Awww, shucks...thanks for the nice words and compliments!!! Quite a few balloons popped on me when I was trying to make those darn chocolate cups--they popped after dipping so chocolate kinda went all over along with small missiles of chocolatized rubber--guess the melty chocolate was a bit too hot, but I kept trying cuz I know heat dissipates...eventually! lolam After the chocolate cups had set up, I still had to pop 'em & pull the remains of the balloon off with tweezers. If anyone knows of a better way to make these little chocolate cups consistently, please let me know!

Ok, thank you! Between timing and not wanting to be duplicative or too similar , I stole two ideas. I made the white bean dip, and I also bought cold peeled shrimp with two sauces. I don't eat shrimp but I thought it was good because it was light and it's always popular. The white bean dip (above) was so, so good! But now have a menu for next week too ... will def try the zucchini squares for a lunch I am hosting, and I think I will pair it w orange fennel salad The cara cara are so good right now! Thanks All!

Sorry LP the weather did not let you entertain on the porch, that would have been so fun. Like others said, your guests didnt mine the weather, they enjoyed the gathering together. Your menu was excellent, it would have met my palette. Thanks for the followup, have enjoyed following you Porch Party.

For many, many years when we were growing up and the beyond, our family went to ’Christmas breakfast’ at my paternal grandmother’s home. After the passing of most of our parents, we discontinued this ritual. This year, both of my brothers live nearby (one moved here a little over a year ago) and i have one niece and her family living here too. So we decided to get together today for brunch. One of my brothers planned to host but he tested positive for Covid last Tuesday, so we proceeded with plans at our home. We were sad he couldn't make it but will get together again soon and do it all over again for his benefit. We had our traditional eggs, sausage, bacon, cheese grits, homemade biscuits, jellies and jams, fruit, plus bloody mary’s and mimosas and hot cocoa for the little ones. So yummy. Tomorrow we will go to our daughter’s for pot roast (DGD’s request) sides of potatoes and veggies and apple pie. Plus whatever snacks we have thrown together.