Pages

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Let's Dish!

YAY!! There's another party for dish lovers!  Cuisine Kathleen is hosting a weekly blog event called "Let's Dish" and I am so happy to be able to join in with this post!  Be sure to head on over to CK's and check out the fun!

My "dish-to-show" this week is this fantastic trifle bowl I got at Walmart a few years back for $15.

Here's the story behind its use in these pictures....
I've mentioned it a few times before but for those new to my blog, I'll explain it again. Once a month, the gang at my workplace celebrates all the birthdays for that month.  With lots of part-timers, it is sometimes tricky to pick a day when all of them will be working but somehow we manage.  When there is cake involved, we are willing to try hard!  I am always given the "heads up" as to what day it will be so I can have the table set (volunteered for that job!).  We take turns baking the cake for the month.

Here is a look at our March birthday table setting. 

Each birthday person gets their own place setting even if it just for dessert.

I chose a spring time palette of green, pink and yellow.

This month, it was my turn to make the cake and I did something a bit different instead... a Death By Chocolate Trifle.  It was a bit hit! I love the wavy pattern in the trifle bowl which allows the layers to show.
A fun time was had by all during our afternoon coffee break but it sure did make it hard to get back to work!
That's my dish this week! Remember to pop in to Let's Dish at Cuisine Kathleen's and enjoy what everyone is showing in the way of their DISHES!  

I'll also be linking this post to these terrific blog parties this week.

Wow Us Wednesday at Savy Southern Style 
Centerpiece Wednesday at The Style Sisters
Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.  
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home  
Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

Monday, March 12, 2012

St. Patrick's Day Dinner For Eight

I'm doing an Irish jig around here trying to get this post up in time for Cuisine Kathleen's St. Patrick's Day Blog Crawl!  I've had a lot to do to get ready as it involved hosting an early St. Pat's Day dinner party for eight this past weekend.  So without further ado, let me show you my tablescape and walk you through the details.

 

And here's the details....

Fortunately, I was able to capture three leprechauns inside this cloche which made for the perfect centerpiece.

Here's a look at them from another angle...they even seem happy to be caught! Around the base of the cloche, I put three pots of gold and some gold (choc) coins as well as a green shamrock wire ring garland.

On each side of the centerpiece, two square glass vases hold "appropriate" green carnations and mums. Shamrock vinyl "cling-ons" were added to outside of vases.

I liked the green centers on these ones....(sorry blurry pic)



On the ends of the table, I placed two cylinder vases with shamrocks and gold thread inside.

A closer view....

On the opposite side of the cylinder vases, I placed these green grass boxes (Winners) with a shamrock tucked in.



The place settings each started with a green or gold placemat, a gold charger, green/white dinner and salad plates topped by a white flower-shaped bowl.  Inside each bowl, I tucked a little pot o' gold (closer view of that coming up).

A close-up view...
 (Bowls are from Pier 1, plates are called "Buckingham" and are from Stokes years ago)   
(If by chance, you are wondering about the strange names on the placecards, they are all nicknames that our skier friends go by)


The individual pots o' gold were each created using a small glass dish with shamrock vinyl cling-ons stuck on the outside.  Gold (chocolate) coins were placed inside and topped with a piece of  shamrock wire garland.  
(White square doily is actually vinyl and I use them between plates to avoid dish "chatter")




Beside each place setting, a coordinating flower and greenery sits inside a green coloured vase (old spice jars) filled with green beads and water.

A trio of glasses make up the stemware selection.

I created individual menu cards for each guest.  Now, I'm sure the Irish have some delicious recipes but I decided not to go with an Irish themed meal and actually highlighted that fact!  My menu did have an ethnic flair to it though with gyozas and "Russian" chicken!


The menu cards were tucked in beside the plates on the charger.

Some other views of the table....


The snow outside made us feel even cozier inside...especially since we all skied earlier in the day!



I know I say it EVERY time, but AGAIN, I did not get any pictures of the food other than this blurry one of the Mud Pie I served for dessert.  I hope you believe that I REALLY did cook the food on the menu cards and that this tablescape was used for a REAL dinner party!
It was a very fun evening and though only the table decor depicted an Irish theme, I hope that we did all fellow St. Patrick's Day celebrators proud with our observation of this special holiday albeit, a week early!

Now hurry on over to Cuisine Kathleen's for her fabulous annual St. Pat's Day Blog Crawl on March 13th! You don't want to miss it!
And after that, pop on over to the Egg-xcellent Spring Cloche Party hosted by Marty at  A Stroll Thru Life.



I'll also be linking this post to these terrific blog parties this week.

Wow Us Wednesday at Savy Southern Style 
Centerpiece Wednesday at The Style Sisters
Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.  
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home  
Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper