Blue, White & Green Easter - 2013

Happy Easter Everyone!

After a powerful Easter service, we had fellowship with many of our dear friends.

Nineteen of us came together to celebrate Christ's resurrection and his everlasting promise of hope.

How grateful I am for these friends!

Our cup truly overfloweth!

 

Also, I can't go any further with out expressing my gratitude to "The Enabler."

I honestly thought about calling this post "An Open Thank You to Cherry Kay."

She is my MIL and has blessed me with many of the lovely items on this table.

I had such fun putting it all together and have her to thank.

Thank you Cherry Kay.  I love you.

 

Simple ramekins held the Easter eggs that served as placecards.

The blue Bordallo Pinheiro cabbage plates served as dessert plates and were removed before the meal.

Today's place setting...

 

Spode Savoy dinner plate,

 

Johnson Brothers Sovereign Chop Plate,

 

and, as always, Mrs. McGee's Gorham Chantilly graced the table.

 

The blue, green and white looked so fresh on the table.  The Waterford Simply Lime wine hocks paired with the Waterford Pallas iced beverage glasses completed the look.

 

Happy Easter y'all!

 

 

Smiles!

 

For some real table inspiration check out

my MIL's blog Entertaining Women and

Between Naps on the Porch.

Glam Cake

I had the privilege of making a birthday cake and the cake pop party favors for the sweetest girl.

She was having a Hollywood movie party so we went for the "glam" side of Hollywood.

 

Don't the ribbons on the cake pops look great with the cake?

Her colors were red, black & white.

Close up of the back of the cake.  This is one of my favorite photos of the design. 

Party favor cake pops.

Happy Birthday sweet Sophia!!

You are a beautiful girl, inside and out!

(Just like your momma!)

 

Smiles!!

 

I'm going to share this party cake with some of the parties found on my sidebar.

Easter Menu & Table

I was searching my blog trying to find the pictures from last year's Easter table when I realized I had never posted it!  Wah?!?  So here it is.  (It's killing me that the knife is askew right there...oh well, that's how it is over here...askew!)

 

The Spode Mayflower plates were a gift from my MIL or as I call her "the Enabler."  She keeps me in dishes and I absolutely adore that about her!!!  Check out all of her pretties HERE.

The charger is one I picked up from Hobby Lobby and simply painted with a metallic green paint.  To make your own, check out my TUTORIAL.

 

These sweet little bunnies were also picked up at Hobby Lobby.  They hold some vintage cotton napkins that I picked up at an estate sale with...wait for it...yes, The Enabler.  (She's so good!  She has a gift for finding amazing deals at estate sales and on Ebay!)

 

Check out the glassware.  The wine hocks are Waterford Simply Lime and Waterford Simply Pink.  Again, my MIL introduced me to these and I began collecting them years ago when they were way more affordable.  Life go in the way and I'm short 4 hocks in the Simply Pink.  Now they seem a little too frivolous for me to buy for myself.  The other glass was a gift from, yes again, my MIL.  She picked them up at the VERY END of that same estate sale when she went to pick up an item she left a bid on.  I think they're called optic glass. Aren't the green stems gorgeous!   If you have more information on them, please share.

Let's see, what else is on that table.  The cute bunnies on either side of the roses were also a gift from my MIL.  She said they looked like something I would like...she really is the best, isn't she?  The roses were from my garden.  The silver is my Gorham Chantilly.  My dear Mrs. McGee gave it to me when she knew she was dying.  She had no children and wanted me to have it.  My mom and brother have also helped me collect more pieces.

 

We set the kid's up in the kitchen.  Nothing too fancy.  The pink  Ralph Lauren cotton tablecloth came from TJ Maxx years ago as did they green Ralph Lauren napkins.  The little bunnies were Hobby Lobby finds.  The roses are in a Waterford Rose Bowl that was a wedding gift.

 

The silver charger plates from Hobby Lobby are holding my Haviland Marseille luncheon plates.  Just needed to keep it simple for those kids.  The glassware is Ralph Lauren something something.  The pattern name escapes me.  Let me know if you know what it is.  I think they're beautiful, but the rims nick and chip at the drop of a hat.

 

Now, here's our Easter buffet...

 

Green Chile Casserole Recipe HERE

 

Buttermilk Biscuits and Oven Roasted Home Fries

 

Creamy Baked Macaroni & Cheese Recipe HERE

 

Spinach Strawberry Salad with Feta & Sugared Almonds

 

My Favorite!  Roasted Asparagus!  Yum!

 

We also had fresh fruit, sweet baby peas and the most delicious honey smoked ham from Rudy's.

Dessert was the Over-the-Top Carrot Cake.

 

We're doing it again this year and we can't wait!

Maybe I'll get this year's meal and table posted a little earlier than last year!

 

What's always on your Easter menu?

 

Partying with my friends in the side bar.

and

Between Naps on the Porch

 

Smiles!

 

Creamy Baked Macaroni & Cheese

(I know, not the best photo...maybe I'll get a better one this year.)

I LOVE macaroni & cheese.  Baked, custardy, gooey, creamy and yes, I even like the Kraft variety.

When it comes to my boys, it's either Kraft (please don't judge,) or this next recipe.

Give it a try and let me know what you think!

 

Creamy Baked Macaroni & Cheese

1 lb Velveeta cheese, cubed

1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk

1 can Cheddar cheese soup, undiluted

1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

12 oz package of elbow macaroni, cooked

20 Ritz crackers, crushed

3 tablespoons butter, melted

 

Lightly grease an 11" x 7" baking dish.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cook cheeses, milk & soup over medium heat.  Stir constantly.  When smooth, stir in macaroni.

Pour macaroni and cheese into prepared pan.

Mix crackers and butter together.  Sprinkle over macaroni and cheese.

(At this point, you can refrigerate until ready to bake.)

Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned.

 

Enjoy!!

 

Sharing this yummy recipe with some of the fun parties found in the sidebar =>

 

Smiles!!

 

You're a Good Egg

Our teachers will find these little treats in their boxes today.

It's not much, but just a little something saying "thank you."

They do so much for our kids with so little recognition.

Our hospitality budget gets smaller every year as PTA says most funds should go towards things that are beneficial to all students...programs, technology, etc.  I agree the kids need all of those things, but I argue that taking care of the teachers is also beneficial to the students.  A happy teacher is a happy classroom.  We'll leave this topic for another day so.....

Our budget friendly little token of thanks was simply a mini twix bar, wrapped in a thank you note and stuffed in a plastic egg with paper grass.  On the outside I wrote, "You're a GOOD egg!"

 

What are some budget friendly ideas your PTA does to say thanks to your teachers and staff?

 

(As always, sharing this with the parties found in my sidebar.)

 

Smiles!

Tuesday To Do Party #105

Hey y'all!

Weird things are happening over here with last week's party.

I can't see the link-ups!

As I try to get it figured out, let's see if it was a one time glitch or if I have more major (BLOG) problems.

 

This week, instead of copying and pasting "da rules" from an old party (ain't nobody got time for that!) I'm just going to say,

HAVE FUN!!!

 

Oh, and it would be a nice thing if you followed me on google and on facebook.

 

That's it!  Now let's see what you've been working on this week:



Cream Cheese Banana Bread

 

Here's another family favorite!  I believe it came from a Southern Living recipe.  They have a lower calorie/fat version as well.   Of course I say, why mess with perfection?

 

CREAM CHEESE BANANA BREAD

 

¾ cup butter, softened

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
2 cups sugar

2 large eggs

2 cups all-purpose flour

½ teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

1 ½ cups mashed bananas (about 4 medium)

1 cup chopped pecans, toasted

½ teaspoon vanilla extract
 

Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.  Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy.  Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.
 

Combine flour and next 3 ingredients, gradually add to butter mixture, beating at low speed just until blended.  Stir in bananas, pecans and vanilla.  Spoon batter into 2 greased and floured 8” x 4” loaf pans.
 

Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until a long wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean and sides pull away from pan, shielding with aluminum foil last 15 minutes to prevent browning, if necessary.  Cool bread in pans on wire racks 10 minutes.  Remove from pans and cool 30 minutes on wire racks before slicing.

(Also can make as 24 muffins…bake 25 minutes.)
 

Can add an additional 1 cup chopped pecans evenly over batter in pans before baking.  After baking the bread, you can add a glaze of 1 cup powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons fresh orange juice and 1 tsp orange zest.
 

Makes 2 loaves
 

Prep 15 minutes       Bake 1 hour        Cool 40 minutes

 

Enjoy!!!

 

CLICK HERE FOR PRINTABLE VERSION

 

Will share this recipe with friends at the parties found in the sidebar =>