Looking ahead at setting the holiday table

 We all know how much I love setting the table.  I like putting things out and actually using them not just have them for display.  I try to vary my table settings as much as possible.  I love to combine pieces of Mom's and Grandmother's with items that are mine.  For me, it brings a wonderful sense of history to the table.  I don't entertain a great deal these days because time and funds are limited.  Of course, I have learned and know that it's not about the meal as much as it is who is at the table!  Still, I like to share my table with others and that includes making it look good.  

Easter is the next big holiday coming up and that will probably be the next time I have people over for a meal.  Last year, there were four of us eating together.  I don't mind smaller groups like that but I always set my table for at least six.  This year, I've put the leaf back in my dining room table so I can comfortably seat eight.  That doesn't mean I'll have eight people, but you never know.  So, with that in mind, I have the wheels in my head already turning as to how I want to set my table.  It may seem silly to you, but it gives me a lot of pleasure to do that.  I found some pictures of last year's table.  It was simple but nice.  This year I will do something different; I just don't know what yet.  

Talking about combining family pieces, last year I used Mom's everyday china, Grandmother's sterling and my glasses.  The cutglass compote in the middle is a piece I treated myself to several years ago.  Grandmother painted the eggs.  The candlesticks were from my friend Frankie's estate.  And the salt and pepper shakers Mom and I bought at an auction at Lilly's Auction Gallery in Indian Trail, NC some 40 years ago.  I like talking about the pieces because it records where they came from.  Not that anyone necessarily wants or needs to know that, but I do think it's important to document these kinds of things.

Well, time for me to get some work done on other things.  In the meantime, I will be setting the table in my mind with all different combinations of pieces.  We'll see what I come up with come Easter. 

That is all. 

New Recipes

 As you all know, I love to read cookbooks.  I have accumulated a decent collection of vintage cookbooks.  It started with the cookbooks that I inherited from Mom and Grandmother.  Not to mention the recipe boxes I got as well.  So, whenever I am at the used bookstore or at an estate sale, chances are I am going to pick up a "new to me" cookbook.  I just love it!

So, this year I have been trying to find new recipes to make.  It's not like I don't have plenty to choose from!!  So far, I have made 3 or 4 new to me recipes and most of them I have really liked.  There's a tuna spread appetizer that I will be sharing on here soon that I got from one of Mom's cookbooks:  Salmagundi II.  It's been really fun to try new things and see what works and what doesn't.

This year, I'm doing some different things with my new recipe adventures.  One is that I am basing which new recipe I choose to make based on what I already have.  For example, the tuna recipe.  I had the tuna I needed in the cabinet and the cream cheese I needed in the fridge, along with a few other of the ingredients.  I only had to buy one thing to make that recipe, so I was able to try something new at a relatively low cost.

The other thing that I am doing is writing feedback in the cookbooks themselves.  When I read a cookbook, I will tag the recipes that interest me with those little Post-It tabs you can get.  That way, when I am looking for a new recipe, I can just go to the ones that I have tagged to see if it fits my current list of available ingredients.  Now, after I make the recipe and decide if I want to make it again or not, I will mark the recipe permanently in the book.  If the recipe is not exactly as good as I liked, I will make notes on the page as to why I think it didn't work.  The one thing I have found is that several of the new recipes I have made have been too salty.  I liked them ok, but definitely too salty.  So, I will make that note alongside the recipe in case I try it again at a later time.  Since most of my cookbooks are from decades ago, I wonder about the salt content of certain products then versus now.  Hmmmmm.

I haven't made anything new in a few weeks.  School and work have kept me busy but am hoping to find something new to do next week.  So, it's time to peruse the freezer and the cabinets and see what I've got.  This is also a good way to help myself clean out the freezer LOL  We'll see what I come up with.

That is all. 

Quote of the week

 As I look towards the future, both immediate and down the road, I have a lot of things to consider.  I found this quote to be very guiding and thought provoking. 

Priorities

 I sometimes feel like my head is spinning and I'm trying to go one hundred different directions at the same time.  I think it's because I have a lot on my plate these days, which is odd considering I don't have much of a life outside of work and school.  But it still feels like there is a lot going on.  

In trying to figure out what comes next in life, and this goes back to my blog about my degree, I really need to look at what I want to prioritize in my life.  And, honestly, I'm not sure what that is right now.  There are lots of things to choose from.  I'm not going to exclude anything from my list of priorities because you know I love lists LOL But I want to figure out where they all line up.  Do I put the personal over the professional?  This would help me be more of a confident person in general and fill the gaps in my social connections.  Do I put the professional first?  This would help to increase my earnings, hopefully and widen my network connections.  Do I put the education first?  Do I finish the degree just so I can have it wrapped up and done with?  I'm not sure yet.

I have a spring break coming up and I may take that week to really examine my list of priorities.  I think that if I try to do it now, my head will explode.  Maybe I can go ahead and begin putting pen to paper and listing the different areas I want to focus on.  That won't be too intrusive as I work and take class.  We shall see.  All I know is it's time to figure out what I want and in what order.  When my relationship ended, a friend of mine who had been through a divorce said to me that this is the time to be selfish and take care of you.  So I'm going to be selfish for my own gains and make some positive emotional changes.

That is all.  

Cherry Yum Yum

 

The recipe card I have for this I found in one Mom's recipe boxes.  I don't ever remember her making it, though.  It came from our good friend and neighbor Bobbie Yandle.  I have made it several times and really do enjoy it.  It's pretty easy and quite delicious.  It's got cherry pie filling in it...how bad could it be?  LOL  It's a good dessert to make ahead and is a nice ending to your dinner!

Cherry Yum Yum

1.5 sticks of margarine, melted

3 cups of graham cracker crumbs

1 8oz package of cream cheese

1/2 cup sugar

2 containers of cool whip

2 cans of cherry pie filling

Melt margarine and combine with graham cracker crumbs.  Set aside.  Mix together cream cheese and sugar until well blended.  Fold in cool whip.  In your serving dish (I used a 9x13 pyrex), put down a layer of the graham crackers, then half of the cream cheese mixture, then both cans of pie filling.  Top the pie filling with the remaining cream cheese mixture.  Sprinkle the remaining graham crackers on top.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Enjoy!

It Is Well With My Soul

 I'm going to start this rainy Sunday morning with one of my favorite hymns.  If you are unfamiliar with this hymn, go to Google and search for its history.  It is very fascinating.  One year on the Tabernacle Choir Christmas special, they did a reenactment of the hymn's story which is beautiful.  Anyway, it's one of my favorite hymns and I love David Baroni's version.  Would love to get this sheet music.  Of course, I'd need a piano first LOL  Enjoy and be blessed!

The Shadow of Your Smile - Andy Williams

 I was listening to one of my Andy Williams records today and this was the first and actually the title track of the album.  The version here is not exactly the same but it's still beautiful.  I couldn't find the one I listened to on Youtube, but that's ok.  I love Andy Williams voice and have quite a few of his albums.  I was never allowed to listen to him when Michael was at home because he can't stand him.  So, I'm really enjoying being able to play it nice and loud and just enjoy it.  Hope you like!

Also, I've never seen the film that it's from:  The Sandpiper starring Elilzabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.  It's on my list!