8 ounces shredded sharp cheddar (white)

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 cup mayonnaise

6 hard-boiled eggs

Mix all filling ingredients and refrigerate for at least an hour. Slice eggs in half and remove yolks. Place yolks in a resealable bag and refrigerate for another use. Fill each egg white half with pimento cheese and serve.

Chicken Salad

1 rotisserie chicken, shredded

1 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1/4 cup sweet pickle relish

1/2 cup chopped celery

1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons chopped pecans

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

6 hard-boiled eggs

Mix all filling ingredients together in large bowl except 2 tablespoons chopped pecans. Slice eggs in half and remove yolks. Place yolks in a resealable bag and refrigerate for another use. Fill each egg white half full of chicken salad and top with pecans.

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Lemon Meringue Pie

1 refrigerated pie crust

3 egg yolks

11/2 cups sugar

1/3 cup cornstarch

11/2 cups water

3 tablespoons butter

1/2 cup lemon juice

3 egg whites

6 tablespoons sugar

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Unroll pie crust and press firmly against bottom and side of 9-inch pie plate. Trim overhanging crust from rim of pie plate. Prick bottom and side of pastry thoroughly with fork. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until light brown; cool on cooling rack. In small bowl, beat egg yolks with fork.

In a medium saucepan, mix 11/3cups sugar and cornstarch, then gradually stir in water. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil, stirring constantly for 1 minute. Then, stir half of hot mixture into egg yolks to temper the eggs, then pour back into hot mixture in saucepan. Boil, stirring constantly for 2 minutes; remove from heat. Stir in butter and lemon juice. Pour mixture into pie crust.

In a medium bowl, beat egg whites with an electric mixer on high speed until foamy. Beat in sugar 1 tablespoon at a time until stiff and glossy. Mix in vanilla last. Spoon onto hot pie filling and spread, sealing meringue to edge of crust to prevent shrinking. Bake 8 to 12 minutes or until meringue is light brown. Cool for an hour before serving.

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S’mores Trifle

For the brownie layer:

8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, melted

1/3 cup cocoa powder

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

2 eggs

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350. Grease an 8 x 8-inch pan. Combine butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla in a large bowl. Add in cocoa powder, flour and baking powder. Pour and spread into greased pan. Bake for 25 minutes.

For the marshmallow layer:

4 ounces cream cheese

1 container whipped topping

4 cups marshmallow cream

In a large bowl, using a hand mixer, combine all ingredients.

To build trifle:

1 box honey flavored Teddy Grahams

1 cup mini marshmallows

1 cup milk chocolate chips

In a trifle bowl, place half of the brownies broken apart in the bottom of the dish. Top with half of the marshmallow layer. Top with 1 cup of Teddy Grahams. Repeat layers again and top with chocolate chips, marshmallows and Teddy Grahams.

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Dinner Party Invitation

Dominic and Alecia

Alecia

I’m ready.

I’ve gone through my list fourteen times. Everything is as perfect as it’s going to get.

It’s an important night for my husband, and I want it to go off without a hitch.

I march into the kitchen of the vineyard, and my home, where my best friend and caterer extraordinaire, Blake, is working his magic.

“Hey,” he says when I walk into the room. “How’s it going? You look like Julie the cruise director with that clipboard.”

“This is my job, smart ass.” I flip him the bird, but Blake just laughs at me. “How’s it going in here? It smells amazing.”

“Of course it smells amazing. I’m cooking.” He points to the stove. “I have the chicken marsala simmering over there. The beef Wellington is in the oven, and the grilled flank steak is ready to go. I have fish tacos, too.”

“It’s a lot of protein,” I mutter, but he just shakes his head.

“I’m the boss of the kitchen, and I know what I’m doing. You have a freaking huge family, Alecia. And they don’t all eat the same things.”

“You’ve got me there.” I sigh and glance about, satisfied that Blake does in fact have everything under control. “They should be here soon, so I’m doing a final sweep through to make sure everything is good to go.”

“I’ve seen it outside,” Blake replies and wipes his hand on the white towel flung over his shoulder. “It looks amazing. I love what you did with the twinkle lights. The food is going to rock, of course.”

“Of course.”

“And this isn’t a party for a bunch of strangers, Leesh. This is your family, and they’re going to have an amazing time no matter what.”

“You’re right.” I nod and take a deep breath. “You’re totally right. I just want to make it special. Dom deserves it.”

“I’d say you’ve accomplished that. He’s going to love it, and you’ll have a great time.”

The doorbell rings, and the butterflies take up flight in my belly.

“It’s show time,” I say, take a deep breath, and leave my clipboard in the kitchen, in case I need it later.

“Well hello there, beautiful,” Steven Montgomery says when I open the door. He’s dressed in a coat and tie, and he wraps me up in a big hug.

“I know we’re a little early,” Gail says when it’s her turn for a hug. “But Steven’s excited for tonight.”

“I am, too,” I assure her. “You’re always welcome anytime.”

“How are you feeling, dear?” Gail takes my hand and gives it a squeeze. Two months ago, I would have broken down into tears, but I’ve healed a lot since the miscarriage earlier this year. No one but Gail and Steven knew that I’d been pregnant.

“I’m actually doing much better,” I reply honestly. “Thank you for asking.”

“Oh, I’m so glad,” Gail says with a smile. “Where’s Dominic?”

“He’s in his office. Feel free to wander out back, or anywhere really, and I’ll go find him. We have some bottles of wine open, and there are appetizers out for you as well.”

“We’ll make ourselves at home,” Steven assures me.

I love Dominic’s family. I didn’t know that I could fit into a group of people as seamlessly as I have this one. They’re diverse and funny, and they’ve welcomed me with open arms.

I wander up the stairs toward Dom’s office, and as I approach, I can hear his voice, so I pause outside the door.

“No, I haven’t told her.”

His voice is hard. I scowl and lean in, wanting to hear more.

“Don’t worry, I have this handled. It’s about time you got this figured out. It’s taken far too long.”

What the hell?

“Good. See that you do.”

He hangs up and walks out of his office, seeing me in the hallway. His face transforms into a happy smile.

“You have good timing.”

“I was just coming to find you,” I say. “Your parents just got here.”

“They can wait a moment.” He pins me against the wall and leans into me.

“Do not mess my hair,” I say sternly, but he just laughs. “I mean it, it took me forever to make it look like this.”

“You’re gorgeous no matter what you do. And I’m not going to get you alone again for a few hours, so I want a moment with you.”

When he says things like that, my whole body breaks out in goose bumps. How did I get so lucky that this is my husband?

“Well, how can I say no to that?”

His lips twitch before they land on mine. The kiss starts slow, easy, and then he sinks in and devours my mouth, his hands cupping my shoulders to hold me in place. Not that I plan to go anywhere.