Older Than Dirt Birthday Dinner and Two Recipes

I’d like to introduce you to Tab’s dad, referred to as, “G”, {Gary} by my kids and Tab’s step-mom, referred to as, “M”, {Marla}. I know most of you probably recognize them, but just in case you don’t, here they are…

Marla is known around our house as the party planner extraordinaire. She’s good. She’s REAL GOOD. She has that ability to just whip a fun party together with things she has on hand. This past weekend she hosted a birthday dinner for G. The theme was, “Older Than Dirt”, and I thought I’d share it with you. 🙂

Marla bought these old-timey lunch boxes and has a little tupperware container inside them. Then she often serves dinner in them just to make it a little more special.

She used construction decorations, hard hats, and trucks.

The dinner spread was delicious…cheeseburger sliders, her famous baked beans, queso, and cornbread salad.

This specific brand of honey mustard was the “special sauce” on the sliders. She mixed this with equal parts mayonnaise and she added finely chopped onions and a dry Hidden Valley Ranch mix to the ground beef . My kids didn’t even realize they were eating onions…they were THAT good!

Grey Hair Don’t Care 🙂

Before meeting Marla, I’d never even heard of cornbread salad, but you guys-it’s one of my FAVORITES! I asked her for the recipe to share with you…

Cornbread Salad: {Please note if you attempt and it doesn’t work out, I UNDERSTAND. I wish Marla lived closer to you and then you can do what I do and just ask periodically for her to whip up a batch for your next cookout.}

*She follows the recipe on the package of corn meal for a cast iron skillet of cornbread.

*She adds a tablespoon of Crisco to the skillet, puts it in oven to get hot, pours the mixture in, and cooks it according to package.

*Let it completely cool. {This is a KEY step in it crumbling really fine.}

*Crumble in large bowl.

*Add 4 ingredients…3-5 chopped green onions, large tomato chopped, chopped jalapenos, and mayonnaise until it’s a creamy texture.

*Chill overnight.

Good luck, friends!