Vegetable Soup by the TV

I recently bought this vase at the Flea Market for $2.00.

I just loved the hand painted design and knew that it would match these dishes perfectly:

So today, on a gloomy, drizzly summer afternoon, we will have fresh vegetable soup and french bread by the TV.

I layered using my favorite Westmoreland milk glass dishes and decided it wan't important to use a proper setting:

I managed to pick a few flowers in between the showers:

We devoured the soup before I even thought about taking a photo - but it was GOOOOD!

Sharing with:

Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch

Let's Dish with Cuisine Kathleen

Another Checked Table for Craig!

I bought an old wooden end table at GW and primed it:

And then I added some checks and diamonds:

It's a nice sturdy table with magazine pockets at each end:

Hopefully Craig will pull through for me again!

Sharing with:

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps On The Porch

Motivate Me Monday @ Keeping It Simple

The Lazy MacKenzie-Childs Tablesetter...

Yes, I can be quite the lazy tablesetter...and tonight is no exception...I can also be quite the lazy cook...and again, tonight is no exception! What's on the menu? PIZZA!

Yes, I will make the dough from scratch, stretch it as I toss it in the air, crush fresh tomatoes, shred fresh mozzarella, and pick fresh basil from the garden order from the local pizza joint and throw it on my checked platter!

I will also serve imported Spanish Beer in the glasses I stole while vacationing in the Canary Islands years ago Coors Light:

I will use my MacKenzie-Childs China paper plates and doll it up with some fabric napkins because I am out of paper napkins!

I will remove the candlesticks and plant from the platter and toss display the pizza, while I quickly toss away the box, pretending that I prepared this masterpiece from scratch!

I would invite you over, but you would probably have too much fun making fun of me!

Sharing with:

Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch

Let's Dish with Cuisine Kathleen

S'Mores on a Stick

This is a quick and easy snack to make - and not quite as messy as a traditional S'more:

All you need is:

graham cracker crumbs

marshmallows

small sticks

melting chocolate

Dip the bottom of each marshmallow into chocolate and then into graham cracker crumbs:

Dip the end of the stick into chocolate and then into the top of the marshmallow (this prevents the stick from falling off the marshmallow):

In no time at all, the bag of marshmallows will be empty and you will have this:

I wrapped each one in a small cello bag and tied each with a ribbon:

I brought these to a picnic this past weekend!

Sharing with

Tuesday Treasures @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Turning the Daunting into the Do-Able @Project Queen

JamHands

What's for lunch?

Hmmm...I wonder what I should have for lunch today:

Chicken salad on romaine sounds good:

I love to serve chicken in my milk glass rooster covered dishes. Omelets also stay warm in the egg shaped dishes while I am waiting for everyone to sit at the kitchen table. So far I have collected 4 of these and I am still on the hunt for more.

What do you collect?

Sharing with: Show and Tell Saturday @ Be Different, Act Normal

Green and Blue tablesetting

One of my favorite colors is green.

Green is the color of growth, nature, and money.

Psychology of Color: Green

A calming color also that's very pleasing to the senses. Dark forest green is associated with terms like conservative, masculine and wealth. Hospitals use light green rooms because they too are found to be calming to patients. It is also the color associated with envy, good luck, generosity and fertility. It is the traditional color of peace, harmony, comfortable nurturing, support and well paced energy.

What's your favorite color?

Sharing with

Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch

and

Let's Dish

Zucchini and Tomatoes

Yes, another post on zucchini!

It is one of my favorite vegetables - and it can be prepared so many different ways!

Slice zucchini and tomatoes and line them up in a baking pan:

Melt 3 T butter and 2 chopped garlic gloves. Drizzle garlic butter over vegetables and bake for 40 minutes.

Add some mozzarella cheese and bake for a few more minutes until cheese melts:

Serve hot - so tasty!

Sharing with:

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Zucchini Corn Bread

Zucchini is in season and I can never get enough! This is a great recipe for corn bread - with zucchini added!

Zucchini Cornbread

Bake Time: 60 minutes

1 medium zucchini, grated
1½ cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup yellow cornmeal
½ cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon salt

½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled, 2 eggs, ½ cup buttermilk and a few drops of hot sauce

1. Preheat oven to 350'. Grease and flour a 8"x8"-inch baking dish.

2. Trim the ends off the zucchini and thinly slice 4 rounds from one end of the zucchini and reserve for garnish. Shred the remaining zucchini, toss with 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar and place in a colander. Allow to drain for 30 minutes, then press against the side of the colander to release as much moisture as possible

3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

4. In a medium bowl, mix the butter, eggs and buttermilk. Add hot sauce.

5. Gently stir the grated zucchini into the butter mixture. Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and use a rubber spatula to gently fold together until no traces of flour remain. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and top with the 4 reserved zucchini slices.

6. Bake until the bread is golden brown and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes. The bread can be stored at room temperature, wrapped in plastic wrap, for up to 3 days.

It is not only tasty, but pretty, too, with flecks of green throughout:

Sharing with:

Sunday @ Snips and Spice

Recipe Sharing Monday @ Jam Hands

Motivate Me Monday @ Keeping It Simple

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps On The Porch