4th of July 2009

So my friend Kristy and I are planning a little pool party tomorrow. She and I have developed this great friendship...we both love to cook...so this is our first attempt to throwing a party together. I can't get over how at ease I am with the preps for this one. I truly have a partner who has as much fun as I do. :) I AM GOING TO HAVE REAL FUN TOMORROW!!

So, we are still in the process of preping and setting up, but I wanted to share with you our table:





Plates were 4 for $1 at walmart. The napkins are dishtowels, 7 for $3 at walmart, the runner was $20 at Pier 1, the colanders and pails are from the Pottery Barn, but all together, makes a lovely table.

Don't you love the cracker jacks? 3 for $1 at walmart. They even have this antique packaging that really compliments our table setting.

I will post more photos later when we get our buffet set up.

Happy 4th of July everyone!
Marcie

More Loveliness from Amy Atlas

I swear everytime I see a table display by Amy Atlas, I wanna cry. They are just STUNNING. Look at this loveliness:



What did I tell ya...here are some close ups:





Everytime she posts more images, it is like Christmas for me. Enjoy!!

Spring Fling

I know I live in Florida, and the weather is always warm...but there is something about the spring time...the colors, the flowers, the fresh fruit!



My friends Kristy and Sara came over for Easter so I put together some good eats...first, my simple spring table setting:


Then, Kristy came up with a great cocktail for us. We were in St. Augustine the week before, and had a Cava (Spanish Champagne) Sangria at the Columbia restaurant that was fantastic. Kristy created these tasty drinks for us...

Champagne, fresh fruit, white wine, peach puree, triple sec...Gorgeous and delicious!!

Next food:
Simple spring salad with fresh fruit, arugula, goat cheese, toasted walnuts and balsamic vinagrette:

The main course was a baked ham and a roasted pork tenderloin:

I made a reduction of the pork juices, orange juice, plum cherry jam and balsamic that was fantastic!

This is my new favorite pasta salad for the summer. Roasted garlic oil, orzo, fresh spinach, toasted walnuts, roasted garlic, goat cheese and salt and pepper. I had a salad similar to this at Whole Foods, this time, I added dried cherries for some chewy texture...so simple and delicious!!


Roasted asparagus with parmesan...love roasted veggies...thanks Ina Garten!


For dessert, I made these Espresso Caramel Bars, a recipe by Giada DeLarentis...really good...more like eating a chewy candy bar. I sprinkled the top with flake salt...SO GOOD and decadent. Served them with espressos and lattes.


Hope you are all enjoying your springtime!

Cute Easter Idea

Hey peeps, it has been way too long since my last post. Work has been a bit overwhelming to say the least which leaves me no time to party...but I intend to fix that very soon. Got Easter coming up, and a baby shower to plan for my friend Vanessa, so I will have lots to post soon.

Speaking of Easter, I saw this adorable idea in my latest Pottery Barn catalog.



I have a collection of cakeplates that will work for this display...let's just see if I get around to doing it...but wouldn't that look adorable?

I love the bell jars!

My NYE Table Setting

This is a little late, but I wanted to document this table I set for New Years Eve. I shared a quiet nite in with my hubby. We had an AWESOME time together!

This is my table...I went with a silver theme...and pulled some of the silver ornaments I had hanging on the tree to dress the table, some little glass marbles (i love these) reflective surfaces, white dishes...total shine!





I picked up 2 porterhouse steaks, and just salt and peppered them and thru in some thinly sliced garlic:


Then I made my favorite steak accompaniment..sauteed mushrooms and shallots in a red wine reduction...SO GOOD!


I picked up some chicken base for a recipe, and saw there was also a beef base...similar to boullion, but a much deeper flavor. I used a little in here which helped the color and made them so delicious and meaty.



I roasted some potatoes with salt, pepper, olive oil and whole cloves of garlic (still in the skin) and I also roasted some asparagus...if you have never tried this, do it...they are delicious! I also did a little surf and turf by grilling up some jumbo shrimp that I had marinating in lemon zest and olive oil.



This was WAY too much food, we only really ate 1/2 of the steaks, mushrooms and asparagus...but it was all really yummy! I used the left over potatoes in a breakfast disn the next morning!





I find I spend a lot of time trying to make lots of other people happy...and this year, I am going to take more time out for me and the people I love the most...make it special, even if it is just the two of you! It is so worth it! :) HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I'm back...and very THANKFUL!!

Hi Everyone! Wow...I missed my blog! I have been trying to get back into my routine and it has been a bit hard. But yesterday, I got my cooking on, and all is right in the Marcie world again! I had such a great time getting all of the food ready, and it all tasted so good! Here are some pics:












I finally used my gift from my dear friend Dena...these beautiful monogrammed napkins, just the right touch for my table. I LOVE these Dena! Thank you!

We had a quite thanksgiving...just four of us, but I still cooked like I was feeding 10. :) Thanksgiving is all about those comforts of home, so I had to make everything!

I also made some desserts...the pie is the Pumpkin Banana Mousse Tart by Ina, and a regular Pecan Pie....that I have to have every Thanksgiving.





We then sat outside by the fire, and had more champagne...it was a great night! That is Kristy in the pic. She is a new friend of mine and someone I have LOT in common with. I think I have a lot to learn from her and I look forward to a beautiful friendship! Here she is with my BFF Vivi:


I have a lot to be thankful for...my awesome husband, and wonderful friends. Paul and I are alone here in Florida, so It is nice to have friends that feel like family. My heart is full and life is good!

Pikelween: Setting The Table

In planning my table this year, I wanted to do a black and white theme...and I kept seeing these lucite boxes that were illuminated from the inside:



So I thought I could try to give my own table this look. I simply took two table lamps and put them under my table, used a large table cloth to cover, and there you go...instant glow:

More Gorgeous Tabletops

I really love these tables...once again, sorry, I found them on line a while ago, so I don't have any creds:

Dazzling Tabletops

I have been seeing these amazing tabletops from the Diffa Foundation Event (Design Industries Foundation Fighting Aids):






Check out the Official Diffa Website for more info.

Buffet Tabletops

Whenever I come across a buffet set up, I save the image on my computer...which is kind of the reason I started this blog, to catalog things like this so when I need them again, I can find them...so sorry, but I have no reference for these images:

Cupcake Stand

I just saw this on the Cupcake Goddess site, and it is beautiful. What I really like is the way she is displaying the cupcakes!



They look like small rounds of glass, I have seen these at Pier One, where you can buy a piece of glass to set on top of a table...and they are propped up with glass vases with glass fill. This is a genius idea!

I can totally see my chocolate fountain on top of this display, I would only do 3 tiers, and put all of the dippings all around. I particularly love the fact that it frees up the edges of the table, so you can actually decorate it.

Nice job Cupcake Goddess! Thanks for sharing!
Marcie

Easy Flower Arranging

Ok this is my kind of centerpiece! How cute is this? And I know I have said that I suck at arranging flowers, so I can totally do this. This is from the Rachel Ray website.



Take some wine goblets, put a few pretty flowers underneath, set a candle on top...SO PRETTY AND EASY!

I haven't always been a big fan of Rachel's but, my husband took me to lowes one to many times and I took a detour to the magazine rack...I picked up her magazine, and I have to say, I really like it! I may have to subscribe.

Flower Arranging

I think I mentioned I pretty much suck at flower arranging...so when I saw this table with these gorgeous flower arrangements, it gave me a little hope that I can create something beautiful. I particularly like the use of the brown branches and big bunches of flowers like hydrangeas. Aren't they lovely! Not to mention their table set up...WHITE PLATES!!!



Photo from Britssy