I'm On A Mission

Yesterday was another two birthday parties for us (yes, apparently we need fewer friends or friends with fewer children; we know). Fortunately, the wee ones did really well at both parties, and we had a great time.

The first birthday party was from 11 to 1, and my friends served food. A lot of it. My kind of party. For Little Miss's party next week, we're doing it from 10-12 and doing heavy snacks along with cake, and I feel horribly guilty. The second party from 12:30 to 3:30 (mind you, a good 45 minutes to an hour from the first party) served only cupcakes, although there was some fruit up on the deck, but no one spent any time there so it didn't get eaten.

Fortunately, I didn't have to do a drive through run on my way to the second birthday party, as the delivery many started his first of three trips into the house (ok, there were 82 people at the party -- the first child turned one) with more food than we could ever eat. As we sat at a table to eat our bounty, I noticed that they had snacky-type food sitting there for us.

Goldfish? Check. Animal crackers? Check. M&Ms? Check. Pretzels? Oddly missing, but ok. Bowl of funky looking stuff all mashed together? Check. Wait, what?

My gaze returned to the large pink bowl filled with what looked like a preschool project gone awry. Apparently someone had taken all the snacks and put them in a bowl then dumped glue atop them. Ewwww.

Then I realized that this didn't include the Goldfish or animal crackers (I was tired with all the entertaining of family, give me a break on the brainpower here). And I realized that there was no glue on the sides of the bowls. As I craned my neck to look at other tables, it became apparent that this was an actual offering, as every table had a bowl.

Being the good mom I am, I didn't try it. Instead, I offered a chunk to Mister Man. He's the more picky eater, so if he likes it, it must be good. He liked it and asked for more. And more. And more. And more. Then I cut him off.

But it was not so easy to stop myself. It was really good stuff. It was kind of like Rice Krispie treats on crack. It had Chex, Cheerios, pretzels, and M&Ms with some type of a whitish, clearish but still opaque coating.

It was vaguely reminiscent of a Chex Mix concoction a co-worker used to make that used two pounds of brown sugar, butter, and I forget what else to make the sauce. But that sauce was more clear than this. It was similarly sweet though, and the whole mixture was totally addicting.

I decided that this is what I needed for Little Miss's party. No questions whatsoever. Today I called my friend to ask for the recipe. Unfortunately, apparently it's something her MIL makes and brought to the party. And she won't share the recipe with anyone. Including them. Now her husband's been my friend for over a decade and they told me at their wedding that they always thought their son would marry me, but I know I don't rank ahead of the woman who gave them their grandson. Dagnabit!

I won't be deterred though. I will find a recipe for this ambrosia before next Saturday. Won't give me the recipe? Fine. I'll figure it out myself. I know the majority of it (and the proportions aren't key -- I know nuts were already left out of it). Figuring out the sauce/topping will be the challenge, but I know I'm up to it.

Of course, if someone reading my blog has heard of or has the recipe for this lovely mixture my friend's mom calls "the stuff" I wouldn't complain or consider that cheating.