Helping Mom Move and Make Friends: A Valentine Luncheon

"This heart, my own dear mother, bends, 

With love's true instinct, back to thee!" 

~Thomas Moore

     This is my friend, Carol Pauley, and her sweet mother, Kathy.   Carol lost her daddy a few years ago, and longed for her mother to move closer to her.  The hard thing for her mom was leaving her home and friends in Oklahoma; starting over at her age was going to take great courage!

     But she did it, and after Kathy's move to Texas, Carol decided to host a luncheon as a way to introduce her mom to some of the ladies in the community.  That was a year ago, and since that time, Kathy has gotten settled and has made lots of new friends!

Carol decided to continue the event annually, 

so I got to see the "Second Annual Post Valentine Luncheon" in action.  

Kathy welcomes her guests and offers a prayer of thanks.

Lunch was home-made with love by Carol.


(See Carol's secret about the yummy home-made rolls below!) 

Carol asked her friend, speaker and author, 
Pat Scott, to present some tips on 

"Positive Living."  We looked at life through the eyes of a dog who sees every part of his day as his "favorite part." Precious! 

Pat Scott shares her secrets for positive living.

Carol makes everyone feel pampered!

Kathy with her new Texas friends.

Maybe I'll host a luncheon to honor my mom for 
mother's day.

When I consider all the years she has loved me,

It would be a sweet, simple way to make her feel appreciated.

We left the party with full tummies and full hearts~

feeling loved and cared-for.

Thank you Carol and Kathy!

Carol was happy to share her recipes 
and the secret to the yummy yeast rolls~ Enjoy!

Jello Pretzel Salad

2 cups of pretzels, chopped

1 ½ sticks of butter, melted

12 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 ¼ cups sugar

20 ounces frozen strawberries, sliced

8 ounces Cool Whip

1 large box of strawberry jello

2 cups boiling water

Chop pretzels (I get the pretzel sticks, put them in a zip lock bag and hit them with a small hammer until they are “pea” size), and put into the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan and pour melted butter over them.  Bake 10 minutes at 400 degrees.  Let cool.

Cream the cream cheese and sugar together.  Add the Cool Whip.  Spread this mixture over the pretzels.  (I spray Pam on the bottom of a spoon, and use this to spread out the cream cheese mixture slowly, making sure the pretzels stay in place).  Chill 10 minutes.

Dissolve jello in 2 cups of boiling water and add strawberries.  Pour slowly over Cool Whip and refrigerate until jello is firm…and then you’re ready to serve.

Chicken Tetrazine

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 cans of cream of mushroom soup

1 jar of diced pimentos

1 large onion, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

Approximately 1 tablespoon of butter/margarine

1 10 oz. pkg. spaghetti

Velveeta Cheese or Cheese Whiz

   (I use the Velveeta; use about ½ of a box…it depends on how “cheesy” you like it)

Cook chicken breasts and cut into small pieces.

Saute onion, bell pepper and pimentos in butter until tender.

Cook spaghetti according to package directions and mix with soup, cooked vegetables and chicken.

Add cheese and stir until melted.

Salt & pepper to taste.

Bake in a 9 x 13 pan at 350 degrees, for about 30 minutes, until bubbly.

Homemade Yeast Rolls

{Here is the secret!}  

If you live in the Dallas area, 

Carol's friend makes these melt-in-your-mouth 

wonders in her own kitchen.

I hear her cinamon rolls are to die for, Carol just ordered 9 pans for another event~

Simply call Rochelle at  972-530-3484~ Happy Eating

One last sweet thing to note:

Carol chose to do the lunch around Valentines Day because when holidays that celebrate romantic love roll around, her mother misses her father so very much.  This celebration shines a little light on what could be a sad time of year and provides an antidote for loneliness and wraps her in love.