Bridge clubs and card parties were the passion of my mother’s era.  Hostessing the weekly event was just an accepted part of the club.  I never saw even one of the ladies become flustered at the thought.  Everyone knew the accepted process from food to be served to table set up.  Occasionally a new recipe would be tested and might be accepted into the circuit, you just never knew.  If a hostess added one of the “new” recipes to a future menu, you knew you had “arrived”.  Those of us fortunate enough to be the children of these hostesses, loved to have these card parties at our homes since we got to eat the leftovers when we got home from school.

Nutty, spiced bread with cream cheese

Cut the bread in thin slices and spread with a layer of cream cheese, cut the sandwiches so that each is approximately 3 x 3.

Cucumber Sandwiches

Peel the cucumbers and slice thinly, Make sandwiches with white, soft bread that has had the crust removed. Coat one side of the bread with mayo – add herbs if you’d like – and cut the sandwiches in 3 x 3 sizes.

Nuts & Bolts

This was the name of the original "Chex Mix" recipe before Chex cereal began printing it on their cereal boxes and adding all kinds of new items to the mix. It was nothing too fancy and certainly not messy like some of the versions are today but included 3 kinds of Chex cereal, Cherrios, peanuts and pretzels. Add worcestershire sauce, some melted butter, toss together and toast in a low oven. Be sure to make extra, it keeps for days but probably won’t last that long with all the hands that will be “stealing” a handful or two.

Toasted Pecans

Toasted nuts were always a favorite which is why some manufacturers actually began to produce a mixed product called "Bridge Mix". It was so wildly popular that others took up the idea and began producing a variety of mixed nuts that was chocolate coated. Nothing however could match the home variety which is still popular today. For the best ever recipe see my hub How to pronounce “Pecan”…and Mrs. Dull’s Toasted Pecan recipe

Cheese Straws or Wafers

A divine slightly spicy treat made with flour, grated cheese, butter, cayenne pepper and just enough cold water to make a stiff dough. Today’s straws that are found in stores don’t even come close. If you’d like the recipe check out Amazon for Mrs. Dull's Southern Cooking book.

Chicken Salad

A hostess almost always had to have chicken salad but how it was served was at the hostess’ choice – maybe in a sandwich (usually on pumpernickel party bread) or stuffed in celery, etc; whatever worked for the particular salad recipe that was used.

Shrimp Cocktails

When shrimp came into season and everyone was tired of chicken salad occasionally shrimp cocktails would grace the menu – a dainty food that could be easily served if one had the right dishes.

And then there were the sweets;

...usually light, rarely cookies but more cake-like confections that had been designed to serve bite sized or bite sized pastries that were always flaky beyond your wildest dreams. Today’s parties would probably include such things as pumpkin rolls, tarts and other specialties of the like.

And today???

The idea was to serve finger foods that didn’t make a mess so the group could continue to play cards, after all that was the point, right? And for this group, cards they did play! Hours every week but the most important benefit were the relationships that built into long term friendships. Many have lasted more than 40 years and not just with each other but the husbands as well. Cards it turned out were just the venue...

This hub is dedicated to my mother, my Aunt Charlotte and the other refined ladies of Athens who still play cards together today.)