Adding something to the 40 Somethings series – I hosted my first family gathering in my new home. I’ve always gone home to my folks or my inlaws or some other family member’s home for big holidays. But, this year my family all came to Northwest Arkansas and we had the best time. 

I’m not the biggest fan of Thanksgiving food. I don’t know what to say, those are just not my favorite foods, but I do love a party and I do love hosting people so I decided to incorporate my favorite foods and order out the stuff for the big meal. And, you know what….we all ate more than we needed to and had plenty to put in the freezer.

One of my earliest food memories is tied to thanksgiving. And, its the night before. My Grandmommy would put a big pot of her chicken soup on the stove along with a pan of cornbread. And, as we all arrived at different times, it was ready for us. I can smell her house and see her kitchen just thinking about that time of the year.

So, I decided when my people arrived, I was going to have something similar stewing for them. I started a crockpot full of Stockpile Stew the morning they all arrived and had a big spread of charcuterie – cheese, crackers, pickles, fruit and spreads ready to go for a feast. This was probably the meal I was most excited about going into our fun week together.

**Note: I also discovered the best pickles at the Southern Mercantile in Prairie Grove. They are worth the drive as well as all the charm in this special little town.

I made a new cheese ball recipe for the occasion and we loved it so much that they requested it again at Christmas. I made a few adjustments and actually wrote down the recipe. As you get ready for Superbowl parties this next week, this would be a perfect take along with veggies or crackers. We cannot stay out of it. 

This recipe is my adaptation of a Pound Dropper recipe – I just made adjustments for ingredients I could find and honestly wasn’t as worried about calories.

This cheeseball is perfect to serve for a ladies lunch, salad meal, shower spread, alongside soup, appetizer party, Gameday snacking, or charcuterie spread that needs a little something extra!

40 somethings to celebrate 40

1. Hosted a family holiday gathering in my home
2. got a new crockpot – a fancy one
3. Toured a battlefield on battle day
4. bought a house
5. became a Global Hero of Hope
6. hosted a preschool playdate, well several
7. tried soup dumplings
8. fell in love with games and arcades
9. started thyroid medicine and losing my voice – radiation side effects
10. put my artwork on my walls
11. hosted my own holiday baking day
12. made my moms fudge – and failed
13. Took a new way home
14. switched to the Google Maps app
15. Had to be the “new girl” as a wife and mom
16. Flip Flopped a life experience
17. Ate a cronut
18. Tried Ramen and loved it!
19. Tasted REAL chocolate being made
20. Attended a Chinese New Year celebration and watched a traditional lion dance
21. got a new crockpot
22. hosted my own holiday baking day
23. made refrigerator pickles
24. Visited the Hunt Nature Center
25. took my kid to a bike park and walked him through the hills and turns
26. made my own pesto
27. Visited Mammoth Springs State Park, and marked it off my Arkansas Bucketlist
28. Got paid for teaching a class
29. Visited the Eisenhower Birthplace and statue in Denison, Texas
30. Took a US Capitol tour with a US Congressman
31. visited the cherry blossoms at the peak in the Tidal Basin
32. Toured the Smithsonian Castel
33. Visited Arlington National Cemetery for personal reasons
34. Ate at several new restaurants
35. developed a list of things I know to be true