The First of Many Holiday Dinners...

Last night we invited neighbors from our old neighborhood over for a holiday dinner.

The menu….

We began with "New England Express Cocktails":

Directions: Make a simple syrup  by bringing to a boil 1/3 cup water and 1/3cup sugar and 8 sprigs of thyme. Cool.  In a pitcher combine 2 c apple cider, 1 1/2 c dark rum, 3/4 c lime juice and simple syrup.  Pour into 8 glasses and top with Club Soda.  Garnish with a slice of lime and a sprig of thyme

It snowed all day...

…so I set the table...

…with a snowman cookie jar as a centerpiece.

The napkin rings are "hair bows" I purchased in NYC for $.25 ea:

As an appetizer, I served Holiday Crunch Jello...

Directions:  10 Oz crushed pineapple, 1 pkg berry jello (any flavor berry), 1/2 can whole berry cranberry sauce, 1/3 cup chopped walnuts, 1 stalk celery, chopped.  Drain pineapple and add water to make 1 1/4 c liquid.  Boil this liquid and add to jello until dissolved.  Add all other ingredients and chill until set.

I served it in crystal martini glasses:

The glasses sat on old dishes from Pier 1 Imports:

Which sat on my holiday dishes from Target:

This cookie jar was a gift from a girlfriend over 20 years ago, and it is one of my favorite holiday decorations!  Just look at that cute face!

Another $.25 napkin ring:

I served water in a large green wine glass from the Dollar Tree 

(I think we all have these glasses!!)

And wine was served in my Mom's wine glasses that she passed on to me:

The snow continued to pile up outside…

Candles lit...

Dinner served…Roast Pork, Parmesan Roasted Potatoes and Rosemary and Thyme Glazed Carrots:

Good friends, good food and lots of laughs!

Sharing with BNOTP - Tablescape Thursday and Grace at Home