Okay, so my grandma turned 80 last week, and we threw her a big bash. Food was a big deal, you know? Eighty years old – that’s a lot of meals, so we wanted to make it special. I’m not a chef or anything, but I like cooking, so I took charge. It was a bit scary at first, thinking about feeding so many people.
First thing I did, I sat down and brainstormed. What does grandma like? What’s easy to eat for older folks? What can I make ahead of time so I’m not stuck in the kitchen all day? I made a huge list, crossed things out, added new stuff – it was a mess, but it was a start. Then, I narrowed it down to a few key dishes that I felt confident I could pull off and that would be crowd-pleasers.
One big hit I decided on was pulled pork. I remembered seeing something about making it in a slow cooker. Sounded easy enough, right? Put it in, forget about it for a few hours, and bam – deliciousness. So I found a recipe online, went grocery shopping for a big chunk of pork and some spices, and gave it a shot a few days before the party just to make sure I didn’t mess it up. Good thing I did a test run, too, because I kinda overdid the salt the first time. Second time was much better!
- Pulled pork was a go.
Then I thought, we need some sides. I made a big batch of potato salad. Everyone loves potato salad, right? It’s, like, a law or something. Boiled some potatoes, chopped ’em up, added some mayo, mustard, onions, the usual stuff. I also made a huge bowl of coleslaw. Cabbage, carrots, a bit of vinegar, and sugar – easy and refreshing.
- Potato salad – check.
- Coleslaw – done.
For dessert, I knew I couldn’t handle a big cake, especially with so many people. I don’t want to make such a complex cake, which is also time-consuming. So I made cupcakes instead. Chocolate and vanilla, because you gotta have both. Made a simple buttercream frosting, added some sprinkles, and they looked pretty good, if I do say so myself.
- Cupcakes – nailed it.
On the day of the party, I woke up super early and got that pork in the slow cooker. While that was cooking, I set up the tables, put out the drinks, and arranged all the other snacks we’d bought – chips, pretzels, you name it. By the time people started arriving, the house smelled amazing, and everything was ready to go.
The party was a blast!
Grandma loved it, and everyone raved about the food. The pulled pork was a huge hit – people were going back for seconds and thirds. The potato salad and coleslaw disappeared quickly, and the cupcakes were gone before I knew it. I was exhausted by the end of the day, but it was so worth it. Seeing my grandma so happy and everyone enjoying the food I made – that was the best feeling.
So, yeah, that’s my story of cooking for my grandma’s 80th birthday. It was a lot of work, but I learned a ton, and I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat. Maybe next time I’ll try a new dish, who knows?