Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Happy 4th of July!!!

 
 I set my table for seven 4th of July guests. I'm using blue and white plates, but  two different sets because I have 4 of the JB Blue Denmark from last week and 6 of the Blue Willow...
I used Libby Gilbralter Iced Tea and PB Blue Swirl Wine Stems, Wallace Stainless Antique Bead, Red and Blue Cloth napkins in wired rings from Pier One.  
  I went to check on my mom's garden this morning (they're in France!) and cut this beautiful basil for my centerpiece. Basil is so pretty when it begins to seed.
Same WM runner and a few red candles.
  
 My mom gave me a bag of homegrown potatoes and I pulled a handful of onions today to make this salad. The potatoes are baked instead of boiled!
Baked Potato Salad
8 small red potatoes cut in chunks
Green onions chopped
Salt & Pepper
Garlic powder
Olive Oil
Dill
Parsley
Duke's Mayonnaise 
1 T Mustard (I used horseradish mustard, but whole grain would be great)

Put potatoes on a baking sheet with oil, S&P, garlic and parsley. Toss to coat. Bake for 25 minutes at 350 or til knife tender.  Put in a bowl, add dill and onions, mayo and mustard and toss til you like the consistency.
I also made pesto the other day with fresh basil, so I made a Pesto Pasta salad with homegrown tomatoes to serve along side our menu of
Grilled Chicken and Sausages
Tomatoes and Cucumber Salad
Baked Beans
Grilled Corn on the cob
Chips and homemade salsa
Flag Cake

I'm joining
at

15 comments:

  1. Alycia NicholsJuly 4, 2012 at 11:05 AM

    Oh, wow, Meredith....all your food looks SO good!!!!!!! I have never baked my potatoes for a potato salad, but it seems to me like that makes a lot of sense for retaining the potato flavor. I will have to give that a try when the weather cools down and I can use my oven again. You did a great job with the table!!! I'm always glad to see how people create great tables by mixing and matching dinnerware. My eyes were immediately drawn to the centerpiece. Basil, huh? It looks so beautiful when bunched together like that! I completely forgot to plant basil this year!!! I love to use it for cooking, and now I see that it makes for a great natural arrangement, too!!! Have a safe and happy 4th!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Monica @ Happily Playing with DishesJuly 4, 2012 at 3:49 PM

    Thanks for sharing the recies. I need to try them. Love your glasses. Happy 4th!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Tammy at Tammy Loves DishesJuly 4, 2012 at 4:22 PM

    Your table looks great. I love that you have mixed the two plate patterns; gives more interest to the table. Your menu sounds delicious!

    Happy 4th of July!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Linda (More Fun Less Laundry)July 4, 2012 at 7:40 PM

    Hi Meredith, Aren't you the lucky one to have a garden to "watch" that is full of that beautiful basil! I love your potato salad recipe. The worst part of making potato salad is peeling and boing the potatoes and then having that starchy mess, so I will definitely be making your recipe! Have a nice week! Linda

    ReplyDelete
  5. MarthaJuly 4, 2012 at 9:13 PM

    A lovely lovely table! Love the red, white and blue! And the menu is terrific as well!

    ReplyDelete
  6. TriciaJuly 5, 2012 at 3:32 AM

    Meredith, what a lovely and welcoming table! I love that runner, and the mixed blue and white dishes look great together. I'll bet that centerpiece smells MARVELOUS! Can't beat fresh basil! Thank you for your kind comments on my table this week.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Entertaining WomenJuly 5, 2012 at 7:48 AM

    So many things to love here...for starters, the runner is perfect for your Independence Day tablescape...and the basil centerpiece is lovely. Baked potato salad...never thought of that. I must give it a try. Thanks for inviting us for a peak. Cherry Kay

    ReplyDelete
  8. SarahJuly 5, 2012 at 12:21 PM

    Meredith, your food looks mighty tasty. Love the runner. Is that Pierre Deux fabric? Hope your holiday was fun.......Sarah

    ReplyDelete
  9. ShaneeJuly 5, 2012 at 6:29 PM

    Love your centerpiece and runner! Thanks for sharing your recipes, can't wait to give them a try. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Susan Nowell @ My Place to YoursJuly 5, 2012 at 7:22 PM

    Basil and blues ... I love it all! Such a quaint and inviting table, Meredith!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Suzanne Scarborough MelsonJuly 6, 2012 at 5:52 AM

    Love it....blue glasses from Dollar Tree on line would be great! haha

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousJuly 6, 2012 at 6:06 AM

    Wow, there's a lot to like here, the table and the food. I like the addition of the horseradish to the potato salad. Any time someone mixes patterns on a table, it has my attention. I'm crazy about things that don't match!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Miz HelenJuly 6, 2012 at 7:44 AM

    Your table looks so festive and inviting. I have to try those bars, they look awesome. Hope you are having a great holiday week and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousJuly 6, 2012 at 12:06 PM

    Oh, I bet your dining room smelled wonderful because of the basil even BEFORE the food was passed around!
    Basil is one of my favorite herbs. Thanks for sharing your holiday table and your recipes!

    ReplyDelete
  15. KathleenJuly 9, 2012 at 6:18 PM

    Lovely! I bet the aroma from the centerpiece was wonderful! The pie looks delicious too!
    Thanks for linking to Let's Dish!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and comment! It's always so nice to hear from you!