You Say Potato, I Say Kryptonite. . .
There is NOTHING that tempts me like a potato~ well, maybe HomeGoods :) ~ but when it comes to food, potatoes are my weakness. Anyway you serve them or slice them. . . mashed, scalloped, baked. . . and I guess now’s as good a time as any to confess:
I do NOT share French Fries very well.
Since we are having a small-scale Thanksgiving this year, I thought this recipe for Potato Gratin with Rosemary Crust from Southern Living might do double duty~ since it blends sweet potatoes with Yukon gold potatoes. Although truthfully, I’d prefer to skip the turkey altogether and feast on sweet potato casserole AND mashed potatoes. . .but some family members would protest. . . *sigh* . . .
This recipe starts with prepared piecrusts~ a layer of chopped fresh rosemary, shredded Gruyère cheese and black pepper~ sandwiched between two layers of piecrust. Rosemary can overwhelm a dish~ you’ll want to use it sparingly unless you’re fond of it. I used a little more than the 1 Tablespoon called for, for our taste buds, since it’s a flavor we enjoy.
Press the layered crusts in the bottom and up sides of a 9-inch springform pan~ fold edges under if needed and chill.
Peel and thinly slice Yukon gold and sweet potatoes. Layer one-third each of Yukon gold potatoes, sweet potatoes, and salt in prepared crust. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup Gruyère cheese. Repeat layers twice, pressing layers down slightly to fit.
Microwave 2/3 cup of heavy cream and 1 minced garlic clove in a 1-cup microwave-safe measuring cup on HIGH 45 seconds; pour over potato layers in pan.
Sprinkle with remaining 3/4 cup cheese. Cover pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil. Place on a baking sheet.
Bake at 450° for 1 hour. Uncover and bake 25 minutes or until potatoes are done and crust is richly browned. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes. Carefully transfer to a serving plate, and remove sides of pan. If desired, carefully slide gratin off bottom of pan using a long knife or narrow spatula. Garnish, if desired.
In addition to your turkey, this gratin would be wonderful with beef tenderloin for the holidays~
You can find the complete recipe from Southern Living here~ it looks beautiful & impressive presented on a cake pedestal!
Wishing you a Delicious & Happy Thanksgiving!
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I have a case of Halloween Fever curable only with table full of treats!
Since Target is one of my favorite Haunts, I’ve been creeping along the aisles for several weeks now, exercising caution & restraint~ until recently. . .
When these Scary Skeletal Hands reached out and grabbed me~ fortunately they prefer to hold a munchkin pumpkin in their clutches instead. . .
My centerpiece inspiration came from Pinterest~ where I tracked down a candy vase designed to satisfy any trick-or-treater’s sweet tooth. . . filled with an assortment of candy including Ghost Peeps, licorice, and candy corn~ and limited only by your imagination.
Easy to scare up on a budget if you’re shopping the aisles of Dollar Tree.
Inspired by Candy Skewers also found on Pinterest from here~ I combined orange slices, Halloween Peeps, licorice from Target and Dollar Tree.
Polka-Dotted Pails for party favors (from the dollar bin at Target)~ are filled with Pixie Styx, and sinister looking Skull Cookie Pops from Dollar Tree for some frightful fun & tied with ribbon from Michael’s~
Assorted milk chocolate ghouls, ghosts & goblins from World Market (in a $9.99 bag) offered plenty to fill my vases & pails~
Little skeletal hands from Michael’s are offering up tempting milk chocolate Jack O’ Lanterns~
~~~Beware of skeletal hands presenting treats~~~
My vases are enjoying their first Halloween celebration and seem to put in an appearance only at the holidays~ last used at Christmas here, and previously at an Easter table before that.
Literal “Eye Candy” from Target lend a little blood-shot mix to my candy vases :)
A few tricks in addition to treats~
Butternut Squash Soup is a favorite for us that we enjoy in the fall. You can find a tasty recipe that we enjoy here.
These Soup “Shooters” are served up in tulip shaped glasses (from World Market) with an easy trick~
Witch Fingers spelled from String Cheese~ with lines carved for knuckles and sliced almond finger nails attached with cream cheese :)
Candy Corn Parfaits~
Cubes of Angel Food Cake, layered with Vanilla Pudding tinted Yellow & Orange with Wilton Gel, pieces of candy corn and topped with whipped cream~
Served in Pier 1 Mini Cordial Glasses from their Tasting Party Collection~ portion control enforced :)
True Confession Time~
While Candy Corn is the quintessential candy of fall & “screams” halloween~ the taste & texture is frightful to me. . .
It’s festive & fun, but I am not a fan of the flavor :)
Halloween Treat Table Details
Round Beaded Mats~ Target
Dishes~ Oneida Westerly Basket
Flatware~ World Market
Scary Hand Stands, Treat Pails~ Target
Goblets~ HomeGoods
Tablecloth/Quilt & Napkins~ Kohl’s
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Posted in Decor, Food, Halloween, Holidays, Tablescape
Tagged Candy Corn Parfait, Dollar Tree halloween candy, Foodie Friday, halloween candy skewers, Halloween party favors, Halloween table, Home Sweet Home, Pier 1 Tasting Party Collection, Seasonal Sundays, Soup Shooters with Witches' Fingers, String Cheese Witches' Fingers, Table Top Tuesday, Tablescape Thursday, Target
We’ve been Celebrating the Grape and enjoying Bottled Sunshine during September in observance of North Carolina’s Wine Appreciation Month.
Harvest festivals with serenades, grape stomps, and harvest-to-barrel celebrations are abundant with October’s arrival.
Taking my cue from the harvest events at North Carolina wineries this month, I pulled out my grandmother’s dishes~ Harvest Time by Johnson Brothers~ to enjoy with some wine we purchased during our tasting visits.
I harvested some Goldenrod along with clippings from some shrubs for filler~ grasses in bloom, Loropetalum and Abelia for a centerpiece.
Mums for some seasonal color and produce from the grocery store~ artichokes, apples & grapes~ are paired to fill my urn for a full-bodied arrangement for the table.
I fitted a wine bottle with a candelabra insert ~ a fun addition for the table & a keepsake bottle after the contents are gone :)
Cradling a bottle from RayLen Vineyards & Winery~ this little bird told about the upcoming mini-release party of RayLen’s newest vintage of Carolinius~ a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot, with details found here.
Ripe for the picking, I found a grape-producing tablecloth & napkins ~a Ralph Lauren varietal~ at HomeGoods a couple of weeks ago~
I found a cheese pairing suggestion for one of our wines~ a Childress Barrel Select Barbera~ since I had ricotta on hand, it was a natural choice and was simple & delicious~
Ricotta with Blackberries & Lime~
Serves 4
Ingredients
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3 cups fresh blackberries
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2 – 3 tablespoons sugar, depending on sweetness of berries
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Zest & juice of 1 lime
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8 ounces whole milk ricotta
Method
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Place 1 ½ cups of the blackberries in a blender and puree with the sugar. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a small bowl. Add half of the zest and lime juice, stir & refrigeration a minimum of 20 minutes
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Reserve the remaining blackberries and lime zest in the refrigerator.
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Using a small 1- ounce ice-cream scoop, place 2 tablespoons of the ricotta in the middle of each of 4 small dessert plates or bowls. Toss the blackberry sauce with the remaining berries and spoon a quarter of the sauce around the outside of the ricotta on each plate.
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Garnish with blackberries & lime zest.
Harvest Table details:
Tablecloth, Napkins & Bird Wine Caddy/HomeGoods
Dishes/Harvest Time by Johnson Brothers
Goblets/Mikasa French Countryside- Tuesday Morning
Chargers/ Pier 1
Flatware/World Market
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Posted in Decor, Flowers, Food, Wine
Tagged Alphabe-Thursday, Childress Barrel Select Barbera, Foodie Friday, Fresh Cut Fridays, Harvest Time by Johnson Brothers, HomeGoods, NC Wineries, RayLen Vineyards & Winery, Ricotta with Blackberries and Lime, Seasonal Sundays, Table Top Tuesday
I’ve been feathering my nest twig-by-twig lately. . .
. . . tidying, sorting, consigning, donating~
There always seems to be nesting going on around me. . .
I’m long past due taking stock. . .
. . . cleaning out & preparing for Fall with October’s arrival around the corner~
I thought I would follow the birds’ lead and bring my nesting instincts to the table this week ~
And since birds of a feather flock together~ I decided these teapots & pitcher should come home to roost with my set of four fledgling plates~
Gracie China Victorian Bird tea pots along with a pitcher, took flight from TJ Maxx to follow me home~
Filled with an assortment of white blooms serving as vases~ for a flower-filled habitat for my table.
I used my fledgling dishes on a table here, back in January.
On a lark, browsing tablescapes on Pinterest, I discovered that a photo from that post migrated to a blog on tumblr and was then reblogged by tumblr bloggers over & over :(
I noted on the photo on Pinterest that I was the original source and emailed tumblr about copyright violation sending a link to my post. I received a reply within 30 minutes that the media file had been removed.
I’ll be watermarking my photos now and pinning with more interest & an eagle eye in the future :)
Have you made an interesting or disturbing discovery on Pinterest?
Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Birds in Flight~ sprinkled with sanding sugar~
Perched on a soft landing of lemon curd, berries & whipped cream~
Nesting Table Twig-by-Twig Details:
Nesting Pillow/ Pottery Barn
Bird Plates-Gracie China, Napkins & Napkin Rings/HomeGoods
Gracie China Victorian Bird Tea Pots & Pitcher/ TJ Maxx
Dishes/ Oneida Westerly Basket
Chargers/ Pier 1
Tablecloth- Quilt
Flatware/ Horchow
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Posted in Bird, Decor, Flowers, Food, Tablescape
Tagged Foodie Friday, Gracie China Victorian Bird, Home Sweet Home, HomeGoods, On the Menu Monday, Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Birds, pinterest, Table Top Tuesday, Tablescape Thursday, TJ Maxx
I’ve had an ongoing love affair for a while now. . .
My husband knows all about it. . .
Figs. . . sweet, savory, sliced, diced, baked, puréed or sautéed. . .
By themselves or with blue cheese, goat cheese, mascarpone, prosciutto, carmelized onions, arugula. . .
Our neighbors have a ginormous fig tree that we are welcome to help ourselves to.
Last year, annoyed by its vigorous spreading growth~ they severely pruned it . . .
So, no figs :(
This year, it grew back bigger, stronger, faster.
We battled the birds and walked away victorious with some of its delicious fruit~
One of several quick ways we enjoy them~
Fig and Goat Cheese Bruschetta
Spread with goat cheese while baguette slices are warm, add figs, drizzle with honey and some cracked black pepper.
If you’re not in too big of a hurry~ add a bit more goat cheese on top of the figs, pop in the oven for 5 minutes for the goat cheese to melt a little and warm the figs.
We’re usually in a hurry :)
At the end of summer, I had the fig blues. . .
The tree was done. The figs at the Farmers Market were gone.
My love affair had come to its “Same Time Next Year” phase.
My sister turned us on to figs in a jar to satisfy our cravings~
And this tasty trio of flavors~ Dalmatia® Fig Spread, Brie & Meyer Lemon Cookies~
So figs in a jar would have to do~ since figs we typically find in the grocery store are over ripe & overpriced.
Last week, I opened House Beautiful’s October issue, in search of The 2011 Kitchen of the Year Tyler Florence designed at Rockefeller Center and spied a recipe of his I had to try~
Fig and Ricotta Pancakes. . .
Desperate for figs, I was afraid I would have to fly to California to visit Jain~ who has been tempting me with her fig ice cream, cake, pizza & chocolate-dipped creations~ and return with a stash in my suitcase.
Fortunately, my grocery store saved me airfare with a pristine shipment just in~ beautiful, big figs~ not over ripe~ and on special, no less :)
The October House Beautiful issue is appropriately titled, “Happiness starts here!”
From Tyler’s Kitchen, courtesy Tyler Florence
Spiced Fig and Ricotta Pancakes
Serves 4, makes about 12 pancakes
Ingredients
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2 cups whole-milk ricotta
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4 large eggs, separated
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1 cup buttermilk
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1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
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1 teaspoon lemon zest
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1 cup all-purpose flour
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¼ cup sugar
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1 teaspoon baking powder
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¼ teaspoon salt
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¼ teaspoon each ground allspice, cloves, and cinnamon
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½ teaspoon vanilla extract
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unsalted butter
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10 fresh figs, thinly sliced
Directions
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In a large bowl, add the ricotta, egg yolks, buttermilk, lemon juice, and lemon zest and stir until well blended. Stir in the allspice, cloves, cinnamon, and vanilla.
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In another bowl, or parchment paper, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
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In a third bowl, whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form.
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Fold the dry ingredients together with the wet, then carefully fold the egg whites into the batter.
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In a large nonstick skillet, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat.
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Arrange one large fig slice for smaller pancakes or three small slices in a circular pattern if making larger ones. Carefully ladle the batter over figs and cook until bubbles rise in the center of each pancake. Turn pancake over and cook for another two to three minutes. Repeat with remaining batter and figs, adding butter to skillet as needed.
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Serve with real maple syrup and any remaining fig slices.
Happiness does start here. . .
and a 2,500 square-foot dream kitchen complete with Mauviel cookware doesn’t hurt either :)
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Posted in Food
Tagged Dalmatia Fig Spread, Fig and Goat Cheese Bruschetta, Fig and Ricotta Pancakes, Figs, Foodie Friday, House Beautiful magazine recipe, Mosaic Monday, On the Menu Monday, Spiced Fig and Ricotta Pancakes, The 20ll Kitchen of the Year, Tyler's Kitchen Fig and Ricotta Pancakes
I’m easing into Autumn with a sunflower celebration this week~ inspired by an April Cornell tablecloth with its sun-faded palette and sunflowers from the Farmers Market.
What I really want to do is fling myself head first into fall. . .
. . .enjoying football weather under layers of blankets, hoodies, and a glorious canopy of changing leaves!
I’m imagining the idyllic fall scenario. . .where the color changes gradually from greens to gorgeous golds & then rich reds~ not daring to fall until after Thanksgiving~ with someone (or lots of someones :) standing-at-the-ready, rake-in-hand to bag them and take them away. . .
Unlike reality, where the leaves change from green to brown seemingly overnight~ all falling the next day with weeks of raking & bagging to tackle :)
Although I’m ready to embrace the season, it’s a tad early here in the South with summer weather lingering. We did enjoy a taste of Fall with a teaser of cool temperatures this past weekend. . . just enough to whet my appetite for pumpkins & pies, fires & s’mores, and comfort food in the crock pot~
I emptied my jars from the kitchen, replacing the dried pasta that normally fills them, with some seasonal botanicals found at HomeGoods for the table~
A bumble bee found its way from the basil blooms to the sunflowers at the table, as if by cue~
Too busy with its nectar gathering to realize that its arrival & appearance at my table was timely~ just like an invited guest :)
With a little bumble bee inspiration, I had fun with Tootsie Rolls, black sparkling sugar & sliced almonds~
Sunflower table details:
Tablecloth- April Cornell/ HomeGoods
Napkins/ Bed, Bath & Beyond
Napkin Rings, Urn, Candeholder & Jars/Pottery Barn
Goblets/ Hobby Lobby
Dishes/ Oneida Westerly Basket
Chargers/ World Market
Wishing you an idyllic Fall Season enjoying Autumn’s Abundance ~
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Posted in Decor, Food, Tablescape
Tagged April Cornell tablecloth, bee on sunflower, Foodie Friday, HomeGoods, Seasonal Sundays, sunflower table, Sunflowers, Sweets for a Saturday, Table Top Tuesday, Tablescape Thursday, tootsie roll bumble bees
While the calendar says September, we’re still having summer weather~ thankfully with some lower humidity. A teaser of fall-like temperatures are on the horizon for the weekend.
I set a transitional table reflecting the bit of summer we’re still in the midst of~ enjoying the last of the summer annuals. Petunias~ still blooming after a long, hot summer and some fruits in season~ Plums and local Muscadine Grapes from the Farmers Market.
I picked up these dishes a month ago at T J Maxx for a song~ each plate costing less than my former daily Grande Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte.
It seems I’ve traded my Starbucks habit for a Dish one :-)
Originally thinking I would use them in the spring, I decided I could enjoy them now~ accessorizing with amethyst goblets & napkins and using an assortment of deep rich purple & plum-colored fruits for a centerpiece. . . my favorite kind of centerpiece~ one you can eat later :-)
Adding a few petunias scattered among the plums, red and champagne grapes and local black muscadines~ enjoying the flowers while they are still busily blooming.
My two-tier server I used before here, is lined with salad savoy leaves for color and a foundation for the fruit~
The lacy pattern on the stand and woven scalloped chargers led me to a loop edged ribbon to tie on the napkins in lieu of napkin rings~
A Nordic Ware Petits Fours Pan for mini flowers~ four different garden varieties~ dusted with powdered sugar~
I used a boxed mix~ dividing the batter between petit fours & some cupcakes, since each petit four only requires a tablespoon of batter~ that’s a lot of flowers :-)
Plates~ Royal Stafford/ T J Maxx
Tiered Bird Stand/ HomeGoods
Napkins & Chargers / World Market
Goblets/ Target.com
Flatware~ Portmeirion Botanic Garden/HomeGoods
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Posted in Decor, Flowers, Food, Tablescape
Tagged Foodie Friday, Nordic Ware Petits Fours Pan, On the Menu Monday, plums and petunias tablescape, Portmeirion Botanic Garden flatware, Royal Stafford plates, Seasonal Sundays, Sweets for a Saturday, T J Maxx plates, Table Top Tuesday, Tablescape Thursday
The calendar says September, but there is still plenty of summer weather ahead of us here in the South and plenty of fruit in season to enjoy~
I harvested a medley of fruits at the Farmers Market prompted by some dish inspiration from HomeGoods~
My basket is brimming with pears, white & yellow peaches, blackberries, along with a few apricots~
Pokeberry gathered from a nearby field is woven around the handle of my basket~
A Rustic Mixed Fruit Tart~
I used a recipe from Martha Stewart for a plum tart, but substituted my medley of fruits~ pears, white & yellow peaches, and blackberries. You can find the plum tart recipe here along with a video.
“Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.”
~Henry David Thoreau
Taste the Fruit table details:
Plates~ Lenox Orchard in Bloom Peach & Pear Blossom/HomeGoods
Tablecloth- Quilt/Kohl’s
Napkins & Napkin Rings/ Pier 1
Placemats/ Pottery Barn
Goblets/Target
Flatware/ Napoleon Bee- Horchow
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Posted in Decor, Flowers, Tablescape
Tagged Feathered Nest Friday, Foodie Friday, fruit basket centerpiece, HomeGoods, Lenox Orchard in Bloom Peach Blossom, Lenox Orchard in Bloom Pear Blossom, peaches and pears tablescape, pokeberry, rustic fruit tart, Seasonal Sundays, Table Top Tuesday, Tablescape Thursday, Wow Us Wednesdays
We’re enjoying a lakeside picnic over the holiday weekend~
I’m testing the theory that everything tastes better out of a jar~ it certainly is more fun :-)
A layered salad made in advance~ a minimum of 8 hours or up to 24~ chilling for the flavors to meld.
You can enjoy the fruits of your labor later ~ since that’s the point of this summer holiday :-)
Tasty & satisfying~ and a salad that my husband enjoys.
Note to self: Pack individual salad jars next time, so serving is less problematic & less labor is required :-)
Layered Cornbread-and-Turkey Salad, recipe courtesy of Southern Living, here
I substituted some chickpeas for yellow bell peppers~ not as colorful~ but pleasing to our taste buds and used a blend of Monterey Jack & Cheddar cheese instead of Swiss since that’s what I had on hand.
Skewers of cherry tomatoes, artichoke hearts, prosciutto, cheese, olives, & cheese tortellini~
Citrus infused water with lemon & orange slices~ refreshing & thirst quenching~
Dessert in a jar with very little labor using fruits in season~ plums, peaches, berries of any kind or combination.
Peach-and-Blueberry Parfait, recipe & inspiration courtesy Southern Living here.
Instead of making a custard, I mixed a jar of lemon curd with 8 oz of 1/3 less fat cream cheese~ (less labor :-)
Layer custard or lemon curd mixture with the angel food cake (or pound cake), peaches & blueberries. Assemble, chill & enjoy!
Wishing you some food and fun in your weekend~
Have a Safe & Labor-Free Holiday :-)
Plates/ Kohl’s
Flatware/ HomeGoods
Napkins/ World Market
Beverage Dispenser/ Pottery Barn
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Posted in Lake Life, Tablescape
Tagged dessert in a jar, Foodie Friday, HomeGoods, Labor Day Picnic, Lakeside Picnic, Layered Cornbread and Turkey Salad, On the Menu Monday, Peach and Blueberry Parfaits, salad in a jar, Seasonal Sundays, Southern Living recipes, Tablescape Thursday
We celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary August 18th~
No grand celebration or jetting away to an exotic locale or favorite destination for the last week of summer~ just enjoying a quiet weekend after a few busy weeks.
Although I did find myself fantasizing about a tropical island getaway. . .
Turks and Caicos, Grand Cayman, St. Maarten. . .
. . .Lake Norman :-)
There are 96 islands on the lake~ providing habitat for a wide variety of wildlife as well as recreational destinations for boaters (some of which can be considered a form of wildlife themselves :-)
Most of the islands are owned by Duke Energy and are open to the public. The lake’s 96 islands cover nearly 300 acres of land with almost 30 miles of shoreline. A few cover more than 20 acres~ while some are no more than piles of rock or shoals.
We boated to a nearby island~ complete with a few fresh water shells and driftwood. . .
The modern 27th wedding anniversary gift is sculpture~
I opted for something less permanent for the occasion. . .a Sand Castle sculpted out of brown sugar for our table :-)
Some sparkling Prosecco in a sugared rim glass~
Marinated Shrimp for our Island Getaway~ made a day in advance~ you can find a recipe here.
A little Shell :-) Pasta Salad~ with sun dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, black olives, feta cheese and sundried tomato vinaigrette.
Thank you to Pablo’s Cantina~ for keeping our island getaway clean~
And thanks to my Boat Captain/Husband of 27 years for his patience :-)
Fantasy Island Table details:
Ivory Chargers/ Matceramica- HomeGoods
Salad Plates, Napkins & Glasses / Pottery Barn, last year
Flatware/ World Market
Napkin Rings/ Stein Mart, last year
Beaded Placemats/ Target
Table topper/ Shower Curtain :-) - Kohl’s
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Posted in Decor, Food, Lake Life, Tablescape, Water
Tagged Foodie Friday, Island Tablescape, Lake Norman Islands, Marinated Shrimp, Seasonal Sundays, Shell Pasta Salad, Tablescape Thursday, Tabletop Tuesday, Wow Us Wednesdays
Since yesterday was National Dog Day and we are in the midst of the Dog Days of Summer, I thought it was timely to repost this edible book review~ inspired by Jain at Food for Thought~ a delicious blog for readers with an appetite for the written word.
This is a favorite book of mine, with a prominent place on my coffee table. I stumbled on it for several years ago (it was published in 1999). If you are a dog lover, this one is not to be missed~ full of beautiful photos of homes, dogs, collections, and quite simply, as one reviewer says: “this book is a celebration of hardcore dog enthusiasm.”
In his endearing and hilarious introduction, the author, Larry Shehan, talks about his dogs, one of which, a tricolor Collie named Zorro, who he says was “as slow-witted as he was beautiful”. (I had a cat like that :-) He and his wife add an Australian shepherd puppy, Addie, to their household who “at that early stage of growth looked more like a California sea otter than a dog.” As his household adapts to the puppy, he confessed to turning into my own worst nightmare– “a guy who carries a picture of his dog around with him in his wallet.”
A few years later, he finds a two-year-old English Setter, Buster: “His upper lip was hung up on one side of his freckled muzzle and one ear was flopped, pink side out, giving him a slightly deranged, ready-for-anything aspect.” He was hooked~ however, he describes his household as becoming dysfunctional with introduction of an exuberant, willful dog deaf to the command of “Come!”. He, his wife, his cat & Addie eventually settle in and adapt slowly:
“The secret of living with dogs is to take the wild with the sweet, and then sit back and wait for the laughs and the love.”
~ Amen :-)
My canine kitsch~ a collection of vintage chalkware dogs with no special pedigree :-)
You can find another book review a dog lover will lap up here~
A chapter on dog portraiture. . .
A “portrait” that won’t break the bank~ a canvas from Photofiddle~
“Like children they leave their toys scattered around– a rubber squeaky here or a half-gnawed bone there. These objects, along with the leashes, collars, food bowls, dog beds, and all the other paraphernalia associated with keeping a dog, turn a house into a habitat– and, late at night when the lights are out, a minefield.”
“Dogs settle into a home pretty much the way people do, gravitating to a favorite corner, window, or chair.”
No food references in this book (other than kibble :-) so I thought I’d have some Pup Cake fun, courtesy Hello, Cupcake!
“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” ~ Roger Caras
Chloe wishes you sunny skies and that everyone in the path of Hurricane Irene stays safe!
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Posted in Books, Dogs, Food
Tagged Dog Days of Summer, food for thought edible review, Foodie Friday, Hello Cupcake, Laurence Sheehan, Living with Dogs, National Dog Day, photofiddle, Pup Cakes, pupcakes, Seasonal Sundays, Sweets for a Saturday
My palate and my table are in a state of Corn Utopia this week~ a place where these little kernels are bursting with the sweet flavor of summer.
I borrowed my mother-in-law’s Fitz and Floyd Corn Pitcher, Salt & Pepper Shakers and last but not least, Butter Dish, for summer’s sweetest vegetable~ and the essence of the season~ at its peak of flavor & availability now.
I picked maize-colored placemats with a kernel-like texture at Kohl’s and shucked napkins from the shelves at Beth Bath & Beyond~
Jelly Belly corn kernels and Laffy Taffy banana-flavored butter pats~ complete with black sparkling sugar masquerading as pepper~
A-maize-ing corn facts~
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The average ear of corn has 800 kernels, arranged in 16 rows.
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There is one piece of silk for each kernel~ (I had no idea but I can believe it :-)
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A bushel of corn contains about 27,000 kernels.
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Each tassel on a corn plant releases as many as 5 million grains of pollen.
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Corn is an ingredient in more than 3,000 grocery products.
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One bushel of corn can make 33 pounds of sweetener, 32 pounds of starch, or 2 1/2 gallons of ethanol fuel.
Tomato & Corn Pizza~ courtesy of Mother Nature’s bounty and bumper crop of basil & tomatoes~ and a recipe from Southern Living, you can find here.
Pesto, fresh corn kernels, tomatoes & mozzarella~
A trio of summer flavors in served up in every slice~
Corn Utopia Details:
Corn Pitcher, Butter Dish & Salt & Pepper/ Fitz and Floyd- Omnibus- 1990
Plates/ Oneida Westerly Basket
Woven Chargers/World Market
Napkins/ Bed, Bath & Beyond
Napkin Rings/ Pottery Barn
Placemats/ Kohl’s
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Posted in Food, Tablescape
Tagged Alphabe-Thursday, Corn and Pesto Pizza, Corn on the cob cupcakes, Fitz and Floyd Omnibus Corn pitcher, Foodie Friday, Hello Cupcake, On the Menu Monday, Southern Living, Sweets for a Saturday, Tablescape Thursday, Tabletop Tuesday, Tomato, Tomato and Corn Pizza
My favorite niece, Rachel, is turning 14 on August 25th. . .
. . .technically, she’s my only niece, but if I had another, she would still be my favorite :-)
A fun coincidence since Rachael Ray also celebrates a birthday on August 25th :-)
These birthday pancakes are one several cake ideas in honor of Rachael Ray’s birthday month in the August issue, using a boxed mix~
You can add sprinkles to your cake mix batter or use a Pillsbury Funfetti Cake Mix. I added them to my powdered sugar glaze instead of the batter~
Mix your boxed yellow cake mix according to package directions~ I used a Pillsbury Moist Supreme Yellow Mix.
Ladle the batter into a nonstick skillet or griddle, and cook like you would cook pancakes~ I got 9 pancakes~ approximately 8″~ out of the box mix, but only used 7 for this cake~
Mix powdered sugar with 2 -3 T of water, milk, or orange juice and drizzle over your stack of “pancakes” and add sprinkles~
Rachel~ We blew out your candles and made a wish that you would come visit us soon!
Happy Birthday Rachel (and Rachael :-)
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My lovefest with Loggerhead Sea Turtles continues this week at the table. . .
Our family vacation to Harbor Island was most memorable due to all the turtle activity this year. . .
By the end of our week’s stay, the 3 mile-stretch-of-beach, had a recorded number of 64 turtle nests~ closing in on the record of 66 nests set in 1999~ twice as many than in 2010~
Since we’ve returned the number of nests has surpassed the record set in 1999~ bringing the nest count up to 67 :-)
The greatest threat to Loggerhead Turtles is loss of nesting habitat due to coastal development, predation of nests, and human disturbances (such as coastal lighting and housing developments) that cause disorientation during the emergence of hatchlings.
Other major threats include incidental capture in longline fishing, shrimp trawling and pollution. All shrimp boats in South Carolina are equipped with turtle excluder devices (TED)~ Yay!
I found turtle chocolate molds from Amazon, here, that I used to mold brown sugar~
Despite the threat to our waistlines~ white & dark chocolate hatchlings emerged to accompany chocolate & real shells on a brown sugar beach~
The turtle hatchlings are as challenged climbing the frosted cupcake as they are making their way to the ocean~
I’m afraid these particular hatchlings’ days are numbered. . .
I used Shell molds from Wilton to sculpt sand shells & fill with chocolate~
Approximately 25 volunteers participate in the Harbor Island Turtle Project, searching each morning at sunrise for turtle tracks and nests. All nests are monitored until they hatch and data is submitted to the SC Department of Natural Resources and SeaTurtle.org
The nest is probed to locate the eggs. The sand is removed to confirm that eggs have been laid. If the nest is in a safe location, the sand is replaced and the nest is marked.
The eggs are then placed in a new hole that has been dug to the same depth as the original nest. The nest is staked and covered with a protective barrier net.
After 45 to 75 days the eggs hatch. The babies stay in the sand for several days before emergence. A characteristic indentation is visible when the babies have hatched and are beginning to dig their way to the surface.
The baby turtles usually come out or “boil” in the middle of the night.
A nest is inventoried three days after evidence of a “boil”. The hatched shells and the unhatched eggs are counted. If any of the unhatched eggs are considered viable, they are reburied.
Occasionally, there are stragglers found in the nest when it is inventoried. These babies are placed on the beach so that they will find their own way to the water.
We were thrilled to be able to watch the release of 8 stragglers early one morning~ a first for us. . .
You can’t help but cheer them on, keeping your fingers crossed, knowing how many predators~birds, crabs & fish~ they are up against.
It is estimated that only 1 in 1000 hatchlings make it to adulthood~ with mature females returning, sometimes over thousands of miles, to the beach where they hatched to lay their eggs.
Female Loggerheads lay 4 to 7 nests per season, typically about 14 days apart.
These little turtle napkin rings had just hatched from a UPS box during my visit there~
I snapped them up to protect them from any predators that might be lurking and released them onto my table :-)
Crabs, ants, raccoons, foxes, and birds target turtle eggs and hatchlings. If they are lucky enough to reach adulthood, sea turtles are relatively immune to natural predation, except for the occasional shark attack.
Dogs can be a threat to turtles nests, digging for eggs, if unsupervised on the beach~
Unsupervised dogs can also be a threat to unsuspecting starfish for tablescapes. . .
Loggerhead table details:
Ivory Chargers/Plates- Pier 1
Hurricanes, Shell Bowls, Dinner Plates, Placemats – Kohl’s
Napkins- Pottery Barn, last year
Turtle Napkin Rings – shop in St. Helena, SC
Flatware, Woven Chargers – World Market
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Posted in Decor, Tablescape
Tagged beach tablescape, Everyday Sisters Sharing Sundays, Foodie Friday, Kohl's, Kohl's shell dinnerware, loggerhead sea turtles, On the Menu Monday, Seasonal Sundays, Sweets for a Saturday, Table Top Tuesday, Tablescape Thursday, turtle chocolate molds, Turtle cupcakes, turtle tablescape, Wilton Seashell candy molds, Wow Us Wednesdays
A city rich with history, Southern hospitality, and casual seaside charm~ Beaufort, South Carolina is the “Queen of the Carolina Sea Islands”~ discovered by the Spanish in 1514 and chartered by the British in 1711.
This year Beaufort celebrates its Tricentennial~ a special and historic birthday ~ that’s a lot of candles and a lot of cake!
A National Landmark Historic District with gracefully restored antebellum homes, centuries-old live oaks, pristine waters, and some of the best fishing anywhere~
Beaufort has a way of reeling you in. . .
While Beaufort proper is the area’s Queen Belle, attracting admirers with her pre-Civil War mansions and sail-dotted bay, the town’s outlying provinces are also must-sees. . . Port Royal, Parris Island, Hunting Island, Lady’s Island, St. Helena Island and Harbor Island (an annual summer destination for us) just to name a few. . .
Queen Beaufort’s peaceful, watery realm is abundant with wildlife and remnants of the Old South~
Beaufort County rules over & encompasses more than 200 islands~ nestled between Charleston SC and Savannah GA~ most of which remain wondrously pristine. . .
A point of local preference that sets apart the Carolinas: In Beaufort, South Carolina, the name is pronounced BYEW-fort. In North Carolina, a coastal town of great similarity with the same name is pronounced BO-fort.
And yes, it matters :-)
Beaufort has an active and enthusiastically supported Arts Council. Mermaid statues, embellished by area artists in 2006, were auctioned off to endow a fund for public art.
A few mermaids remain sprinkled throughout town. . .
You can read more about Beaufort’s Mermaids here and see a little of sculptor Kevin Palmer’s mermaid-making process here~ from wood frame to fiberglass.
Miss Beaufort, with her streaming locks of copper wire, stained-glass tail, and beauty queen banner, greets drivers as they come onto Bay Street. She happily swims near a Palmetto Tree at the Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center.
A Celebratory Cupcake in honor of Beaufort’s 300th Birthday~ complete with a molded brown sugar mermaid & chocolate seashells :-)
Happy Birthday Queen Beaufort~ long may you reign!
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Posted in Boats, Travel, Water
Tagged a brown sugar molded mermaid, a celebratory cupcake for Beaufort's 300th birthday, Alphabe-Thursday, Beaufort SC, Beaufort SC Mermaids, Beaufort SC Tricentennial, Foodie Friday, mermaids, Mosaic Monday, Outdoor Wednesday, Queen of the Carolina Sea Islands, Seasonal Sundays, Sweets for a Saturday
by Sarah Addison Allen
An Edible Book Review inspired by Jain at Food for Thought, a delicious blog for readers with an appetite for the written word.
“The New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Chased the Moon welcomes you to her newest locale: Walls of Water, North Carolina, where the secrets are thicker than the fog from the town’s famous waterfalls, and the stuff of superstition is just as real as you want it to be.”
I’m long overdue in sharing this book that I read back in April~
I always look forward to Sarah Addison Allen’s books~ I had pre-ordered it, anxious for its arrival. It was waiting for me like a nice, juicy peach ready for me to sink my teeth into, when I returned from vacation. I took these photos and cooked this book back when the azaleas were blooming, and although I had shelved this review, I didn’t shelve this book until after I read it cover-to-cover in two days. . . one day if I hadn’t had to unpack & bathe :-)
My intention was to take a little road trip to tie in to this review, and visit Transylvania County in Western North Carolina ~ the area that the town of Walls of Water is based on, and home to over 250 waterfalls. It became apparent that was not going to happen and though it’s still on my list to visit, it looks more like it will be the fall when the weather is not in the triple digits.
The long-buried secrets and mysteries of The Peach Keeper continued to haunt me to return to it & Walls of Water ever since~ most recently by an article in Our State Magazine.
Full of North Carolina native, Sarah Addison Allen’s trademarks~ magic, small town charm, and FOOD~ The Peach Keeper is easy to devour in one sitting~ and is a great book to tuck in your beach bag or keep by your night stand.
In keeping with this book, I set a simple table where peaches are the stars. Peach blossom-inspired napkin rings from Pier 1, napkins from Stein Mart, Napoleon Bee flatware for the buzzing of the bees & a tablecloth from Kohl’s~
“A cool breeze floated eerily by, smelling of peaches.”
“If anyone had been paying attention to the signs, they would have realized that air turns white when things are about to change, that paper cuts mean there’s more to what’s written on the page than meets the eye, and that birds are always out to protect you from things you don’t see.”
“There was a slight hint of peaches in the air, but it didn’t scare her.”
Tucker Devlin:
“What I know, what I’m best at, is peaches. Peach juice swims in my veins. When I bleed, it’s sweet. Honeybees fly right to me.”
“He looked like the world was a ripe peach and he was ready to bite it.”
There was plenty to tempt my palate between these pages~ Oatmeal Cookies with Coffee Icing, Double Chocolate Espresso Brownies, Lemon-Chicken Salad, Lemon and Broccoli Mini-Quiches, Angel Food Cake, Honeymoon Pie. . .but it just seemed criminal not to use peaches in this edible review~
“Cups of lemon crème layered with hazelnut shortbread crumbles, pansies, lavender, and lemon verbena.”
I layered peaches, store-bought hazelnut shortbread cookies, lemon curd & whipped cream~ and garnished with edible violas for an individual, easy trifle~
“Lunch was then served, beautiful food garnished with edible roses and tasting of lavender and mint and lust. People closed their eyes with each bite, and the air turned sweet and cool. The quartet played ravishing melodies that were strange and exotic. There was a curious sense of longing in the air, and everyone felt it. People began to think of old loves and missed opportunities. Unlike most of these functions, no one wanted to leave. Lunch lingered for hours.”
“So it was with Claire Waverley, a beautiful, mysterious caterer who it was rumored could make your rivals jealous, your love life better, your senses stronger, all with the food she created. Her specialty was edible flowers, and once it got out that she had something no one else had, everyone wanted her.”
I highly recommend sipping on a Peach Bellini on a Saturday or Sunday morning as you read this book :-)
Paxton:
“ ‘Can you really make people feel differently with the food you cook, with the drinks you prepare?’ ”
A savory recipe for your peaches~ A Stacked Peach & Mozzarella Salad~
Served with baby spinach and a cilantro-lime vinaigrette~ Delicious & definitely a Keeper recipe :-)
“Just as they turned to walk back up the steps, the scent of peaches permeated the air for a moment, thick and cloying, before it faded into the night, crossing the moon in a wisp of smoke, then disappearing.”
“Resonant with insight into the deep and lasting power of friendship, love, and tradition, The Peach Keeper is a portrait of the unshakable bonds that—in good times and bad, from one generation to the next—endure forever.”
“North Carolina novelist Sarah Addison Allen brings the full flavor of her southern upbringing to bear on her fiction — a captivating blend of fairy tale magic, heartwarming romance, and small-town sensibility.”
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Posted in Books, Flowers, Food
Tagged Alphabe-Thursday, an edible book review, Bellini, cooking my book, food for thought edible review, Foodie Friday, Grilled Peach and Mozzarella Salad, Land of Waterfalls, On the Menu Monday, Peach Trifle, Sarah Addison Allen, Southern Living, Sweet Indulgences, Sweets for a Saturday, Tablescape Thursday, The Peach Keeper, Transylvania County NC
I’m tackling a little tabletop fishing~ after a week with family at Harbor Island surf & pier fishing~
My mother-in-law’s fish planter is angling to function as a wine chiller for this Pinot Grigio I was able to catch ~
I cast a look into my husband’s grandfather’s tackle box for a couple of old reels & lures for the table. . .
Our surf fishing landed a few small sharks. . .
A trip to Stein Mart landed some green & blue fish that I fell for hook, line & sinker. . .
We catch our bait with a cast net. . .
I usually catch up on my reading while I catch some rays :-)
And there is always “the one” that got away at the pier . . .
Fishing always nets a few surprises. . .
While sharks & stingrays were plentiful, imagine my surprise when I reeled in a PureHeart Seedless~
I chose to release my catch of all its watermelon goodness :-)
You can find directions to reel in your own here.
There are plenty of other fish in the sea, in the way of watermelon inspiration, at the National Watermelon Promotion Board’s site here.
Catch of the Day details:
Fish plates/ Vitali from Stein Mart
Dinner plates/ Oneida Westerly Basket
Tablecloth/ Food Network for Kohl’s
Chargers, Napkins & Flatware / World Market
Blue Goblets/ Dollar Tree
Napkin Rings/ Pottery Barn
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Posted in Food, Lake Life, Tablescape
Tagged fishing at Harbor Island, fishing tablescape, Food Network for Kohl's, Foodie Friday, Harbor Island SC, National Watermelon Promotion Board, Ocean City Manufacturing Company fishing reel, On the Menu Monday, Oneida Westerly Basket, Stein Mart fish dishes, Tablescape Thursday, Vitali fish plates, Watermelon fish carving, World Market
Before weighing anchor & setting sail for the beach, I created a nautical nook on my porch . . .
I hope to return buoyed~ after enjoying a week in the sun with the sand between my toes. . .
I’m looking forward to some coastal scenery. . .
I’m filling my beach bag with a few books that will float my boat. . .
And looking forward to a week of wading thru the pages and the surf. . .
In anticipation of my voyage, I decided to set sail with Tomato Mozzarella Basil Stacks. . .
With the wind behind a Basil Leaf Sail~
A little balsamic drizzle to keep the Tomato Mozzarella Stack afloat. . .
We cast our net into the tidal pools to see what bait fish we can catch for surf fishing. . .
The results are surprising, but usually we pull in shrimp. . . which explains all the trawlers we see. . .
Shrimp Bruschetta~
Easy & crowd pleasing for sailors & landlubbers alike. . . shrimp, chopped tomatoes, basil, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt & pepper~ if you’d like a recipe you can find one from Coastal Living, here.
Wishing you a week of Calm Seas & Smooth Sailing~
Sea you soon :-)
Nautical Nook Details:
Melamine Striped Plates, Bowls & Cups/ Target
Boat Appetizer Plates/ Stein Mart
Flatware & Napkins/ World Market
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Posted in Decor, Food, Lake Life, Tablescape
Tagged a basil sail on a tomato mozzarella stack, Alphabe-Thursday, Foodie Friday, nautical and nice, On the Menu Monday, Shrimp Bruschetta, Table Top Tuesday, Tablescape Thursday, Tomato Mozzarella Basil Stacks
Bobby Flay, whose signature style~marrying the flavors of southwest with his love of grilling~ and known for his bold flavors & zingy spices, prompted a trip to the Farmers Market for this Cook-Along. . .
for a medley of veggies. . .
and for flowers. . .
Where I married my farmers market purchases with some bold, colorful patterns in salad plates, bowls & placemats for the table. . .
and blended some fruits for Sangria. . .
It’s always fun to play with my food~ economical & convenient, when today’s centerpiece is also this week’s dinner :-)
I spied this Bobby Flay recipe in the May issue of Food Network Magazine~
We enjoyed these and will definitely make them again! I made a few changes~ omitting the port, (using red wine only) ; substituting beef stock for chicken; and using only ancho chile peppers since I was unable to find cascabel & New Mexico peppers. After browning the short ribs, instead of turning on the oven & the heat up in the kitchen, I put everything in crock pot on low for 8 hours, turning heat up in the tacos with a few jalapenos.
Recipe for the Red Pickled Onions included in the Chile Short Rib Taco recipe:
Bring 3/4 cup lime juice, 1/4 cup each red wine vinegar and sugar, and 1 tablespoon salt to a boil in a saucepan. Remove from the heat and let cool, 5 minutes. Toss with 1 thinly sliced red onion in a bowl; cover and chill at least 4 hours, stirring occasionally.
I also added some peaches to the Sangria from the farmers market.
Southwest Flavor Table details:
Salad Plates & Bowls/ Kohl’s- Corsica Home/Tivoli
Placemats & Napkins/ Kohl’s
Napkin Rings & Urn/ Pottery Barn
Dinner Plates/Pier 1
Tray/ Stein Mart
Pitcher, Chargers & Flatware/ World Market
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Posted in Decor, Food, Tablescape
Tagged Alphabe-Thursday, Bobby Flay, Bobby Flay's Red Chile Short Rib Tacos, Celebrity Cook-Along, Corsica Round Tivoli Collection, Foodie Friday, Kohl's, On the Menu Monday, Rose Sangria Spritzer, Table Top Tuesday, Tablescape Thursday
I was thrilled to have found lilac bundles at Trader Joe’s about six weeks ago, which was the inspiration for this table~ a surprise as delightful to me as their fragrance~ and the only way to enjoy them here since our climate is too warm for them to grow.
I pulled out my Mikasa Daylight Dinnerware for this table~ instead of dining with butterflies, I’m feasting on quilted fields of flowers with the lilacs~
Little clusters of flowers on the lilacs diffuse their heady fragrance, that I arranged with white hydrangeas and the new, green blooms of Chinese snowball viburnum for a centerpiece~
I love the viburnum’s first lime-hued blooms, that appear before they transition to white. . .their arrival holding the promise of the flowers to come. . .
. . .and whose blooms are the same vibrant shade of the leaves on my Mikasa Daylight pattern~ a hue that reminds me of the energetic, new growth of spring~ trailing across the plates, winding their way inside the bowls & outside the cups.
Since our style is relaxed at the lake, quilts are my table covering of choice~ since they serve double-duty on beds as well as the table and best of all . . .don’t require ironing :-)
A few open-face cucumber sandwiches garnished with the last of the violas (organic!) and basil leaves for fresh-from-the- garden flavor~
While the recipe called for blueberries, I used a medley of berries that I had in the freezer~
Refreshing and light for hot summer weather . . .
And fun for a lunch with the girls, served with a salad garnished with the last of the violas and edible organic nasturtiums. . .
A flavorful as well as colorful combination of strawberries, nectarines, feta cheese, green tomatoes, glazed pecans, and fresh basil~ on a bed of mixed baby salad greens~
This 5- Star rated recipe is served with Lemon-Poppy Seed Dressing. Not a huge fan of Poppy Seed Dressing, we enjoy Balsamic or Raspberry Vinaigrette on this salad. Adding chicken from a deli roaster, would make this an entrée salad to be enjoyed in hot weather without heating up the kitchen!
“What makes lilacs treasured is not the years they can accumulate, however, but the beauty of their flowers, which come just as the last memory of winter and its ice and snow and barrenness are passing away in the May sun. They flower exuberantly then, hundreds of cobs of bloom appearing over gaunt, gray trunks. That conjunction is itself an emblem of the renewal of the year, but we wonder whether without the fragrance peculiar to lilacs they would matter so much.”
Please Eat the Flowers :-) Lunch Menu
Open Face Cucumber Sandwiches~ a mosaic “how-to” can be found in my post here.
Lilac & Daylight Table details:
Contoured chargers/ World Market
Flatware/Portmeirion Botanic Garden/HomeGoods
Green Goblets & Napkins/HomeGoods
Bird Napkin Rings & Green Urn/ Pottery Barn
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Posted in Decor, Flowers, Food, Tablescape
Tagged Chilled Berry Soup, Chinese snowball viburnum, edible viola tea sandwiches, Feathered Nest Friday, Foodie Friday, Fresh Cut Fridays, Home Sweet Home, Lifetime Brands, Lilacs, Mikasa Daylight Dinnerware, On the Menu Monday, Open Face Cucumber Tea Sandwich, Seasonal Sundays, Southern Living, Strawberry Fields Salad, Tablescape Thursday, Tabletop Tuesday, violas for garnish
