Uno, Dos, Tres Dia

I make up my own Spanglish as I go. It keeps me entertained.

Okay, day three of tables.

A Clockwork Orange

Just kidding. This table was just based on orange, variations on a theme. Very creative and very doable.

Lucky for these guys we had salad with chicken breast for lunch. One year I made a sand castle for a centerpiece with a fish in the middle of in. They can be fun on a table, as long as no one gets drunk and tries to swallow them.


I love how they added a pillow to go with the fish. Bring things to the table that you might not ordinarily use. Think comfort and beauty.


I love the dishes. I don't love what is sitting on them.


You can use spices in so many ways besides cooking. Here in a beautiful plant saucer as a base full of dried chili powder and flakes for the salt and pepper cellars. How about under a candle (carefully of course) in a pretty bowl or jar. One year my theme was 'A Passage To India" and I piled teak bowls full of tumeric, curry, cardamon, chilies and paprika. It was beautiful and smelled wonderful. Just don't sneeze.


Same thing here but with orange lentils. Dried beans, coffee beans, candies, hell, cereal might work for the right effect.


And again, I think this is Tumeric. It is like golden sand on a beach somewhere exotic.


You Put The Lime In The Coconut

This was such a happy table, bright and cheery. The tree has crepe paper leaves and the trunk was made with silk leaves cut off. And there were some coconuts underneath, well not real ones.


The chairbacks each had crepe paper flowers tied with raffia.



This is an easy and casual way to fold a napkin. Too elaborate for me mind you, but not difficult. You wouldn't think of plaid as being tropical, but the colors are what make it work. Off setting the plate on a leaf adds a little interest.


Ta Ta till tomorrow.
And it is 'Save the ta tas month' too. Check yourself regularly and remember to lend a hand and a word of encouragement to those fighting the battle.

Amber

Tables, Day Two

These are some of my favorite tables this year.

Birds of a Feather

My friend Kay always does 'Wow'. Last year she brought in a huge metal camel, once it was a horse, also a giant 'Oscar' statue for an academy awards table. This year she made a tablecloth covered in a gazillion pounds of bird seed. It was beautiful. Unfortunately it continued to fall off the fabric a little at a time as people moved around. I think the same idea could be used to cover almost anything at home as long as it is not high usage and it would be lovely.


Her centerpiece was, quite large of course, St. Francis the patron Saint of animals.


For favors Kay gave religious bracelets wrapped around the napkin, I love these! But I personally would have preferred to skip the white bird napkin ring and just use the bracelets instead. I also liked the little bird that seemed to be walking around the table.


The plates were drop dead simple gorgeous. A gold branch with a bird perched, sitting on a larger plate with a metallic band. There were little religious pieces tucked in here and there, look just above the napkin on the right. And notice there is a real mix of glassware. You don't have to have everything on your table the same to be beautiful, just like people. If everyone at the party is the same, then how do you appreciate each individuals beauty.


Happy Birthday in Living Color


This table is just screams happiness. There are two things on here that are expensive, the painted plates and the goblets. How cute are they? Easy, inexpensive solution for the plates.... clear glass plates with beautiful paper plates underneath. It will bring out all the color. For the goblets, you can often find pretty plastic ones during the summer. Or use what you have and dress them up with gorgeous stickers or tie bright toys around the stem.


A colorful sheer topper, lots of balloons and big fat curly ribbon, bright tissue popping out of gift bags, who wouldn't love this? I also think hanging tissue pom poms or paper picados (Mexican paper flag garlands) would be very festive. Ooohhh, or silk flower garlands like I made for Mai Tai Monday. Turning 53 might be okay with a table this pretty.


See you tomorrow.
Amber

Readin', Writin and Rithmatic

Busy. So busy.
Wednesday and Thursday was the annual table setting luncheon that I volunteer for.
And now, tired. So tired.

This was the most difficult theme I have chosen yet out of 11 years. 'Readin', Writin' and Rithmatic'. You would think it would be easy because a month ago the stores were full of pencils, papers, erasers, etc.. How hard could it be? Very hard actually. School supplies are really boring.

I don't often do a formal table for this luncheon and this was a fun table, it brought back a lot of memories for people and teachers loved it. I couldn't get a good photo of the whole table so I have posted a lot of details and details really make the difference in so many things in life. Here we go.

I have been wanting to use these plastic cafeteria trays for a while so this was my starting point. They were $1.44 each a couple years ago at Target (I love) or WalMart (I hate). These would be fun for breakfast or movie night and kids would love them. The apples are in a black candle holder from Target.


When I saw a chalkboard globe here, I had to make one. Don't buy one, they are too expensive, beg, borrow or steal, temporarily of course, then return it in it's new and better condition. Countries change all the time anyways. Prime the entire thing and let dry. 5 coats of spray chalkboard paint on the globe drying in between. Cover the globe well and paint the frame however you like. I did write Good Morning Class on it, after the camera battery died of course. This was my favorite thing on the table. It would be nice in the office at a school, which I think is where my globe is going to live now.


Typically, a table has a floral centerpiece. I made mine out of chipboard abc fonts. My whole color scheme was chalkboard and primaries, red, yellow & blue, but stretched in tone and such. I painted them red, yellow and blue, let dry, hot glued to a long floral wire, used spray adhesive and different shades of red, yellow and blue glitter, then added leaves. The pencils were glued to a styrofoam block, plastic grass added to the top and the 'flowers' were gently pushed in. It was really much prettier in person. I have had glitter on me for weeks, it is everywhere.


Some ladies give out favors to their guests. I am half Assyrian, I feed people. Lunch is catered, but I like to provide an appetizer or something, it helps everyone to relax a bit. This year we had kindergarten snacks. Milk in bottles with paper straws and homemade graham crackers. The graham cracker recipe is below.


I found these flower vases and used them as creamers for coffee and dessert.


Fresh ground pepper and Australian Pink Flake salt were placed in glass votive holders to sort of resemble ink wells.


For placemats, I used the large pages of a beginner writing practice tablet, then covered the front with clear contact paper and also a few inches of the underneath corners to keep it from curling. I used a black tablecloth to keep with the chalkboard color.


I used matte black mugs and added an apple sticker. We had lots of apples of course, on the trays, piled into and on a black candle holder. I sent the apples home, I like pie.


Napkins were just ink stamped with numbers, then heat set and folded.


I got books for free from a thrift store and covered them with brown paper and maps. But you could use any books from your house.


This is us.
Gayle, Vicki, Pennie, Me
Kelly (Pennie's mom) and her friend who just stopped to chat. These are great women, each of them. We had 3 other ladies at our table that we just met also.


I will be posting more table favorites over the next week or so with lot's of ideas and some do's and don'ts.


This is part of 101 self portraits in 1001 days. I have already deleted 9,326 photos that I attempted and reduced me to humbleness. By the way, I hate this perm.

Amber

GRAHAM CRACKERS
Adapted from here.

Makes about 16 graham crackers

1 cup of graham flour
1 1/2 c of flour
1 c dark brown sugar, lightly packed
1 t baking soda
3/4 t kosher salt
7 T unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch cubes and frozen
1/3 c mild honey, such as clover
5 T milk
2 T pure vanilla extract

Topping (optional)
3 T sugar
1 t ground cinnamon

Make the dough:
Combine the flours, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade or in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.
Pulse or mix on low to incorporate.
Add the butter and pulse on and off on and off, or mix on low, until the mixture is the consistency of a coarse meal.
You can cut the ingredients together with a pastry blender. Just make sure they're very well incorporated.

In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, milk and vanilla.
Add to the flour mixture and pulse on and off a few times or mix on low until the dough barely comes together.
It will be very soft and sticky.
Lay out a large piece of plastic wrap and dust it lightly with flour, then turn the dough out onto it and pat it into a rectangle about 1-inch thick.
Wrap it, then chill it until firm, about 2 hours or overnight.

Meanwhile, prepare the topping, combining the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and setting aside.

Roll out the crackers:
Divide the dough in half and return one half to the refrigerator.
Sift an even layer of flour onto the work surface and roll the dough into a long rectangle about 1/8 inch thick.
The dough will be sticky, so flour as necessary.
Trim the edges of the rectangle and cut as desired.

Place the crackers on one or two parchment-lined baking sheets and sprinkle with the topping.
Chill until firm, about 30 to 45 minutes in the fridge or 15 to 20 minutes in the freezer.
Repeat with the second batch of dough.
Finally, gather any scraps together into a ball, chill until firm, and re-roll and cut.

Adjust the oven rack to the upper and lower positions and preheat the oven to 350°F.

Decorate the crackers:
Using a toothpick or skewer , prick the dough to form dotted rows.

Bake for 15 to 25 minutes, until browned and slightly firm to the touch, rotating the sheets halfway through to ensure even baking.
Be safe, check them sooner.

Pina Colada Irish Oats

The mornings are beginning to get wonderfully crisp now. Just enough that you don't have to bundle up yet, but you are not sweating at 7am either. I love this time of year. The sun is still shining and the birds are chattering away. Where I live somehow Canadian Geese have settled and fly over my house almost daily. It is amazing to have them flying so low that sometimes you can hear their wings and see the gorgeous colors of their feathers and their beautifully long necks stretched forward leading the way. It is the same as a dog in water, they go where their nose or beak points. It is sort of sad when there is a group and then 50 yards behind is a lone goose trying to catch up and honking for everyone to wait up. Every time they fly over I actually say 'thank you God'. What an amazing blessing to witness this treasure.

Okay, food finally.
I love a good oatmealraisinwalnutchocolatechip cookie, well 6 of them really, and warm with crispy edges straight out of the oven. But for hot cereal, regular oats? Never. Give me Irish Steel Cut Oatmeal. Chewy, earthy, actual food. Of course I add tons of terrible things to it, but I figure it balances out. Like drinking non fat milk with Hostess cupcakes. Mostly I eat it with butter, cream, dark brown sugar and toasted nuts which is my very favorite way, but I like to try a little variety sometimes.

This takes 30 minutes.
Get over it, you have to take a shower and start the coffee any ways.
Just make sure the heat is low before you leave it.

PINA COLADA OATS WITH MACADAMIA NUTS

1 c water
1/4 c Irish oats

This is what Irish Oats look like before cooking.

2 T dried pineapple, chopped
2 T macadamia nuts, chopped
2 T coconut, fresh or toasted


Better but not so healthy.
1 T butter
1 T brown sugar

In a small pan, bring the water to a boil.
Add oats, lower heat to med-low.

(not quite done)
Cook for 30 minutes.
You can also add the dried pineapple into the oats after the first 15 minutes instead of at the end.
Add toppings to your liking.


If you are like me, add a little (or a lot) butter and a bit (or a lot) of brown sugar if needed, I . See I said I add tons of stuff.

This is a really nice little breakfast, it is easy and will hold you over for quite a while.

Keep Calm And Carry On

Good advice in these stressful times.
Sort of pull yourself up by the bootstraps, but a little softer which we all need right now.

As I have said before, I follow a lot of cooking, entertaining and design blogs.
What a geek.

This, I believe is from a British World War 2 poster and it is everywhere. British seems to have a strong influence right now with crowns, the Union Jack, the Queen, etc., even replacing French a little. French is romantic, British is fun.
Any way, I like to change everything a little, paint, glitter, rearrange my house, frame, unframe, whatever.

When I made the glittered silhouettes I was so pleased. This project made me just as happy with the results. Again, easy and quick, but a little more money due to the crystal letters and such. So very girly and pretty though. It will be going to one of my daughters for her apartment. I am sure you could do a more manly version using different items.

SUPPLIES

5x7 frame, mine was $2 from Goodwill
Scrapbook paper, vibrant colors work best for the crystals to stand out
Crystal letters with sticky back, I needed 2 sheets, but here is what you will need because different companies provide different layouts
A x 3
C x 2
D x 1
E x 2
K x 1
L x 1
M x 1
N x 2
O x 1
P x 1
R x 2
Y x 1
Crystal crown with sticky back
Crystals in a color that match the scrapbook paper to replace if necessary, mine had 5 pink ones and they didn't work

Pencil
Scissors
Ruler, clear is best

Paint the frame if you want to in your choice of color.
Mark your cut on the scrapbook paper to fit in the frame, but don't cut yet.
Figure the layout of lines. I had 5 lines of words and 1 line for the crown.
Then on the outer edge of the piece you will be framing, mark the horizontal lines as a guide. Also at the outside edge again, top and bottom, mark your center guides.
Save the crown for last.
DOUBLE CHECK YOUR GUIDELINES! Remember, measure twice, cut once. In this case it is measure twice or repurchase everything and start over.
I started from the top and worked down which was easiest, using a ruler as my guide following the horizontal guidelines on the edges.
Also, work the the center and then out.
Before placing the crown, using craft or regular tweezers remove any colored crystals that don't work with your paper.
Place your crown, then using tweezers, place new crystals in the color of your choice.
Set in frame, I prefer without glass because the sparkles are so much prettier.
Ta daa!

This is how I made mine, but you could change anything to your liking. If you have bigger letters, then use a bigger frame. If you use darker letters then use lighter paper. I think cut black foam core with crystal letters set on a black plate stand would look great. You could use a metal crown, vintage gilded paper ephemera, look through the card supplies, scrap booking supplies, jewelry supplies, in your local craft store, thrift store, etc.. Think outside the box, make it personal and have fun.

Glittered Silhouettes

Silhouettes always reminded me of Grandmothers houses, where you sat on the divan instead of the couch, ate pot roast for supper and the closets smelled of moth balls.
I have been seeing silhouettes are all over the design blog world lately.
Okay, fine.
But we'll do it my way.
With sparkles.


I actually got this project done in a reasonable time, which normally means less than a year.
I always tend to have far too many unfinished projects.
Don't we all.
I just get excited when I see something new.
And excitement means "Oooh, look at that. I need that."
Which means a new project of course.
If you are one of those people that always finish one project before you start another and have a place for everything and everything in it's place, well then give me a few pointers on how you have become this craft superhero, because I evidently am the screaming weakling about to get devoured by the evil Half-done-pile Monster.
I have 3 (grown) children, but I only did silhouettes of my daughters. Besides I don't think my son would like this idea since when he was little he hated that his clothes always came out of the dryer with glitter on them from all of his sisters stuff.
This was really quite easy and will be going at the entry in their old rooms so I made them in colors to match.

DIRECTIONS
This takes a couple days for dry time if you are painting frames too.

I started with profile photographs.

Blew them up at Kinkos to 200% and 250% to get the right size on the regular copy machine, and did a reverse image on one.
Then cut them out carefully.
Traced them onto brown and black art paper.
Cut the tracing out.

Next is spray glue (Super 77).
Then glitter (Martha Stewart) to match the paper.

Let dry.
Carefully remove excess glitter with a soft brush.
Use double stick tape to adhere to backgroun paper, using a clean paper as a pressing aid.
Place in frames and....
Ta daa!

I took a bajillion photos but there was no way to get one without glare since I don't have a professional studio. I tried inside, outside, bright sun, no sun. So try to imagine the glittery cuteness of them before the glass okay. No glare glass also means no pretty photo. Oh well, they really are cute.
Just an added note...I took the glass off, you could not really see the sparkle, and sparkle was the whole point.

The frames were from Goodwill, $3 each. Not bad frames but sad, sad pictures. Who makes all this crap?

I painted them for each room and rewired for hanging vertically.

Broccoli Apple Slaw

I have worked at a supermarket for 31 years, 10 months and 4 days. How do I know this you ask? I know this because it has been 31 years, 10 months and 4 days. Many years ago we read in a newspaper that somewhere the nice young men in their clean white coats took a checker away in a straight jacket to the happy home. Be nice to your grocery checker, it is a tough job.

It is hot and sticky today and I am crabby when I am hot. The day the hot flashes start is going to be one scary look into hell for everyone I'm afraid.

A cool shower, a cool drink and a little white dog. Yeah, that's all I need. And a pool, with a gorgeous man rubbing my neck, and reality is good once again. And to set my alarm for 5am, so I get up for work tomorrow. Oh yeah, and a winning Mega Millions ticket. That's all I need.

Trying to beat the heat, or at least ignore it a little, requires a different plan in the kitchen. Hot ovens just make hot people. Salad, fruit and lot's of fluids do the trick pretty well for me. And ice cream.

I had this at an American Legion dinner and loved it. It is quick and simple. Where it comes from originally? Not a clue. I made a couple changes of course.

BROCCOLI APPLE SLAW

1 pkg broccoli slaw
1/2 bunch green onions, thinly sliced, or 1/2 c of diced red onion
2 apples, julienned, tossed in a little orange juice and drained
1/2 c dried cranberries
1/2 c slivered almonds
1/2 c roasted sunflower seeds
1 pkg ramen noodles, broken up

1/8 c red wine vinegar
3/8 c olive oil
1/4 c sugar
1 t kosher salt
1/2 t fresh ground pepper

Mix the first 7 ingredients.
Mix the dressing and pour over salad.

That was tough huh?

Makes about 6 cups.

You can also add the zest of 1 orange into the dressing

Candie's Banana Creme

Ooohhh...
What is this?


Could it be?
Yes, yes, yes it is.


Banana pudding.
White trash cooking at its best.
Banana pudding is sort of in the same category as jello molds and rice krispy treats.
You feel guilty because it is so easy but also heroic because everyone loves it.
So here we go.
Perfect for 4th of July or potlucks (the pictures are of individual ones I made).
This feeds a huge crowd.
Huge.
Huge belly's will happen, count on it.
3 - 9" X 13" pans or one roasting pan.
Candy was the meanest woman I have ever known, but a pretty good cook, this came from her.

CANDIE'S BANANA CREME

1 large instant banana pudding
1 pint heavy cream
1 can Eagle brand sweetened condensed milk
3 large instant vanilla pudding
9 cups milk
1 16 ounce cool whip
3 boxes vanilla wafers
5 pounds bananas

First, place the unopened can of sweetened condensed milk in a bowl of hot water.
In a medium mixing bowl, blend the banana pudding and heavy cream together, then place in freezer for 5 minutes.
In a really, really big mixing bowl, blend the vanilla pudding together.
Remove the banana pudding from the freezer and blend in the warm sweetened condensed milk.
Add this mix to the vanilla pudding.
Blend the cool whip into the pudding mixture.
Layer the pan with the vanilla wafers, pudding, bananas, then repeat.


I have also added layers of toffee pieces, marshmallows, and chocolate shavings, not all at once of course but who knows.