Strawberry Tablescape

I wanted to share my scrumptious Strawberry Shortcake Dessert Tablescape with you!  Partly inspired by the Annual Strawberry Festival, http://www.flstrawberryfestival.com/ , that is going on right now where I live and the fabulous strawberry pitcher I found at Goodwill last week for $4 !!!

And this 2 tiered dessert stand I made from a glass bowl, plate and candle stick I purchased from Dollar Tree!  All you need is your dinnerware of choice (mixing and matching is perfect for this project!) and a dab of Gorilla Glue.  And patience, which I have very little of when it comes to waiting for glue to dry!

I set the table with my other favorite thrift find, the wicker soda glasses (brimming with icy cold pink lemonade!  Yes, icy cold, it was 84 degrees in Tampa this past week!)

Ah, the center of attention!  I will have the recipe for you at the end of the post!

Ain't it cute!??!  I fell in love!

Who wouldn't want to pull up a chair with the sun streaming in and a nice dish of strawberry shortcake waiting for YOU!?!  And homemade whipped cream, too!

My husband has been caught, on several occasions, eating my famous

whipped cream right out of the container!

OK, here is the very simple recipe for my down home Strawberry Shortcake:

Make 2 dozen cupcakes {from a packaged mix- our families favorite!}

1 qt fresh, cleaned and sliced strawberries. 

{Sprinkle about 1 tbsp sugar on top and set aside for 15 minutes}

Marzetti's Strawberry Glaze {found in the produce department}

1 cup heavy whipped cream

2 tbsp powdered sugar

1- Whip your cream with powdered sugar in your stand mixed until it is stiff and NOT RUNNY!

2- Bake, cool and cut cupcakes (that you are going to use at the time) in half. 

3- Drain and mix the strawberries with the Marzetti glaze. 

4- Place cupcake halves in a bowl, dollop a heaping spoonful of strawberries and glaze on top then add another heaping spoonful of the whipped cream on top.

5- Add a few more glazed strawberries and Enjoy! 

{Feel free to add another couple of cupcake halves and repeat steps 4 & 5!}

One last look at my latest craft project {and a delicious display of my locally grown strawberries!}

Linking up with :
http://alli-n-son.com/2011/03/10/vanilla-donuts/

Tabletop Tuesday @  http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/
Foodie Friday @ http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/

Thanks for visiting!!!
Rachel

Brunch for Two- Al Fresco!

 Our beautiful boys were still at Grandma's from a sleepover since last night, so I decided to make a simple brunch for two for my hunny and myself!  I cut up fresh pineapple, locally grown strawberries (one of the benefits of living in the Winter Strawberry Capital of the world!) and grapes, brewed some Starbucks, simmered a batch of homemade caramel sauce and repurposed my left over french baguette from yesterday's trip to Panera into Cherry Bread Pudding.

 Recipe for the Cherry Bread Pudding :

1/2 stale bagette, cut ad cubed (left over night to tur stale would be perfect!)
3 beaten eggs
1 cup whole milk
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 c sugar
1/4 cup dried cherries

Mix all of the ingredients (except the bread) into a mixing bowl and then add bread cubes.  Let the bread soak up all the custardy goodness for about 10 minutes, I mix occasionally to assure all the bread absorbs the custard mixture.
Spray a casserole dish with Pam and add mixture.  Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes. 
Make your caramel sauce at this time!

 Recipe for Caramel Sauce :

4 tbsp butter
1/2 cup half and half
1 cup packed brown sugar
pinch salt
1 tsp vanilla

Melt butter and add half and half , sugar and salt to the pot.  Simmer on medium low heat until it reaches a medium thickness (just like store bought caramel).  Remove from heat and add vanilla.  Let it cool slightly and pour into your serving glass.  PLEASE BE CAREFUL it is VERY VERY VERY HOT!!!!  I am a taster as I go so wanted you to be warned in case you are too... it will burn your tongue! 

 Fresh fruit - so inviting on it's own!

Hunny and I's view from our back patio... not to thrilling but a beautiful morning at 70 degrees with birds chirping and rooster's crowing.... yes, ROOSTER! 
Linking up with :Tabletop Tuesday's http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/ , White Wednesday's http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/ ,  Tablescape Thursday http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/  and Foodie Friday's http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/
Seize the day!!!
Rachel

Sweets for my SWEETS!

I let my simple pastel heart tablecloth dictate my color pallet.  I loved using non-traditional colors for the traditional holiday!  (Don't mind the Tampa Bay Ray's cup that my son snuck in as I was taking my photos- he was VERY anxious to sit down and dive into his cupcake!)

Nothing says Sweets for my SWEETS other than a table full of scrumptious sweets... right!?!?

 A vessel full of inviting lollipops!!!

 Who can resist a platter full of Mom's yummy cupcakes?  Not my kiddos!

 My kids were very intrigued by my choice of cupcake topper... I assured them it was just red chocolate wafers!

 Cookies, cupcakes and candy ... the stuff dreams are made of !!!

 A personal touch with a few homemade place cards!

 Sixlets!  My nephews girl-friends favorite candy!

 Now, please, sit down and join us!  We have an extra seat just for you! 

Happy Valentines Day!

Linking Up with : http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/

Thanks for partying with us!
Rachel and the boys

Autumn Luncheon

Welcome to our cozy little luncheon! Grab a seat and pour your self a cup of hot coffee to warm...

Meet my happy little Pilgrim couple. They were a very popular salt and pepper shaker set sold at my local grocery store, Publix, as a collectible. They have since retired the collection. I do believe I have three sets!

Fresh roasted pumpkin seeds. I used the seeds from a white pumpkin, they are meatier!

A quick arrangement I made with a rustic looking tool box I bought for $.50 at a crafters yard sale a few months ago. I added fall picks, dried mini corn, faux leaves, raffia and a mini scarecrow!

My favorite dishes that I had actually sold at my yard sale this week. I have way too many dish sets. I did decide to keep a place setting for four just for my own table setting enjoyment! My favorite coffee mugs sent to me as a "just because gift" from my special friend, Audrey!

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. Who's ready for dessert?

My favorite view of my tablescapes, the sun streaming in!

Placemates from Walmart, I love that they are round. Unique and different.

Linking up with :

http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/

Thanks for joining us for lunch, come back and visit soon!

Rachel

Getting Ready for Thanksgiving

I just wish the weather was a little more Autumnal instead of the 88 degrees it has been here in Tampa! I love Thanksgiving (second only to Halloween!) and I actually thought about skipping the decorations and waiting for Christmas. As you can see, I decided that was a bad idea!!!!Daylight view.Nighttime view. My favorite way to enjoy the house! Our front foyer entrance. My second favorite place to decorate in my house!The humongous and gorgeous potted Mums my son's former teacher brought as a hostess gift on Sunday for our Halloween party! Pray for it, as I always KILL my plants!The tablescape....My favorite part of the table, a pleasant cluster of floral sprigs, leaves, lanterns and pumpkins!The boys pumpkins that were too cute to toss after Halloween!My first favorite place to decorate, the dining room!Ready for some comfy potato soup, a hunk of crusty bread and glass of sparkling apple cider. Mini Fall terrarium with moss, acorns and wild walnuts!My dollar bargain from a friends garage sale! What a fab deal for the Party Light candle and bowl with the beaded wreath! The glass and wrought iron tray was NOT a dollar... I bought it about 4 years ago at my Southern Living Home party!More dollar bargains from my friend, the flower arrangement and wooden clock. I left the vintage books covered in the white paper from Halloween, since it looked nice and crisp!More garage sale bargains!Linking ups with .......