Monday, December 15, 2014

CHRISTMAS TABLE FOR ALZHEIMER'S IDAHO SUPPORT DINNER

It is my honor to volunteer for the Alzheimer's Idaho support group.  This month is their Christmas dinner so I did one of the tables for them.
I started off with a good table cloth - used one of mine for my dining table and folded it rather than a thin one for a card table - makes a better base for the tablescape.
Since I decided I wanted to use a silver-wintery theme I found some inexpensive glittery fabric that would not fray when cut and made a simple addition to the table.
Very simple to cut lengths of this fabric to drape over the table.
A silver charger, silver china plate and a white desert/canape plate with a silver tree and one little red bird. Simple white lantern, added some silver ribbon and festive silver ornaments.
Snowflake napkin holders, white cotton napkins.
Feel free to copy if you need place cards, the font is listed below.
 

I found these little silver ornament place card holders and decided that rather than use their names I would use words that best described these wonderful women caring for a family member with Alzheimer's disease.  I also made them for the other tables.  It just seemed appropriate.

Resource

Silver chargers, Hobby Lobby
China plates, Ciroa, Trellis pattern
Dessert/canape plates, 5th 222
Fabric, Hobby Lobby
Place card holders, Hobby Lobby
Snowflake napkin rings, Hobby Lobby
Silver flatware, Oneida silver Juilliard pattern
Tablecloth, Williams-Sonoma
Lantern, Ross
Water goblets, Crystal, Villeroy & Boch, pattern, Bernadotte
Napkins, Marshall's  
Font on the place cards, EmbassyBT

Thank you for stopping by.
 

 

Friday, December 12, 2014

CRANBERRY-ORANGE JAM + A LABEL

I bought several bags of fresh cranberries at Thanksgiving and am now in the process of using them.  This is a very simple recipe that yields two half-pints of Cranberry-Orange Jam.  Good to use now, give as a gift or pop into the freezer as you do not process this jam.
A few simple ingredients....
Not much prep work, peel the apple and grate, take the zest off the orange and squeeze the juice - I keep a little extra orange juice on hand if I need more....
Cook your jam....

Make a little lami-label.....

Fill your two little jars, added a little cotton twine...and ready to eat, freeze or give.

Recipe




Ingredients
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 16 ounces of fresh cranberries, frozen okay
  • Juice and zest of 1 orange, needs to be ½ cup liquid, add H2O if necessary
  • 1 large apple, peeled, cored, & grated
  • 2 tablespoons orange Grand Marnier
Instructions
1.    Put all ingredients (except Grand Marnier) in a medium saucepan on medium heat, bring to a boil, keep at a low boil for about 15 minutes. cranberries will be popping as they cook.
2.  Mix often to check for thickening. If it gets too thick add a little more orange juice or water.
3.  After about 10 minutes, and if desired, add in the Grand Marnier. Cook for another 5 minutes, take off heat and use a wooden spoon to break up any un-popped cranberries.
4.  Put in jars and refrigerate. Okay in the fridge for two weeks or you can freeze the jars.

Cooks Notes: I tasted the jam and thought I wanted a little more orange flavor so I added some orange oil and was very happy with the outcome.

Resource

Orange Oil, Boyajian Orange Oil, available at supermarkets
Jars, Bormioli Rocco, Available at Sur Le Table and online

Thank you for stopping by.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

CHRISTMAS BASKET

A tisket a tasket a Christmas basket! I recently put together a basket for someone very special in my life.  This is the time when those items that you have been making will come in very handy.
 I have several different cookie cutters that make tea cookies - cookies with a cut-out so the cookie will sit on the rim of a tea cup.
I let these cookies get brown around the edges because that is how my recipient likes them.
Cut out your cookies, brush with milk or cream and sprinkle with Glitter Crystals.
 In the oven until the desired doneness.
Because I was mailing these I wrapped each cookie individually in food safe waxed tissue.
Added some Christmas Cinnamon-Apple jelly, some cute holiday napkins....
An oven mitt, Chilly Willy kitchen towels, a candy tree....
Whole grain pancake mix, some caramel-apple jam, an hors d'oevures spoon.....
Ready to wrap with cellophane, a pretty ribbon, lots of love and get this in the mail.

Resource

Christmas Jelly, Link 
Whole Grain Pancake Mix, Link 
Caramel-Apple Jam,LinkLink 
Basket, Michael's
Hors d'oevures spoon, Sur Le Table
Christmas oven mitt, Sur Le Table
Cocktail napkins, HomeGoods
Cookie Tin, Antique store
Christmas kitchen towels, Grocery Outlet
Confectioner's Waxed Tissue, Williams-Sonoma (long ago)
Glitter Crystals, speciality stores and online
Candy tree, Sur Le Table (Hammond's Candy Co.)
Christmas Tea Cup, HomeGoods

Thank you for stopping by.