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!

Jo's Cherry Coke Salad

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. 

My Papau's china

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

Foodie Friday...Family Favorites

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

Thanksgiving preparations

cookie place cards

 

I make this cranberry jello salad

My husband gave me these beautiful candle centerpiece set a couple years ago. I love the way the light hits it. I have a collection of clear goblets and red and amber to set the mood for a happy thanksgiving dinner!

Happy Thanksgiving...Muffin Tin Monday style

Happy Thanksgiving to all my blogging friends and family!!! Today I am thankful for my family and the traditions we have for the holidays. My mom always had homemade Chex mix and fudge in the house during the holidays. Adrian is enjoying a pumpkin and peanut butter pumpkin shaped sandwich, colby jack pumpkins and turkeys, apple sauce with sprinkles, bananas and craisans with a cute little pumpkin pick, and a few m&ms and fudge hidden in the pumpkin paper. The picture below shows the fudge better. I used my mini cookie cutters to make pumpkins and leaves.

A sweet little hand was tired of Mommy taking pictures!

Fantasy Fudge (best flavor I think...recipe is on the back on any marshmallow fluff jar!)

fun Thanksgiving place mat (it's laminated!) Adrian made at Kid's Day Out!

 If you want to participate in Muffin Tin Monday, click on the button below. She has some amazing ideas for lunches and fun activities for children!

Foodie Friday!!!--Sugar cookies

I got a new set of pumpkin cutters from HL at 80% off and plan on making cookies for each place setting for Thanksgiving.

 

 These are by far the best sugar cookies I've ever made...they take icing well. They don't crumble and they have a delicate and addicting vanilla flavor. The recipe is from Paula Dean here

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon almond extract
• 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy. Beat in eggs, vanilla and almond extract until combined.
In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually add to sugar mixture, beating until smooth. Wrap dough in heavy-duty plastic wrap, and refrigerate 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut with assorted snowflake cookie cutters and place 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Chill dough 15 minutes. Bake for 10 minutes, or until edges are very lightly browned. Let cool for 2 minutes on baking sheet. Remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks.

If you would like to participate in Foodie Fridays, link up a recipe here

it's only Wednesday???

It seems like it's already been a whole week. Monday night, we had a family friend over for dinner. While waiting for dinner to finish, my 1 year old bit it on our hard wood floors. I picked him up and there was blood...one bodily fluid I really don't like! So I called our pediatrician and got the gist on what to look for, worry for and not worry about. It ended up being just his lip...no broken teeth (thankfully!)...and he got over it quickly and the dinner went on. We had stuffed pork chops (I saw an episode of Diners, Drive ins, and Dives) but couldn't find the exact recipe, so I just did it from memory of the show..We also had sweet potatoes, salad and a crostata. I saw this food network special a couple years ago and after buying the 8 pack pie crust at Sam's, I needed to use some. I used Lingonberry jam and fresh pears in the crostata. It was yummy!

The night ended, we bathed and went to sleep only to be woken up by our SCREAMING alarm at 1:35am saying the interior back door had been opened...it was dead bolted and hook locked! The police came anyway, checked our laundry room (the 'door' goes to the laundry room and then leads to the back yard..) Apparently the wind or a critter moved the wires under our house causing it to think the door had opened...a little freaked out, we all went back to sleep...

I didn't take any pictures of Adrian's lunch yesterday, but I will take a picture today of the bento style cheese tray I'm taking to his Thanksgiving luncheon tomorrow. I found the cutest pumpkin picks at Joann's on clearance. They came with cupcake papers. 

Just to get away this weekend, we drove up to the outlets in San Marcos...only about a 45 minute drive. We had a coupon for a free pound of chocolates from River Mountain Chocolates (came with our AAA packet...my dad's early Christmas present after I got a flat on the highway with little A in the car and somehow locked my keys in the car with Big A strapped in his carseat and little A in my arms...) So I convinced my husband to go...for the chocolate and then I could go look at Crate and Barrel and the Pottery Barn Outlet which includes PBK and Williams-Sonoma. I found a couple cute melamine turkey plates for my boys and am going to use one of them as a platter for the cheese I'm supposed to bring on Thursday!

Fun Find today

Since I have two little boys and I'm not sure I will have another child...I try to grab the 'boyish' stuff I see, when I see it!

Today, Target is putting their Christmas stuff out in the dollar spot section (even those these were $2.50 each). I found blue snowflake silicone muffin tins, green Christmas trees and red candy canes and gingerbread men(I think...I only bought the snowflakes!) They also had cute Christmas spatulas...if you're children are older than mine and participate more in the cooking. They had their Christmas sprinkles out...cute red and white candy canes, green and red dots, and green jimmies with white snowflakes...if I remembered them all correctly....for $1. The Fall / Harvest sprinkles were half off, so I got a handful for Thanksgiving and next year.
Hobby Lobby also had a lot on sale for Halloween and Thanksgiving baking. I found some leaf sprinkles...that I forgot to use in Monday's leaf themed Muffin Tin and some pumpkin silicone cups. My big A loved it in his bento...he said, "look Mommy, a pumpin!" 
I'll post pictures tomorrow when I take them...in better light! 
Party City does not have their Christmas stuff out yet, but I'm hopeful! I too, love the acorn and fall leaf picks I found there!

a time for thanksgiving

How appropriate that I am writing this during my favorite time of the year...fall, thanksgiving etc...I should be thankful everyday, but yesterday was definitely a doozy! I took my 3 year old to KDO like I do every Tuesday, then went shopping with my baby. I needed to get some stuff for his birthday party this weekend, so I went to a different HomeGoods...farther away than my usual route. Why be thankful? God's protection. I was pretty much out in the middle of nowhere...30 minutes or so away from my parents or husband. Closer to my home,  a light came on on my dashboard. I looked it up and it was for tire pressure. 

I decided to go a little early to pick up Adrian so I could go to the Discount Tire place after and have them check on my tire. I called my mom to tell her to see just in case it would take too long, maybe she could come get the boys from me and then I'd pick them up at her house...No problem. (I was on the highway access road, mind you.) Andrew was asleep in the back and I heard a thud and felt that bump...my tire just blew. I have 10 minutes to pick up my 3 year old. My baby is asleep in the backseat and I can't go anywhere. I call my mom again, get the number for the school, call them to tell them I had a blowout and my mom will pick up Adrian. While she went to get him, I call Discount Tire, got their tow truck number, and called the guy. While I'm on the phone with the tow co., a policeman drives up and escorts me down the road to  a safer location (more shoulder room). The tow truck comes rather quickly, and CHANGES my tire to my spare because I have a baby in a car seat asleep in the back...He then followed me to the tire shop, gives them my tire, gives me my receipt and drives away. My mom comes, Andrew wakes up and she takes both boys to her house while I wait in line. I call the tow truck company and the guy says, you're really lucky. We don't normally change tires, but take into consideration babies and elderly:) I said, well I think you have angels working for you! I gave him my credit card number and went inside the tire shop. They just happened to have one tire like mine at another shop so it didn't have to be special ordered...and it was fixed this morning...amazing. I know God is watching over me and my little ones. I'm thankful Andrew slept through the whole ordeal, my mom was home so she could pick up Adrian from his school and he wouldn't be scared and have to wait for mommy. I'm thankful we didn't have a wreck, the tire just blew but didn't send my car swirling out of control. The cop showed up to help me to a safer area and the tow truck guy showed up quickly and changed my tire. what a day!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

better late than never...thanksgiving...putting up the christmas trees etc...

Mommy won't let me play with her ornaments...boo hoo...

I think I'm going to like these ornaments...more toys for me:)

Mommy trying to tell me to leave the ornaments on the tree...

looking at the snowmen...Mommy has quite a collection...so tempting!

the finished product...yummy!!!

decorating cookies...while waiting to eat dessert...too much yummy food...

the table is set...