Strawberry Shortcake Kebabs

I mentioned in my last post that I was moving, which prompted some questions from you about the fact that it seems like I just moved not too long ago.

Which is kind of true.

So, to explain, I did move last Summer, from Ozark, Arkansas, on a dirt road across the street from a field of cows, to Fort Smith, Arkansas, a much bigger city in a neighborhood with people and paved driveways.  You can even call and have pizza delivered or drive to the mall in 5 minutes.  True story.

When we moved, we put our Ozark house on the market, where it sat unsold for a year.  In the meantime, we rented a fairly large house that I was convinced was probably occupied by a hobo (when there is that much of a house you can’t see at any given moment, who knows what is going on.  Squatters is not outside the realm of possibility, that is for certain).  This Summer, our lease on the big house was coming to an end and right as it did, our Ozark house sold.  I knew that I did not want to renew the lease for another year.  I mean, it’s just a matter of time before that hobo decided he was sick of pilfering Cheez Its that Jon David dropped on the floor and spare quarters out of the change jar, and went for bigger and better things like my super expensive jewels *ahem* or maybe even my arm.

Cannibalism is never out of the question when it comes to strange, creepy men I don’t know.  Best to keep one’s guard up.

Since our house selling coincided with our lease ending, it didn’t leave a ton of time to really “house shop” so we decided to rent for another year while we consider our possibilities.  So I found a much smaller home, in a very friendly neighborhood, that has a wonderful school just 2 blocks away.

Also, there is an in ground pool in the backyard and the rent is way cheaper.

My husband says I’m the only wife he knows who would beg to move out of a big,newly renovated house, to a much tinier old house.  He marvels at my un-materialisticness, but what he doesn’t know is that I’m going to spend all the money we are saving on shoes.

Anyways.  Now that we have a lovely backyard with a pool, I am dying to throw a Memorial Day party.  I announced it this morning over waffles, and the boys looked at me like I was a loon, wondering who we would invite.

Then I remembered that the bad part of shrugging off the responsibility of having too many friends, is not having people to impress with your mad party throwing skills.

So I exclaimed, “We’ll invite Gram!!  It’ll be a family party!!!!  We can swim and drink beers and listen to loud music!!”

Then Jon David said, “I’m seven, you and dad don’t drink beer, and also you’re pregnant”

Then I said “Oh yeah.  Welp, wanna sit around the pool and eat lots of food?”

And they said “Woo hoo!!  A party!!!”

Then I started planning a menu.  These Strawberry Shortcake Kebabs are on it.  Easy and healthy-ish, since there is fruit and all.

These babies couldn’t be easier.  All you need are skewers or lollipop sticks (which you can buy in the candy making section of your hobby store), strawberries, and thawed frozen pound cake.

Cut the pound cake into cubes.  Wash, hull, and slice the strawberries horizontally, and thread on the sticks alternately.  Serve with fruit dip.

Fruit Dip

INGREDIENTS

• 8 oz block of cream cheese, softened
• 7 oz jar marshmallow creme
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (optional — but I love the black flecks it added through the dip!!)

INSTRUCTIONS

1.  In the bowl of a mixer, beat the cream cheese, marshmallow creme, and vanilla bean paste on medium high until smooth, scraping sides of bowl as needed.  Refrigerate leftovers.

Enjoy!!