Handle With Care…

I received a text from Nick the other day that read, “You know what we need…A vacuum! Sweeta I can’t deal with the crumbs on the carpet haha.”

I responded with, “Hahaha! You are my son!!! We can take care of that…Does the dorm have one you can use?”

“Na the dorm doesn’t, unfortunately.”

“Ok, we’ll get you a hand vac!”

“Ok, that sounds great!”

“Any cravings?”

“All the guys want more of your cookies and chicken wing dip :)”

“Done and Done!” 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 :).

So I spent the better part of yesterday preparing Toll House Cookies and Chicken Wing Dip and gathering up other items that Nick requested…his backpack, blank CD’s, Powerade, etc…This was great, it really was because I had spent the day before feeling a little adrift at sea. I went to the mall to buy a dress for an upcoming wedding, which is always fun, however, it “hit me” while walking through the scarf aisle… I could take my time. I could shop for as long as I wanted. Boom. I didn’t need to get home to prepare dinner for the kids. Ouch. Not gonna lie…it pinched…just like many of the dresses that were so ill-fitting due to all of the chocolate and chips I’ve been eating for the past two months. After letting that little wave carry me for a short spell, my hubby happened to call to see how it was going. Good timing! I explained the situation. Dom is a very good listener and thankfully, a very good stylist. He later showed up, picked out the dress I am wearing and talked me out of a Garnet lipstick I was leaning toward…I’m more a Bordeaux we decided…Anyway, he handled me with care. He was just the friend I needed in that moment and the kind of friend I hope to be for him. I can see that this will easily become the thread that links us to each other during the early days of this new phase of our life, as well as the thread that links us to our children. Whether it be through text messages, phone calls, care packages, greeting cards, face-time, skype, pins on boards, or showing up, handling with care feels like a family mantra that will help sustain us through our new stations in life.

Okay…so back to cookies and dip…

Just as the cookies were coming out of the oven, Dominick arrived. He has big ideas, my friends! He brought home enough foil containers to feed not only Nick, Chelsea and Lauren, but everyone they know!

 

 

We have tins for cookies, tins for pies, tins for pasta, and tins for cakes.

 

 

Tins for meatballs, tins for sandwiches, tins for salads, and tins for dips.

 

 

It’s very Dom! Once we had everything in its perfect tin, we gathered up our puppy, Champ, and headed out to make a very special delivery.

 

 

 

 

It was a great way to end the day! Truth is, I’m not sure who received the bigger reward – Nick and his buddies or Dom and I. Actually…let’s call it a tie.

 

The cookies, as I said, were Toll House – I took the recipe right from the package. The Chicken Wing Dip recipe comes from my sister, Connie, and it is everyone’s favorite!!!

I think I’ll go now and carve out a space in the basement for all of my tins…I’ll see you next week! 🙂

Ciao!

 

Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip

Ingredients

3 cups shredded chicken

2 – 8 oz. pkgs. cream cheese

2/3 c. Frank’s Hot Sauce

1/3 c. bleu cheese dressing

1 c. shredded Cheddar

 

Directions

Soften cream cheese.

Add chicken, hot sauce, bleu cheese, and 1/2 of the Cheddar in a bowl and mix.

Place mixture in an 8×8 baking dish.

Top with remaining Cheddar cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Enjoy!