Elly, just read your request...

Congratulations to you and Jim. You certainly deserve a celebration!! You were so helpful to me when I was frantically trying to pull of a flawless day for my parents by myself.

I reread my own post in the archives, written after my parents 50th celebration in 1999. I remember that the guests loved the finger foods, especially the Benedictine open-faced-cucumber rounds on white bread cut out with cookie cutters and served with a slice of cherry tomato and chicken salad sandwiches served with party bread and/or crackers. I believe we had Kelly-WA's Surprise Cheese Puffs, with a pecan-stuffed date inside. The sweet-spicy-nippy taste is great at room temp.

I you decide to go with cold cuts of beef or pork tenderloin with breads and spreads, you could avoid a lot of little pickups and use fruit and veggie plates with dips for a colorful tasty impact.

I know your children have a wonderful day planned for you. Please keep us updated on all the festivites and relax. The day will be perfect. If you need an extra pair of hands for the day, just whistle and I'll be there with my party apron on!