Eggsactly! Farm Fresh!

Not here in NY, but there are some places harvesting fresh vegetables right now.
Not far from here there is someone who has a sign out, Farm Fresh Eggs, $3.00.  I decided to go with that theme tonight.

The centerpiece is a mini Radio Flyer wheelbarrow filled with eggs, nested in some of that messy floral moss.

The dishes "Du jour" are City Market by Pfaltzgraff that were a bargain at the Clearance Outlet years ago.

My friend, Alma, The Tablescaper, gave me these adorable covered tomatoes for Christmas.  They are made in Czechoslovakia.  The napkins are towels from CTS on sale for .99.  Pierced plate also from CTS years ago, as is the flatware.

The charger is from Pfaltzgraff.

Green glasses from CTS as are the egg cups.  The eggs serve as place cards.  :)

Little cow pitchers guard the eggs, also from CTS.  The checked cloth I have had for years. Carrot vase is filled with breadsticks.

Salt and pepper shakers topped with veggies are from Savers.

A covered  glass chicken holds the butter

Alma also gave me these speckled green and yellow glasses.
I can't wait to whip up a table to use them !
For dinner...
  Linguine , spinach, ricotta and mozzarella, topped with broiled tomatoes with fresh mozzarella and a dash of oregano.
I sauteed some chopped onion and garlic  in a little olive oil, tossed in the pasta, fresh spinach, a little ricotta and  mozzarella, pepper, and finished with a few splashes of non fat half and half.
I broiled the tomatoes and cheese and placed it on top.


CJ at In and Out My Nest is hosting a party every weekend, R and R.  I hope you will share some of what you do for R and R on the weekend at the party.
I am joining Susan for Tablescape Thursday
Gollum for Foodie Friday
Diann for Thrifty Friday
Thanks for visiting!

Jolly January!

Oh yes, here in New York we are enjoying wonderful weather.  Last year at this time we were buried in snow, so I am loving this!  Got the outdoor decorations down without even having to wear a coat!

Our friend, Laurie, at Bargain Hunting with Laurie is hosting her annual Valentine's Party.  I know some of us are swimming in bins of Christmas decos to be put away, but Feb. 10th will arrive quickly!  There will be a give away too!
Speaking of give aways, my fellow Long Islander , sweet Stephanie, at La Dolce Vita, is celebrating her anniversary with a great give away.  Stephanie is a wonderful photographer and amazing baker, so stop over and get to know her.  You could be the winner, and you get to select your prize!  Go now, it ends Tuesday, winner announced Wednesday.
http://dreamingladolcevita.blogspot.com/

I made some fresh apple donuts this morning from a recipe on the net.  They were good, but not as good as the recipe I previously posted.

Let's face it, a baked donut is not going to have that evil goodness of a fried yeast donut!

So the next time, it is going to be the really baaaad kind, but I will wait till February!
I am joining CJ for R and R weekend, and The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and thanks for visiting!

Following Yonder Star...

January 6th is Epiphany, Three Kings Day, or as we used to call it, Little Christmas.  It celebrates the arrival of the Three Kings who brought gifts of gold , frankincense, and myrrh to the Christ child.

Since the other two symbols are elusive to me, I went with the gold. :)

I started with a gold and white striped cloth, which was a remnant I got for a dollar at the Duralee Outlet here on Long Island. It is heavy weight upholstery fabric.
The charger is gold glass with a lot of sparkle from Pier 1, about 5 years ago.  I have eleven and was unable to find the 12th anywhere.
Star mirrors from Pottery Barn Outlet years ago hold a gold and white star candle from the Villeroy and Boch Outlet.

The centerpiece is gold sprays in a crystal bowl and fresh baby's breath.

Lenox Eternal dinner plate, (made in the USA, Pat Mille Favoriti  :) and a delicate antique cream soup bowl and under plate.  These were sent to me by my dear friend Marigene, at  In the Middle of Nowhere.  They are 100 years old, Noritake, Nippon, hand painted.  I treasure them.  They made the journey from VT, to KS to NY without any damage. 
I wonder why  some of the  things I order  arrive in pieces!


The napkins are antique too.  They are hand towels bought  many years ago at a Trash to Treasure sale they used to have here in Southampton every year.  Lots of old estates would donate things. 

I filled a martini glass with gold filigree balls from Michaels clearance section.  The glasses are very old too.  They belonged to my friend's mom.

All the stemware is etched, and one is trimmed with gold.
The tallest one is a recent purchase from Christmas Tree Shop, and the stem is so thin and tall I am amazed I got them home in one piece!

The flatware is trimmed in gold, by Wallace, and the candlesticks are Mikasa.
So have yourself an epiphany, and a merry little Christmas!  And then, down with the decorations as is our tradition.
I see the Pinteresters have moved on to ♥ Day!
I was surprised to see this little table from a few years ago had been repinned  so many times.  I am amazed and humbled that so many liked the idea.  I think it is the polka dots!

There's only 5 weeks till ♥ Day, I wonder if Laurie at Bargain Hunting with Laurie will host her party this year?  Is was always a lot of fun!
Have you started thinking about decorating for ♥ day? 
The easiest thing I ever made for ♥ day was this. This is from 2009. 

It just came to me to make a heart with the shrimp. Duh... 
Don't forget we have Mardi Gras the week after that!
Oh don't put those snowflake cookie cutters away yet!  We can get snow till March, so there's plenty of time to make snowflake potatoes!

Just cut the potato, toss with oil and s and p, and bake till browned.  A little fun for a snowy night!
Thanks for stopping by!
I am joining
Susan for Tablescape Thursday
Diann for Thrifty Friday
Gollum for Foodie Friday
2805 for Potpourri Friday

I Resolve...

I resolve not to make resolutions!   That's it, just do the best you can each day, and that way you don't feel guilty when you don't keep them.

New Year's Day breakfast was thin pancakes filled with fresh strawberries and rolled up.  A little whipped cream on top.  I used my Lenox Tartan, someone asked the name of the pattern.

They may show up in a scape yet as I didn't get to use them over the holidays.  Winter fruits and ribbon, I think they could pass!
I bought son and dil the Lenox Holiday pattern this year for Cmas.  14 dinner plates.  Then I got them salad plates after Cmas on sale.  They will be all set for next year.

I bought myself 4 dinners and 4 salads too, as the price was great at the Lenox Outlet and I had an extra 20 % off, so Merry Christmas to me.  :)
I felt the need to create after being sick for a few days.  I had an eggplant to cook, so I made Chicken, Eggplant and Spinach stacks, topped with a fresh Mozzarella ball.

The spinach round was chopped spinach, all water squeezed out, onions, s and p, garlic, ricotta and mozzarella.  I baked it in a ramekin to make the patty shape.

I served it over some linguine tossed in evoo, some of the spinach cheese mixture and some chopped tomatoes for color. Shaved Locatelli cheese to finish it off.

Hope this second day of the new year finds you well.

A few more days of enjoying my festive kitchen chandy, and then it is back to Blah   uary. 
Every thing looks so bare when the decos come down, have to wait a few more weeks to put out the ♥♥♥ things.  Home Goods have had theirs out since 2 weeks before Cmas!  Like elementary school teachers, many bloggers move from one Holiday to the next.  This year we can add in Kangaroos for Leap Year.  We should get a KICK out of that!  :)
Joining Marty for Tabletop Tuesday.
Thanks for stopping by!

Another Year Over~A New One's Just Begun~

It will be a quiet New Year's here .  Santa left me a bug, by mistake, I am sure, but I have been taking my meds and lots of naps!
If I had my mojo, I would have set us a table with lots of bling!



Instead, a simple table...

A little bell to ring in the new year.

The dishes are new, half price after Cmas at CVS

I am giving a few sets to my dil to use on the children's table.  I had given her 4 of the Holiday by Lenox Children's sets, but they don't make them anymore, and this year there were 8 kids!  This will be perfect, and they can use them for everyday meals during the Cmas season.

DH cooked us a nice dinner, and I will be back in bed before long!
I hope 2012 is a good year for everyone, good health, and happiness!
I am joining The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday
CJ ,of In and Out My Nest, for her first ever meme, R and R Weekend Party

No Grinches Allowed~Roast Beast for a Crowd

I hope all of you had wonderful celebrations !  You know when your children grow and and get married, there are so many compromises to be made for the holidays. Time has to be shared between both families.
So the holidays can be very stressful for many.  I miss the days of spending Christmas with my sisters and their families, we don't get to spend any holidays together.

My son and his dear wife host Christmas, and it is a labor of love!  They have 4 little ones , so it takes a lot to have the house looking beautiful and entertain for so many!
The ceramic tree I made for my mom so long ago  gets displayed, which I do appreciate!

The table is set beautifully! Edited to add, son, set the table, that was his job growing up!

Lenox Tartan cloth and napkins, Waterford platinum stems.


Not a detail left out!

Many appetizers including dh's antipasto platter.

We also had shrimp cocktail, beef wellington bundles, sweet and sour pork bites*, cheese and vegetable  platters and more.
The first course was stuffed baked clams*.
Main was Filet Mignon, Shrimp Francese*, Stuffed lobster tails, twice baked potatoes, carmelized onions*, sauteed mushrooms in wine sauce*. Spinach casserole topped with onion rings*, glazed carrots*, roasted asparagus and assorted breads.  Items with a * were my contributions.

The children ate in the kitchen, 8 of them, and then it became the dessert buffet. If you look closely at the snowflake on the door, one of the grandboys added Spiderman! :)

My Yule log, dh's rugelach, and in the bowed silver  bowl, I made death by chocolate with homemade peppermint bark as the candy between the layers.
There was also blueberry pie, red velvet cake, chocolate cream pie and cookies.  Oh so much food!
  The tree was beautiful!
It was a lovely day, and we thanked God for our many blessings, and look forward to the ever expanding family.

The only negative was that my Kdgn grandson had to be taken to the ER  after everyone left, as he had an allergic reaction to something, so they were there till 4am!  He was given a shot and was much better Monday morning.

Never a dull moment!

Oh, and a wonderful bag of goodies was left there for me by Alma, The Tablescaper.  Pictures of that next time!
I hope you were surrounded by those you love this Christmas!
I am joining  Marty 's Tabletop Tuesday .
Susan for Tablescape Thursday
Gollum for Foodie Friday
Honey at 2805 for Potpourri Friday

We don't take our Christmas decorations down till Three Kings Day, Jan 6.  I can't imagine not enjoying them this Christmas week into the  New Year holiday.  That's what we have always done, and I don't know anyone personally, who takes the decos down right away!  But since I started blogging, I have learned others do!