Hoagie Dip...Super Yummy

Today is the first day of Spring.  Spring makes me think of baseball.  Baseball makes me think of summer.  Summer makes me think of backyard parties.  Backyard parties make me think of food.  Food makes me think of…well, right now, all I am thinking about is food.

Have you ever tasted hoagie dip?  It’s delish (I hate that word).  This is one of my favorite dips, but for some reason it’s not one that I often make.  It’s pretty simple to put together – it just requires a trip to the deli.

Hoagie Dip

Ingredients

• ¼ lb Genoa salami, thinly sliced
• 1/4 lb cooked ham, thinly sliced
• ¼ lb pepperoni, thinly sliced
• ¼ lb American cheese, thinly sliced
• ¼ lb Provolone cheese, thinly sliced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 large tomato, chopped
• 1 cup mayonnaise (may need more, depending on your preference)
• 2 tsp dried oregano
• 12 hoagie rolls, torn into pieces for dipping
• 2 tomatoes, diced

Directions:

• Slice the deli meats and cheese into bite size pieces, and place in a large bowl.
• Add the onion, oregano, and tomato to the meat and cheese mixture
• Add the mayonnaise, and mix until everything is well coated.  You may need to add more mayonnaise (it all depends on what you like)
• Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve
• Serve will hoagie roll pieces

**Some people add shredded cheese to this dip, but I don’t because wet lettuce grosses me out.

Backyard parties remind me of my family, and if you have been following me this week, you know that I have been writing about my family.

Today I am highlighting my cousin Lauren.   Not only is Lauren my cousin, but she is also my God-daughter.  That’s a big deal in my family.  It’s like being runner up in the Miss America contest.  In the event her parents can’t fulfill their duties, I have to step up and take responsibility.  That was a huge thing, considering I was 18 and just about to head off to college. 

Here’s what you need to know about her:

Her hair style and hair color can change at any minute.  At.Any.Minute.  I know this sounds silly, but I see that as being courageous.  I have had the same hairstyle since I was 18.  I fear change.

She's hip.  She speaks a different language.  Sometimes I think she makes words up, but I spot check her.  She speaks the truth.
     

Halloween in Disney World

She's smart...real smart.  Sometimes I wish she could use her knowledge for good, just like a super hero.

Goofing off in the Magic Kindgom

      She has a wide taste in music.  She listens to bands that I never even knew existed. Truth be told, I don’t think the bands even know they exists.  Some of them seem so obscure and off the wall.  Just like the language she speaks, I find myself spot-checking the bands in Rolling Stone magazine – just to be sure they are real.  And they are.  Funny fact -- I remember when she loved Hillary Duff.  She reminds me of John Cusack’s character in High Fidelity (a movie I LOVE)…don’t bother talking to me if you are going to buy that crap music. 

  

I sometimes think of her like a little sister.  For a brief time in 2000, after my mother passed away, I moved in with her family (Lauren is Mary Kaye's oldest).  We all fell into a familiar routine.  Each night, my husband (then fiance) would prepare her lunch for the next day.  They would work side-by-side in the kitchen, and she made him always cut the crust off of her sandwiches.  I'm pretty sure she invented Uncrustables.  Each morning she would wake up early, and we would have breakfast together before I left for work.  And when I say early, I mean early....6:30 a.m. is early for the Ellis family.

From the way back machine....2001

Another day....another cousin.....Back to the other part of this post.  Give this dip a try, and let me know what you think.  I will let you in on a little secret -- there are plenty of delis that already have this prepared.  Go pick some up, put it in your own bowl, and serve it at your next party.  Just pretend you made it!

Until next time....

Irish Potatoes

Well, I was planning on having today’s post be simply about Irish Potatoes.   I always assumed that people knew what I was talking about when I mentioned them, but I was wrong.  I often found people staring back at me with a blank look on their face.  Apparently, these are a regional thing, and most people outside of the Philadelphia area aren’t familiar with them.

Irish Potatoes are a mixture of cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and coconut.  Once combined, the mixture is rolled into cinnamon.  The final result looks like a small potato.  These are delicious, and if I let myself, I will eat the entire batch.  This is an easy recipe to make, and it’s perfect for little hands.

Ingredients:

• 1 block cream cheese, softened
• 3 cups confectionars sugar
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• ¼ butter, softened
• 2 cups shredded coconut
• Cinnamon          

Instructions:

• In large bowl, cream the butter and cream cheese together.
• Add vanilla and the sugar.  Beat until the mixture forms a ball.
• Stir in the coconut.
• Using your hands, roll the mixture into small balls (or form them to look like small potatoes).
• Place the cinnamon in a shallow dish, and roll the balls in it.
• Place the balls on a cookie sheet, and chill for about an hour.

The final result!

Yesterday I posted about my first friend, and cousin, Kevin.  I specifically stated that I consider all my cousins my friends, and that I didn’t want any texts from them with complaints.  So, what happened?  I got this.

This is my cousin, and my friend, Timothy.  Everyone used to call him Timmy, but he put a stop to that – or at least he tried.  I stopped calling him that when he bought me a beer at a U2 concert, and he was underage.  Like, really underage.  It was during the Elevation tour, so you do the math.

Penn State / Temple Game 2007

He is Kevin’s younger brother, and again, he’s one of the funniest people I know.  He shares my nerdy interests, and is the only person outside of Mary Kaye that shares my obsession with Bruce Springsteen.   We dragged out spouses, and our children, to the Springsteen exhibit this past summer at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.  We could have easily spent the afternoon looking at Bruce’s old liner notes, concert posters, and tattered jeans – it was Bruce heaven.  However, we both decided staying married was a bit more important, as his wife and my husband looked bored out of their minds.

Kevin and Michele's Wedding (2007)

Tom and Mandy's Wedding (2008)

Boba Fett?  Boba Fett?  Where?

The Monkey started calling him Uncle Tim, after she would hear her cousins continually say it.  He never blinked an eye when we heard it, and he made sure that everyone knew it.  He treats her as if she is truly her niece.  Family like that is rare.

Megan, Uncle Tim, and a member of the Imperial Army

Happy now bonehead?

Jeez….who is going to text me next?

Until next time….

A Happy Family is But An Earlier Heaven

I saw this phrase posted on someone’s Facebook wall, and I had to agree with it.

Cousins are usually the first friends we have as children. No one will ever understand your crazy family like your cousins do even if you haven't talked much lately.

Cousins are your first friends because they are pretty much forced on you.  It’s not as if you can make friends on your own at a party when you are a year old. 

What’s really rare is keeping your cousin as a friend later in life.  Sure, you see him or her at family functions.  But do you keep in touch on a daily basis?  Do you do things together outside of parties, graduations, etc?

I do. 

Not our best moment (2013)

This is my first friend – my cousin Kevin.  My mother and his mother are sisters.  I am a 1 ½ years older than him, and he never lets me forget about it.  We were always family, but as we got older we became friends.  We share the same nerdy interests, and we both believe that Batman is a superhero.  He is one of the funniest people I know (as are his two brothers, who are both my cousins and my friends).  How often do you get a text like this?  I get stuff like this on a daily basis.

What’s invisible and smells like bananas?

Monkey farts.

When my aunt (who you should know by now is my best friend) said she was moving to Florida, he said he was happy for her and worried for me.  He told me not to worry because he was going to be my new best friend.  Granted, this was after a night at the bar…but I think the intent is there.

If you look at this quickly, you would think that this is a picture of our kids 

He was super happy -- I apparently was super scared

Selfies before selfies were cool (2008)

We both have kids now – his oldest son is 8 months older than my Monkey.  They are at the age now where they tolerate one another when they are together.  I’m pretty sure she bosses him around like I bossed Kevin around.  I hope that they are friends in 30 years – and that she can remind him often that she is younger.

The 2nd generation of cousins

Mini Me

I consider all my cousins my friends (so don't start texting me with your complaints!).  I am simply telling you about my first friend.  Some people don't seem to understand the bond I have with my family -- it starts with the friendships I have with my Aunts and Uncles, and goes on down to my cousins.  We are all close.  In fact, it extends to spouses too.  I'm very fortunate to have them in my life.

Until next time....

Out With the Old, and In With the New

I was thinking back on the events in my life that took place in 2012, and thought I would share them with you.  I'm starting with February because I can't think of a thing that happened in January!

February brought our 2nd Wing Thing for Autism Speaks.  It's another fundraiser we hold for the organization.  We have three categories -- children, women, and men.  I never truly compete.  I just like to sit next to Jennifer and eat lunch.

In March, I took the day off from work so the Monkey and I could visit the baby animals at the local farm.  The momma pig had just had her litter, so we spent a lot of time in the barn -- 2 hours to be exact.  One of the babies was a super runt, and she had a lot of trouble eating.  The farmer let us stay and watch how he took care of her, and they even let the Monkey pet her.

April didn't bring many showers, but it did bring us our third Disney Cruise.  We sailed on the Disney Dream, and it definitely lived up to its name.  We sailed to the Bahamas, and also spent the day at Disney's Castaway Cay.  It was a great vacation, and we are always planning wishing for a next one. 

The beginning of May was a bit hectic.  We returned from our cruise just in time to prepare for Bubby's Buddies Beef-and-Beer.  My family has been holding this event for the last five years to raise money for Autism Speaks.  It's a lot of work, but it so worth it -- plus it's just a great time.  That reminds me, it's time to start planning the next one.

May is also the time to celebrate the Monkey's birthday, and this year, it fell on Mother's Day.  It also fell on the day after our Beef-and-Beer.  Poor kid -- she was ticked she had to share my day, and she had to deal with a slightly hung over mommy and daddy. 

June brought the end of the second grade.  It also brought the opportunity for me and the Monkey to celebrate the 100th birthday of the Girl Scouts in Washington DC.  We "Rocked the Mall" along with thousands of other scouts from across the country.  We met scouts, old and new, from as far away as California.  It was a long and hot day, and I think this picture sums it up.

July was a bitter sweet month, as I had to say goodbye to my aunt, uncle, and three cousins.  The decided earlier in the year to start a new life and move to Florida.  They are not just family -- they are more than that.  My aunt is 10 years older than me, and we grew up in the same house.  She's my best friend, and saying good bye to her in the parking lot of a restaurant was one of the hardest things I had to do.

The Monkey discovered how much she loves crab while spending some time in Ocean City MD in August.  This is a huge discovery for a kid that only eats noodles.

September meant back-to-school time.  Third grade here we come!

September is also when our family takes part in the Walk Now for Autism Speaks event held at Citizen's Bank Park.  As you can see from our team shirts, we've been walking together since 2007.



October brings around my favorite time of year.  I love the fall.  We visited local pumpkin patches and farms, and went on many a hayride. I also got a new camera!  One of the reasons I like the camera is because my husband does as well.  I now have someone taking my picture!



We went back to Florida in November, and spent Thanksgiving with my family.  It was such a great time, and went way to fast.  I have so much to be thankful for, but this year I was super thankful that I got to see them again.



We actually had a white Christmas this year.  It snowed on Christmas Eve, and the Monkey got to make a snowman with her Uncle and cousin.

And now its 2013.  I'm excited to find out what this year brings.  Happy New Year!

Christmas Traditions

Hi.  My name is Maureen, and it’s been two days since I bought my last Christmas ornament.  That’s right, two days.  I went the nearest Hallmark the day after Christmas so I could purchase the latest Han Solo Keepsake ornament. I have what some may call an addiction to Christmas ornaments.  My husband would like to call it an obsession.

I can easily spend an hour in the Hallmark store, admiring their latest creations.  I can get lost in the Disney Days of Christmas Store at WDW.  I don’t even blink when the cashier asks for $70.  My reply “Oh, that’s all?  Let me get some more.”

Ornaments tell a story.  It can be one you share, or one you keep to yourself. 

This one?  My cousin Michele gave it to me the year I found out I was pregnant with the Monkey. 

And this one?  My Uncle made this for my mom the year I was born.  Needless to say, it’s kind of old.

These were new additions to our tree this year.  My monkey LOVES Nemo, so this was only natural that we get it.   The R2D2 one is all me – it combines my love of Disney and Star Wars.  It’s ultra nerd material.

Here is one of my favorites. Two tiny little hands helped to paint this one.

I started an ornament collection for my daughter the year she was born.  It started off innocently enough.  I would purchase ONE thing that reminded me of her – and I would purchase it after the holiday when it was on sale.  I would write the year that I purchased it on the box or tag, and then I would put it away in the special box.  The first year I bought her a Scooby Doo one, because I love Scooby.  The next year, I bought her a Dora the Explorer one because she was in love with Dora.  The next year she got a Sponge Bob one.  Then something happened the next year.  Instead of buying one, I bought three – Star Wars, Transformers, and Charlie Brown.  That was the year she discovered the coolness of Optimus Prime, and with me as her mom, she has no choice but to like Star Wars.

I was looking through the box yesterday, because I had to put away the Monsters Inc. and Darth Vadar ones I just bought her, and I took a walk down memory lane.  I found two Lightening McQueens, a few Buzz and Woodys, and a lot of pigs.  Remember, the Monkey is obsessed with pigs, so a lot of people give us pig decorations.  I just put them away in the special box.

When she has a house and family of her own, I’ll give her this box.  My hope is she will use these to decorate her tree, and perhaps she can tell her children their stories.  She will tell them why she has an iCarly and a Lego Stormtrooper ornament.  And perhaps she will start a special box for her children, and continue with this tradition.  That's my hope.