Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Soup and Salad

Friday night when we had the young folks over for dinner and games, I wanted a casual table since I would be serving soup and salad. I knew we would be more comfortable in the dining room, since my breakfast nook table is kind of small, but the fine china and silver would not have been appropriate.


I used woven plaid placemats and napkins that I bought a couple of years ago at market, topping the placemats with Johnson Brothers Old Britain Castles Pink dinner plates that really functioned as chargers. The salad was served on the square salad plates from the Old Britain Castles set, but I don't have soup bowls for those dishes, so I served the soup in bowls from my Mikasa Italian Countryside.

My stainless is from a set that I ordered from Neiman-Marcus about five or six years ago. I paid under $100, and it came with 12 dinner forks, 12 dinner knives, 12 soup spoons, 24 teaspoons and 24 salad/dessert forks, plus serving pieces. It's called Hotel Flatware, and each piece is a different pattern. It's really nice having extra teaspoons and salad/dessert forks.



The three chickens in the centerpiece are very versatile. At Christmas they become the Three French Hens when I decorate with a French country look. At Easter I put them on grass and scatter dyed eggs around them. Friday night I set them on a tray and surrounded them with votive candles. I bought these at market from IMAX, which is a line carried by a lot of shops.

Dinner was a favorite soup recipe called Cowboy Stew, which is quick and easy to make, and a tossed salad. And don't forget the cornbread, cooked in a cast iron skillet. For dessert we had lemon meringue pie. Yummmm.

You can find more wonderful tablescape ideas at Between Naps on the Porch. It's hosted by Susan, and I'm always amazed at what some of these creative bloggers come up with.

20 comments:

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer said...

Great table...love the little chubby chickens..they are cute!

Anonymous said...

Hi, what a welcoming table! I have plates like yours but I would love to have those little fat chicks!
;)
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

a quiet life said...

very nice, cute chickens!

Valerie said...

Love, love, love the 3 french hens (ha ha)! I would have loved to have had soup and salad at this table.

I have an adorable set of wine glasses that are hand painted and represent the 12 Days of Christmas. The first year I used them, but was so worried about the wear and tear on the paint from handwashing, that I decided to stop using them for drinking and instead as part of my holiday tablescape. I put little votive candles in each glass and they look lovely.

I would love 3 french hens to add to the greenery and wine glasses (or 5 gold rings...with diamonds...or rubies...or emeralds; I'm not choosy!) :)

xinex said...

Very pretty for a casual meal. Cute chickens!...Christine

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

I really like the idea of the chickens serving so many different themes. Great idea!

Martha said...

Love the plaid with the transferware. I have the same stainless -- but not bought at NM -- can't remember where mine came from but love the fact that it doesn't match!

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

Ah - fat chicks! Just like me! LOL.
Too cute!
See ya!

Teacup Mosaics said...

Lucky young folks! And the chickens well..just darling.
Kelley

Unknown said...

Love your table and those little fat chicks are adorable!

Unknown said...

Ok, hand over the cornbread peacefully and nobody gets hurt!

I think I'll make some. I haven't had any in a long time.

Ceekay-THINKIN of HOME said...

Hi again...just to answer your question...yes Master's College from Cali....

Bo said...

Wowee...you did get a deal on that stainless! Your casual table looks very pretty, inviting & comfortable...
that menu is right up my alley too..yum! ;-) Bo

Chandy said...

Beautiful choice for today. I love your dishes, flatware and those cute hens!
Sorry for the late visit, we had no internet since 12:30 this morning.

Have a great Thursday!

Mama of 4 Blessings said...

I love the chickens! Too cute:) Great table indeed.
Blessings,
Gina Jo

ellen b. said...

Hi Kathy,
Love your french hens/chickens! A wonderful table setting for soup and salad. The Johnson bros is great. I'm a sucker for Johnson Bros. dishes...

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Those hens are so cute, and I love the idea of using them at Christmas for the 3 French Hens-so clever! laurie

Sherri said...

Kathy! Hope you will feel ok tomorrow too. I am SO sore. Probably from painting AND the fall. Your table is adorable and love the chickens and the placemats.

Ldy ~~ Dy said...

Nice tablescape! Very warm and welcoming. The chickens are too cute!! Your cornbread looked yummy! Pass me the butter!! LOL

Dream Mom said...

Love the chickens and the overall theme. Casual but very, very cute. I especially loved the tray in the center with the bright color votives and chickens. Very festive. Soup and salad sounds wonderful. I would have liked to see the detail on the chargers/plates. They looked divine.

Never apologize for making a casual table. What I love best about the tablescapes is the variety of tablescapes, from casual to formal. Personally, I think it's much harder to do the casual ones because you have to make it look effortless-kind of like trying to get a "no make up" look using make-up. LOL! That always takes far longer than doing it the regular way.

Lovely job!