Dear Daughters: Vegetable Trays

Dear Daughters,

You know I have hosted many parties in our home over the years, and I have assisted in co –hosting just as many others.

I learned something recently, however,  about an unlikely yet very well known party food that I wanted  to share with you.

First- some background.

‘A vegetable tray’ on the list of ‘what would you like to bring?’ items for a party has never been my favorite.

Maybe they too have a PR problem like congealed salads?

I don’t know.

Having said that , vegetable trays were also a prime choice for the exhausted, the over worked, the I can’t do another thing in all of us. A quick call to HEB to place an order for a tray and you were done.

That has its appeal doesn’t it?

I had an epiphany this past weekend though that changed all that.

You see , I chose to bring a vegetable tray to a party I was co-hosting this weekend.

Here is what I learned:

Anything previously considered dull can be transformed with effort, creativity, and positive thinking. 

I actually researched vegetable trays and found information and photographs that sparked my interest.

And no, I did not carve a bell pepper into a baby carriage this time, but it could happen .

Generosity is the key. Mounds of fresh, brightly colored vegetables that I washed and cut in my kitchen-

rather than HEB’s- conveys a message I think. 

What is that message?  I did this for you because I wanted to.

And finally, there are some pitfalls and shortcuts. 

I purchased HEB’s all time best spinach dip to serve rather than ranch dressing. 

Ranch dressing seemed like such a tired choice.

I gave up on cutting cauliflower. That was not in my wheelhouse.

We will be having steamed cauliflower for

supper this week.

There is a message here sweet girls.

Just a little ‘food for thought’… literally .

I love you,

Mom