Christmas Name Picking

Last week we got together for our annual Christmas name picking. Since it is closer to Halloween than Christmas name picking always has a Halloween theme. Nance was the hostess this year since she had to do Christmas last year. I think she out did herself. Of course Nance is now retired.. how scary is that we are of retirement age!! She took an early retirement, not that 65 year old stuff. Anyway she did a great table scape and had cute little favors for us. Plus appetizers and drinks (I'm the only alcoholic here) dinner and desert.. the whole enchilada and she did a damn good job! Well, guess she should she is home all day now : )

This is a good one take a look at our appetizer.

What a great typo! It was a delicious hot crab (crap) dip. I thought she did that on purpose but No.. the Creepy Jigglers were finger jello in Halloween shapes. There was also Caramel Apple Martinis and of course Diet Pepsi. The Martini's were great! There was also wine for dinner but most everyone else opted for Pepsi and I just stuck with the martinis.

Dinner was Salad, Chicken Cutlets, and Rice Pilaf. She did a great job on the dinner everything was delicious. We always give her a bad time (along with everyone else) about the flops.. you never live those down. She really out did herself. Her husband Mike and son Glen also joined us for dinner. Our dinners are loud.. when we get together (and we have since High School.. at least 34 years) Good God!! that's like forever. I think their neighbors could hear us. We have a lot of fun. After dinner we all wrote down what we wanted for gifts and threw the list in a bowl and picked names.. we can't get the same person we had last year and we can't say who we have..there are 5 of us and it makes it a little tough not to pick the same person.. lots of putting

back the list. We finally got names picked and then on to desert which was a Chocolate Rum Cake and Ghosts in the Grave Yard.. chocolate pudding with those cute decorations.. YUM desert was good.

Nance's husband Mike is so sweet.. he made coffee, cleared the table, clean up after us..what a sweetheart! We also got lots of favors.. a Halloween magnet, a cute light up Halloween pin, Candy, and the Zucchini Bread Nance made.

Our group

Chocolate Rum Cake

1 box yellow cake mix

1/2 C oil

3 eggs

1 small pkg chocolate instant pudding

1C water

1/2 C walnuts

1/2C chocolate chips

Glaze:

3/4C white rum

1C sugar

1/8 C water

1C butter

Oil and flour a bundt pan

Sprinkle nuts and chocolate chips over the bottom of pan

Mix all ingredients for cake until smooth

Pour into prepared pan bake 1hr or until done

Glaze: Combine all ingredients in a small sauce pan -simmer 2-3 minutes.

Pour hot glaze over cake when out of the oven. It will all soak into the cake.

Allow cake to cool 20-30 min. before inverting cake onto a plate.