Neither Rain, nor Sleet, nor Snow...

Despite the so-called "Snowpacolypse" that fell upon us here in New England, there was no amount of bad weather that could keep us from our weekly Monday ritual!

Don't get me wrong, it was quite snowy...

But we weren't going to let it ruin our Monday night fun! However, with it being the Monday after a holiday weekend, it was slim pickings around here. Most folks were away visiting family, so it ended up being a small, cozy potluck - which sometimes, is absolutely perfect.

We ended up making some baked cheesy shells. I used my standard go to mac & cheese recipe (This is my base recipe, sans the spice). I used some "Seriously Sharp" cheddar and added a touch of smoked paprika and mustard to the cheese sauce. We arrived at potluck with a still steaming hot dish, and it was gobbled up within minutes, despite the small crowd.

After we ate, the kids gathered around to decorate some delicious ginger-sugar cookies that Angie and her crew had made earlier in the day.

Being able to slather on frosting, and the top the cookies with a number of tasty treats made this dessert a big win. The adults sipped on Kahlua-laced homemade chai tea while the kids went to town.

One of the kid-decorated cookies - frosting, shredded coconuts, chocolate chips & flax seeds!

Despite the fact that it ended up being a small, 3-family potluck, we all had a ton of fun, and it still felt as rambunctious and joyful as ever. It was nice to get out of the house (albeit, carefully - as not all the streets were well plowed!) and share a warm meal with friends.