Working Girl Cooks!

The best part about going down to Southern California is getting to visit my husbands family. It's a small family, but I love every one of them!

This is Briana, Eddie's sister. She is 24 years old, loves boys, drinking anything with alcohol in it, school, and being grown up. She has down syndrome but is very high functioning and so much fun! She is going to a special college, Tufts. At Tufts, they teach her life skills. She lives in her own apartment , she walks to school, she even takes a two hour bus by herself home during holidays. She is always the life of the party, always tells you what is on her mind (good or bad!) and absolutely loves everyone!

This is Nancy, Eddie's mother. Isn't she gorgeous? She is also very very sweet and a very good mother. When I have kids someday I'm definitely turning to her for help!

And look at that hair! So smooth and sleek! I keep asking her what her secret is...she said good genes...darn!

I have a lot of pictures of Nancy....she's very photogenic.

And this is Steve, Eddie's father. He's always giving someone a hard time...this time it's our poor dog. But secretly, we know he loves our little guy!

He's the life of the party...always making everyone laugh...always providing lots of entertainment.

And then there's Eddie. He definitely has both of his father and mother in him. His father's good looks....his mother's poise....and patience. Lucky for me.... he got all of their good qualities!

My friend Miranda is an awesome cook. And she loves to throw dinner parties. So I went over to her house the other day for one of her famous dinner parties, and of course, she didn't disappoint! This is a little insight into what a dinner party at Miranda's is like.

First of all, this is Miranda. Isn't she cute! Yes she looks very feisty here...because she is feisty.....raurrrrrrrr!

This is Veronica, she is a friend of ours that was also at the dinner party. She was in charge of making mojitos. One thing about Miranda's dinner parties...there is always plenty of alcohol...and drinking!

The appetizer: spicy jalapeno marinated chicken wings with a homemade blue cheese dressing. They were so tender and so yummy!

This is max, Miranda's Pomeranian...isn't he such a Cutie!

Here is Miranda busy in the kitchen....I couldn't take too many pictures of her cooking because I was driving her crazy!

The entree: marinated pork ribs.....her special secret recipe. I can't tell you what she does but they are to die for!

Especially with some homemade yummy coleslaw!

Here is veronica again....with her cousin....they are happy because they are full.

And of course what is a dinner party without desert? My very own homemade blueberry peach pie with homemade vanilla ice cream!

I thought it would be appropriate for my first post to introduce myself, and my family. I want my readers to be able to put a face to all the words and photos on my blog. My name is Katie Barlow, formerly Katie Minor until about six months ago when I got married to this handsome, wonderful man: