Mere thoughts from a mommy of boys...

More of my grandmother's dishes...

2012-01-23T15:12:00.000-08:00

This weekend I asked my mom if I could shop her house. I came home with a box of Spode Wickerdale, a beautiful plate, a teapot and an Italian vase. The Wickerdale was my grandmother's and my mom said she bought pieces years ago to add to or replace broken ones. She has a full set for four, some extra plates and a whole lot of saucers! I'm also using my mom's wedding crystal again. I thought this was Fostoria Wedding Ring, but the base of the stems are different, so I'm still searching for the pattern.

I also used all of my grandmother's silver. These dessert forks and butter knives are my favorite. The butter knives, resting on the bread plates are Narcisus and the dessert forks are New Orleans. (If I remember correctly,)

My grandmother had a spoon collection...probably hundreds. I used a set of gold floral spoons today.

This plate was probably my great grandmother's. My mom said she had a very different taste than my grandmother. Floral, intricate, delicate, ornate...sums up most of her pieces. She owned the Mason Ironstone I used in this Thanksgiving post. I think based on the mark, the plate is from Czechoslovakia. My mom wasn't sure how old this teapot is. She said my aunt had given her a teapot, but she can't remember.

I'm joining these blogs this week

A stroll thru life for her 100th Tabletop Tuesday!
and

Between Naps on the Porch
for Tablescape Thursday!

Enjoy all the pretty tables!

Cafe du Monde heart shaped donuts

2012-01-20T12:35:00.000-08:00

This is a perfect treat for little hands to help out!! I bought a box of the mix at World Market, but gave you links to a recipe and the box mix below. My 4 1/2 year old was thrilled to make hearts. I fried them and then dusted the in cinnamon sugar. What's not to love??

Cafe Du Monde Beignet Mix

Cafe Du Monde Beignet Recipe

It tastes so much better when YOU make it!!

I'm linking up with

Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday

and

the Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays

and

CJ at In and Out of my Nest

for R&R Weekend Party

Something old...something blue...

2012-01-18T15:46:00.000-08:00

Table for four, please...

This week I wanted to showcase these Romanian crystal juice glasses and I only have four of them. My friend, who also gave me the linen place mats and the tablecloth from last week, gave me these a few years ago. She has gone to Romania almost every summer for missions for the last 10+years and has collected many things over the years. I guess I'm her go-to giftee because she always gives me the most amazing things!!

The table is set with JB Denmark Blue Dinner Plates, Blue Danube luncheon plates & cups and saucers, my grandmother's silver and silverplate, estate sale napkins, Target clearance napkin rings, and my goblets from Marshall's. The centerpiece platter is a new find from an estate sale last week. I don't have a Denmark Blue or Blue Danube teapot, so I used my JB Blue Willow teapot.

I love the details on these cups and saucers.

I'll be joining Susan from BNOTP for Tablescape Thursday!!

Blue and White patterns make the table

2012-01-11T14:52:00.000-08:00

Last May, my parents traveled to Russia with friends of theirs. I mentioned in an earlier post that she bought me a beautiful ceramic sugar bowl in blue and white. She also found these napkin rings. They're wood and hand painted and for my mom, who says she has the worst memory, they match the flowers on the Indies Blue pattern by Johnson Brothers amazingly well!! She also gave me the tea pot, serving platter and a couple serving bowls to match this set.

I love the details in this pattern

I used my Rattan Chargers from Walmart to break up the ecru in the Italian Countryside Dinner plates and the Romanian linen tablecloth. I never tire of this tablecloth. The handiwork is amazing.

I used my Johnson Brothers Indies Blue Dinner plates and bread plates (as saucers) and the Italian Countryside tea cups to tie in the two patterns. My blue swirled goblets from Pottery Barn years ago (random...I saw these on an episode of Friends last night...circa 1999...I think my brother gave them to me in 2002!) My husband gave me these everyday goblets for Christmas. I have the Iced Teas from my HEB, but found these at Pottery Barn. I used all my grandmother's eclectic silver this week too! If I had time this week, I've have friends over for coffee and scones and a sausage egg casserole.

Just for fun...I thought this would make a great drink for Valentine's Day...you could add wine or something stronger to make it a cocktail!

It's simply fresh squeezed grapefruit juice, a splash of cranberry juice and topped off with Cranberry Raspberry Sparkling Water...so refreshing!

I'll be joining Susan from Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.

and

Designs By Gollum for Foodie Fridays
and
Miz Helen for Full Plate Thursdays

Muffin Tin Monday

2012-01-09T08:53:00.000-08:00

Today's it's raining and I had an appointment, so I left some fun snacks for the boys with their sitter! I got these cups at my local HEB on clearance. I think I paid $1 for 6! I thought the red bugs would be cute closer to Valentines too!

Craisins, Dark Chocolate Chips, Apples, Salami, Colby Jack, Fritos

I'm joining Muffin Tin Mom for Muffin Tin Monday!

Sea World with the boys

2012-01-08T17:48:00.000-08:00

I told you I took my boys to Sea World over the weekend of New Year's Eve. I'm just now getting to these pictures because they are from my phone....horrible quality I know, but I still wanted the first memory of them there! We got passes, so I will hopefully get some better pictures in February when they reopen!

My boys love maps!!

Sesame Street...we saw Abby, Elmo, the Count, Big Bird, Telly...

I'm joining CJ for her R& R weekend activity at In and Out of My Nest

and

the Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays

Foodie Friday -Slow Cooked pork tacos

2012-01-06T14:03:00.000-08:00

In an effort to eat at home and save some on our food budget, I have enjoyed trying to prepare foods that make a little go a long long way! I used half a pork roast for this recipe, half a bag of frozen corn, a can of tomatoes and chicken stock! I cooked the pork all day in a large pot with carrots, onion and celery. Then when it was done, I put the vegetables in a separate casserole and made the pork tacos.

If you like pork roast, you could serve it traditionally the first night and use the leftovers to make tacos.

Slow Cooked Pork Tacos
Pork Roast (trim the fat)
Carrots
Celery
Onion
Frozen Corn
Canned Tomatoes
Chicken Stock

Cook Roast in oven low and slow (hours at 285*) with carrots, celery, onion and cover with stock. When done, take vegetables out and add corn, tomatoes and more stock. I also added parsley, salt & pepper, and a little more onion. Shred pork and let flavors marry til your ready to eat. I served mine on warm corn tortillas with shredded cheese, sour cream and salsa. It was really good!!!

I'm linking up with Designs by Gollum for Foodie Fridays! Enjoy!
and
Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday

Happy New Year

2012-01-04T13:44:00.000-08:00

When everyone is home, mommy doesn't get to play by myself much:) We had a great Christmas and New Year! I hope you and your families were blessed this season as well. We bought Sea World passes this year for the boys and me. My youngest is free this year, so it was a good year to see if they'd like it. It was a blast and almost every time we get in the car, my youngest now asks, "Mommy, we see fish? Mommy, we see dolphins? Mommy, we see penguin?" I'd say it was a good choice on our part to explore this park this year!

I took a week off since I was at home playing with my boys and family and all their new stuff. The weather was beautiful and we've even played outside most days! Our snowmen are built out of rubber balls!!!

Here is a table I set for winter...not too Christmassy but still keeping with the reds I love with the season! I was serving Spinach and Italian Sausage Quiche and Cream of Cauliflower soup (Pioneer Woman recipe)

I've reused most of my china here.

Italian Countryside Dinner plates, salad plates and cups and saucers. I love how dainty these are!!

French red glass soup bowls bought years ago

Johnson Brothers British Castles salad plates

my grandmother's silver

red handled forks from World Market last year

Water goblets from Marshalls

Red Hurricanes from Pier One

Corn husk flowers from Romania

White linen napkins from an estate sale

Red berry tablecloth Target clearance 2010

White Bird S&P, Berry napkin rings Pier One

Red bubble glass goblets gift from my brother:)

I'll be joining Susan from BNOTP

for Tablescape Thursday

Blessings to all of you this new year!!!

Christmas Dinner 2011

2011-12-20T12:41:00.000-08:00

I think I've settled on what my Christmas table will look like this year. I've used several of the same things in different capacities over the whole month of December.

I love using Christmas dishes throughout the month. Just makes the meal more festive.

I added my Cracker Barrel Christmas tree plates to the table this week. I bought them 2 years ago on sale. Why oh why did I only buy 4??? I also am using my poinsettia napkins. I've had these forever and bought them at Target on Christmas clearance.

We plan on having Rosemary Pork tenderloin with my mom's oyster dressing, roasted potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and green beans, pecan pie, pumpkin pie and cheesecake. If I get my act together, I'll make sarmale--a traditional Romanian stuffed cabbage roll. I've made them before, but might save that for the New Year!!

The platter is also from Cracker Barrel, 2 years ago.

I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas, from our table to yours!!

I'll be joining these blog parties!

A Stroll thru Life for Table Top Tuesday

Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday

and

the Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays

It's Christmastime!!!

2011-12-20T10:49:00.000-08:00

My little boy....not so little...is in the middle with the argyle vest. This was his Christmas program at 'school'. He goes to Kids Day Out twice a week and loves it. He's one of the older ones because he has an August birthday, but is as shy as can be, so I opted to put him in the 3 going on 4 class. Otherwise, he would be the youngest and all the girls would have swallowed him up! I'm praying I am making the right decision in not putting him in kindergarten next year...still praying and still have a little time to decide:) His favorite thing to say right now is, "It's Christmastime, Mommy!" Yes it is and I'm so glad I get to share it with you!

Friends for Dinner

2011-12-13T20:24:00.000-08:00

Welcome to another dinner at our house!

We are celebrating this week! My husband just found out Monday, he passed his FE exam!!!

He had studied for months (and I mean months) and took it in October and got his results on Monday!

We were already having friends over Friday night, and now we have that much more to be grateful!

My runner is two place mats (39 cents each after Christmas clearance at Target last year.) I like them with the napkins, also from Target clearance last year.

I set up my dessert near the Advent trees. I'm using my Winter Berry (from Target 2007) and Christmas Paisly (Cracker Barrel 2010). The cake plate is also from Target Christmas clearance, but I might have bought that before my oldest was born. The pie server is new from World Market.(On sale via coupon...25% off my purchase because I signed up for WM explorer...Do it!! You get coupons all the time...like all dishes half off for 3 hours last Saturday!)

I'm serving Tortilla Soup and Taco Soup, so I'm using my Italian Countryside soup bowl this week.

My friends are bringing guacamole and chips and rice, so I have these cute Winter Berry bowls, also from Target ready to be filled!

My grandmother's silver soup spoons...

I like things that coordinate--not necessarily match. The berries in the centerpiece, the berries in the napkins and rings, the berries in the cake plate and dessert plates and bowls...

the greens in the napkins and 'runner'...

the reds in the goblets, the glass plates, the candles, the berries, the forks...

I can't believe it's almost Christmas! I've enjoyed looking at your homes and tables the past couple weeks. Thanks for inviting me in to your homes and coming to see mine.

May your days be merry and bright!!!

I'm joining Susan at BNOTP for Tablescape Thursday!

and

the Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays!

Christmas with family friends....my boys' Mimi & Da

2011-12-10T15:07:00.001-08:00

We went over to some family friends' house this morning because they are celebrating Christmas in Florida with her family. Mimi and Da have known my parents for years. They have traveled to Italy, Alaska, and Russia together to name a few. These vests are the ones my mom and Mimi looked at meticulously til they found the perfect two in the perfect sizes for my little boys

Mimi and Da gave my boys Build A Bear Dogs a year ago and have clothed them for birthdays and today they got dog houses, a tree and Santa treats!

My dad in the background.

An elephant shaped tape measurer that stole my baby's heart!

Mimi loves Santas like I love Snowmen!

She has an amazing collection...the second one on top is from their recent trip to Russia!

Thank you Mimi and Da for a lovely Christmas celebration with my boys!

Merry Christmas to all!

I'm celebrating with the Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays!

May your hearts be filled with joy and family as you celebrate the birth of our Savior!

Foodie Friday...a day late

2011-12-10T14:33:00.001-08:00

Chicken Tortilla Soup (I had a sample at Alon HEB at their Chef counterand went home and made my own that night)

Stock

Shredded Chicken Breast

Diced Tomatoes with liquid

Onion

Corn or Hominy

Salt & Pepper

Black Beans rinsed and drained

Taco seasoning

parsley

Velveeta Cheese (it just makes it a little creamy…I used 3 slices, butit’s not necessary)

In large pot, sauté onions in butter or olive oil. Add tomatoes and chicken and seasoning. Pourin stock to cover, add corn and beans and simmer until you’re ready to eat.

Serve with sour cream and avocado.

This has been my favorite this season. Not spicy, but so tasty. My little boy eats this with me daily when I make it!

Taco soup

1pound ground beef

Diced tomatoes

Tomato sauce

Onion

Corn

Salt & Pepper

Black Beans rinsed and drained

Great Northern Beans rinsed and drained

Taco seasoning

Stock

1 can salsa (I think my salsa was hot, because this was really spicy!)

Brown beef and onions in large pot. Add tomatoes and sauce and seasoning. Add stock, corn and beans. Bring to a boil and simmer til you're ready to eat.

I'm joining these blogs this week! Sorry I'm so late. We've been busy with Christmas and family!!!

Deisgns by Gollum for Foodie Friday

Miz Helen's Country Cottage for Full Plate Thursday

Happy Cooking!!!

Midnight Snowman

2011-12-07T13:36:00.001-08:00

I am trying to 'use what I have' this year and just play with the accent plates a little since I told you I have quite a collection of Christmas salad plates. I left the centerpiece and the tablecloth the same, also left the Italian Countryside dinner plates and the Luminarc red glass plates to anchor the table. I used my Romanian goblets (purchased at Marshall's years ago) and our everyday stainless with my grandmother's silver soup spoons.

My mom bought me these plates, bowls and mugs years ago...some before I was married and then she added to my collection my first Christmas as Mrs. Moza.

The green napkins with embroidered Christmas berries were also bought last year after Christmas clearance at Target.

There are two styles...the snowman above and the Christmas tree below.

Snowmen Cream and Sugar set from Ross years ago

Our Advent Trees in the background...

each day we read a devotional and put an ornament on the tree

until Christmas

to learn the story of Jesus.

The only thing new...these beautiful red handled forks bought last week from World Market...on sale yay!

disclaimer...I set them on top of the napkins so they wouldn't disappear in the tablecloth!

Speaking of Snowmen...here is our tree filled with our collection and the dining room hutch filled with Christmas!

I'm joining Susan from BNOTP for Tablescape Thursdays!

Enjoy the pretty tables and thanks to our host!!

and

No Minimal Here for Holiday Dining

Christmas at the Mozas

2011-12-07T13:21:00.001-08:00

Today I tried...tried being the operative word...to take pictures of my boys.

My mom gave them these beautiful wool vests from Russia.

Glad it was 25-35 degrees this morning!!

Here are some of the sillier ones!! I actually got a couple good ones, I'll post later!

Where are you going???

What part of "Sit down, smile and look at mommy" do you think they didn't understand???

Did I mention they are 2 and 4???

Merry Christmas from our silly boys to you!!

Another Christmas Bento...

2011-12-06T11:41:00.001-08:00

From our little snowmen to yours...

A snowman bento filled with marshmallows and colby jack cheese

pb&j sandwich and Christmas colored tortilla chips

with apples on the side!

This container was from Target last year, along with the ornament pick.

May your Christmas be merry and bright!!!

from our house to yours

A Christmas Tablescape...all things old

2011-11-29T13:41:00.001-08:00

If you know me well, you know I love this time of year. It's just magical to me and sharing it with my little boys makes it that much more special. I love snowmen and I think I passed this love onto at least one of my boys who screams out snowman in every store and at every glance of the man in white. I won't bombard you with my collection just yet...

I've collected Christmas salad plates for several years. I mostly have 4 of each, so I paired a couple sets with my red glass plates and Italian Countryside dinner plates. I've bought nothing new this year. I love the hunt for 75-90% off after Christmas clearance. Last year I found this tablecloth and the napkins at that cost as in $2.99 and 29 cents for sets of 2 napkins. I picked up some green ones too.

My mom had this greenery centerpiece in her stash and gave it to me a couple years ago. I added the mosaic hurricanes my husband bought me from World Market a few years ago.

The berry plates are from Target Christmas clearance 2007. I love when the back of the plates are labeled. I bought these the year Adrian was born! The cream and sugar matches and I think I paid about 29 cents for each of them after searching a couple Targets.

These napkin rings are from Pier One years ago.

My hutch is decked out for Christmas in the background!

These swirled paisley plates are from Cracker Barrel last year. My friend Lisa, who gave me the Romanian tablecloth works there and every year they have a friends and family night...45% off sale prices. The plates were 25% off plus her discount! I also bought over sized mugs in this pattern.

I've used all this glassware before...

Libby Gibralter water goblets are from my HEB

Red bubble stems were a Secret Santa gift from a teacher I worked with 6 years ago

Red swirled goblets are from Pier One years ago...still sad I broke one:(

Brown bubble stems are from Target years ago.

The silverware is everyday stainless Wallace Antique Bead

Next week I'll show you my Advent Trees. It's a great way to share the real meaning of this season with your children. A couple moms from my church came up with some great ideas and passed them along.

I pray this season is filled with hope and happiness and the blessing of Christ's birth in your families!

Happy Holidays from my table to yours!!!
I'm joining Susan from BNOTP for Tablescape Thursdays

Happy Holidays...from our lunchbox to yours!!

2011-11-29T06:25:00.001-08:00

Christmas Season Bento lunch....

appropriately filled with

marshmallow snowmen

snowmen cut out colby jack cheese

pb& j Christmas tree sandwich

and a piggy filled with yogurt

Happy Holidays!!

from our lunchbox to yours!!

the piggy and snowmen picks are from Dollar Tree last year.

The red cups are from World Market last year.

The ornament pick is from Target last year.

Jo's Cherry Coke Salad

2011-11-18T11:46:00.001-08:00

Jo is a friend of our family and has been joining us for Thanksgiving since before my boys were born. She has a lot of family recipes as always shares her Cherry Coke Salad and home made pumpkin pie with us. This is much like the cranberry pineapple salad I showed a couple weeks ago...really festive and really good!!

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!!!

Jo's Cherry Coke Salad

1 can tart pitted cherries

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup water (or cherry juice from can)

2 packages cherry jello (3oz each)

1 can chilled Coke

1 small can crushed pineapple, drained

1 cup pecans

Put cherries and pineapple in saucepan. Add sugar, water (cherry juice) and bring to boil. Pour over jello and stir til dissolved. Let cool and and coke and pecans. Pour into a pretty dish or mold and refrigerate. Stir occasionally til firm.

Here's a link to Taste of Home for an idea of what it looks like, but the ingredients list is a little different.

Thanksgiving--a gift from my mom

2011-11-15T06:25:00.001-08:00

My mom gifted me with a service for 12 in Mikasa Italian Countryside. My first Mikasa and my first white... I think I'm the last person to finally get a set of white dishes. I love the details and the versatility. I can't wait to showcase these during Christmas! The beautiful floral lined dinner plate makes a perfect stage for a variety of styles in luncheon and salad plates.

I played with the coffee cups and saucers and without...I used my grandmother's silver coffee spoons.

I added some greenery (nandina and holly berry) from the garden to my centerpiece.

The berry salad plates say Oven King Italy on the back. They were also my moms. I used her amber jeweled wine stems, my water goblets, rattan chargers and Wallace Antique Bead stainless with my grandmother's tea spoons. The runner is 3 linen place mats from Romania. The embroidered napkins were from an estate sale and the rings are a wedding gift from Bed Bath and Beyond.

We will feast on Turkey and dressing--my mom's oyster dressing

Mashed potatoes and giblet gravy

Sweet potato casserole

Cranberry Sauce

Green Beans

Jo's Cherry Coke Salad
Bama's Salad

Pumpkin Pie

Fantasy Fudge

My mom made this quilt top a couple months ago. The silver platter, rather tarnished, I know, is part of a tea set I have from my grandmother. My turkey platter is a clearance item from Target years ago and I think the bowl is from Tuesday Morning, years ago.

I am thankful for so many things...a warm house, healthy beautiful children, a steady job for my husband and my brother, the health of my parents, the relationship they have with their grandsons, a God who loves me unconditionally and guides me as a wife, mommy and daughter. I pray your Thanksgiving is a joyous time of remembering all the blessings you have!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I'll be joining these blogs this week.

BNOTP for Tablescape Thursday

the Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays
and Mikasa for the Great Dinner Party

Harvest Bento

2011-11-14T15:05:00.001-08:00

I haven't posted a bento lunch in a long time...mainly because I make them and pack them up to leave and forget about the photo! Here is Adrian's lunch last week. Cheese cubes and crackers, Salami skewers and pumpkin marshmallows. The scarecrows are from a local cake supply store. The acorns and leaves are from Party City...all bought last year.

My Papau's china

2011-11-09T13:46:00.000-08:00

I can remember these plates from when I was little.

My great grandfather traveled to NYC and when he liked something, he bought every piece for his beloved Mabel Wallace, my Mimmie. My mom was their favorite. She was the only grand daughter, so she received most of the china. This has been in my mom's china cabinet for as long as I can remember.

Her formal living room is covered in the most beautiful Persian rug from my great grandfather's shopping tours. He had a great eye for style. They lived in the most beautiful house near the bayous of Monroe, Louisiana. My mom would stay with them and adored her grandparents. She has told me some of the best stories.

My great grandparents died when I was in grade school, so I mostly have memories. It's so nice to have some concrete things to make those memories come back. My brother is using my Mimmie's kitchen table and chairs in his house. I have her card table and some of her silver. My mom has many beautiful things that I get the privilege of borrowing often. I'm half a mile a way and she is very generous.

I was debating to even layer the plates...The pattern on the ironstone is intriguingly beautiful!

I was testing out dishes for Thanksgiving. We are having some extra guests, so I don't usually have to plan for 12 formal settings around my table and a folding banquet table...so this is one of my options. I realized later, some of the pictures were taken before I put the napkins down.

The B is for Becker and the W for Wallace. My grandmother was Jane Becker Wallace.

By the way...do you have any idea what the name of this pattern is?

It is Mason Ironstone.

That's all we know. That is imprinted on the back, but nothing else. I believe it was bought in the 1920s-1930s but I'll ask my mom for sure.

The salad / luncheon plates are also my mom's Thomas of Bavaria. My mom is graciously letting me use the turkey platter, gravy tureen, covered vegetable dish and more but those are safe (from my boys!) in her china cabinet.

This week I used...

Linen tablecloth from Romania

Water Goblets from Marshall's

Wine Glasses from Pier One

My grandmother's silver

Napkins and napkin rings from Target

I'm joining Susan at BNOTP for Tablescape Thursdays

Pumpkin Spice Donut (muffins)

2011-11-07T05:55:00.000-08:00

I actually made a Muffin tin Monday meal this morning...scrambled eggs, bacon, pancakes with syrup, apple sauce and pineapple all nestled in my Wilton Fall silicone tins...the ones with leaves and pumpkins...but the picture looked awful. I'm still working on how to take pictures without a flash...without a tripod. I borrow my brother's tripod often, but when it's not here, my pictures are fuzzy...so I'm posting a muffin recipe instead.

The original recipe calls for a Donut pan...I used my mini muffin tins instead because I have them and I like the bite size convenience. This recipe made 4 dozen mini pumpkin donut muffins. I found the recipe on a blog that sent me to Blue Eyed Bakers. I can't remember the other blog.

They were amazing fresh out of the oven dipped in melted butter and cinnamon sugar, but the next morning, the cinnamon sugar had melted (I guess) and they were still good, but not great. They were soggy and sticky and a mess for my boys to eat. I'm thinking that they were still too hot when I left the house and covered them with syran wrap? So I sugared 2 dozen and froze the other 2 dozen unsugared and I'll try them this weekend and leave them uncovered and let you know!

My go to recipe has been Tasty Kitchen's "muffins that taste like donuts". They are amazing, so I might just go back to that recipe for holiday gifts.

Petite Pumpkin Spice Donuts

For Donuts:
1 3/4 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/8 teaspoons ground cloves
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup milk

For Coating:
1/2 cup butter, melted
2/3 cup sugar
1-2 tablespoons cinnamon

Preheat oven 350 F. In a bowl, mix flour, baking powder, salt and spices together and set aside.

In a large bowl (or the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment) whisk together oil, brown sugar, egg, vanilla, pumpkin and milk until combined. Slowly add the dry ingredients into the mixture and stir until just combined, careful not to over mix.

Using a pastry bag or a steady hand and a spoon, fill each donut cup with the batter. The donut cups should be fairly full, but not overflowing. Bake for 8-9 minutes, until donuts spring back when gently pressed (if you're using a larger donut pan, allow them to bake for 12-15 minutes). Turn donuts out onto a wire rack and allow to cool for a few minutes.

While the donuts are cooling, melt butter in one bowl and combine the sugar and cinnamon in another. When donuts are still hot (but not too hot to touch), quickly dip each donut in melted butter, then coat in the cinnamon-sugar mixture. Serve immediately.

*Note: If you're not going to serve the donuts immediately, you can bake them up to a day in advance and store them in an airtight container. Do not coat them in the butter/cinnamon-sugar mixture until just before serving or they may get soggy.

You can also adapt this recipe for mini muffins. Just bake muffins for 10-12 minutes then follow the same procedure for coating.

I'm joining StoneGable for On the Menu Monday. Enjoy the recipes!

I also plan on trying these recipes for the holidays! What is your favorite holiday treat recipe? I'd love to know! I've hosted or cohosted a cookie exchange for the past 4 years and I love seeing the creativity unfold around the holidays. I wish y'all lived closer! I'd love to have you join us!

Christmas Crack

Coconut Joy Candy

Cookie Balls

Foodie Friday...Family Favorites

2011-11-04T10:31:00.000-07:00

Cornbread Dressing

1 pan cooked corn bread

2 links of mild Italian Sausage out of the casings

1 apple chopped

1 onion chopped

3-4 ribs of celery chopped

handful of dried cranberries

chicken stock

butter

salt & pepper, fresh thyme and sage

In large skillet cook sausage and then set aside. Add half a stick of butter to pan, and cook celery, onion and apple (add salt and pepper now) til soft. Put sausage back in the pan and add the cranberries. Crumble corn bread into the pan. Add chicken stock to cover, a little more butter and stir everything to coat.Add herbs. Put mixture in a buttered baking dish and cook on 350 til golden. Enjoy! We ate this with pork chops this week! I'll send out my great grandmother's Oyster Dressing recipe closer to Thanksgiving. My mom has made it every holiday for my entire life and was published in Rachel Ray Magazine a few years ago for one of the winning holiday recipes!

Fantasy Fudge

3 cups sugar

3/4 cup margarine
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 12-oz. (340 g) package semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 7-oz. (198 g) jar Kraft Marshmallow creme
1 cup chopped nuts
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Traditional method:
Combine sugar, margarine and milk in heavy 2-1/2 quart saucepan; bring to full rolling bail, stirring constantly. Continue boiling 5 minutes over medium heat, stirring. Remove from heat, stir in chocolate till melted. Add marshmallow creme, nuts & vanilla beat till blended. Pour into greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Let cool and cut into 1-inch squares.

Cranberry Pineapple Salad

1 can (20 oz.) DOLE Crushed Pineapple, in juice, undrained

2 pkg. (3 oz. each) JELL-O Raspberry Flavor Gelatin

1 can (16 oz.) whole berry cranberry sauce

2/3 cup chopped PLANTERS Walnuts

1 DOLE Apple, chopped

I added Mandarin oranges

DRAIN pineapple, reserving juice. Add enough water to reserved juice to measure 2-1/2 cups; pour into saucepan. Bring to boil. Add to dry gelatin mixes in large bowl; stir 2 min. until completely dissolved.

STIR in pineapple, cranberry sauce, nuts and apples. Spoon into a beautiful bowl.

REFRIGERATE 2-1/2 hours or until firm.

My Bama's Salad

This is the recipe we grew up with...
1 package of lime jello
1 package of cream cheese softened
1 medium can of diced pears
Make jello according to package. When almost congealed, add cheese and beat til fluffy. Add pears and pecans and let set. Done. Enjoy. (I think when I made it I used the pear juice to make the jello.)

This is the recipe for Pear Lime Gelatin Salad from Taste of Home
1 can (15 ounces) pear halves
1 package (3 ounces) lime gelatin
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, cubed
1 can (20 ounces) unsweetened crushed pineapple, well drained
1 cup chopped pecans, toasted, divided
1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed

Drain pears, reserving juice; set pears aside. In a small saucepan,
bring juice to a boil. Stir in gelatin until dissolved. Remove from
the heat; cool slightly.
In a food processor, combine pears and cream cheese; cover and
process until smooth. Transfer to a large bowl; stir in gelatin
mixture until blended. Stir in the pineapple and 3/4 cup pecans.
Fold in whipped topping.
Pour into an ungreased 11-in. x 7-in. dish. Refrigerate until set.
Sprinkle with remaining pecans. Cut into squares. Yield: 8 servings.

I've made and eaten and enjoyed both versions!!

These recipes are some I've been eating every year since I can remember. I love that my great grandparents on both sides of my family started my culinary heritage almost a hundred years ago...These recipes are classics that I hope your family will enjoy too, for many many years to come. This is how I celebrate the season. I cook and I remember my family and how each individual means to me. Happy Fall Blessings to you and yours!

I'm joining these blogs! Enjoy

Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday

Miz Helen for Full Plate Thursday

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays

Something borrowed...a fall tablescape

2011-11-01T19:32:00.000-07:00

Many of you know we moved over the summer, and with that move we gained close access to my parents. They live just across a main street only half a mile away. With that said, it's rather easy for me to go over there and ask to borrow something..sugar...wine glasses...Mimmie's silver. My mom is very giving and knows that after the pictures are taken, the borrowed items will return...unless she says I can keep them:)

These pretty amber jeweled wine stems are hers. I actually told her to buy them years ago...clearance at Target...

I 'borrowed' my saucers to break up the reds between the berry bowl and salad plate and I 'borrowed' these beaded poinsettia napkin rings from my Christmas stash. I thought the gold complimented the wine stems beautifully. And Kathleen, I think you'd be proud I paid 29 cents each (90 % off of $2.99 after Christmas clearance at Target years ago!)

The mosaics and red hurricanes are from my Christmas stash...Pier One and World Market years ago

The silver salt and pepper grinder belonged to my great grandmother.

I bought this beautiful doily from Susan at My Place to Yours

She has beautiful things in her etsy shop!

the rest...

linen place mats--from a friend (Romania)

Silver--my grandmothers

Red glass dinnerware--Target Christmas clearance years ago

Ecru napkins--wedding gift

Saucers--Marshall's years ago, gift from my mom (tea set)

Happy Fall!!! Happy November!!!

I'm joining these blog swaps. Please go to their sites and check out the great ideas!

Susan from Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday

From Russia with Love...

2011-10-25T18:59:00.000-07:00

My sweet mom bought me this beautiful Russian Blue and White Sugar from her latest trip to St. Petersburg. She and my dad are both retired and travel somewhere every year.

She is always on the look out for something pretty. I love this piece. I have a sugar from Romania too, so I love the beauty of each piece.

We celebrated my brother's 40th birthday last night.
My parents were in Russia on his birthday, so we waited til they came home, rested, celebrated their grandson and then had Murphy's birthday dinner.
My brother is low key, to say it best...no big parties or balloons, no jokes or pranks...
just a dinner with his family.

I thought this runner was appropriate to have just enough fall colors for an October birthday and yet has hints of blue to compliment the Blue Willow and Indies Blue dishes.

I set the table again this morning with these water goblets, white napkins and candles.

Since my boys sat with us, they used Fall melamine plates from Target. I served salsa in this Blue Willow gravy boat. My brother's favorite meal is fajitas!

I found this Romanian butter dish at Marshall's years ago. I LOVE it!

Apple Pie with a Strudel Topping (recipe to come)

Rattan Chargers -- Walmart

Churchill Blue Willow

Johnson Brothers Indies Blue bread plate

Romanian Water Goblets -- Marshall's years ago

Cobalt Wine glasses -- Pottery Barn years ago

Gibraltar Water Goblets -- HEB grocery

Silver dessert forks and teaspoons -- my grandmother's

Flatware -- Target years ago

Blue napkins -- Tuesday Morning

White napkins -- Estate Sale

Napkin rings --BBB wedding gift

Centerpiece bowl --my mom, World Market

Red Hurricane -- World Market clearance years ago

Runner -- World Market clearance years ago
I'm joining these great blogs for their weekly blog parties!
A Stroll thru Life for Tabletop Tuesdays
BNOTP for Tablescape Thursdays

Muffin Tin Monday~~Happy Halloween!

2011-10-24T10:40:00.000-07:00

Today, my boys had salami skewers on a bat pick, pb&j sushi rolls, apple, pumpkin marshmallows with another bat pick, colby jack cheese with a jack-o-lantern pick and chocolate chip cookie acorns!

My HEB had a handful of these cute muffin cups again. These are red bees??? it looks like a stinger on the bottom! and the orange cups are from World Market, last year.

A bento friend gave me the Halloween picks and the BIG bat came off the cookie...it was a big cookie from the store by mom got free, so we ate some then cut the rest of into acorns for lunches!

I'm joining MTM for Muffin Tin Monday!

Spinach Salad with Bacon Dressing, Goat cheese and Pears

2011-10-22T18:28:00.000-07:00

You must try this salad...if you like spinach, bacon, pears, goat cheese...sweet and tangy vinaigrette...

it's for you! This is one way I like to use traditional fall flavors of pears and cranberries.

The vinaigrette is made in the bacon grease. Take the bacon out, add a squeeze of mustard, a squeeze of honey, a splash of vinegar, and a pinch of salt, pepper, parsley, a little onion and whisk til you like the consistency.

before the bacon was crumbled on top...

I layered the spinach, sliced pears (with a squeeze of lime) goat cheese and dried cranberries. The warm dressing wilts the spinach a little...perfection!
I remember seeing a Food Network Christmas special a couple years back...Michael Chiarello made a similar salad, but this is the only recipe I found online.

I'm joining the Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays...
and Stone Gable for On the Menu Mondays

Chicken Chile Verde Soup

2011-10-20T17:29:00.000-07:00

A cold front finally hit this week and I was in the mood for some comfort foods. I had a couple chicken breasts and made chicken tacos one night, then the next night I made this...mmm...mmm...good!

This is a great way to use leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken!

Chicken Chile Verde Soup

2 shredded chicken breasts (cooked and seasoned with taco seasoning)

1 onion chopped

1 large can of tomatoes

1 small can of tomatoes (I used Italian seasoned)

1 small can of green chiles

1-2 boxes chicken stock (depending on how you like your soup)

parsley, oregano, onion flake

taco seasoning

salt & pepper

olive oil

1/2 bag of frozen corn

In a dutch oven, saute onion in olive oil. Add tomatoes and chiles. Cook through. Add chicken, herbs and spices. Add chicken stock to cover the soup. Cook on low for a couple hours to marry the flavors. Add corn in the last half hour. Serve with shredded jack and sour cream. Avocado and tortilla chips would have been delicious too...if I had them! Enjoy!

I'm joining these blog parties this week!

Full Plate Thursday

Foodie Friday

Happy Happy 2nd Birthday, Andrew Graham!!! --tablescape

2011-10-18T09:16:00.000-07:00

this weekend we celebrated a birthday! Each setting had a rice krispy pumpkin treat!

I set up two tables over the weekend, but then decided to just put the card table at the end of our table so everyone would sit together.

My mom took most of these pictures...these two ladies are dear to my heart and my boys' hearts...they fondly call them Mimi and Auntie Jo. They are in my mom's Bible Study and have known my boys since they were born. Since my husband's parents and family still live overseas, they play a huge part in our extended family here!

cranberry apple punch with nutmeg & Mint Lime Iced Tea

Chips and Salsa and Queso

Candy Corn Quesadillas...sorry this one is blurry!

Big brother eating candy corn quesadillas (I painted the tortilla with food coloring before I made them)

Ooey Gooey Pumpkin Cake

It was a beautiful fall day so we played outside.

This silly game shoots 'butterflies' up in the air and you have to catch them!

My brother Murphy (also known as uncle furfy!) helped us play...he's a good sport!

We had to take a turn on the swings!

Happy Birthday, Andrew! You are so special!

I'll be joining these blogs this week!

BNOTP for Tablescape Thursday

Foodie Friday--Pumpkin Patch Rice Crispy Treats

2011-10-14T13:23:00.000-07:00

I found this recipe here. She piped icing for leaves, but I may or may not do that before I serve these Sunday for my baby's 2nd birthday!!! Happy Happy Birthday, Andrew!

You're getting a little sneak peak of next week's tablescape!

Sweet scarecrows and pumpkins will greet you at our door!

Our glass door doesn't allow for a thick wreath on the front door, so this hangs inside. I've had it for years. I made it with picks and have added some each year until I liked the fullness.

I love mums and they were all on sale at Lowe's this week! I had credit because their plants are returnable for a year and 3 Mexican Heathers that I planted a month ago did not survive our drought.

I'm joining
Miz Helen for Full Plate Thursdays

Designs by Gollum for Foodie Fridays

and

the Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays

All kinds of red

2011-10-11T19:51:00.000-07:00

As much as I love blue and white, I am a big fan of red. I think you've seen everything I used today in several different tablescapes. Nothing is new, just a new way of putting it together.

So today I just used red...red glass dinner and salad plates, red wine stems, red champagne stems, red glass hurricane, red mosaic hurricanes, and red glass votive candle holders. I had a lot of fun this week taking pictures! This is a photo heavy post...just a warning!

I took pictures on two different days and changed the centerpiece...added the pedestal bowl...took it away.

I love the way the candlelight hit this stem.

bokeh! I rarely achieve this in my photography! I can't wait to play around this Christmas with lights!

My husband gave me these red stems. Sadly one of the wine stems broke before we moved.

I added a gold rimmed plate between the two red glass plates.

You can see the glass pattern better because of it.

my great grandmother's crystal salt and pepper

Rattan Chargers Walmart

Red Glass Plates Target years ago

Red Stems Pier 1 years ago, and gift from a friend

Gold rimmed plates my mom

Water goblets Marshall's years ago

Red hurricane and Mosaic hurricanes World Market years ago

Red glass votive holders Garden Ridge Pottery years ago

Silver my grandmother

Napkins estate sale

Napkin Rings BBB years ago

Salt and Pepper my grandmother and great grandmother

tablecloth Romania, gift from a friend

I'm joining these blogs

Savvy Southern Style for Wow us Wednesday

BNOTP Tablescape Thursday

Foodie Friday...sausage cresents

2011-10-06T19:40:00.000-07:00

Nothing fancy this week...I just made a quick breakfast for my boys..crescent rolls wrapped around cooked breakfast sausage and muenster cheese. Bake at 350 until golden.

I'm linking up!

Designs by Gollum

Full Plate Thursday

Abstract Firetruck Bento

2011-10-06T17:55:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted a bento lunch in a long time. I usually just post a quick picture on facebook and then forget about it! So here is an abstract (very) take on a firetruck...Adrian's kids' day out program had a visit from the fire station today, so I thought this would be fun. I thought my pack of transportation picks had firetrucks, but they were dump trucks..so I used my imagination instead!

Peanut Butter and Jelly wheels

Red silicone (truck body) cups filled with marshmallows and cheese

salami hoses with two yellow firefighters
He had apple sauce on the side in a cute little fire dog cup!

Table for Two...two ways!

2011-10-05T13:47:00.000-07:00

This morning, I decided to do something fun for my boys...I usually try to arrange a table on Tuesday when Adrian is at school and then take pictures when the lighting is good after he comes home or Wednesday during naps...didn't happen, so I rushed through a couple tablescapes...one for the boys and one for the mommies!

Large Asiatic Pheasant Dinner plate

Indies Blue Dinner plate

Old British Castles Salad plate

Indies Blue Bread plate

my mom's wedding champagne glass

all rest on top a rattan charger and a Romanian Linen and Lace place mat

Indies Blue coffee cup

Regency White saucer

mis-matched silver and silver plate all from my mom and grandmother

my mom's wedding crystal

Indies Blue cream and sugar set

Indies Blue Tea pot (thanks, Mom!!!)

Silver plate trivet...I don't know if this was my mom's or grandmother's...I'll ask my mom when she gets back from her trip to Russia. She said she bought me a great find for tablescaping! Can you see my boys in the background?
If I were using this, I'd serve yogurt and berries in the champagne glasses, scones on the bread plates, and a mixed green salad with pears and pecans on the salad plate...but I'm not!

I realized the napkins didn't get set by the time I cleaned up...oh well!

before they sat down....I put the breakfast taco fixings in the pumpkin serving tray. (hobby lobby clearance last year)

sweet little fall plates from Target

all done!

I'm linking up with Susan from BNOTP for Tablescape Thursday
and
Sherry of No Minimalist Here for Open House Thursday

Fall pumpkin muffin cup meal

2011-10-02T20:13:00.000-07:00

I got these cute pumpkin muffin cups last year at Hobby Lobby on clearance. Love using them in my boys' bento lunches and snacks. They don't fit in a muffin tin, so I set them out on a pumpkin felt place mat (Dollar Tree) for fun!

My boys split this...

orange banana strawberry shake in a mason jar

graham crackers

marshmallows with scarecrow picks (Cake supply store last year)

craisans

grilled cheese acorns with an acorn pick (Party City last year, but they have them out now)

Cheese tortilla chips

Apple sauce (spoon from Target $spot last year)

I hope your week is FALL-abulous!!!!

I'm joining the Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays

and

Muffin Tin Mom for MTM!

Can you see the poison ivy???

2011-10-01T07:36:00.000-07:00

my sweet Andrew got into poison ivy or something...his arm has a rash from his wrist to elbow!

I have looked online at all the pictures and I can't seem to identify what my little boys are getting into in their yard...we have been to the park this week, but I'm pretty sure the rash came from after playing outside in OUR backyard. Do any of y'all see it? I'd love to hear your comments! If you see it, just tell me which picture!

Blue and Brown Stoneware for Fall

2011-09-27T18:12:00.000-07:00

I love earthenware. Homemade. Hand-painted. Beautiful one of a kind pieces of pottery.

Don't get me wrong, I love china and I will one day get some of my great-grandmother's Mason China to use for family gatherings and holidays, but I still love earthenware.

I've seen several of you use dough bowls and fall fruits in your tablescapes recently, so this is a nod off to all of you and your beautiful ideas. My dough bowl was from the same garage sale that I found my Johnson Brothers Regency White cups and saucers! It was a great sale!

Sweet handmade creamer used for serving sour cream

A family friend hand carved these two candlesticks. I think they are stunning and perfect for fall.

Rattan Chargers--Walmart

Cobalt Blue Dinner Plates--Wedding Present

Oasis Fountain Stoneware Soup Bowls--Tested by Fire

Fall colored napkins--World Market

Iron Napkin Rings--Pier One

Heavy Iced Tea Glasses--HEB grocery

Glass Carafes--my grandmother

Fall floral tablecloth from HomeGoods bought last year.

Dinner is served...

Chili with zucchini and white beans

Topped with Avocado, Sour Cream and Cheddar Cheese

I'm linking up with
Nest of Posies Fall Festival
and
BNOTP for Tablescape Thursdays
***dgmills*** Please email me your address for your prize!

Giveaway Winner!!!

2011-09-25T06:35:00.000-07:00

True Random Number Generator Min: Result: 3

Powered by RANDOM.ORG

#3 You won my giveaway!!! dgmills "I am a new follower of your great blog and would love to win the items to set a beautiful tablescape for my husband of 42 years."

Please EMAIL me your mailing address
to
meredithmoza at sbcglobal dot net

Congratulations!!! You won the Table for two!! I'll email you this week for your address! I can't wait to see you set a table for you and your husband! 42 years! Congratulations on that!!!

Thank you all for participating!!!

Simple Rosemary Pork and Potatoes with Broccoli Salad

2011-09-22T18:24:00.000-07:00

Simple Rosemary Pork and Potatoes
1 Pork Roast
1 baking potato peeled and sliced
chicken stock
Rosemary, salt and pepper
In a large dutch oven, sear pork (seasoned with salt and pepper) on all sides in olive oil. Add chicken stock and a few rosemary sprigs and put in oven on 300 until done. Add potatoes (seasoned with salt and pepper in the last 30-40 minutes. Enjoy!

Broccoli Salad is almost always at potlucks and get-togethers. I was just craving its goodness this week. It makes for a great fall and winter dish to brighten up any dreariness...my uncle grows broccoli in his winter garden, so I'm hoping for a fresh salad in the future!

1 head of broccoli chopped

handful of red grapes cut in half

1 small can of pineapple (save the juice)

pecan halves

handful of golden raisins

1 heaping spoon of mayonnaise

1 tsp sugar

salt & pepper

red onion chopped (I forgot to get this at the store)

parsley

In mixing bowl add mayo, reserved pineapple juice, sugar, salt and pepper, Whisk til mayo is thinned out. Add all other ingredients and stir to coat. Refrigerate one hour before serving. I'm serving this with Rosemary Pork Roast and Rosemary potatoes.

I'm linking up with

Full Plate Thursday

Foodie Fridays

Fall soup & salad brunch with Johnson Brothers & Giveaway!!!

2011-09-21T09:45:00.000-07:00

This morning, both boys woke up with runny noses, so I got out my bulb syringe and benedryl and took these pictures after they both fell asleep. One is still out on the couch while his little brother is watching a Cars DVD right next to him! Oh to sleep that soundly!

I'm using the same tablecloth, (1. to remind you that you could win two place mats from the same design HERE and 2. I can't find my fall tablecloth...it must have been packed with winter linens or something. I'll search before Thanksgiving!!)

I had this pedestal bowl, from my mom, that I used to give the centerpiece a little lift. It's usually on top of our armoire that holds all my linens and the boys' toys!

This is the glass I used to toast our wedding. Sadly the second one broke when I was washing it that same night! Didn't last long, but sure is pretty.

I used kitchen towels as napkins. I just bought these from HomeGoods and I love the crisp clean look. The brown check plays off the dark brown rattan chargers from Walmart.

I used my Johnson Brothers Regency White cups and saucers (garage sale!) and my grandmother's Tiffany & Co. Sterling coffee spoons.

I used my red glass plates again, with Johnson Brothers Old British Castles salad plates, and white stoneware bowls I bought from Target years ago. They have embossed pumpkins and leaves on them. The s&p and gravy boat I am using for salad dressing are from the same collection. The two red flutes are from Pier1 years ago and sadly they only had 3 went I bought them. I also used my Romanian glass water goblets from Marshall's, bought years ago.

One of my Romanian friends searched for one like our wedding flutes and bought me the other flute in this setting. You can see it is similar, but not the same. I still love it.

cream & sugar on top a white stoneware pedestal plate

The salad bowl is from Tuesday Morning years ago and the salad serving pieces are from World Market

Happy Tablescaping!

Please stop by and leave a comment on yesterday's post HERE for the chance of winning a Table for Two tablescaping giveaway!

I'm linking up with Susan from BNOTP

for Tablescape Thursday!
and
No minimalist here for Open House Party

Tablescape OR Muffin Tin / Bento lunch supplies GIVEAWAY!!!

2011-09-20T11:07:00.000-07:00

I have loved corresponding with many of you over the last year since finding all the fun blog parties and linkies that I participate in.

This is my way of saying thank you for taking the time to read and comment!

All you need to do is become a follower or tell me you are a follower in your comment and tell me which prize would you choose.

This giveaway ends Saturday, the 24th. I'll announce the winner next week!

Good luck!!

**I ship in the US only**

Table for two please: is TWO linen and macrame place mats from Romania, TWO embroidered napkins (estate sale) and TWO iron scroll napkin rings from Pier 1. Perfect shades of linen and brown for fall!

The muffin tin / bento supplies choice includes mini forks, 2 hippo cups with a spoon (love these for apple sauce in my boys' lunches!), assorted paper cup liners and 6 umbrella picks!

Rain Rain Rain muffin tin monday

2011-09-19T07:50:00.000-07:00

This weekend was glorious for most of South Texas and yesterday was the icing on the cake. We had a beautiful storm last night, so this morning we are celebrating with a rainy breakfast muffin tin meal! If you noticed my last post, I am celebrating the rain with a giveaway...Stay tuned!

Toasted rain clouds, sausage mud puddles with a frog pick, golden honey nut chex, cheese rainbows and strawberry umbrellas (sort of...I don't have the cute Japanese picks I've seen, so I used swords!!)

I'm linking up with Muffin Tin Mom!

RAIN!!!! I'm celebrating with a giveaway next week!!!

2011-09-16T19:44:00.000-07:00

It rained today for about an hour and it's supposed to rain for a few more days next week...

so I'm celebrating!

I'll be posting a giveaway next week...

Since some of you read my blog because of muffin tins and bento lunches, I'll have fun supplies as one choice and...

Since some of you read my blog because of tablescapes and decor projects, I'll have something beautiful as another choice...

The choice will be yours!!!

Tune in next week to see pictures of the giveaway.

In the meantime, if you don't already follow this blog, please become a follower and wait for the giveaway post next week.

Have a great weekend!
Disclaimer: I can only ship in the US.

Heirloom china for fall...

2011-09-14T18:00:00.000-07:00

Tonight I used some of my mom's china. Her birthday was Monday, so this week I am thinking of her.

The boys and I took her a cake and flowers on Monday. I think my 4 year old sang at least 3 times the 'happy birthday song' and his Ludee wasn't present every single time. He made sure I brought candles with me to their house (we now live 1/2 a mile from my parents) and he even helped by blowing them out!

These salad plates all belonged to her, or my grandmother or my great grandmother. I have 4 of the fruit plates and 6 of the pink floral plates, so I mixed them this week. I love the fruits for fall. I used red wine glasses from Pier One and amber/blue wine glasses from Pier One...both bought years ago. The crystal plates were both from different estate sales.

Enjoy!

I love these...so dainty. They also belonged to my mom.

I'm joining Susan from BNOTP for Tablescape Thursdays

Fun Fall Foods

2011-09-12T20:25:00.000-07:00


Pumpkin Bars (before the cream cheese icing)

I love the flavors of fall! I think I could eat a pumpkin dessert every day of the year and never grow tired of it...maybe! I didn't read the recipe very well when I prepared this. I was supposed to use a jelly roll pan, but it came out great. moist and delicious! Here's the recipe.

I plant sage and thyme in my garden, so I'll have fresh herbs for Thanksgiving.

I just love this season. I love the pumpkin and cinnamon in the candles and love seeing all the pumpkin patches come to life.

Most people don't think of salsa for fall, but it's the best way to use the end of your garden! I roasted tomatoes, jalapenos and onions in my dutch oven, added more liquid and seasoning and blended everything in my food processor before canning it. I had these fall gift bags left over from last year.

I hope your fall season is filled with scrumptious food and yummy happy memories in your kitchen and elsewhere!

Another Fall Muffin Tin Meal

2011-09-12T11:05:00.000-07:00

A sweet little scarecrow sitting amongst the pumpkin colored cheese bites!

Today, we ate cheddar potato chips, mini cookies, pepperoni, roasted turkey and cheddar sandwich, cheese bites and apple sauce. The scarecrow is a pick from a cake supply store and the cups are from World Market.

Happy Muffin Tin Monday!

I'm linking up!

Happy Fall Tablescape

2011-09-07T13:18:00.000-07:00

A table to be thankful...

This week, I took my time (between naps, and letting the boys play outside...we had a cold front!!!) and was able to pull out all my fall decor. I love fall. I love the colors and the smells that add to the season of being thankful.

I have collected most of these items for the past several years. I'm a big fan of Hobby Lobby's end of season clearance and have used some of these decorations for years.

We had a cool front, like I said, and the morning temperatures were in the 60s which is amazing considering we've been in the 90s by 9am and had triple digits for months!

I want to stop and ask you to PRAY for rain in Texas.

If you've seen the news, we've had fires here and in surrounding cities. I have friends who have been evacuated from their homes and friends whose family members have lost their homes. Sadly the wind and cool temps we enjoyed on Labor Day brought horrible havoc to many people by spreading these fires quickly. There is now a fire about 10 miles from our house and my parents, but the news is saying it is contained.

We need rain desperately!!!

So with a heavy heart for friends and fellow Texans in harm's way, I set a fall table to remind me to be thankful for all the blessings God has given me.

Red glass Hurricane from World Market clearance a few years back. Fall garland floral ring from Hobby Lobby clearance a few years back

Mini red glass votive holders from Garden Ridge Pottery years ago, twine pumpkins from Hobby Lobby years ago, homemade fabric pumpkins, Pumpkin shakers from Ross last year, acorn and pumpkin shakers from Cracker Barrel (99 cents each!!!)

Red Wine glasses from a Secret Santa gift when I was teaching and Water goblets from Marshall's 9 years ago


Each place is set with rattan chargers from Walmart, French Red glass plates from Target, and a leaf shaped baking dish. I've had the red glass since I got married. I bought dishes on clearance every Christmas...some for $1. I bought 3 leaf baking dishes last year from Michael's and 3 more this year.

The wooden candlesticks are made by a family friend. He's in his 80s and he makes candlesticks, cutting boards and even coffee tables.

Pumpkin shakers from Ross last year

the other candlesick

Napkins are from World Market and Target years ago, the napkin rings were a wedding gift.

My dishwasher is acting up and I didn't have time to 'clean' every piece of silverware...so I left it out of the pictures!

I plan on baking individual Pumpkin Ooey Gooey butter bakes in these leaf dishes for my baby's 2nd birthday in October!

A little candlelight...

Homemade Pumpkins...I made the orange one when Adrian was 1 1/2 while attending MOPS. It's an 18 inch square of material, a toilet paper roll, tissue paper tucked around the TP to make a pumpkin shape. Stuff the material into the TP hole and secure it with a stick! I made the other 3 last year with remnants from my mom's quilting closet.

Here is a link to my original post last year about how to make these cute TP pumpkins!!!

Happy Fall!!! Blessings to you and your family this season!

I'm linking up with Susan from BNOTP

enjoy the tables!

Happy Fall Muffin Tin Monday!!!

2011-09-05T14:08:00.000-07:00

It's Labor Day and since Daddy had the day off, we went to the Cracker Barrel for breakfast, so we ate a very late lunch.

The boys had grilled cheese, veggie chips, pepperoni, strawberries, marshmallows, and a piece of Toblerone. I bet you can guess what they ate first!

Sorry again, I'll prepare myself better next time...photos are with my phone...hungry boys!!! Do I really expect them to be patient???

These muffin tins are from Wilton. I got them last year on clearance, but they have the same things at Micheal's this year. They are shaped like pumpkins and leaves.

The leaf and acorn picks are from a cake supply store or Party City last year (I can't remember!) and the footballs are from Party City last year (tis the season!).

I'm linking up! Enjoy!!

praying for rain in Texas

2011-09-04T17:42:00.000-07:00

This morning in church, our pastor prayed for rain. I don't usually think of this, and I'm not sure why...but I've been reminded again from two friends of mine who have been evacuated out of areas near Austin and Bastrop why we need to pray for rain!

link to pictures

Tablescaping while the boys are busy

2011-08-31T19:58:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I feel like nothing gets done and everything is just kind of hairy around here. My husband is studying for his Engineering license exam in October, but is gone every weekend til then for study sessions. My big boy started preschool again, but hated his first day because they bumped him up a class because he is an August birthday. All his friends he's talked about all summer were in the other class. In fact at outside play, his new teacher said he gravitated back to play with his friends, didn't say a word in share time, wouldn't tell them what his favorite things to do were etc...etc...etc...This boy mom wanted to crawl in a hole and cry cry cry. I felt defeated and that it was my fault for not saying to leave him with his peers in the first place. They moved him back into the 'right' class, and hopefully things will be better now, although I came home to an empty lunch box...sigh...the teachers put his bento box with all his cute stuff in someone else's bag.

My little guy cries when we leave big brother at school. He's had him all summer long. They go to the gym with me and play together, so Andrew was very upset that he couldn't stay. I hope this doesn't last too long!

On top of all this craziness, I feel we are dealing with some new discipline and relational issues with the boys...anger is coming out, selfishness, and disrespect are the hard ones to name a few. At the same moment I can hear the yelling, two minutes later the sweetness comes out. I'm no therapist, but I think growing up and understanding yourself and your emotions is hard...just plain hard. And by God's grace alone, my boys will grow up to be godly young men.

Sorry for the long post, but thanks for listening:)

This week I threw something together rather quickly. It seems like I don't have as much time to play around some days and then Wednesday night creeps up and I have yet to do anything. I put this together this afternoon while dinner was cooking. I used the same chargers and cobalt dinner plates from last week. I even left my pottery centerpiece! I just liked the way it looked on the table. I added some salad plates my mom gave me. She bought them when she was first married. I just love the berries and flower details. I used my blue rimmed glasses and silver from my grandmother.

The napkins were linens from my grandmother. I love the details.

I'm linking up with Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday

Muffin Tin Monday

2011-08-29T13:54:00.000-07:00

My sweet impatient boys (mainly the almost 2 year old) couldn't wait for Mommy to run upstairs and get the real camera, so I took a couple pictures with my phone before the cups were spilled over and empty! The same almost 2 year old has a habit of dumping out each silicone cup back into the muffin tin, so if I wanted the picture, this is all I was going to get!

the frog and butterfly muffin cups are from a Texas Grocery store called HEB.

This was an early lunch / late snack after we came home from the gym.

My big boy is rather picky right now and only eats cooked vegetables which I usually do at dinner and we ran out of grapes and strawberries, so this is what we had left...

He's eating with the bears...

Colby Jack bear cut outs, Mesquite ham roll ups, Cheeze its, fruit snacks, Mesquite turkey roll ups, craisins

My little boy is eating with bull frogs and butterflies

(I think that was one of our music programs when I was little!!)

Cheeze its, salami squares, chex mix, tomatoes (cute forks are in the $ spot at Target right now), Colby Jack butterflies, and craisins

I'm linking up with Muffin Tin Mom!

Romanian Artisan Pottery Tablescape & a GREAT tea recipe!!!

2011-08-24T10:27:00.000-07:00

By the end of this post, you will definitely know a little more about Romania, how much I love the country, the pottery and the people. I miss it. It is very expensive for us all to go visit now, but the last time we were there, my 4 year old was 9 months old!

Here's my tribute to a beautiful country and all its beautiful people...

I collected most of this pottery while I lived there for 3 years. A couple pieces were gifts from friends or former students of mine, but mostly a collection of my travels. Romanian Pottery is named or marked according to the region that produces it, thus you'll see a few types of pottery and glazes on this post.

I used my Mexican cobalt and amber rimmed glasses (from a friend's garage sale and Ross years ago), my every day blue cobalt dishes, my rattan chargers (from Walmart) and my grandmother's silver ware. I also used my embroidered napkins (from Target years ago) and the linen and lace Romanian tablecloth from a friend.

The colorful floral pottery is named Korund and it is made for display. I don't use these plates. I actually brought some of them off the walls to showcase them today. The onion flower that you'll see on most of these plates is a popular design, as is the bird you'll see on a couple others. Korund pottery is blue and white, red and white and multicolored. You can see from my pieces the different regions of Korund.

Romanians are known for their hospitality, incredible cooking and generosity. I have been to someone's house at 9 at night and sat down to a full blown meal. I've been given china and other beautiful things right out of someone's home.

The plates and bowls scattered in the middle are from Hatzeg. This is a completely different design form and they are known for the pulled swirls you can see in each design. Some of the smaller pieces, I bought over 10 years ago when I first lived in Romania. My husband (and I) carried back about 40 pounds of this in my small carry on baggage when we left in 2002.

My favorite plate. This hangs above my sink, so I can gaze at it every single day. I bought this on our last trip.

My favorite pitchers. I bought this on a trip to Sibiu, Romania with my mission team. The price was written on the bottom in pencil. I have several display pieces in this exact pattern, but never found more just like it.

My husband gave me these coffee mugs when we were dating. They hand on a wooden wrack.

Starbucks Tea Recipe

Boil 2 cups of water, add 4 Passion tea bags, 3 Berry Blossom White tea bags, and 2 Zen tea bags.

Let steep. Add 3 tsp of honey.

Fill a large pitcher with ice and half cold water. Squeeze in the juice of a lime.

Add tea and enough water to fill the pitcher. Stir and enjoy!

a fun estate sale find...cut glass plate for $3!!

I'm joining these blogs

Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday

Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday

Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday

Garlic Feta Mayonnaise

2011-08-18T20:23:00.000-07:00

It's SO hot here and some days I just don't want to turn on the oven or stove top to add to the heat, so we had Club sandwiches with Garlic Feta Mayonnaise. I needed to use up my feta and deli meats, so this was a great way to do just that and it was so yummy! I did crisp some bacon on the stove top, but that was it...it's just too HOT here right now!

Recipe...

1 1/2 cup of mayonnaise

3 green onions chopped

3-5 garlic cloves (depending on your taste)

1/4 block of feta

black pepper

parsley and oregano

pinch of celery seed

large pinch - 1 tsp of dill

EVOO to thin it out.

Pulse til you like the consistency. Put in a sealed jar or container and spread on your toasted bread and build your club. This would be GREAT as a mayo for a zesty chicken salad or shrimp salad with avocado...I think I just figured out a menu for the weekend. YUM!

Mixing it up

yummy goodness in a jar

building the sandwiches

Dinner is served.

I'm linking up with the following blogs for some great recipe exchanges!!!

Miz Helen - Full Plate Thursdays

Designs by Gollum- Foodie Fridays

Birthday Boy Tablescape

2011-08-17T19:55:00.000-07:00

Getting ready to party!!! They were coloring pictures of Thomas the Train. Here you can see the snacks set out in festive Train Depot themed attire!

Train Depot themed birthday tablescape!
A sweet family friend lent me her stash of goods when I asked for a picnic style tablecloth! She had enamalware, bandanas, mason jars, silk flowers, tablecloths and more. My mom had a small set of bandana style melamine plates and bowls she bought a couple summers ago from Target. Thanks, Mom!

Birthday boy and a couple friends!!! The little ones ate on cute bandana paper plates from Michael's dollar spot. I had matching napkins too!

Train cupcake cake!!!
My sweet Adrian asked for another train cake this year, so I played around with gum drops,
sprinkles and m&ms to add to the theme.

Grandpas eating snacks!!!
My dad is on the left, Papa to my boys.
Our dear friend, Doug (Da) is the closest thing to a second grandpa to our boys
since my husband's parents live overseas.
His wife, Mimi, was the one with the great stash!

I'm linking up with Susan from

Between Naps on the Porch for

Tablescape Thursday