Monthly Archives: October 2017

Peach, Plaid & Pumpkins

October 30, 2017, posted by Gina – This past weekend we celebrated a big milestone birthday and a Halloween birthday all in one meal with family members. In planning for this birthday meal, I wanted to capture the fun of the season and create a memorable table.

I saw these plaid plates online and went to the store (Pier 1) later that day and purchased them. They are so cute and the colors are wonderful. I guess you could say these plates were the inspiration for the table.

And speaking of the table, here is a full view…

Deep yellow placemats anchored each place setting. White dinner plates served as the backdrop and each one was topped with the plaid plates. Pumpkins napkin rings around black and white script print napkins finished off the look.

I chose pastel flowers in chartreuse, peach and cream which coordinated very well with all the other elements.

I wanted candles on the table and set out to find something unique. I did just that with this tree candelabra which, once all the candles were lit, truly cast a beautiful glow on the table.

We had a wonderful time and a great meal. Speaking of the meal, I thought I would share the menu with you in case you are looking for ideas for a Fall gathering.

Brie and Crab Soup
Greek Salad
Beef Tenderloin
Baked Corn
Green Beans with New Potatoes
Caramel Cake (from Sugaree’s Bakery)

I am sad to say that I was so busy in the kitchen I did not have a minute to take a few photos of the food. It was a fun evening and I had a great time putting everything together.

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The Perfect Fall Salad

October 12, 2017, posted by Gina – This Walnut and Roquefort Salad combines crisp romaine lettuce with creamy avocado, crunchy, rich walnuts and roquefort cheese (a sheep’s milk blue cheese). Top it with a fresh vinaigrette and you have a salad with the perfect combination of ingredients. This recipe is from the Come On In cookbook from the Junior League of Jackson, Mississippi.

What to Cook Wednesday: Pork Tenderloin with Apricots and Spinach

October 11, 2017, posted by Gina – We love pork tenderloin any time of year but this stuffed version seems to be the perfect offering for a Fall menu. It combines fresh spinach with sweet apricots for a very moist filling for the meat. Finish it off with a wine and beef stock sauce and you are sure to make your family or guests very happy. This recipe is from the Come On In cookbook from the Junior League of Jackson, Mississippi.

We are providing a bit of a tutorial as you will need to butterfly the tenderloin. We promise it is not hard and all you need is a sharp knife. Truly, good knives are the key to ease in the kitchen.

Fruit and Cheese Fall Appetizers 2 comments

October 10, 2017, posted by Gina – We are sharing two favorite crowd pleasing appetizers that are perfect for Fall. Brie with Cranberry Marmalade is a delicious combination of sweet and savory. The sweet and tart cranberry marmalade provides a delicious contrast to the melty, nutty, creamy brie. The Apple and Harvarti Quesadilla combines a simple quesadilla with tart apples and melted Havarti cheese. The bell peppers and green onion add crunchiness while the cayenne pepper, cider vinegar and brown sugar mixture perfectly compliments the apples and cheese. Both recipes are from Come On In from the Junior League of Jackson, Mississippi.

The Great Pumpkin Tablescape 2 comments

October 9, 2017, posted by Gina – We absolutely LOVE Fall! From the rich colors to the cooler temperatures to the comfort foods. We try to celebrate this beautiful season every chance we get and we did just that last week. Gina hosted a luncheon and we are here to share all the details. We’ll begin with this tablescape that is an explosion of all things Fall. In the coming days we’ll also share some recipes from this luncheon.

Here we see an overhead view of the centerpiece. Filled with roses, tulips, hydrangeas and safflower it brings that Fall feeling to the table with intense color.

Below is a view of the centerpiece as the guests were able to enjoy it. It is low and long allowing for an unobstructed vis-à-vis.

Our place settings were composed of navy placemats, napkins by Kim Duease Designs, wooden Rootworks chargers, Spode brown and white china, Wedgwood Majolica cabbage plates, Annieglass bowls, silver-plate, green crystal and Lenox crystal.

What says ‘Fall’ more than anything? Pumpkins, for sure! Beyond our mini pumpkins at each place setting, we placed a few odd shaped pumpkins and squash on either side of the floral arrangement.

We hope this table inspires you to create your own Fall tablescape for your guests.

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Fun Stuff on Friday 2 comments

October 6, 2017, posted by Gina – Happy Friday! We hope your week has been as nice as ours. We are here to share a few of the fun, memorable items from the past few days. We are in the process of getting things together for a tailgate this weekend. Our tailgates are a lot of fun but we always return home exhausted. Make sure to check back with us next week as we have some nice things to share including tablescapes, recipes and flowers. Until then, Happy Weekend!

| ANNIE GLASS |

This past week we noticed that Annieglass Inc. reposted our Fall tablescape on their Instagram profile. We were so thrilled that they shared our tablescape. We used the Annieglass ruffle bowls that added the bling our table needed. Annie Morhauser is the founder of Annie Glass and is a true artisan. She had a passion for working with glass and showed her first piece in 1983 and she was seemingly an instant success. As you can see from our table, the pieces are truly works of art that add class and sparkle. Click HERE find out more about Annie Glass.

| WALKING ON THE WILD SIDE |

I am just giddy about the nicer weather. My walks have gone from oppressive heat filled events to pleasurable walks in nature. This past week Emma, my black lab, we out for a walk. We came upon a beautiful fountain and suddenly found ourselves about 2 feet from a family of ducks. We both froze, although I am sure for different reasons. Emma was trained as a hunting dog and, sadly, her owner died and that’s how we ended up welcoming her into our family. She has not seen ducks in many years but judging from her body language she certainly remembered them. To her credit she stayed by my side as I instructed her. The ducks floated farther into the water and we all went about our day. Take time to enjoy the Fall weather and soak up every bit of the sun’s rays we have remaining because the dark dreary days will be here before we know it.

| DINING ON THE LAKE |

This past week Mr. GDFC and I attended a fundraiser dinner. We were among hundreds of people and enjoyed socializing. Upon taking our seats at our 20-foot-long table that was dressed beautifully, we found ourselves literally 1 foot from the water’s edge. It was a very beautiful setting and the meal was outstanding. We found this particularly impressive considering the large crowd. The home where the meal was staged was breathtaking. It was a very enjoyable evening.