Christmas Lunch with Friends

I have these great Christmas dishes. I got them as a wedding gift in my December wedding. They are ceramic with tree's on them. I should bring them out for my family, but the ceramic-ness makes me nervous. Maybe in a few years. So, I like to have friends over for lunch and share my dishes and my decorations. I decided to add a setting of 4 all red dishes to complement them. I had 8 friends over for lunch this week. Those that I see the most and want to share my mom's yummy zucchini soup with. Michael doesn't like zucchini, so I like to make it for friends. I did this 4 years ago with a completely different group...all of the older group has moved away, so we joked that in 4 years, this group will all be gone. I love bringing my friends together, from church, neighborhood, and school. It makes me happy.

Chrissta (green), Emily, Michele (red) , Stacy (white), Candida (blue)
Chrissta took this so I could be in it....L to R: Stacey, Clair (w/Violet), Candida, Stacy, Emily, Michele, Becca, Me
The soup...looks kinda funny here....
A friend from school has a bakery biz, so I had her make this yummy petite four cakes. So delicious and cute! Chocolate and cake layers on the inside, white chocolate on the outside. Kids played and watched a Christmas movie while we ate...I got a picture of all kids but 1 and matthew twice:)
Zucchini Soup Recipe:

10 servings

6 Tbsp olive oli

1/4 garlic powder/salt

8 zucchini

2 8 oz. cans tomoato sauce

32 oz. can diced peeled tomoatoes

2 Tbsp butter

1 tsp onion powder

1.5-2 lb. ground sausage

16 oz. shredded colby jack cheese

Cut up fresh zucchini into cubes. Cook in oil, butter, galric, onion until soft. Throw in cooked sausage, tomato sauce, diced tomoatoes, and a little water if needed. Simmer until hot. Add shredded cheese at the end just before serving. *I don't like onions, so I use onion salt, but for the lovers, you can cook them with meat or zucchini.