This past Saturday was busy and eventful.  Well, eventful is a big word.  Let’s just say. . . memorable.  Of course, there were the Stings and Storms, but there was also the “official” birthday/graduation dinner for my oldest boy.  He and I had celebrated his birthday the previous Thursday.  We went out to his favorite seafood restaurant and came home and did the cake and presents deal, but neither his brother or my mom could make it for various reasons. 

So, Saturday was the family celebration.  He just turned 24 years old and he also just finished his last semester of college last week.  I’m so proud. . . even if he did take the long route around China to get there!

The dinner was a success.  For an appetizer, I stole borrowed a recipe for Cold Pizza from Something’s Burning.  Yummm!  THIS, my friends, was a hit.  Thank you, Starwoodgal, for sharing!  You have no idea how difficult it is for me to find something that “everybody” in my family likes.  Go check out the recipe on her site.  It’s so easy and oh so delicious.  Then go grab some crackers and dig in.

The main course was Beer Can Chicken.  I saw the dude, Adam Gertler, on The Food Network, make this on the final show.  (He didn’t win, but still got his own show)  Well, it sounded SO good that I just had to try it.  I mean. . . there’s BEER and there’s CHICKEN and there’s SPICY.  That’s a whole bunch of my favorites tastes going on right there.   I did one chicken with the beer can and the other just roasted.  I wanted to see if there was a difference with the beer can.  And there IS.  There’s just more flavor and it’s a tad bit juicier.  And doesn’t he just look adorable standing there. . . sorta looks like he’s tap dancing, doesn’t it? 

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My friend, Jamie, gave me the little beer can chicken rack and it worked out great holding my little bird up there!  Thank you Jamie!!  I don’t think Adam Gertler used one, but I didn’t want to take any chances on the bird falling off the stage during one of his tap routines.

Then I made Spicy Roasted Potatoes.  I know. . . there’s a theme going here. 

But I blow it here with the English Pea Salad.  (Neither of my boys TOUCH peas, so it was basically for me and my mom).  Ooops, I didn’t get a picture of that before my mom and I gobbled it up.  But this is what I used to put it together.  It’s really simple and was something I grew up eating, but can’t get my kids to touch. . . even though they’re grown now.

You just mix a can of English Peas (any brand you like), a couple of chopped boiled eggs, about a half a cup of Sweet Pickle Relish, and about a half a cup of mayonaise (some people use Miracle Whip while some use plain old mayonaise, but I like this mayonaise that I found in the Mexican section of my grocery store).  After mixing it, put it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to eat.  I like it because it’s something you can make ahead of time.

THEN, for dessert, I made Southern Plate’s Chocolate Cobbler.  I just found this site recently and I have to tell you. . . . it was love at first glance.  Christy cooks EVERYTHING . . . well, Southern - just like the food I grew up eating.  Although, I have to say. . . I’d never eaten Chocolate Cobbler before, even coming from Mississippi.  So of course, I had to try it.  Who wouldn’t?  Go to her site for the recipe.  You won’t regret it.

The dinner was a pretty much a success.  Nobody left hungry.  In fact, my oldest came back the next day looking for scraps.  That’s my sign that it was DE-lish.