We just experienced our first big family reunion since covid hit and it was everything I could have hoped for and more :) As every single person experienced covid in their own way, we all have a lot of commonalities in the things we experienced and I think everyone would agree that getting together with family members is even sweeter this year after what we have all been through the last year and a half. That was so obvious when I was with my family celebrating the Fourth of July and my mom’s retirement together as a big group of nearly 40 people! 

We created so many fun memories together in my beautiful small farming hometown of Rupert, Idaho where we went to the popular and quaint Fourth of July parade, played plenty of pickle ball, spike ball, basketball, swimming and board games of all kinds. We tried to beat the heat by drinking cold beverages and hanging out under the beautiful shady fruit trees in my parents' dreamy one acre backyard. At any given time you could hear the happy screams of 25-30 cousins playing together finally and enjoying one another’s company. 

Of course one of the best parts of the trip was all the yummy meals we created and shared together. One thing that was particularly fun was that my sisters and I have been working really hard on recreating my grandma’s famous family cookbook into a Cook’n cookbook so we can share it with each other and distant relatives, as well as everyone get a hard copy when we are all finished entering the recipes. This grandma of mine who lives in Houston, Texas that we rarely see came out for this visit so we made a lot of her special recipes and got plenty of pictures to add to our cookbook. That will be such a fun memory for us after she has passed away that we got to enjoy some of her special meals and recipes with her during this visit.

I cannot say enough how much my sisters and I have enjoyed creating this cookbook together with the Cook’n software. It is so easy and looks so beautiful when it is all the way completed. I highly recommend you make one for your family and extended family if you have a collection of special family recipes like this.

Anyway, all of my sisters seem to take after my mom and grandma because they are all such amazing cooks--all of the food was SO delicious! I came away with so many fun new recipes I can’t wait to make again with my own little family. It is hard to choose favorites but I really wanted to share this one with you guys today because it was the most amazing and unique chip dip that would be perfect for any potluck type party, sports party, or appetizer for a dinner party at home.

It is called cornbread salad dip and you are going to have to try this one. Basically you make up a small batch of boxed cornbread mix, crumble it, add bacon, chopped green onions and tomatoes, crumbled bacon bits, sour cream and black beans and then you simply dip Fritos scoops chips, or whatever chips you love, into this perfect dip! It really looks super enticing and tastes every bit as delicious as it looks!

Have you had the opportunity yet to attend a family reunion and see extended family members you haven’t seen in a long time because of covid yet? I hope your reunions and get togethers are joyful and sweet in the coming months! We can all use that good dose of healing for our hearts and souls and the joy that comes from giving REAL hugs! :) 



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