I’m still enjoying my Florida vacation, but unfortunately today is our last day here! I’ll eventually be sharing my Florida food adventures with you guys, but for now I still need to share my holiday adventures too! This is definitely a good problem to have 🙂 too many good times!
Back when us “kids” were younger, my family and two other families we are close with, the Andersons and the Gerbers (they hosted us for Thanksgiving), used to get together for what we called Gerber-Anderson-Croswell parties.
Clearly a good time (see my mom at left).
After we started going off to college, these gatherings became sparse. The Andersons decided to take advantage of everyone being home for the holidays and host a long overdue reunion. Good times, food, and wine were aplenty!
The oldest Croswell, Anderson, and Gerber girls.
I honestly have no idea what kind of wine I was drinking. It was red and it was delicious! I had one glass before I got hungry.
My favorite wine partner, the mom.
 My family jokingly calls Mrs. Anderson “Monica Stewart” (her first name is Monica) because no one can keep a home, cook, and host a party like she can! Even as I was walking up the driveway (this shindig also conveniently took place down the street from me), I was greeted by quaint holiday pine, holly, and pine cones arranged in the flower box.
The inside of the house was no less well-decorated.
Molly actually is responsible for this arrangement (props, Molly).
I used to be notorious for going over to the Andersons’ and eating them out of house and home in middle/high school. But really, how could I not when they are always providing so much wonderful food?
Not exactly sure what that dip was, but it was so good. Went to town on those cucumbers.
Swedish meatballs, these were fantastic.
I pretty much died when I saw this cheese spread! And check out the dried fruit!
Amazing sweet and savory flatbread.
We didn’t make Mrs. Anderson do all the cooking, don’t worry! My mom contributed a delicious layered Mexican dip of fat-free refried black beans, guacamole, and pico de gallo, paired with Stop n Shop’s blue corn tortilla chips.
Managed to take this shot before people dug in!
Megan gives us an action shot.
Mrs. Gerber brought what I can only say is the best buffalo chicken dip I’ve ever had. There was so much chunky, fresh pulled chicken in this dip and the sauce was not overwhelming at all. A dip that doesn’t skip on the meat is my kind of dip. I would eat this with a spoon, all day.
We chatted, caught up, and joked as if no time at all had passed. Â I love nights like this!
The boys were a little less chatty.
No one could wait very long to dive into dessert. Everyone contributed to an amazing spread.
Hershey Kiss PB cookies, chocolate chip cookie squares, and ginger snaps.
I had one of each of the first two cookies, and then half of a ginger snap. Mrs. Anderson’s cookie squares are a classic. I have been known to eat up to ten at family fiestas back in the day. This time I was able to reel it back a bit, but they were just as good as usual. The Hershey Kiss PB cookies are also one of my favorite cookies of all time!
For the sweet n' salty lovers!
Sugar cookies with icing and sprinkles.
Peppermint bark!
The chocolate covered saltines pictured on top of the photo above were OUT OF THIS WORLD. I nearly died after the first bite –  so so good for a salty n’ sweet junkie like me. I’m honestly not sure what those candies are at the bottom of the photo!
What a fantastic night. I had a great time! I had to pack for my various trips (recaps to come, I swear…) and go to work the next morning, so I headed home around 10 (past my bed time!) But I had a great time and loved reuniting with my old friends. It all felt so cozy and familiar!
Which of the featured foods in this post would you most want to try?
