40

My husband hit the bit 4-0.  Neither of us are sure how it happened really, because I certainly didn't marry an old man.  But, nature takes its course and it happened.

Technically his birthday was last week, but he went out of town so we kind of missed it.  To make up for it, I planned a small surprise party for him for this weekend. 

The guests were scheduled to arrive around 5:30, with Ernest arriving around 6.  Every night this week he was home late, so I was expecting it to be the same on Friday.  Just to be safe I called and asked him to stop at the store on his way home.  However....he arrived right about 5:40, before half of the guests had gotten there and before we were quite ready.  So, my pictures aren't of the completed food and everything and we got a bit rushed.  It was still fun though - it was still a surprise for him and we got the party started a little sooner.

Ernest's Favorite Cake - German Chocolate

Several of the guests (me included) are following different diets, such as low-fat, low-carb, or glutten free. The menu...

Low-fat Party Meatballs (recipe below)

Veggies with Ranch Dip (made from Greek Yogurt)

7(ish) Layer Dip, which was actually 5+1+1+1+1 dip (recipe below)

German Chocolate Cake

Strawberries

Bananas

Oranges

Milk and Semi-Sweet Chocolate Dip

Jacob chomping up cake.

Maddie enjoying a chocolate covered strawberry

 

We ended the evening by visiting and playing Telestrations (an awesome party game and super-easy) and 5 Second Rule. 

 

Happy Birthday, Ernest!

 

Low-fat Party Meatballs

3 lbs 93% Ground Sirloin mixed with 1/2 sleeve saltine crackers (crushed), 1 egg, 3 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce, 3 tsp Salt, 3 tsp Pepper, 3 Tbsp dried minced onion.  Mix well.  Place a sheet of aluminum foil on jelly roll pan.  Handroll meatballs and place on the pan.  Cook in preheated oven (350) for 20 minutes.  Move to serving bowl.  Heat 2 jars of Chili sauce in a saucepan and add 1 cup of grape jelly.  Once Jelly is melted, pour the mixture of your completed meatballs. 

 

7(ish) Layer Dip

Mis 1 large can of fat-free beans with a couple tablespoons of taco sauce (just to get the beans to a "dippable" consistency).  Brown ground Turkey Breast in skillet and add Taco Seasoning and Salt to taste.  Once cooked and drained, spread the turkey over the beans.  Layer in 1 jar of mild Pace picante sauce.  Shredded lettuce, and then diced tomatoes.  I put the rest of the ingredients in separate bowls so people could customize as they wanted.  Guacamole, Fat-free Cheese, Fat-free Sour Cream, and Black Olives.  Served with Corn Chips and Potato Chips.