Cloche Encounters~Foodie Friday Anniversary

Happy First Anniversary to ML at Designs by Gollum!  She cooked something special to celebrate!  Please go see her lovely blog and all the other entries….

I saw this cute trivet at CTS , and made my own version of the cupcake for the celebration…

I am not good at cloches, I really must work on it, but I wanted to go to Marty’s party at A Stroll thru Life, so I tried…

I thought it was a little better than this..

I know I said I would work on it the last time, but I keep forgetting to practice! But the cupcake was good..:)

I roasted a small chicken to make this Bow Tie Pasta,  Chicken, and Snow Pea Salad..

Remove all the meat from the bones and cut up into bite size pieces.  Add chopped onions,chopped celery ,parsley, mustard powder, splash of OJ, salt, pepper, packet of Herb Ox broth, and whole Mayo to taste . Chill a few hours, then add the snow peas in last…keeps them crunchy.

Try it, you’ll like it!

Happy Blogaversary to my friend Barb at Foley’s Follies.  She is having a sweet give away..go visit! Hurry, the drawing is soon!

Thanks for coming..I’ll be posting the details of the 2nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Blog Crawl in my next post…

The BIG Cupcake…Lent Begins…Tablescape Thursday…

I don’t like fish…I don’t care how you make it, uh uh..

Well, I like tuna salad, and if I have to I can get a McD’s filet o’ fish down, but all those years of fish Fridays growing up, just did me in!

So Lent is a challenge for me…8 meatless dinners..and no full of fat and calories mac and cheese, pizza, etc!

But that’s what it is supposed to be..a sacrifice.so I'll try...

My table tonight reminds me of Lent.  I hope that isn’t irreverent  :)…but purple is Lenten…the statues were covered in purple until Easter.

This cloth is a little funky.., ok , a lot funky..( don't worry, Sue, you didn't hurt my feelings..I'll offer it up..:) but such a good bargain, ..You know I didn’t pay that!  Wouldn’t…I think it was 5.00

Not my colors at all..purple, black, brown, white, gold, green and even a little turquoise…I thought maybe I would use it for a Mardi Gras table..but I never got to it.so just an every night dinner table.

So you will have to look at last year’s here
..:)

I had these handled purple bowls I’ll use for soup…Home Goods..

Since we are having soup, I used a white tureen from Dansk as the centerpiece.

Black charger from CTS,  and white dishes I got from LinensN’Things pre blogging..so no they are not from Big Lots!

Matching napkin, 99 cents also WSonoma Outlet.

Flatware by Dansk, Stems I forget, and water glasses are very old and thin, they were my mom’s.

The rounded soup spoons are Oneida.  I like rounded soups spoons, and they are not that easy to find in stores..

  Please stop in at Between Naps on the Porch to see what Susan has in store for us this week…

And my friend, The Tablescaper used the cloth in a fun Mardi Gras tablescape..go check it out..fun to see from everyday Lenten :) look, to party!

Now for the Big Cupcake…I made it Sunday as we had a special Valentine/Birthday dinner for my ds. ( This is an old picture, we are covered in snow!)

Here’s what it looks like after you bake it in the BIG Cupcake Pan by Wilton….

It serves the same number as a regular cake would…10 to 12..

And here it is ready to light the candle..

Happy Birthday, Son…many happy, healthy returns!

 

The bottom part is iced in  melted chocolate icing, and the top is fresh whipped cream.

I cut the top and bottom in layers and fill with creamy chocolate icing….

Thanks for visiting…I’ll be here for Marty’s Cloche Party and Foodie Friday. 

Party HEARTy~ Happy Valentine’s Day ! ♥♥♥

Good Golly Miss Molly

I hope I’m not tardy..

The day has arrived

For LAURIE’S big party!

I’ve polished the silver..

And baked a heart cake..

Sure hope Stinky Linky

Didn’t make a mistake!

I made potatoes and muffins..

 

In the shape of a heart…

But if you don’t like them..

Here’s a sweet apple tart..

I bought placemats and dishes..

And these came in handy…

Some heart shaped delicious,

Junior Mints Candy!!

Maybe you’re tired?

A bit of the droop?

I made you a heart…

In a bowl of Spud Soup..

 

Come sit at the table..

You won’t be alone.

Have some blueberry preserves..

On a sweet heart shaped scone?

The time is just flying!

It’s getting quite late

A big thanks to Laurie,

Your party was great!

I am also joining ML at Designs by Gollum too, so please stop by to see some great food..  She’s having a great give away for the anniversary of Foodie Friday..

Thanks for coming, and Happy Valentine’s Day!

Pink Polka Dot~ Tablescape Thursday

Have you been busy baking for your Valentine????

Are you working hard planning a romantic dinner for 2???

 

Have you been reading the latest articles about how to make the evening wonderful??

Maybe a special bottle of wine??  This one is really  special.

See the label??  Valentino  Vineyards !  No, not Rudolph Valentino, my friends, Gail and Carl…Gail stomps the grapes herself, not bad for an Irish gal! :)

Even better..they were married on Valentine’s Day..long time ago..in a SNOW STORM… She became a Valentino on Valentine's Day...I remember it well.  My strappy high heels getting all wet in the snow! 

Will you make a special ♥ cake, deep, dark moist chocolate ??

No?????

Me either..:)

But I did set the table for Tablescape Thursday, hosted by Susan at Between Naps on the Porch..please stop in and see  her table Wed. night..and all the other entries this week.

I used these pretty napkins sent to me by my friend Kay from the Holiday Forum.  I have been waiting for a special occasion to use them..Thanks, Kay!

I took one of my lion’s head bowls and used it as a base for some pretty pink flowers, with some pink velvety hearts stuck in…

The pink and white cloth is a duvet I bought to use on tables.  The other side you will see at some future date..:)

The pink glasses have a little stem and scalloped edge..They are from Lenox..

The clear stems have a tulip shape and are from Dansk.Pink heavy cotton placemat, white ceramic charger, Noritake, white hearts were a gift from Gail last year.

I used my mother’s everyday silver from my last post.

Heart shaped pink bells hold the polka dot  place card.

White pitcher by Godinger, candlesticks are Mikassa, they were a gift from a little boy in my class many years ago. I put some of those silver hearts underneath.

The pink dotted plates are from Christmas Tree Shops, a few weeks ago.

   The heart shaped mini casserole is from CTS, as well as the little pots of roses.. Don’t you just ♥ a bargain?  (that’s their motto in their ads)  :)

I know I am early for this, but we are supposed to get a nor’easter tomorrow, and who knows if the cable will stay on!

Thanks so much for visiting, I’ll be back for Foodie Friday and of course Laurie’s big party .

Silver Sunday~Sweet!

This is the last week of Silver Sunday for awhile.  You can find the details over at Gypsy Fish….and lots of other interesting silver pieces.. Thanks for hosting, Beth!

This is a heavy silver (stainless steel) bowl from the Hotel Astor in Times Square, NY.  Long gone!

It was used to place on the table with chipped ice, filled with celery, carrots, etc. what we call crudite  today.

I remember when I was a child it was always placed on the table at restaurants….

I bought it at a Trash to Treasure sale in Bridgehampton ,NY years ago..50 cents.  It is such a good weight, I have used it for many things.

Hotel Astor info here…

The next is the kitchen silverware we used growing up..engraved with a C.  My mother saved Betty Crocker coupons and sent away for it.  It is Wm Rodgers…Memory pattern.  The baby spoon was used by all her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  I guess they are over 50 yrs old..

I also use it in this little bowl with grated cheese..

The small ladle in the middle is made in Norway, by TH Marthinsen.  I think it was my mom’s too…

This is a sterling silver bud vase from a DZ sorority ball from college.  It is engraved..and has a little dent…it has survived many years!  :)

Finally, these little “silver” hearts that I use in my tablescapes.  I got them in  a closeout store that is no longer!  They were 3 for 1.00..They are still shiny after 10 years.  I have lots of them…Many uses!

Here, have a few..Belgian Truffles…

   

I would love to hear what your favorite silver polish is!  I will tally the results…please mention it in your comment.

Don’t forget Laurie’s Party this week..details on the sidebar…

Thanks for visiting!