We had family arriving the day after Christmas. Everyone was feeling like a bit of food detox would be a great idea so I was hoping to create a beautiful dinner with no butter, no refined flour, no sugar. Naturally I failed, but came close! A light soup and salad was perfect for the rainy day.
I was so happy with the table's light and elegant mix of old and new treasures. A new treasure was the tablecloth. While I won't dare go to the mall the day after Christmas, I do love shopping in my small downtown where the crowds are more manageable. I bought two gorgeous tablecloths for half price. Le Jacquard Francais introduces a new Christmas tablecloth every year, usually in two colorways. This beautiful tablecloth is 50/50 linen/cotton and a large 69" square which I place on the diagonal. The pattern is A La Francaise and has ivory and taupe damask peacock feathers, leaping stags and winter bouquets. It's absolutely gorgeous and goes beautifully with my inherited Lenox Harvest dinnerware from my aunt, mother's Waterford Lismore hock wine glasses gifted to me a few years ago and my own Arte Italica Splendore soup plates. The table was finished with glittered deer, some low candle light, and grandmother's linen dinner napkins, it's stunning! For me, setting a table brings up memories of dinners from my childhood tables, both my mother and my aunt set a beautiful table and I am lucky to have some of their things now.
Soup was roasted eggplant puree and roasted tomato puree (both frozen from our summer garden) with a teensy bit of cream, chicken stock and some spices. I can't share much more of the recipe because I just winged it, but my, it was delicious! I kept the soup on the buffet in the Arte Italica pewter soup tureen. I heated it with hot water before I put in the soup and it stayed warm for an hour.
I was so happy with the table's light and elegant mix of old and new treasures. A new treasure was the tablecloth. While I won't dare go to the mall the day after Christmas, I do love shopping in my small downtown where the crowds are more manageable. I bought two gorgeous tablecloths for half price. Le Jacquard Francais introduces a new Christmas tablecloth every year, usually in two colorways. This beautiful tablecloth is 50/50 linen/cotton and a large 69" square which I place on the diagonal. The pattern is A La Francaise and has ivory and taupe damask peacock feathers, leaping stags and winter bouquets. It's absolutely gorgeous and goes beautifully with my inherited Lenox Harvest dinnerware from my aunt, mother's Waterford Lismore hock wine glasses gifted to me a few years ago and my own Arte Italica Splendore soup plates. The table was finished with glittered deer, some low candle light, and grandmother's linen dinner napkins, it's stunning! For me, setting a table brings up memories of dinners from my childhood tables, both my mother and my aunt set a beautiful table and I am lucky to have some of their things now.
Soup was roasted eggplant puree and roasted tomato puree (both frozen from our summer garden) with a teensy bit of cream, chicken stock and some spices. I can't share much more of the recipe because I just winged it, but my, it was delicious! I kept the soup on the buffet in the Arte Italica pewter soup tureen. I heated it with hot water before I put in the soup and it stayed warm for an hour.
A simple composed salad.
And mini popovers because they are so darn fun.
I use Ina's recipe and omit the butter, I always do and it doesn't suffer.
Christmas cookies and candy for dessert.
I was thinking of fruit, but we couldn't go totally healthy cold turkey!
It's still December for goodness sake!
- December 27, 2012
- 13 Comments