Sawdust Pie and a Thanksgiving table

I made a couple recipes today to share with family tomorrow. I found both of these on pinterest. I'm hoping the Sawdust Pie is similar to a pie I've eaten at a tearoom here. I haven't been there in years and when I saw this recipe, I thought I had to try!

Sawdust Pie

and 

Orange Cranberry Sauce

After I zested the oranges (two small clementines), I added the segments to the sauce.

Here is our table. I may or may not use the red bowls. One guest isn't coming and she usually makes a salad that many eat separately. We are hosting 10...my parents, brother, uncle, and family friends. My boys reminded me that next year we will have to add another chair for the baby. My cup runneth over!

I used chargers from Walmart, Italian Countryside Dinner plates, mixed silverware, and more. 

  Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm linking up with these blogs

Cuisine Kathleen

Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday

RattleBridge Farm Foodie Friday

Hot Hot Hot! Dinner and Candied Jalapenos

Candied Jalapenos (and serranos & habaneros)

I found this recipe on Pinterest. Sweet and Spicy!

 With an abundance of jalapenos, serranos, and habaneros and a lack of tomatoes, I have not canned as much salsa as last year. I've been buying tomatoes and making fresh salsa when needed.

Last night, we had my cousin's husband over for dinner. He moved here at the end of May for a job and is waiting for my cousin and his children to sell their house in Pennsylvania and move down here to join him. We at pulled pork tacos, slaw, grilled corn salad and salsa. 

 My sweet baby is now 3 1/2 and thus I have not blogged as much as last year. He is a pistol, spitfire, free spirit...you name it, but I wouldn't change his crazy little personality for anything! He keeps me more than busy, so this is what the table looks like nowadays...picture taken quickly before I even got the forks and napkins laid out. Such is life as a mommy of a very busy 3 1/2 year old boy!

I simply used my pottery from Tested by Fire for the food, a pretty platter to host the chips and salsa, and Blue Willow. My mom made the runner a few years ago.
I'm joining

Cuisine Kathleen for Let's Dish

Miz Helen for Full Plate Thursday

Rattlebridge Farm for Foodie Friday

Corn Avocado Salad

This was heavenly with our tacos tonight. I usually make this salad with black beans and spicy peppers, but I didn't have either, so I tried something a little on the sweeter side.

2 large avocados diced

Juice of 2-3 limes

1 bag of frozen corn, thawed

4-5 small peppers sliced

3 green onions sliced

garlic powder

parsley

salt and pepper

Mix together and enjoy!

New Year's Eve appetizers

This was so good and so easy! I promised you a picture, so I made it again.

Pesto (I had an abundance of basil, so I made some)

tomatoes

kalamata olives

feta

Mix, let sit for an hour or so to marry the flavors and enjoy with pita chips.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

I'm also serving cream cheese with Jalapeno Jelly and crackers!

Christmas Eve and Holiday Recipes

 

 Tonight, we are hosting my parents and brother for Christmas Eve. I used a quilt topper my mom made. I love the simple colors in it and how well the plates, candy poppers and centerpiece marry with it.

I used two sets of plates, since there are seven of us. All the salad plates are from Cracker Barrel from 3 and 4 years ago. I've had the red glass plates and poinsettia napkins forever. I used an eclectic mix of silver, stainless and red handled flatware.

Each plate is adorned with a chocolate ornament or Santa with a couple thrown around the centerpiece for those who've been extra good!

   

Walnut Snowball Cookies

These were heavenly. I made them for a cookie exchange I hosted Saturday. I doubled the recipe and it made 40, plenty to share and keep for my boys. They remind me of cookies from Romania, so my husband was overjoyed!

Each lady brought 2 dozen cookies, so everyone took home a couple of each.  I served a couple appetizers and wassail. The Greek Feta Dip was long gone before I took of picture, but if I make it tonight or tomorrow, I'll snap a photo...it was a simple mix of pesto, feta cheese, kalamata olives and grape tomatoes. Serve with pita chips. I also made a cheese ball.

I also made Texas Jalapeno Jelly with my October surplus of jalapenos. Another huge hit, I gave this to family, church friends and my husband's coworkers. It made everybody happy!

May your days be Merry and Bright!

Cuisine Kathleen for Let's Dish

BNOTP

Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday

Foodie Friday at Rattlebridge Farm

Merry Christmas from the Mozas

 This week, my table is filled with Christmas berries! I adore Christmas plates. I collected sets of 4 salad plates for years to entertain with, host cookie exchanges, or just to decorate. I bought these salad plates the year Adrian, now 5, was born. They have 2007 on the back, so I know they are his. He even went shopping with me, after Christmas, probably 75% off. I have a couple small serving bowls and a cream and sugar to match.

 My tip--Christmas traditional patterns are so very easy to mix and match, so don't fret if you can't find a set of 12. Red berries and green poinsettias look beautiful when tied together...the napkins, the plates, the serving pieces, the candles...all have elements of both.  

My snowmen collection abides happily around the house...

Merry Christmas! From my family of boys to you!

I'm joining these blog hops

Cuisine Kathleen Let's Dish

Stone Gable

Happy Thanksgiving!

 Happy Thanksgiving from my family to yours!! 

I added red glasses for a little more color 

and the turkey place cards for all my guests.

 The boys are sitting at the end of the table with their special turkey plates. I got these from Pottery Barn Outlet a couple years ago. World Market has cute kid plates too, as see on Bab's blog!

I made these turkey napkins for their lunches, but thought they looked cute with their plates. I used mason jars covered with a cupcake liner (avoid spills!)  

 Our menu includes

Roasted Turkey 

Giblet Gravy

My Mimmie's Oyster Dressing

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

Sweet Potatoes

Hashbrown Casserole

Green Beans with Bacon

Pumpkin Pie

Triple Berry Pie

Fudge

Fresh Fig Preserves with cream cheese and crackers

I'm joining

Cuisine Kathleen for Let's Dish

The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sundays

Happy Thanksgiving Tablescape & Bynto

 

 Happy Thanksgiving to all my blogging friends out there! I finally set up a table and took pictures! 

(My 3 year old is napping while I'm writing this, but I actually set it up yesterday and made dinner, changed a diaper and read stories in between all the set up!)

 I've used everything before, except the chargers. They are from Walmart, just right for fall, but I might try them for Christmas too! 

 The tablecloth is from a friend...it's Romanian linen.

I used Italian Countryside plates, red glass bowls, my mom's wedding crystal with my Marshall's goblets and my Wallace Antique bead stainless.

Just realized I didn't put the napkins on the table! That's what I get for changing diapers and making dinner while doing this!

 The centerpiece is a few mosaic hurricanes from World Market, fall greenery and red glass votive holders.

Here's a closer look at the charger...

I'm joining

Cuisine Kathleen for Let's Dish

BNOTP for Tablescape Thursday

Happy Thanksgiving from all my turkeys to yours!