Food find: Engagement party

So, there's not stand mixer Sunday this week, mostly because all of my time this week has been taken up by picking a date, place, etc. for our wedding. True story, Tim and I are going to get hitched. Since we got engaged last week, I have picked out a place, date, reception hall and dress and we've opened a joint checking account. I feel accomplished.

I didn't, however, find a clever use for my stand mixer this week. There are only so many things on my to-do list I can check off.

But, I can tell you about the series of fabulous engagement parties that have been held in our honor. My parents were the first to hold a get together for the families at their house. It was a down home cookout with burgers, hot dogs, tuna salad, potato salad, a champagne toast and ice cream cake. Really, you can't go wrong there.

For the party with our friends, Tim and I went to The Ram in Rosemont and ordered two party trays. The $22 trays included a little bit of everything from the appetizer menu: a dozen buffalo wings, mozzarella sticks, onion rings, spinach and artichoke dip and potato skins. We paired that with summer ales and blond ales from the bar and it was delicious.

It's a good thing I found the dress because this whole bride diet is not going to happen.