I realized as I was getting ready for my next food party tonight that I have been having these parties for 5 years! Even I was surprised it's been that long. Honestly the only way I could remember was that the first party I had I remember having because I had recently found out I was pregnant with Jake. A girlfriend had gone to one and thought it was great so she had one. When I went to hers I really liked it. Though I only bought one thing at that first party. A chocolate mint sauce. It would be so nice if they brought that back some time. It was quite yummy. Since I liked the stuff I figured why not have a party and get some more stuff.
I have never been big on these selling parties. Tupperware, candles, jewelry, pocketbooks, all kinds of things to sell by having a party at home. Sure parties are good to have. They're fun and it's a great reason to get together. But to have to buy useless crap I don't want or need. I'll pass. This was food. This was different. We all have to eat. Most of us really like to. And good easy stuff to make that you get to taste test first? This was a great reason for a party. At least I think so.
For the past five years I've had probably about ten parties. About two a year because those Tastefully Simple people are smart and they change up the catalog every six months. So there's the fall/winter goodies and of course the spring/summer. My girlfriend who had that first party has 1-2 a year also. We take turns. When they have a lot of new good stuff we tend to have a party each for that season to get our fill of the new stuff that then goes away when the season changes. Sometimes they bring stuff back for a limited time so you can hope to get your favorites again and stock up. They always have certain stand-bys. Like their beer bread, apple cake, almond cake, and seasonings for dips and stuff, garlic garlic, bacon bacon, onion onion, and spinach and herb.
Now everyone always makes fun of me with the beer bread. It says it can be made with any carbonated beverage. I do not like beer so I make it with whatever lemon-lime flavored soda I have on hand. Be it 7up, Sprite, or Sierra Mist. It gives it a little extra sweetness and I love it. I don't mind it made with the beer. But when your coming to my house it's made my way. I also don't usually have beer on hand. Wouldn't iut be weird to go buy just one beer just to make this bread?
Taste testing all these new things has gotten me to learn that I like a whole lot of other things. Growing up my mother always made a ton of christmas cookies every year. I used to help and now I've taken over that tradition with her recipes. She always made almond bars. People raved about them. I continued to make them even though I had never even eaten one. After tasting the almond cake from TS and loving it I actually tried my own almond bars. They're pretty damn good. I do not like spinach. I don't eat it. But the spinach and herb dip is one of my favorites. And I use it for other things like seasoning my potatoes. Mmmmmm
The stuff isn't all that cheap but it is so worth it. Or at least most of it is. There's a brownie mix they sell that while they are good brownies, I have never bought because I can get Betty Crocker in the store for a lot cheaper. And it tastes just as good. Same with their cookie mixes. I have plenty of my own so I won't buy theirs. But their drink mixes can't be beat. As long as you like the flavor and the taste. Very worth it to make. They sold a lemon flavored alcoholic bucket. You just had to add vodka and water and freeze. Take it out when you want it, let melt slightly, and yummy adult slushies. My husband and I polished off the whole thing in one night! It's also great in a pinch. I forgot to get something before going to a friends' house one day. Found the Berry Buckle cake mix sitting in my cabinet for just this occasion. I think I only had to add water and and hour later it was done and I was on my way with a quick and easy yummy cake for her. No one was the wiser.
That's really the best part of the stuff. Not only does it taste so good. It's so easy to make. Especially in a pinch. Every thing they sell requires only one or two things from your kitchen. Most are everyday already on hand items, like an egg or stick of butter. For the party tonight in my hostess kit I had to make 9 things. The only thing I had to make sure I had because I don't always have them in the house was apples. Because we are not a house of apple eaters. I actually don't even eat the cake I had to make. Though everyone raves about that I'm just not an apple person. I have tried it, more than once with all these parties.
My consultant is great. We've stuck with her for five years. Like I said I had to make nine things for everyone to try tonight. She will also bring a ton of others. I have never actually counted the amount of things we try but she probably brings the same amount of things I make. That's a lot of tasting. And it's a lot of fun to do with friends. She is so awesome that when I have a party I can go over the new catalog and request things to try. Always, she brings them along. Even if it's just a sample size for me to try later. That's my extra perk I get for being the hostess I guess. Works for me.
I do not care who buys anything at my parties. I really don't. Sure it's nice to get credit and not have to pay as much. But no matter what I'm buying what I want, credit or not, because I want the stuff. It's my treat to myself. And because you never know what you're going to like the party just has to be had so you can find out. A lot of times what I think will be a new favorite, I don't really like. What I really don't care about trying, I will love and have to buy. It's funny how it works that way. That's what keeps me having parties. I've even told my friends to have the party. I'll be there and they can get the perks of being hostess. No takers so far but sooner or later that may change. If not they know that sooner or later I'll be having another Tastefully Simple party. And they can come taste the new goodies with me.
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