic

IMG_1776

What a lovely weekend I had.  I invited my entire family over for a Sunday barbeque in my back yard.  Most of them turned up and we had around 20 people.  Is there anything better than having your loved ones over?  I live about 70 miles away from most of the family, so it is a fair effort for them to trek down to see me.  The most wonderful bonus was that my sister Mary and her wonderful husband Doug were out here from Wisconsin for a spur of the minute getaway vacation and were able to join us!  They stayed the night after everyone else left, so we had a chance for a lovely visit.  My son is home from college, so the house was full and a good time had by all.

Let me tell you a bit about the food.  The main course was just burgers and sausages, (ho hum, yawn) but a couple of the side dishes were out-of-this-world-must-make-again recipes.  My sister Trish made something called Jalapeno Popper Spread.  You have all had jalapeno poppers right?  Or maybe it is a California thing and you haven't.  Any way, with poppers, a spicy pepper is stuffed with a yummy cheesy mixture and covered in batter. I think then they are fried.  They are so good and so NOT good for you.

Here is a better version that contains all the flavor and none of the frying.  Plus it is easier to control how much of it you eat (if you can resist not eating the entire dish).

Jalapeno Popper Spread

  • 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chilies, drained
  • 2 ounces canned diced jalapeno peppers, drained
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • bread crumbs or panko crumbs

Combine all the cream cheese and mayonnaise until well mixed.  Add chilies and peppers and mix again.  Put in a ceramic pie dish and top with cheese and bread crumbs.  Bake at 375 for about 15-20 minutes til bubbly and serve with Tostitos dipper chips.  I bet little toasted baguette slices would be good too if you are inclined to make the effort.

People literally were running their fingers on the bottom of the pan to get the last little bits of this spread.  Add more jalapenos if you dare, but it is plenty spicy with just half the can.

The other side dish salad that I made for the first time doesn't even really have a name.   I read about it somewhere and now can't remember where.  Let's just call it Watermelon Salad.  It has a combination of ingredients that is rather weird sounding, but you have to trust me on this one–it is deliciously fresh and satisfying.

Watermelon Salad

  • about 8 cups of cubed, chilled watermelon
  • 3 large heirloom tomatoes, diced
  • 1 medium sweet onion, diced
  • 4 T. fresh mint, chopped
  • 1 cup crumbled feta cheese

    • Combine all ingredients and toss very gently.   Chill well until serving.

    This is so different and delicious.  Your guests will say "What is in this?" and then ask for the recipe.

    The last thing you all have to try is Susan of Blackberry Creek's Peach Cobbler.  It is just as easy as she says it is, and even better than she described.  I had to use frozen peaches,  but it came out perfect.  I could eat this every day, I swear.  Go check it out and make the recipe!  http://blackberrycreek.typepad.com/blackberry_creek/peachy-peach-cobbler.html

    I also made a corn cassarole that was super yummy, but I'll save that recipe for another time when I can take a picture before all the food is devoured!

    20 responses to “Company Picnic”

    1. Thanks for the recipes. Glad you could see your family. That watermelon recipe is very intriguing. Nancy in WI

    2. Thanks for the recipes. Glad you could see your family. That watermelon recipe is very intriguing. Nancy in WI

    3. Mmmm – wouldn’t those peaches from the orchard near my mom’s have made a wonderful cobbler? Glad you had a nice visit with your family!

    4. Mmmm – wouldn’t those peaches from the orchard near my mom’s have made a wonderful cobbler? Glad you had a nice visit with your family!

    5. Oooh!!! I’m going to try the jalapeno stuff! We’re having a paintball party this weekend (Not me, I’m doing some hand work!) and that sounds just perfect.
      Hey Nicole! I’m actually quilting. My tone on tone isn’t getting finished, but other stuff is! All your finishing this summer inspired me.

    6. Oooh!!! I’m going to try the jalapeno stuff! We’re having a paintball party this weekend (Not me, I’m doing some hand work!) and that sounds just perfect.
      Hey Nicole! I’m actually quilting. My tone on tone isn’t getting finished, but other stuff is! All your finishing this summer inspired me.

    7. I made a similar dish to the Jalapeno Popper spread for a girls weekend and we topped it with just a drizzle of Jalapeno Jelly after it came out of the oven just because we had it on hand. This was a great final touch!

    8. I made a similar dish to the Jalapeno Popper spread for a girls weekend and we topped it with just a drizzle of Jalapeno Jelly after it came out of the oven just because we had it on hand. This was a great final touch!

    9. Spicy food is getting easier to find out here in NH but for years I have loved it and am always trying new things to the dismay of some of my guests. So the jalapeno spread is a definite for me to try and my partner in spice, my son, will enjoy it while all the other wimps eat crackers and cheese. Yawn.

    10. Spicy food is getting easier to find out here in NH but for years I have loved it and am always trying new things to the dismay of some of my guests. So the jalapeno spread is a definite for me to try and my partner in spice, my son, will enjoy it while all the other wimps eat crackers and cheese. Yawn.

    13. Hi Nicole glad you cought up with your family.As for your hot food its not for me I have a reflux problem so hot food is off the menu for me doctors orders but i love it all the salad i can have soynds yum.
      Hugs Mary.

    14. Hi Nicole glad you cought up with your family.As for your hot food its not for me I have a reflux problem so hot food is off the menu for me doctors orders but i love it all the salad i can have soynds yum.
      Hugs Mary.

    15. Sounds like you had a great time and will definetly have to give everything a try, they sound delicious!

    16. Sounds like you had a great time and will definetly have to give everything a try, they sound delicious!