Potluck Birthday Feast with Cousins and Friends

And the celebrating continues...

I had lunch at my cousin's house on Friday and had a feast! The spread is always amazing but it was even more so this time since we were celebrating my birthday. I'm so grateful that I've been blessed with such great family and friends. It really made this milestone birthday unforgettable.

Here is what was on the menu...

Birthday cookies

Sushi Platter
Broccoli Salad

Lemongrass Chicken with steamed rice

Lichee cupcakes with Coconut Flavoured Icing

Tapioca Dessert with Mango Puree

Mango Puree with Tapioca Dessert

Chicken Souvlaki - Birthday Dinner

I'm a bit behind in my entries. Sorry. I've just been so busy celebrating my milestone birthday, 40! Hubby was away on business and didn't get home until dinner so I decided that instead of going out I would make a homemade dinner. I'm shocked to say that I'm actually kinda sick of eating out...I've been doing way too much this month.

I marinated my chicken breast in President's Choice Memories of Greece for about an hour and then grilled it on the bbq. I had bought President's Choice Tsatziki Sauce to go with it. I LOVE tsatziki sauce. I can't have Greek food without it. I have to admit it...it was pretty delicious. Great birthday meal even if I had to cook it myself!

Another birthday celebration!! Casey's - Toronto

There has been way too much eating this month. I've been eating so much fabulous food but it certainly has not been too kind to my waistline. Thankfully I haven't gained any weight but I didn't lose any either. Boo hoo!

My friend took me to our favourite place for nachos and wings on Sunday. Casey's definitely has the best nachos in town! Love all the toppings and generous amount of cheese.

Here's something to make your mouth water!!

Best nachos in town!!

Wings - Medium dusted

Goldfish Goldfish Goldfish!!

I love Target! Whenever we go to Buffalo we always make sure we hit the Target store. My cousins always tell me about the Goldfish crackers and how you can't get all the flavours here in Canada. I think we only have original and cheddar. It just so happened that when we were in Buffalo for my birthday this weekend they were on sale and there was a coupon too. The bags were only $1.25 each so I picked up one of every flavour. My friends thought I was crazy but I had to try them!I was able to pick up Pretzel, Xtreme Pizza, Rainbow, Nothin' but Nachos, Chocolate, Honey, Monstrous Mozzerella Stick, Racing Ranch, and Baby Cheddar. My son loved the Racing Ranch Flavour and my daughter thought the Rainbow ones were so cute. I actually like the chocolate flavoured ones. I really think there is now a Goldfish for everyone! Which one do you like?

Birthday Celebration - The Cheesecake Factory - Buffalo, NY

My friends and I took a weekend trip to Buffalo this weekend to eat at my favourite restaurant, The Cheesecake Factory. It's a big birthday this year. I'm turning forty so everyone wants to celebrate. The eleven of us shopped 'til we dropped but made sure we made it to dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. I have yet to find anything that I don't like there. This was certainly a birthday to remember!

Here is what we ordered....we didn't order too much because we wanted to make sure we had room for cheesecake.

Caesar Salad (best caesar salad I've ever had!!)

Roadside Sliders (Mini burgers that were so tasty)
Thai Lettuce Wrap

Nachos

Hand battered Onion Rings

Farfalle with Chicken and Roasted Garlic (love roasted garlic!!)

Ordered a selection of cheescakes with extra whipped cream

This is my choice - Adam's Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple (oh so decadent)

Another of my favourites - Snickers Bar Chunks and Cheesecake

Yogurt Mess!

I've recently started a program my sister and I call the "Ten Pound Challenge". We are trying to lose five to ten pounds before the end of June. I know it's a lot of weight to lose in a month but we are going to try. I really don't care if it's "water weight" or real weight...I will be ecstatic if I can actually do it.

I was telling my cousin about this delicious concoction that I discovered and she says that in the food blogging world it's called a "yogurt mess". Messy or not it's DELICIOUS!!

Here is the recipe to my new breakfast....afternoon snack...late night snack...and even dessert...

• One cup of Activia Yogurt
• Two tablespoons Mandarin Magic (mandarin oranges and peaches) by Del Monte
• Handful of Organic Daybreak Organic Cereal by Nutritious Living (bought from Costco) A crunchy blend of honey-coated puffed whole grains, crispy rice, rolled oats and fibre sticks

This is a perfect snack to satisfy my sweet tooth!