. candace’s going away party .

Last night our Beta sisters got together at Karen Vanderbilt’s for Candace’s Going Away Party. Even though we are so sad the Clark’s are moving, we made it a fun evening!!

Here’s our group, obviously not picture ready!

Top-ish Row: Marcie, Kate, Amy K. , Jennifer, Kelly, Kara, Amy C., Jeanne, & Connie
Bottom-ish Row: Bonnie, Sharon, Candace, Karen, Martha, Jessica

We had an appetizer potluck (YUM!). I had fun trying some new recipes to take!

These are called the Best Ever Cream Cheese Cookies. That title is not deceiving! They were delicious. In fact, for a half a second this afternoon, I contemplated making another batch! :) haha
Oh – and I found this recipe on Pinterest. I love Pinterest!!

Here’s the recipe:

1/2 Cup Unsalted Butter (room temperature)
3 oz. Regular Cream Cheese (room temperature)
1 1/2 Cups Confectioner's Sugar
1/2 Tsp Baking Powder
1 Egg (room temperature)
1/2 Tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
1 3/4 Cups All - Purpose Flour

Heat your oven to 375 degrees and line your cookie sheets with parchment paper. Place butter and cream cheese in your mixer bowl and beat for 1 minute. Beat in the sugar and baking powder. Add the egg and vanilla and 'Beat Until Fluffy.' Beat in the flour. Chill for 30 minutes for drop/roll cookies, one hour for cut-out cookies. Scoop by rounded teaspoon full and dredge drop cookies (roll balled cookies) in superfine sugar. Bake for 7 minutes. Cool for 1 minute on cookie sheet then transfer to wire racks to cool completely. You'll get no less than 2 dozen dropped or rolled cookies out of this dough.

(I just rolled them into balls in my hand, gently pressed them in the middle, and dipped them generously in white sugar before putting them on the cookie sheet.)

Another Pinterest FInd! My Mom had A LOT of strawberries, so I suggested she try this out. They were a hit!

It’s just sliced strawberries and angel food cake alternated on a skewer. So easy, so cute, and so refreshing!

This is an appetizer that my cousin’s mother-in-law served at a family gathering we had in April. I didn’t get a picture of a prototype to see how you build the appetizer – but it’s Triple Crème cheese from Costco (in the special cheese cooler), cherry tomatoes, basil, and Ritz crackers. On top of a cracker spread a little bit of the cheese, stick a half of cherry tomato on top, and then drop a few pieces of basil on top. Pop that in your mouth and you’ll be glad you did!

I have a lot to say about Clark’s moving, but I’m going to save that for another day. They are gone yet and so I’m not saying goodbye any sooner than I have to!