A child's memories and muffalettas

  I had these packed up, but decided to set them out to play a bit in honor of my godmother. Marielle Slaughter. She died long ago, but I got sentimental since my birthday is coming up. She painted these dishes for my brother and me the year I was born. She was an AMAZING artist. I still stare in amazement at the detail.

This is my set...a dinner plate, a bowl and a cup. I used my JB Regency White saucer and my grandmother's coffee spoon. The plate is resting on my Walmart rattan charger and set between my grandmother's silver and silverplate...all different styles.

This is my brother's set. My mom had a Siamese cat when we were little. I'm guessing this is her! The napkins were a great estate sale find (12 for $4)

my dinner plate

Murphy's dinner plate

My little cup

Murphy's little cup

I used my Spode sandwich platter (estate sale find) for the muffalettas, my usual goblets and my grandmother's carafes. My mom just gave these to me. I love them.

the whole set

 

Our names are on the bottom of each piece

 

She signed each piece

love the bluebells!

 

Muffalettas

Super easy and super yummy recipe

I made my own relish with tomatoes, olives and marinated feta cheese. Just chop it all up finely. Traditionally you would use Giardiniera in your relish, but I did not.

I found these great flat bread sandwich rolls at my local grocery. You could use focaccia or another flat bread of your choice.

I layered thin sliced deli ham, roasted turkey, hard salami, provolone, and mozzarella, added the relish. I would suggest putting a heavy pan on top to flatten them, but we were to hungry to wait!

I served these with chips and Boursin cheese & berries and vanilla yogurt. It was delish!

I'm linking up with 

 Marty from a stroll thru life for table top tuesday

Susan from between naps on the porch for tablescape thursday

miz helen for full plate thursday

sherry at the charm of home for home sweet home

MLW from designs by gollum for foodie friday

ekat's kitchen for friday potluck

the tablescaper for seasonal sundays

 smiling sally for blue monday

My talented Mom (my boys' sweet Ludee)

Andrew had just gotten home from the park with his Daddy. My parents came over and gave my boys their Easter quilts and matching pillow cases..Seriously, she is so talented!!! Here is a link to her blog with better pictures of the quilts...my boys were too excited to stand still!

Andrew giving Papa a look!

He's getting so big, but he's still my little boy!

Beautiful Rag quilts for my sweet boys!

He LOVES trains!!!

Quilts are so entertaining!

Happy Easter Cakes and Mushroom & Tomato pasta

I've showed you my Easter cupcakes from last year and wanted to show a preview for this Sunday. I signed up to make 4 dozen goodies for church, so I had a little extra batter and prettied up six cakes!

The main recipe for this week is a yummy pasta sauce. It really was heavenly...even my boys ate it all

 

getting ready to eat!

the Marinated Feta added just the right about of extra flavor!

  Recipe

I had a box of mushrooms that I needed to use, so I started there and sauteed them in butter...lots of butter! After browning, I added salt, pepper and a bunch of chopped green onions. Let it cook a while and then added a can of tomatoes with garlic and olive oil (because that is what I had and it turned out really well!). I had some leftover cooked chicken breast, so I cut it up and added it to the mix. Right before serving, I stirred in a little milk...cream would be great too and then poured it over rotini pasta. I added some of my marinated feta on top and it was delish!

 The Peep took up almost the entire cake! I might end up making a decorated 9 x 13 cake for our Easter potluck Sunday night...

I'm linking up with the following parties

Happy Easter to you and your family!

Miz Helen's Country Cottage for Full Plate Thursday

Designs by Gollum for Foodie Fridays

Ekat's Kitchen for Friday Potluck

the Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays

Smiling Sally for Blue Monday

Muffin Tin Monday...Happy Easter!!!

Easter egg grapes, Bunny marshmallows, apple sauce in a chicky container, colored eggs and ducky pb&j, and boots...all nestled in cute little Easter egg muffin papers...BOOTS??? The Easter Bunny could wear boots in this part of  Texas and fit in just right!

Happy Easter to all of you!!! Forgive my grainy photo...I made lunch and could not find my camera. Ever do that? I put it away Saturday night because we were supposed to have a showing on our house Sunday morning...yes, supposed to...they didn't show up. ergh...and now I can't find my camera. This is an iPhone picture!

I'm linking up with Muffin Tin Mom! Enjoy all the cute meals!

Celebrate Spring with flowers...Seasonal Sundays

I love Spring. I love to see the first blooms of the season, even if it is very short lived in South Texas!!! So I'm celebrating Spring with flowers of a different kind. I found this sweet little platter (Copeland Spode) at an Estate Sale. It was the only piece in this pattern, but for the price, it was too good to pass up. It reminds me of my grandmother...my mom's mother...she worked at a museum in the planetarium and would always tell me how the stars and constellations changed from season to season. She also had the most beautiful gardens...inside and out of her Texas home.

I bought this vintage linen runner a couple weeks before at an Estate Sale. I love how the colors of the platter tie in so well with it. I can't believe I got this for $4!

 I'm linking up with the Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays!

and 

Smiling Sally for Blue Monday

Foodie Friday!!! Sour cream coffee cake

 I've seen cakes like this around the blogs and it made me want to make the recipe I have again.I made this cake on Monday, I think...and by Wednesday it was gone. The sour cream is the kicker...it makes it incredibly light and moist...and the cinnamon nut mixture...I usually add more. I used pecans and walnuts this time and it was so yummy! (this picture is from last year...this week it was GONE before I could take a picture of it!)

 I LOVE this cake pan. On ebay it is listed as 'Vintage Nordic Bundt pan'

It was my mom's and she gave it to me:)

Sour Cream Coffee Cake
By Jo Schweitzer (2006)

--Blend in large bowl until fluffy:
1 cup butter ( 2 sticks, no substitute), very soft but not melted
1 ¼ cup sugar
--Add 2 slightly beaten eggs
--Fold in ½ pint sour cream (1 cup)
--Add - does not need to be sifted
2 cups plain flour (not self rising)
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp baking powder
--Add 1 tsp vanilla

In another bowl mix:
¾ to 1 cup chopped nuts
1 Tbsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp sugar
Pour half the batter in a well-greased & floured large loaf pan. Sprinkle half cinnamon mixture through. Spoon in remaining batter: cover with rest of cinnamon mixture. Put in a cold oven at 350 degrees; bake 55-60 min. Do not over bake. When cool, wrap in foil & it will keep ten days .

Can use an 11 x 9 x 2 baking pan and bake it for 30-35 min.

I'm joining in these blog parties! Enjoy all the recipes!!!

Foodie Fridays with Designs by Gollum

Vintage Inspiration Friday with Common Ground

Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday

Alli n Son's sweet tooth Friday

eKat's Friday Potluck

Muffin Tin Monday...springtime again!!!

Spring is here for our Muffin Tin Meal. Adrian is enjoying an early lunch / snack.

He has apple sauce, pita chips, hummus, bunny Peeps, craisins and peppered turkey and monterrey jack skewers.

silicone cups...HEB grocery

plastic containers and spoon...Dollar Tree

picks...Japan ebay

I'm linking up with

Fiesta Pork and Black Bean Corn Salsa

Fiesta Pork with Black Bean Corn Salsa

Since Fiesta is starting up this weekend, I thought I'd share a recipe with you...I'm a little late in posting. We actually just finished eating, but sometimes that's just the ways things go around here in a house full of boys!!

Recipe

Thin cut pork chops or pork butt

1/2 cup uncooked rice

1 onion chopped

chicken stock

1/2 can salsa

1 can diced tomatoes

salt & pepper

garlic powder & parsley

In large dutch oven, saute onions and pork in olive oil (seasoned with s&p) over medium heat. Add uncooked rice and stir. Add tomatoes, salsa and spices. Add enough chicken stock to cover the pot. Put in 350 oven and cook for 40 minutes or until rice is done and pork is tender. Add more chicken stock if needed. 
Serve with Black Bean Corn Salsa recipe here

I'm linking up with 

Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday

and 

Ekat for Friday Potluck

and 

Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday

 and 

Smiling Sally for Blue Monday

for all you tablescapers...

Rattan Charger Walmart (50% off)

Calico Blue Chintz Dinner Plate Queen's China TJMaxx

Blue swirled glass pasta bowl Ross years ago

Dinner Fork Wallace Antique Bead HomeGoods

Easter Preview Tablescape

I'm testing out some tablescapes for Easter. I have 10+ guests, so I'll have to use another table, but for now I am serving 6. My boys were sick again this week...this mommy is tired of congestion, runny noses, fevers and ear infections...taking care of my babies was top on my list, polishing silver was not:) I hope you'll excuse me!!

Rattan chargers are set on top of my grandmother's linen placemat, so they won't blend into the table. I used my Churchill Blue Willow Dinner plates and Blue Danube luncheon plates, along with a Johnson Brothers Blue Indies bread plate.

I picked up these napkins and napkin rings at two different estate sales. I raided my mom's china cabinet drawers for silverware. It's definitely an eclectic collection, but I kind of love it that way! I believe these salad forks are Century by Holmes & Edward.The dinner forks only said Sterling, so I have no idea.

Only four knives were in the bag and are monogrammed B,so they were probably my grandmother's mother's, who I never knew...the teaspoons were already given to me from my mom.

The butter knives match the teaspoons. They are Narcissus by National Silver Co. Chocolate bunnies from World Market.

I thought this runner was just perfect for Easter. I found it at an estate sale...linen, hand embroidered and only $4!!! I love how it ties in with my grandmother's candle holders from Italy. The bunnies are a recent purchase from World Market.

These birds are from Pier One.

My favorite Marshall's goblets and Pottery Barn (huge clearance) blue rimmed goblets are back on the table.

These napkin rings, I've used before, were 90% off after Christmas at Target.

The blue glasses really stand out from the sun coming in through the back window.

the sun shining in...

I used my Johnson Brothers Blue Indies platter on top of the runner with a small crystal and silver plate bowl (from GW!!!) with just glass eggs in it.

I hope your Easter is a blessed time!

 I'm linking up with Susan from 
Between Naps on the Porch for  
Tablescape Thursday! 
Enjoy all the pretty tables!!!