Help! I am in a quandary, I am invited to the PTO meeting tomorrow

dawn_mo

dawn_mo

Well-known member
and the hostess is the town's great cook. I emailed her and asked if I could bring something. She replied that she made a "Dirt Cake" and another woman was bringing apples with a dip, and I am most welcome to bring something. I am very new here. This is a town, where everyone has grown up together. I am trying to fit in, with not a lot of success, but I have found a woman who is also a transplant, I have heard her preface conversations, that she has only lived here 13 years.

What do I do? I am dying to cook, and even bake, for that matter. I have been deprived for the last year and a half.

Do I not bring anything, do I bring something totally scruptious, or what???

I am new to small towns and I am trying to fit in, which if you new me, isn't easy to begin with. How would you proceed?

 
If it's not too early, your winning tuna (or chicken) salad with tortilla chips would be great.

I know I'D want to know you better after eating it.

 
I second Marilyn's suggestion. Less stress for you to make something that is familiar to you and

is uncomplicated yet yummy. Good luck!

 
Acually, I just answered my own question. She is highly touted as a fantastic cookq

so I will lay low and move slowly forward. I have made a friend, woo hoo, finally.
This town is like Mayberry. You are known, and we are already this suspect family from California.
So, I think I will bring a hostess gift of cabernet cranberries. Easy peasy. and fairly safe.
If I didn't have an eight-year-old, I would proceed differently, but as it is, this seems safe. Crazy!

 
Thanks Stephanie...that isn't really my quandry...

it is more fitting in and being accepted. But thank you for advising me. I hope you will share some recipes soon! Thanks!

 
Lol Dawn, reminds me of the time I was new in town and the church we

had been visiting had a dinner after services on the 5th Sunday. Members on this particular Sunday, the first we would be attending, were asked to bring certain items depending on the first letter of the last name. Ours fell into desserts. This was back in the day of the Mississippi Mud Cake, which I had made successfully several times, so I decided to make it and took it to the dinner. Well, I heard several comments that "so and so's" (not me, lol)Mississippi Mud Cake was there and realized they were talking about the one I had made. Later a lady came up to me and asked if I had made the MM cake. I replied in the affirmative and she very politely let me know that was her speciality and when she did a dessert, she always made it. Her last name didn't fall into the dessert category that day. She was a nice lady, I think she was just surprised that anyone else would make "her cake". I found out later, no one dared, lol.

That didn't help you, did it? It sure brought back memories and the lady and I became pretty good friends.

Just take something you do really well and be proud of it. Good cooks usually appreciate good food, no matter who makes it.

 
Please tell us, what is a "Dirt Cake?" If you don't know yet please report back.

I had a cartoon by Roz Chaste on my refrigerator for years. I wish I still had it to show you, but it was titled,

THE IMPERFECT HOSTESS:

It had three pictures of a very properly coiffed woman with pearls, with a caption under each:

"We're having dirt for dinner."
"You're not invited."
"I forgot your names anyway."

I know your town cook will be warmer to you. I agree--bring something very simple but delicious.

 
Living in a small town also has it's drawbacks.....

Everyone has tasted everyone else's best dishes by now and I am sure they would welcome someone (and something) new and different! Don't worry - they'll LOVE you and, I'm sure, be so excited at whatever you bring!

 
Joe, they make a box cake mix,

spread it with cool whip, then grind up oreo's to sprinkle on the top. The truly gourmet versions have gummy worms inserted into the "dirt". MMMMMMMMMMMMMM-MMMMMMM-MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!! Look out Magnolia Bakery, Look out Demel's Vienna!

 
My two cents from having grown up in a tiny midwestern backwater...

If you bring something that took more time, care, thought, and love than they did, they will get their noses out of joint and think you're putting on airs. They've already told you they think "dirt cake" is good enough.

And if you don't bring something you'll be "hoity-toity."

I would bring a plate of cookies, nothing fancy.

They'll still probably make catty remarks behind your back, but that can't be helped. Just be honest, kind, and sincere and you'll start to win some of them over.

Even after growing up in a small town, I couldn't ever imagine moving back to one now! LOL

 
Your cabernet cherries may be in the 'hoity-toity' category... so you can send them to me! smileys/smile.gif

 
You know what, I really don't like the tone that this thread has taken..

I was asking advice how to try to mesh into a group of women that work hard, most of them are stay home moms of blue collar husbands. They are involved in their children's lives, way more than a lot of people I know, and are spending time during their summer vacation working on the carnival theme for the mext school year. These are the same women I see day after day involved with the school and the kids.
These women work hard at making their children's lives better. I was not trying to ridicule them, I was just trying to fit in.
And as far as catty remarks, I guesss you do not have to be small town. You all caught me in a honest mood. Sorry.

 
Thank you Richard,

after living in a city of over one million, I feel thankful to raise my 8-year-old son in a place where he can run and play, climb trees, catch frogs, catch fireflies (and let them go, on orders of mom), find turtles laying eggs (don't get too close, they snap) and so much more. The Midwest may have it's drawbacks, but the positives so outweigh the negatives, when it comes to raising children.
Just a little while ago, we were in the backyard trying to catch fireflies.
Rate a memory like that to a memorable meal...no contest.

 
Dawn, I thought we were laughing with you. "Dirt cake" sounded so comical....

if you re-read the thread, I think you'll find lots of messages of support. Your initial post sounded very funny to me. I'm sorry if it sounded like we were mocking a serious situation.

 
What about one of your salsa's/jams that you used to make for your market? I would think

that the SAHMs would love to learn more about you, and this would be a great conversation starter.

Just my thoughts/ideas...

Regards,
Barb

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top