Thanksgiving 2020

This was a quiet Thanksgiving dinner, thinking of our loved ones, and grateful for our family, our friends, our health, and so many other things.

I went out looking for something a bit more unusual in the way of flowers.  They had me at the pink.  So I brought out a few copper accessories to bring out the color a bit more.

Placemats from Pottery Barn.  Napkins from Crate and Barrel.  Napkin Rings from Williams-Sonoma.  Copper tray from Target.

French Countryside, by Mikasa dishes.

Woodland, by Spode flatware.  I love bringing it out in the Fall!

No traditional Thanksgiving dinner this year.  By special request from favorite husband, Baked Ham, Roman, Potatoes and a Vegetable Medley.

For myself, I experimented with a new recipe:  Ina Garten's Maple Pumpkin Flan.  It was delicious but it seemed a bit more work than my basic flan recipe, and I think my taste buds were confused:  Is it a flan?  Is it a pumpkin pie?  The jury is still out on this one.

Most of the mishaps were my fault.  The recipe called for an 8-inch cake pan, but I only had a 7-inch mold (shown above), and a 9-inch cake pan.  I decided to use the 7-inch mold, which is actually designed for the Instant Pot.  I baked it in a Bain Marie, in the oven.  Unfortunately, I had to adjust the baking times.  It took considerably longer to bake this way.

The caramel called for maple syrup, sugar and water.  It took forever to caramelize, and in the end, I wasn't even sure how it would turn out because the color looked wrong, and the sugar never completely dissolved.  I think those valleys in the top of the flan may have been caused by the caramel.

For some inconceivable reason, I decided to mix all the ingredients with my hand mixer, instead of dropping everything in the blender.  With the added mascarpone, I could not get a smooth consistency, and ended up having to strain the whole thing before putting it into the mold.

Who would have imagined that pink would look so lovely when added to Fall colors?  It provided the perfect touch to our quiet day of Thanksgiving.

The Apple Dinner Party

I tend to name my dinner parties so they stand out in my mind.  The colors on table were inspired by a Granny Smith apple.

We held this dinner party on October 27, 2018.  We had just returned from Paris, and it was still fresh on my mind, so the menu consisted of Boeuf Bourguignon, served with crusty baguettes, and butter.  Just some nice comfort food, wine, and great conversation.  I find that I prefer simple foods, really well prepared.

I love these Belt Napkin Rings from Pottery Barn.  It somehow feels like something I'd find in the countryside or a farm.  I thought they would work for the harvest season.

The dishes are Mikasa French Countryside.  They have the fiddle and thread pattern associated with French Classicism.  The flatware is Jefferson, by Reed and Barton for Monticello.  The pattern is a copy of the silver that Thomas Jefferson commissioned while he was in France and brought back to Monticello.  They also have that refined fiddle and thread pattern.  I've always loved their classic simplicity.

I was able to score some simple mums in the same color as the napkins.  The table runner is an old one from Pottery Barn, and the grasscloth placemats came from Crate and Barrel.  The muted tones go well with the season, and makes the green pop.

The table is set.  Now it waits for the friends.

How many adults do you need to take a selfie?  All of them, plus one more.  When there are no teenagers around, old folks struggled to make it work . . . but we had so much fun trying!

Two of these friends are currently fighting Covid-19, but they seem to have mild symptoms so far, so I think they are on their way to recovery.  I miss my friends.  I miss traveling.  Let's hope this scourge gets under control soon.

The Frog Prince Is Having a Tea Party

You may recall an earlier Tea with the Prince, in which I introduced you to His Royal Highness.  Well, it seems like he's done it again.  He's hosting yet another tea party!  I'm beginning to find that the Prince is a bit of a troublemaker, and when he and his friends get together, there are some interesting goings on in the court.

This time, not only has he brought his usual entourage . . .

But he's also invited some new guests, including Prince Cornelius, the Chameleon, from the nearby Pond Kingdom of Williams-Sonoma . . .

Prince Cornelius has been a worry from the very beginning.  Out of 8 napkins, only one had his image.  I wonder if he was getting rid of the competition.  And now, I'm not sure I've enough cucumber sandwiches on hand to satisfy his appetite.  He seems to be eyeing the guests suspiciously . . .

Some of the guests seem to have decked themselves out in all their finery . . .

Miss Bee is standing scandalously close to that frog - and with no chaperone in sight!  Fly, Miss Bee!  Do not stay too close to that ne'er-do-well!

Everyone is anxious for a spot of tea, and they are staying very close to my new Botanical Porcelain Duo Teapot and Cup, a gift from my husband on our recent anniversary . . .

They hope I may be serving my preferred Oolong tea, but I'm not sure if caffeine is the thing to have this crowd imbibing.  Perhaps a nice, soothing cup of chamomile would be best.

Uh-oh!  Prince Cornelius is getting ready to pounce!

Here, Your Highness, have some of my Cucumber Sandwiches!  I have plenty, and when you are done, I'll read you a story . . .

Once upon a time . . .

Tea with the Prince

I'm about to sit down for a quiet tea in the Library. There's magic in this room. All my books are kept here, and characters come to life in the afternoons. Today, I'm keeping company with His Highness and his entourage. Won't you come in for a peek?

First, let's select the tea, shall we? My son, David, sent me this box of tea from England when he visited a while ago.

Once the teabags run out, I guess I'll have to go in person to pick up another box. I can't wait to see my husband's reaction when I break the news to him.

How about Afternoon Tea? It seems appropriate.

I try to allow myself a small flower budget to supplement the seasonal offerings from my garden.  Nothing picks up the spirit like fresh flowers.

And, when I can't get fresh flowers, I improvise.  Even pictures of flowers can improve my mood.

His Highness follows me all over the house, especially he likes to be around flowers. There’s a perfect rock set for him in the backyard, at the base of the clematis vine, but the opossum that lives under our deck keeps knocking him off his throne, so, in order to save his crown, literally, I've brought him inside.  I'm rather fond of him, you see, and I dislike bullies.

Once he settled in, the Prince invited other courtiers to follow him, and set up his court.  He brought with him the Chief of Protocol . . .

Madame Pompadour Butterfly . . . His Highness can be quite naughty, and I had to remind him that this was a respectable household.

Miss Bee, the Lady-in-Waiting . . .

And the Court Gossip, Mr. Dragon. He spends the day buzzing about, and knows the latest "on dits."

Perhaps I can get Miss Bee to bring in another cup for you . . .

Or perhaps not.  I'm terribly sorry, but I've been overruled. Miss Bee complained that I didn't give her enough notice, and the Master of Protocol says you are not wearing a hat. No hat, no tea. He’s very strict.

I guess I'll be eating the cookies by myself today, but I'll invite you for tea very soon, once I clear it with the staff.

Tea with the Prince

I'm about to sit down for a quiet tea in the library.  There's magic in this room.  All my books are kept here, and little creatures come to life in the afternoons.  However, I'm not completely alone because His Highness is here with me.

The Prince follows me all over the house.  There's a perfectly wonderful rock set for him outside, at the base of the clematis vine, but the opossum that lives under our deck keeps knocking him off his throne, so I've brought him inside to give him a break from the bully.

Once he realized he was safe, he immediately made himself at home, and invited some of his courtiers to tea.  Imagine that!  Without a by-your-leave, I had a house full of guests!  The Lord Chamberlain felt they should have checked with me, but the Prince brushed aside all his concerns.

Madame Pompadour came, too, hoping for a tryst.  Unfortunately, her plans were doomed to failure . . .

She brought Miss Bee along, her lady-in-waiting and chaperone, and that prickly creature was not about to let any shenanigans take place on her watch!

Besides, the Court Gossip was flitting about.  Mr. Gossip is a useful person, when one likes to know the latest “on-dits,” as long one is not the object of the gossip.  Therefore, all in all, it's best to stay clear of him.

Shall I ask Miss Bee to bring in an extra cup for you?  Oh, dear!  I'm so terribly sorry, but I've been told that it won't be possible.  Miss Bee says she needs more advance notice, and the Lord Chamberlain says you are not wearing a hat.  No hat, no tea!  He's very strict.

I guess I'll be eating the cookies all by myself.  But don't worry, I will invite you back very soon, once I clear it with the staff.

Nothing Gold Can Stay

                                                Nature’s first green is gold,
                                                Her hardest hue to hold.
                                                Her early leaf’s a flower;
                                                But only so an hour.
                                                Then leaf subsides to leaf.
                                                So Eden sank to grief,
                                                So dawn goes down to day.
                                                Nothing gold can stay. 

                                                                       — Robert Frost

St. Patrick's Day 2018

One of my favorite St. Patrick's Day dinners, which took place in 2016, and I never posted the table!

I love this flower combination for St. Patrick's Day:  Bells of Ireland, Daisies, Carnations, and Chrysanthemums.

 

I found these cabbage rose napkin rings and the brown gingham napkins at Pier 1.  Those napkin rings make me think of vegetable gardens, like Mr. McGregor's, of Peter Rabbit fame, which then, lead me to ponder that they might work beautifully in a Spring or Easter table!  I can already tell I will be enjoying these rings for many years to come, in a variety of settings.

All set for a corned beef and cabbage dinner - a traditional American way to celebrate St. Patrick's!  What do you cook for St. Patrick's Day?

"If you lived on cabbage, you would not be obliged to flatter the powerful."  To which the courtier replied, "If you flattered the powerful, you would not be obliged to live upon cabbage."  

—Diogenes, ancient Greek philosopher's advise to a young courtier

(But I do like cabbage!)

The perfect excuse to indulge in some Kerrygold Irish butter.  Everyone gets their own butter dish, to go with the Irish Soda Bread!  I'm so glad that sanity has returned and butter is once again back on our tables!

And here is the happy bunch, a gathering of English, German, Italian, Mexican and Cuban ancestry, to celebrate St. Pat's!  Erin go Bragh!