The Dining Divas Get Back to
Normal For Christmas Party

By Lisa Kampeter

Although the Travelling Diva Elves were welcomed excitement for the Dining Divas in 2020, it was so nice to get back to normal this holiday season and enjoy our Diva Christmas all together once again. Last year, the Diva elves surprised all the ladies at their homes when we couldn’t get together due to the pandemic. This year, we returned to gathering together at one home for our traditional kickoff to the season.
For the holiday season, instead of eating at a restaurant that’s new to us, we enjoy homemade Diva cooking. We switched several years ago from a large spread of salads, side dishes, and a main course to soup, bread, and salad. This “lighter” version is so appreciated. We have room for dessert!
After catching up with everyone and grabbing a drink of the “signature” cocktail (this year’s was some sort of Dreamsicle punch), feasting began. First we had a Rich and Charlie’s salad. It was made with romaine and iceberg lettuce, artichoke hearts, hearts of palm, pimientos, red onion, and deli salami and then tossed with an oil and vinegar dressing. So delicious.
Holding onto dreams of continuing her Hawaiian vacation, the Island Diva made homemade Hawaiian bread with a flaky crust and cake-like texture. It had a touch of sweetness to it.
For soups, we were treated with homemade Chicken Noodle. For the Naysayer Diva, this recipe made a believer out of her. She’d never understood why you’d want to make it at home when you can get good versions from a can at a store. But this was way better than good. It was great.
And then we also had homemade Vegetable Beef soup. Let’s just say several of us were grateful for leftovers, and I really enjoyed mine the next morning for breakfast.
It was exciting as the Pregnant Diva shared her gender reveal video. The theme of the party was “baseballs and bows”, and her husband hit a pitched ball revealing blue powder when the ball broke apart upon contact.
It was also exciting to have the Former Diva join us. Back in town from Texas, she made sure to include the Divas Christmas on her adventures here.
We had the usual “rob your neighbor” game including the return of the worse gift, a musical sewing machine, and there were 15 ladies very happy to not pick that gift. The favorite gift chosen was the QT card for food and drink. We all wanted in on that. And we also brought back our cookie exchange. So many great choices and new recipes from this. The perfect ending to the meal.
After falling in love with more ideas from Mommy’s DeSign Farm, we decided to incorporate a Christmas craft into the night. We all painted miniature wooden Christmas trees. Even the Anti-Craft Diva participated, and hers looked great. Although some were stressed, I knew the Retired Teaching Diva would calm the worries of the Not-So-Creative Divas. The completed projects were simple and beautiful.
It was a packed night filled with food, activity, and laughter, and only one Diva, the Travelling Diva, missed it. This never happens that we all make it out together. But everyone looks so forward to this event, it didn’t surprise me that we had a big group. And let’s hope for a bigger and better one next year.

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