DOWNTON ABBEY - THE LAST PARTY

Two thumbs up for Downton Abbey first episode of the last season.  We also enjoyed the pre-episode program with it's countdown by the actors.  So fun to see them out of character - some more recognizable than others. The first episode had some good resolutions with some of our favorite characters, we especially enjoyed the "awkward" scenes and if you watched you know what I am talking about.

We had no cook (besides me) no butler and no footman and when I looked at photos of the tables there were always these tall candelabras - of which I was fresh out!! Plus remember the dress code at my house was jammies, pearls and tiaras optional.

So I set the table with my best China (our wedding China), silver and crystal, then re-purposed the rosemary tree (had been in a gingerbread tin for Christmas) by putting it into a cachepot and added four candlesticks and two footed candle holders and when I did my "lighting check" decided it was not a candelabra, but with the chandelier dimmed, we had enough light to look festive.

 A little strawberry in our champagne glass...

We did have a conversation about NOT retiring the English phone booth - perhaps a pasty party using my Aunt Gert's recipe for Cornish pasties? Or a pre-trip party, Hubby has planned a trip to the UK for us this next fall. The motherland of his ancestors.

 Since our meal was a heavy one I planned on some finger food dessert nibbles, cheesecakes in puff pastry with a sliced strawberry on top (making use of the extra puff pastry from the individual beef Wellingtons we had for dinner), filo dough cups filled with lemon curd and just before serving topped with some whipped cream and finally a cookie, brown sugar pecan buttons.

 I just stacked three cake plates for the dessert tray.

 I have to admit our "tea" was actually Mexican hot chocolate.

I needed to keep my wits together when making the dinner so no photos, after dinner it was time to settle into comfy chairs/couches and watch our show together, now what could be better?  Good friends, good food and a good show (we tried not to focus on the last year part).

Thank you for stopping by.