Fun Time

 Some of my friends know that 

BUNCO

with my friends 

is one of my life's HUGE pleasures.

This month is my time to host 11 of my girlfriends

for a delicious meal,

desserts

and 3 or so hours of fast-paced dice throwing..

WOO HOO...

 My island was decorated in BLACK and WHITE....(imagine THAT..)

with touches of Red and Hot Pink.

♥ ♥ ♥

 BUT...

these ladies were MUCH more interested in the FOOD

than the decorations.... hahhaa...gotta love it. 
♥

I am totally amazed that I didn't get photos of the food...

just too busy making sure everything was FINISHED

 before the ladies arrived, I guess.... 

I made a large crock pot full of 

PAULA DEEN'S 

CROCK POT POTATO SOUP

Listen, friends...

if you want to make a delicious pot of Potato Soup without WORK,

this is the one. 

The photo isn't mine..
(remember...I forgot to take food photos)
THIS great photo belongs HERE.
This lady made the same soup and remembered to take photos... 
she is a rock star.

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Paula Deen's Crockpot Potato Soup

Cook time:  6 hours

Total time:  6 hours 5 mins

Serves: 6  

I doubled the recipe for 12 and had very little left..

 ♥

Ingredients

• 1 30oz bag of frozen southern style hash-brown DICED potatoes 
• (NOT the hash brown strings..HAS TO BE DICED)
• ⅓ cup chopped onion
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 cans of chicken broth (14.5 oz each)
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• (I am not really crazy for Cream of Chicken Soup altho I use it a lot.
• I don't care for Cream of Mushroom AT ALL.... I can't really think of another creamy soup to use here other than 
• Cream of Potato, which I will try the next time.
• 1 package Cream Cheese (softened)
• shredded cheese (optional)

Instructions

1. Combine all the ingredients except for the cream cheese and shredded cheese.
2. Mix well and cook on low 6-8 hours.
3. Add the cream cheese and continue to cook for 30 minutes.
4. Stir well until soup is smooth.
5. Spoon into bowls and add shredded cheese to the top if desired.
6. Serve and enjoy!

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I served 
bacon pieces
chopped green onions
shredded cheese
and sour cream
to go on top of the hot bowl of soup...
sooo delicious.
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Along with the Potato Soup,
I served CHICKEN SALAD....

...much like THIS SALAD but without the fruit, cranberries and walnuts...
The Bunco Salad had grapes and pecans...
and we ate every single, solitary bite.
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We had a cheese ball...
snowflake Ritz Crackers...
a relish tray...
so many good things to eat.
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It doesn't take me too long to transform my dining room into a
FUN BUNCO PLACE for my sweet friends.
I am blessed to have a very large dining room...

We move our large table to one end and remove all the leaves....
thus becoming round and perfect for 4 players...

 Then, there's plenty of room for 2 card tables....

We love all being in one room..
sometimes, when rooms aren't large enuf to accommodate all 3 tables,
one or two tables are in adjoining rooms..
This, is also fine...

This photo of our room was in April when I host our 2nd Bunco group.
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 Such great friends...I love every one of them so much.
Such great times together...

BLUE MONDAY