Yellow Rose

My friend and co-worker, Tenley, presented me with this beautiful yellow rose on Friday at an awards event at work to thank me for my efforts on behalf of her team during the past year . . .

The rose actually has a lovely scent.  Sometimes, in the hybridization process, looks is given precedence over scent, but this one actually smelled wonderful!  In the language of flowers, the yellow rose signifies friendship and highest regard.  I'm not sure if my friend knew that when she picked it out, but it couldn't have been more perfect . . .

I played around with the background in Photoshop, and then created this collage in Picasa . . .



“Some painters transform the sun into a yellow spot, others transform a yellow spot into the sun.”

—Pablo Picasso

Beautiful mess . . .

The Christmas tree was hastily taken down, to be put out on the curb for Garbage Pick Up Day . . .

The tree needles need to be swept up and the furniture moved back to its customary place . . .

Even this messy part of Christmas is enjoyable . . . I get to play with the ornaments one last time as I wrap them and put them away in their boxes . . . I'm not in a rush now . . . I take my time . . . and I smile . . .

Three Kings Day - A Special Day

I was four years old, I think, when this picture was taken on the morning of Three Kings Day . . . El día de los Reyes Magos . . . That's when children in Cuba, and most of Latin America, receive their presents . . .  What a magical day!

I have tried to keep the tradition alive for my own children here in the United States.  As children, Santa Claus delivered most of their gifts on Christmas morning . . . but somehow, Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar managed to find their way to the American Midwest to deliver one or two small presents on the day of Epiphany . . .

This year, for our Three Kings Day Open House, I decided to place the Nativity Scene, right smack in the middle of the Dining Room table, with the savory treats placed in the perimeter . . . I used a length of burlap on top of the tablecloth, to highlight the humble surroundings at Jesus' birth . . .

We started collecting this Nativity set by Fontanini when my oldest son was born.  It has worked out splendidly.  I wanted a set that my children could touch and play with as they were growing up, so that the Nativity story would become familiar to them . . . My creative children would rearrange the figurines, and would even have Baby Jesus riding on the camels before putting him down for a nap . . .  Even after all these years, the pieces are in excellent shape.  The muted palette is lovely, I think, and each piece came with a charming little story describing its individual role . . .

 

And here are the three wise men, Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar, who brought gold, myrrh and frankincense to the Baby Jesus . . .

 

The desserts were displayed in the kitchen table, with the Willow Tree by Demdaco figurines acting as a centerpiece.  I placed them on a cake stand and scattered some “snow” around their feet . .

 

A 2005 Swarovski snowflake dangled from the chandelier and made a credible “star” for the Magi . . .

 

There was lots of food . . . We had ham and cheese sandwiches and cucumber sandwiches with herbed cream cheese (I never pass up a chance to make cucumber sandwiches) . . . We had an exquisite cheese tray brought by my sister-in-law, Mary Ann . . . We had potato salad and egg salad . . . This chicken salad was my mother's specialty and is now my favorite  . . . Every bite is chock full of sweet fruit, including grapes, apples, cranberries and golden raisins . . . I love the sweet-tart combination of fruit and freshly-squeezed lemon juice . . .

A bowl of berries . . . a simple but delicious indulgence . . . Who doesn't like a bowl of berries . . . ?

We had mini-scones . . . 

 

My favorite date nut bread . . . Click here if you want the recipe . . . 

My son, John, made almond bark . . .

And he baked all these chocolate chip cookies . . .  Is it any wonder I miss this kid so much when he goes back to college . . . ?

 

Turrones are candied nougats made in Spain, and these were the traditional sweets we ate at Christmas.  They'd show up in the stores in mid-December and would disappear after New Year's.  In this platter I have Fruit Nougat, Marzipan and Egg Yolk Nougat . . .

Here's the King of the Turrones . . . Turrón Jijona, a sweet bar made with ground almonds and honey . . . It is sublime . . . It comes wrapped in several layers of plastic to hold in all the natural oils from the almonds . . .  All you need is a little morsel because it's very sweet, but, oh, so satisfying . . .

Here's our version of King Cake - a spice cake that turned out as delicious as it looked sad. 

NOTE TO SELF:  DO NOT cover spice cake with plastic wrap after glazing so the cake doesn't end up looking like this . . .

 

A little plastic baby was hidden inside the spice cake . . . as tiny as an almond . . . whoever ended up with the baby in their piece of cake is declared King (or Queen) of the Day and receives a special prize (this year, it was a bottle of champagne) . . .

Each guest went home with an Epiphany kit . . .

 

A lottery ticket . . . some candy . . . and a piece of white chalk rolled up in a little scroll . . .

The scroll contains a house blessing for the new year, a tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages . . .

We lined up all the little bags on top of the bookcases . . .

 And here I am, with my sweet husband, as we got ready to open our home to friends and family . . .

 

May the love of the Wise Men guide our steps so that the light of Jesus is revealed to us . . .  May we always be inspired to follow the star that is the love of God . . .

Joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.

Needing to, but not wanting to . . .

A new year has begun, full of possibilities, yet I am overcome with lassitude.  There are so many good lists out there, so many ways to make plans for the coming year . . . so many tools to assess where I've been . . . and where I'd like to go in the future . . .

Instead, I've spent the day listening to CNN drone on and on about the fiscal cliff . . . How can I deride our politicians for taking us to the edge, when I should be doing constructive things to improve my life, and yet I've chosen to blow the day doing nothing?  How am I any better than they?

I go back to work tomorrow, after being off since the 21st.  It's taken me this long to decompress, and now, I'm supposed to go back and pick up where I left off - the madness of deadlines and pressure, pressure, pressure . . .  In a week, I won't feel lethargic; I'll be too busy to think.  I'll be like one of those gerbils going round and round on a wheel, working so hard, but not really getting anywhere . . .

This bit of instrospection is going to have to be enough for now . . . The acknowledgment that there are things in my life that need to be reevaluated . . .  Hopefully, it won't take a metaphorical cliff to get me to act . . .

A new favorite gadget

If you are a regular reader, you may have noticed the little custard desserts on Christmas Eve.  My vanilla custard, which is really my mother's recipe, has always been a favorite with our sons; click here to get the recipe and step-by-step instructions.

Imagine my excitement when I discovered this wonderful gadget that makes the task of filling the mini-dessert glasses ever so much easier!  Here it is . . . Ta da!

It's called a cupcake pen and it's designed to hold batter that can be then injected directly into the cupcake liners with minimal mess . . .

Note to my blogging buddy, Celine:  YOU NEED ONE OF THESE!  Celine bakes all the time and her specialty is cupcakes and muffins.  Celine, I'm telling you, you will love this!  I bought it at Bed, Bath and Beyond, but I've seen them in other stores as well.  And, in addition to working really well with cupcakes (especially mini-cupcakes), it's also excellent for pudding/custard shots!

Tonight I tried a quick variation:  Chocolate/chocolate chip/pistachio pudding shots.  I used instant Jell-O pudding, and, unless you are a pudding snob (er, that would be me, unfortunately . . . ) these are a fun, tasty dessert that will look pretty stunning on a dessert table.  The pudding is not as good as my home-made custard, but they are pretty good.  Let me put it to you another way . . . they did not last long in the refrigerator . . .

Start out with chocolate pudding.  Once you make the pudding, following the package directions, pour it in the cupcake pen and refrigerate for about 10 minutes . . .  The cupcake pen even has a lid . . . isn't that cool?

Fill the shot glasses about ½ full with chocolate pudding . . .

Add a layer of Nestlé's mini-chocolate chips . . .

Then add a layer of pistachio pudding . . .

Aren't they cute?  Here's another shot . . .

Imagine the possibilities . . .  And I love the concept of mini-desserts.  I've never liked large servings of dessert.  I'd rather have a just a little bit of sweetness.  If I want more, I can always go back for seconds, but this way, there's no waste, and no guilt.

I wish all my friends a peaceful, prosperous, healthy new year.  Thank you for letting me into your homes, and for teaching me so much!  See you in 2013!

Christmas Eve 2012

It wouldn't feel like Christmas unless plaid was happening somewhere in our house . . . This year, right on the Dining Room table . . .

I filled glass cylinders with pinecones and silver balls . . . Thanks for the inspiration, Alycia!  If you want to see some amazing tablescapes you HAVE to visit Alycia Nichols at Tablescapes at Table 21.  She uses those glass cylinders in so many creative ways it'll make your head spin!

I never seem to tire of white roses . . . they are so lovely . . .

I bought the green raffia ribbon on impulse, but I love how it brightens the little packages.  Sometimes, the best decisions come on the spur of the moment.  The little pinecones came from The Dollar Store.

The floral arrangement was created by my friend, Robert, who has been doing flowers for us since our wedding, 28 years ago!

I used my Lenox, Federal Platinum bone china . . . The tablecloth (Carson plaid) and the napkins (Kirkwood plaid) are both from Pottery Barn, as are the silver-plated napkin rings . . . The crystal glasses were my mother's . . .

The flatware is Woodland, by Spode . . .  Here's the detail from the knife and teaspoon . . .  I used them at Thanksgiving, too - click here for that post - but I don't think I've gotten them out of my system yet . . .

Somebody, get this camera away from me!  I can't stop shooting!

How many flower pictures are too many . . . ?

The table is set . . .  And the Christmas tree is lit . . . I love that hour before a party starts when the house looks just beautiful, and there are a few minutes to relax and enjoy it . . .

 Here's the family, in a dignified pose . . .

And here's what happened when the antlers came out . . . My son suggested that the title for this table should be “A Nutty Little Christmas.” 

After all, nuts could be found everywhere . . .

The picture of the entire dessert buffet came out blurry, unfortunately, so I'm doubly happy to at least have been able to capture some of the treats!  Here are the Snowmen cookies (from Starbucks, alas, I didn't bake them!)

Vanilla chocolate chip pudding parfaits . . . These were so delish!

Cointreau mini-cupcakes with buttercream frosting and sprinkled with sugar crystals . . .

They are looking pretty cute, considering that this is what happened a couple of hours earlier . . . What would Christmas be without a few bloopers . . . ?

 And what was inside those little red party favor boxes . . . ?

I hope your Christmas Eve was as much fun as ours!  May you have a blessed Christmas day! 

I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday and Kathleeen at Cuisine Kathleen.  Please stop by to see too many fabulous tablescapes to count!